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However, not all hair mousse and gels are created equal. Some will add life to unruly curls yet fail to lift super fine hair.
For people with allergies, the search can be even more tedious. To make matters worse, some hair mousse products can contain animal-derived ingredients which you’re likely trying to avoid.
Understanding these difficulties, this roundup of the 6 best vegan hair mousse brands will help you make the right decision for your hair type.
In a Hurry? Here’s Our Quick List of Top Picks
- Cote Hair Hybrid Styling Foam
- Yarok Hair Mousse Feed Your Roots Styling and Volume Enhancer
- Snip-its Morning Miracle Natural Hair Mousse for Kids
- GIOVANNI Eco Chic Natural Hair Styling Mousse
- No Nothing Very Sensitive Strong Mousse
- FRAGFRE Hair Styling Gel for Sensitive Skin
Non-Vegan Ingredients in Hair-Care Products You Should Look out For
As you’ve likely noticed, hair products can easily feature a variety of animal-derived ingredients, making them unfit for use by people embracing a cruelty-free, vegan lifestyle.
I’ll take you through ten surprising, yet common non-vegan ingredients in hair care products you should watch out for.
Keratin
Keratin is a fibrous protein derived from animal sources such as hooves, animal hair, horns, quills, and feathers.
It’s one of the most common ingredients found in hair care products, right from shampoos and conditioners to styling gels and mousse.
It has become the holy grail for all hair essentials claiming to repair damaged hair and provide the sleek straight effect.
Although it can be made using amino acids derived from plant-based sources, vegan Keratin is rare.
Albumin
Albumin is another animal-derived ingredient derived from egg protein. Besides the touted benefits for hair, it’s also used as a coagulating agent.
The next time you see this name on the ingredient’s list, you will know the product isn’t cruelty-free.
Amino Acids
Amino acids are the building blocks of the body and essential to flaunt those lovely tresses.
Many drugstore mousse products as well as high-end brands contain amino acids derived from animal sources, making them unfit for people living a plant-based lifestyle.
Bee Pollen and Honey
Bee pollen and honey are common ingredients in hair products claiming to nourish dry hair, giving them luster and bounce. Shampoos and conditioners are usually infused with honey for its humectant nature.
Bee pollen is collected from the hind legs of the bee. With the already declining bee population, the large scale selective breeding and culling of bees for honey bee products, is certainly unacceptable.
Biotin Derived from Animal Sources
Biotin can be used for maintaining healthy hair but some are derived from animal sources. Look out for the vegan/plant-based tag to know if Biotin has been derived from plants.
Boar Bristles
As the name implies, boar bristles are collected from boar and therefore don’t qualify as vegan-friendly.
Carmine
Carmine is a red-colored pigment commonly found in products such as lipstick, but it does find its way into hair products as well. Some shampoos and hair dyes contain carmine, which is derived from female cochineal insects.
Casein
If you carefully read the labels of conditioners, hair masks, and mousses, you’ll find casein as a common ingredient. It’s a milk protein derived from dairy sources so not suitable for a vegan-friendly lifestyle.
Chitosan
Chitosan is used in hair care applications for its antistatic properties, forming a clear film on hair strands. Chitosan is derived from shrimp and crab shells.
Cysteine
Cysteine is another form of amino acid often used in the manufacturing of hair-care products. It’s usually derived from animal hair unless the brand specifically mentions plant sources.
This wraps up the non-vegan ingredients you might have overlooked while looking at the label of your favorite hair-care products!
Why You Should Prioritize Vegan Hair Care Products in Your Beauty Regimen
The ethical aspect of vegan hair-care products is well understood. However, they deserve far more credit than this.
Plant-based hair care products often contain natural ingredients so score well on environmental matters too, making them a healthier choice for your hair.
There are a few brands going a step further by offering their products in eco-friendly packaging. If you’re worried about your carbon footprint, the responsible choice is to opt for ethically sourced plant-based products.
6 Top Picks for Vegan Hair Mousse
Whether you have curly, wavy, or straight hair, there’s a vegan-friendly hair mousse brand for everyone here. Let’s take a look at some great options!
Cote Hair Hybrid Styling Foam
This product by Cote Hair is a flexible and weightless conditioning foam. It adds body to your hair while also protecting hair from heat damage.
If you’re looking for a two-in-one product which protects hair as well as styles, then go for this one.
If your hair is fine, you might especially like the Hybrid Styling Foam, as it holds the hair firmly without feeling too stiff.
It’s great for all hair types and this flexible-hold foam is also gluten free, GMO-free, sulfate-free, and paraben-free!
