# Hair mousse that isn't sticky

Source: HiveTried, https://hivetried.com/beauty/mousse/not-sticky/
Category: Beauty > Hair mousse. Updated 2026-10-08. Based on 222 counted first-hand reports from Target shopper reviews, Jun 2010 to Oct 2026.

**Question:** Which hair mousse isn't sticky?

**Short answer:** Pantene Pro-V Anti-Frizz Mousse has the best record for a soft, non-sticky feel: 15 of 16 said it left hair soft rather than sticky or stiff. That rests on a small group (16 shoppers), as does Aussie Miracle Curls Mousse at 12 of 13, so read both with some caution. Not Your Mother's Curl Talk Curl Activating Mousse has the weakest record here at 7 of 33, with 52% of its reviews saying crunchy or stiff and 30% saying sticky.

**What stands out:** Crunch and stickiness pile up on one mousse: 52% of Not Your Mother's Curl Talk Curl Activating Mousse reviews say crunchy or stiff and 30% say sticky, far above OGX Locking + Coconut Curls Mousse (25% and 15%) and TRESemmé Extra Hold Mousse (22% and 8%). Flakes are a second repeat complaint, at 62% of Herbal Essences reviews and 23% of Aussie reviews.

## Ranking (buyers who said whether it worked)

| Rank | Product | Soft, not sticky | Share | Amazon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pantene Pro-V Anti-Frizz Mousse | 15 of 16 | 94% | yes |
| 2 | Aussie Miracle Curls Mousse | 12 of 13 | 92% | yes |
| 3 | Cantu Wave Whip Curling Mousse | 18 of 22 | 82% | yes |
| 4 | TRESemmé Extra Hold Mousse | 20 of 28 | 71% | yes |
| 5 | OGX Locking + Coconut Curls Mousse | 18 of 29 | 62% | yes |
| 6 | Herbal Essences Volumizing Mousse | 6 of 10 | 60% | no |
| 7 | Not Your Mother's Curl Talk Curl Activating Mousse | 7 of 33 | 21% | no |

Ranked by the lower bound of a 90% Wilson confidence interval, so a product needs a high share and enough reports to rank high. An Amazon link is shown only when at least 60% say it works.

## Product notes

### 1. Pantene Pro-V Anti-Frizz Mousse

Soft hold is the draw: 43% of reviews say it leaves hair soft and 36% say it holds a style. 21% say no crunch. A small group stated an outcome (16), so the record is thin.

- Praised for: Good hold (36%), Defines curls (21%), Smells good (11%)
- Complaints: Dries hair (11%), Frizzy (11%), Weak hold (11%)
- Reports counted: 28

### 2. Aussie Miracle Curls Mousse

Shoppers praise curls without the crunch: 41% say no crunch and 36% say it defined curls. Flakes are the complaint (23%), and 18% say the hold is weak. A small group weighed in (13), so the record is thin.

- Praised for: Defines curls (36%), Good hold (23%), Good value (18%)
- Complaints: Flakes (23%), Weak hold (18%)
- Reports counted: 22

### 3. Cantu Wave Whip Curling Mousse

Shoppers like the feel: 30% say no crunch, 27% say it leaves hair soft and 23% call it lightweight. Complaints are small, including 7% who found it sticky and 13% who saw frizz.

- Praised for: Smells good (27%), Lightweight (23%), Good hold (13%)
- Complaints: Frizzy (13%), Weak hold (10%), No volume (7%)
- Reports counted: 30

### 4. TRESemmé Extra Hold Mousse

Hold is the draw, with 31% praising it and 14% calling it good value. Results are mixed on feel: 20 of 28 said it left hair soft and not sticky, but 22% say crunchy or stiff and 8% say sticky.

- Praised for: Good hold (31%), Good value (14%), Defines curls (11%)
- Complaints: Weak hold (11%), Dries hair (6%)
- Reports counted: 36

### 5. OGX Locking + Coconut Curls Mousse

Curl definition is the strength, with 35% saying it defined curls and 28% saying it left hair soft. The catch is feel: 25% say crunchy or stiff, 15% say sticky and 10% mention flakes. Reviews first posted on the brand's site are more positive at 7 of 7, which we show but don't count.

- Praised for: Defines curls (35%), Good hold (25%), Smells good (23%)
- Complaints: Flakes (10%), Dries hair (8%), No volume (5%)
- Reports counted: 40

### 6. Herbal Essences Volumizing Mousse

Flakes dominate the complaints, at 62% of reviews, and 15% say sticky. A small group stated an outcome (10), and 6 of 10 said it left hair soft and not sticky. Praise goes to the smell (27%) and the volume (15%).

- Praised for: Smells good (27%), Adds volume (15%), Good hold (12%)
- Complaints: Flakes (62%)
- Reports counted: 26

### 7. Not Your Mother's Curl Talk Curl Activating Mousse

More reviewers weighed in on this mousse than on any other here (33 in all), and the record is poor: 7 of 33 said it left hair soft and not sticky. 52% of its reviews say crunchy or stiff and 30% say sticky, far more than for any other mousse on this page. Fans praise curl definition (22%), and the brand's own site is kinder at 4 of 6, which we show but don't count.

- Praised for: Defines curls (23%), Good hold (13%), Adds volume (10%)
- Complaints: Dries hair (5%), Frizzy (5%)
- Reports counted: 40

## Questions

**Which hair mousse isn't sticky?**

Pantene Pro-V Anti-Frizz Mousse has the best record (15 of 16), followed by Aussie Miracle Curls Mousse (12 of 13) and Cantu Wave Whip Curling Mousse (18 of 22). The first two rest on smaller groups of reviewers, while Cantu Wave Whip Curling Mousse rests on 22 shoppers. People tend to write about stickiness when something went wrong, so read the shares as a way to compare these mousses.

**Which mousse feels crunchy or sticky?**

Not Your Mother's Curl Talk Curl Activating Mousse draws far more of both than the rest: 52% of its reviews say crunchy or stiff and 30% say sticky. OGX Locking + Coconut Curls Mousse also gets mixed reports, with 25% saying crunchy or stiff and 15% saying sticky.

**Can a curl mousse define curls without a crunch?**

Some can, going by reviews. For Aussie Miracle Curls Mousse, 36% say it defined curls and 41% say no crunch. OGX Locking + Coconut Curls Mousse defines curls too, at 35%, but 25% say it felt crunchy or stiff.

**Is Herbal Essences Volumizing Mousse sticky?**

Among the few who stated an outcome, 6 of 10 said it left hair soft and not sticky. Flakes are the bigger issue, with 62% of reviews mentioning them against 15% saying sticky.

## Method

HiveTried counts first-hand reports only, drops reviews written for free products, shows brand-site reviews without counting them, and never accepts payment for placement. Full method: https://hivetried.com/how-we-count/