I’ve been using the Pantene Defined Curls No. 5 Mousse for almost 24 years! When people ask me if I could only use one styling product for the rest of my life, what would it be?
I don’t have to think about it, because for almost 20 years it was Pantene Defined Curls Mousse. That was it, that’s the only styling product I used for my curly hair! But has Pantene Defined Curls Mousse been discontinued?!
For years, I used the Pantene Perfect Curls Shampoo and Conditioner and the Pantene Defined Curls Mousse (No. 5) my curls always looked consistently amazing! It wasn’t until Pantene discontinued the Perfect Curls Shampoo and Conditioner that I had to put more thought into what hair care products I used.
Which I guess in a way is a blessing. Because if Pantene hadn’t discontinued that range, Curl Maven and my method wouldn’t exist today! So although I’ve definitely put someone’s kid through college with the amount I’ve purchased over the years, I owe a lot to and have a lot of love for, Pantene.
Has Pantene Defined Curls Mousse been Discontinued?!
A few years ago the Pantene Defined Curls Mousse formula changed, ever so slightly. I didn’t notice much difference in the consistency of the formula, or the results. So I carried on using, loving and regularly recommending it on my blog, social media and in Curl Clinics.
Then a couple of years ago rumours started circulating that Pantene Defined Curls Mousse was being discontinued. And I, along with so many other wavy and curlies, panicked – and stocked up!
But from what I could tell at the time, it was just a change in distribution. Pantene Defined Curls Mousse was still readily and easily available in supermarkets across the UK, Ireland and EU with no stock issues.
Until the end of 2022, when I started getting an overwhelming number of emails, comments and DM’s from people. Asking if I knew what was going on with Pantene Defined Curls Mousse because they could no longer find it. At the time, I thought this was just a repeat of what happened a few years ago, and no need to panic.
It’s only been since March 2023 that I’ve found it difficult to source Pantene Defined Curls Mousse. A few years ago when rumours first started circulating, and again in more recent months, I had been stocking up on my holy grail, cult and forever favourite hair styling mousse – of all time. Because I just can’t imagine ever not having a few cans of my beloved Pantene Defined Curls Mousse.
But I reached out to Pantene directly and finally got confirmation that yes, all our fears are true. And Pantene Defined Curls Mousse has been discontinued! I don’t know what to say, other than in all the ways, it’s literally an end of an era! Here’s what they said:
“I’m afraid that it’s true that our Defined Curl Mousse has now been discontinued. It’s never easy for us to make a decision like this, but when it’s time for a product to be discontinued, this comes after an assessment of consumer demand, consumer research, and purchasing patterns.”
– direct correspondence from Pantene UK
Testing & Comparing Other Mousses
I know so many of you have been asking me what to use instead. One of the reasons I loved Pantene Defined Curls Mousse so much, was because it gave consistent results every washday. There was nothing in the formula that would weigh the hair down, or dry it out. And it played really well with so many other styling products and was incredibly affordable!
Over the last couple of months I’ve been trying out countless other mousses to compare and try to find a like-for-like replacement. But there’s only so many times a week I can wash my hair, and I’ve got almost 20 different mousses to try, so it’s taking some time.
But I thought it would be helpful to share with you the criteria I’m looking at when testing and comparing these new mousses to the Pantene Defined Curls Mousse. Because it’s not all about the ingredients or results.
- Ingredients – are they similar, do they contain some if not most of the same ingredients?
- Formula – the ingredients might be the same, but are they formulated in a similar way? Eg: the order of ingredients. The higher up the list, the more of that ingredient there is.
- Consistency – is the texture and consistency of the mousse the same? The biggest thing here is people (and brands) often call a foam a mousse. But they are two completely different products, formulas and consistencies!
- Results – are my results the same as they are when I use Pantene Defined Curls Mousse? Are they as defining and long-lasting? Does it give the same hold? Some images in this post are from Pantene Defined Curls Mousse, other images are from the new mousse I’ve discovered that is the best like-for-like replacement. Can you tell the difference?
- Compatibility – does it play well with other styling products?
- Longevity – if I use it consistently, washday after washday, will it dry my hair out, weigh it down, cause any scalp issues etc? Does it still look good on day 2 and 3, as it did on washday?
- Price – Pantene Defined Curls Mousse was incredibly affordable! Ideally I want to find a replacement that is around the same price point.
Ingredients: Aqua, Propane, Polyquaternium-4, Butane, Isobutane, Propylene Glycol, C9-11 Pareth-8, DMDM Hydantoin, Parfum, Disodium EDTA, Panthenyl Ethyl Ether, Panthenol, Hexyl Cinnamal, Hydroxycitronellal, Citric Acid
Pantene defined curls mousse
What to use instead of Pantene Defined Curls Mousse?
Herbal Essence Totally Twisted Mousse
Herbal Essence Totally Twisted Curl Boosting Mousse has long been the best like-for-like replacement for the Pantene Defined Curls Mousse. It’s not available everywhere though, I think mostly/just in the USA and Canada.