What We Like
- Clean ingredients
- Pleasant smell
- Great for round brushing
- Doesn’t leave hair crunchy
What We Don’t Like
- Might leave hair flat when used for air drying
Yarok Hair Mousse Feed Your Roots Styling and Volume Enhancer
Yarok’s hair mousse promises to take your tresses to new heights. The natural 100% vegan hair mousse doesn’t contain parabens, sulfate, alcohol, and gluten. It’s devoid of all chemicals and isn’t tested on animals.
If you wish to add bounce to your hair, you might want to give this product a try.
The luscious mousse maker brand claims to add life back to dull damaged hair, by providing nourishment, right at the hair roots. It can also be used to create those flirty beach textured waves we all crave for.
Yarok also takes their love for the environment to a whole new level. 3% of all profits are donated directly to the Pachamama Alliance to save Amazon rainforests.
What We Like
- All natural ingredients
- Doesn’t weigh hair down
- No greasy feel
What We Don’t Like
- Doesn’t give extra hold and volume
Snip-its Morning Miracle Natural Hair Mousse for Kids
Snip-its Morning Miracle Natural hair mousse contains a natural formula to add volume to hair.
This lightweight hair mousse conditions your kid’s hair well and is safe to use. You get an even fine mist with each spray and helps in taming flyaways and cowlicks.
If you find your kid constantly struggling with untamable bed hair, this all-day hold hair mousse could be a good choice.
Snip-its claims their mousse doesn’t leave hair feeling greasy, crunchy or stiff.
The product also offers sun protection to the scalp from the damaging ultraviolet rays.
I really like how the product is free from allergens and irritants, thus safe to use on children with a sensitive scalp. Snip-its state its all-natural hair mousse is made using renewable resources.
What We Like
- All natural allergens-free ingredients
- Works fine on adult hair too
- Great smell
What We Don’t Like
- May not add as much shine as ohers
- Can struggle to hold during humidity
GIOVANNI Eco Chic Natural Hair Styling Mousse
This biodegradable hair styling foam, by GIOVANNI, is free from all harsh chemicals including phthalates, mineral oil, formaldehyde, parabens, DEA, artificial colors, and propylene glycol.
It can be used to add texture, body, and volume to hair without making them feel sticky. The one aspect we particularly love about this product is its ability to be layered.
You can volumize your hair to amazing heights using this. The product distributes smoothly into hair and adds texture.
This medium-to-firm hold organic hair mousse is 100% safe to use on colored tresses. It is biodegradable and comes in recyclable packaging.
What We Like
- All natural ingredients
- Recyclable packaging and biodegradable formula
- Gives volume to hair and is buildable without feeling sticky
What We Don’t Like
- Might not work on super fine hair
No Nothing Very Sensitive Strong Mousse
This unscented hypoallergenic hair mousse justifies its name. It’s made with very sensitive skin and hair in mind.
It is fragrance-free, soy-free, colorant-free, paraben-free and gluten-free. If you are looking for a product which leaves no room for allergies, this hair mousse is for you.
This strong mousse claims to protect hair from humidity and UV rays. It adds shine, volume, and elasticity to the hair.
What We Like
- Great for people with allergies
- No harsh chemicals
- Works well on curly hair
What We Don’t Like
- Slightly heavier than regular mousse
- Straight hair beauties might find it tricky to work with this product
FRAGFRE Hair Styling Gel for Sensitive Skin
Fragfre brings you a hair styling gel for sensitive skin which doesn’t leave behind a flaky cast. It’s safe to be used on treated hair too.
This odorless gel is free from alcohol, parabens, colorants, sulfates, formaldehyde, preservatives, phthalates, and petrolatum.
The gel provides protection from humidity, nourishes your tresses, holding hairstyles for all hair types. It’s free from allergens so a great option for people with hypersensitivity.
What We Like
- Great for people with allergies
- No harsh chemicals
- Holds hair well
- Works well in high humidity
What We Don’t Like
- May make hair a little sticky
Top Choice for the Best Vegan Hair Mousse
All six vegan mousse brands featured in this roundup have unique characteristics.
All are natural, vegan-friendly, add shine to hair and aren’t tested on animals. Instead of having one clear cut winner, I prefer highlighting a few based on their their specific strength.
If you heat style your hair regularly, opt for Cote Hair’s Hybrid Styling Foam. It’ll style your hair as well as act as a heat protector, and works equally well on fine hair.
If your hair isn’t too limp and you just need a little support while styling, go for Yarok’s Hair Mousse Feed Your Roots Styling and Volume Enhancer.
GIOVANNI’s Eco Chic Natural Hair Styling Mousse is a great choice for a mild to firm-hold styling gel. For people with allergies, No Nothing Very Sensitive Strong Mousse is perfect!
