Hair mousse

Hair mousse.

Hair mousse, also referred to as styling foam, is a hairstyling product added to hair for extra volume and shine. "Mousse" originates from a French term meaning foam.^[1] Hair mousse originated in France and was brought to the North American retail market by L'Oreal in the 1980s, the first mousse product coming out under the label "Valence".^[2] It is often dispensed in an aerosol foam spray or in cream form. Hair mousse adds volume to hair and often provides both conditioning and hold, without any clumps or build-up. It is a hairstyling product which works by using synthetic resins to coat the hairs, to assist the hair in taking a certain shape.^[1] Hair mousse is purple while in the can and turns an off-white color upon coming in contact with the air. One of the lighter-weight hair styling products, hair mousse is applied to wet hair before drying and styling. Hair mousse can be used on naturally curly or permed hair to reduce frizz and define curl.

History

The early 1980s arrival of hair mousse in North America was known as "mousse mania", as hairdressers unveiled the new foam product to their clientele. Throughout its first years on the market, hair mousse quickly became a multimillion dollar product. 1984 domestic retail sales for the product ranged from $100–$150 million and almost $200 million in sales by 1986.^[2]

Due to the mid-1980s, the big hair style trend and the usage of mousse and other volumizing products increased in popularity. It is believed that the year 1987 marked the decline of "mousse mania", as the popularity of having big hair decreased and people began to grow concerned about using more environmentally friendly products.^[2] Due to the chemical makeup of the hairstyling product it was not commonly deemed "environmentally friendly". Today, the product is not only produced and marketed under many different brand names, but also sold for different hair types. There are mousse products sold specifically for those with curly hair, as well as for those with colour-treated or straight hair.

Applying hair mousse

As a versatile hair styling product, hair mousse is a popular choice for both short and long hairstyles. When hair mousse is applied to wet hair that is allowed to air dry, the hair is often left with a "wet" look that can be "crunchy" feeling, but unlike hair gel, hair mousse combs out easily for a softer look. When hair mousse is applied to wet hair that is dried with a hair dryer, it provides additional volume and hold.

Ingredients

Usually, the first ingredient in a canister of hair mousse is water, which is the top substance used to blend the varying chemical substances together. Another key ingredient is alcohol which helps dissolve the ingredients already added to the water as well as help produce a quick breaking foam.^[2]

The next ingredient used is polymer or resin. Polymers are the most effective and important component of hair mousse, which acts as a conditioning agent. These resins are long chain molecules that form a film on the hair allowing a tighter grip on the hair strands, making it harder to brush off and form a resistant film. This allows users to comb or brush their hair, as well as apply heat from a blow dryer without the mousse leaving the hair stiff.^[2]

Cationic resin is often blended with another film former to give a firmer hold on the hair. In order for this to be successful, the polymer chosen must be nonionic in nature and should be compatible with the cationic resin.^[2] Emulsifiers are used to help blend the product creating foam. Mousses do not require long-lasting foam stability. Ideally, the foam will break down immediately once worked into the hair.^[2]

Other added ingredients in various hair mousses, such as vitamins, silicones, sunscreens, and dyes, tend to assist in additional functions for the hair mousse product, such as providing an additional conditioning component.^[2]

There are hundreds of brands of hair mousse from professional to store brands, many delivering a quality styling product. Certain brands contain alcohol, which is suitable for most hair types except dry. For dry hair, hair mousse that contains natural conditioners and vitamins, but no alcohol is recommended. Users might also consider checking hair mousse and other styling products for ultraviolet sun protection. Hair mousse users have a variety of differing products to choose from. Across North America, hair mousse products can be purchased under some of the top name-brands including: L’Oreal, Tresseme, Garnier, Herbal Essences, and many others.

Color mousse is used to cover up grey hair and to create hair styles at the same time. Semi-permanent color mousse can be used to give toning to hair that is fading from hair color processes.

References