But it meets all the criteria of my testing and comparison. The ingredients, formula, consistency and results are almost identical. It plays really well with other styling products and can be used consistently in the long-term without any issues, and it’s affordable.
So if it’s available where you are, I recommend switching to that. However, in conversations I’ve had with some of you recently. I’ve heard that the ingredients and formula of the Herbal Essence Totally Twisted Mousse has changed as well!
And many of you are saying you’re not getting the same results. Please comment on the post and let me (and other readers) know if it’s still available where you are, or if you’ve noticed a change in formula.
Ingredients: Water, Isobutane, Propane, Polyquaternium-4, Fragrance, Crassula Angustifolia Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract (Lavender), Propylene Glycol, C9-11 Pareth-8, DMDM Hydantoin, Disodium EDTA, Citric Acid
Herbal Essence totally twisted curl boosting mousse
Umberto Giannini Curl Whip Mousse
The Umberto Giannini Curl Whip Mousse is the most like-for-like replacement for the discontinued Pantene Defined Curls Mousse that I’ve found (so far). In terms of consistency, results, compatibility, longevity and price! So it’s an absolute winner for me, and hopefully it will be for so many others too.
It’s not strictly curly girl friendly. As it contains a water-soluble silicone, which is quite high up the ingredients list. But so long as you’re clarifying regularly, as I recommend in my Curl Maven Method, this shouldn’t be an issue with consistent, long-term use.
Ingredients: Aqua, VP/VA Copolymer, Butane, Isobutane, Propane, PEG-12 Dimethicone, Phenoxyethanol, Polyquaternium-11, Propylene glycol, Polysorbate 20, Parfum, Cocamidopropylamine Oxide, Ethylhexglycerin, Citric acid, Benzophenone-4, Coumarin, Alpha-Isomethyl ionone Linalool
Umberto Giannini Curl Whip Mousse
As you can see, the Umberto Giannini Curl Whip Mousse has given me incredible frizz-free definition, curl clumps, ringlets and shine. But looking at these side by side pictures, is it just me, or do my curls look even more defined where I’ve used the Umberto Giannini Curl Whip Mousse than the Pantene Defined Curls Mousse?
I did the exact same washday routine, used all the same products, techniques and cycle. It was literally JUST the mousse that I switched! I even wore the same hair and makeup to see if anyone would notice the difference. So let me know what you think in the comments…
The Umberto Giannini Curl Whip Mousse plays really well with lots of other styling products. For a medium hold with lots of frizz control and shine, I paired it with the much-loved, used and recommended, Umberto Giannini Scrunching Curl Jelly. Which I used for both washdays.
If you shop at LOOKFANTASTIC (who ship worldwide) you can get 20% off Umberto Giannini Curl Whip Mousse using code CURLMAVEN. Making it almost the same price as the Pantene Defined Curls Mousse, I think there’s €1 or £1 in the difference. Umberto Giannini is often 3 for 2 at Boots as well.
Let’s Test Together!
I’ve had so many conversations with lots of you in the last few weeks. All devastated (and panicking!) that the Pantene Defined Curls Mousse has been discontinued. We’re running out, on our last can and are frantically trying to find a replacement.
So I thought, let’s test together! If you’ve tried mousses that have or haven’t worked for you, share your results and recommendations in the comments on this post, so we can all figure this out together.
Let me know if I should do a post on the mousses I’ve tried that haven’t worked for my hair. Or given me the results I was looking for, when compared to the Pantene Defined Curls Mousse, or even the Umberto Giannini Curl Whip Mousse! – don’t forget to use code CURLMAVEN for 20% off at LOOKFANTASTIC!
I’ve already tried quite a few and have my thoughts. If you think it would be helpful, then I’ll happily write a post. But let me know x
I’m sorry it took me so long to get this post out amidst all the panic. Testing takes time, and I didn’t want to publish anything until I had an alternative mousse to recommend for you. I’m absolutely delighted that the one I found is affordable AND my 20% discount code CURLMAVEN works on it at LOOKFANTASTIC!
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I loved the Pantene mousse! But now I’ve been using the Shockwaves Volume mousse and I love it just as much – great results and so easy, no build up either! ❤️
Endless thanks for your hard work. I’ll be ordering Umberto Giannini Curl Whip Mousse today. I was living in the UK and am now in the US. As I wasn’t able to find any Pantene here once I returned here, I started getting Herbal Essence Totally Twisted Curl Boosting Mousse. Then I noticed, with sheer panic, that their packaging and product was changing. It’s almost too much for a curly to take. I also have 25 years of consistent results with Pantene. I actually dispensed nearly an entire bottle of the “new” Pantene mousse into a sink in anger over its pathetic results. And any Pantene girl knows you wouldn’t do that with the holy grail product unless it was changed. I will be trying Umberto Giannini as soon as it arrives. Thank you, thank you.
Thanks for the recommendation- I’ve got a bottle of the curl whip in the cupboard and this has persuaded me to give it another try- my results weren’t great first time round!
Since the departure of Pantene I’ve discovered the wella shockwaves volume (number 5) mousse and have been finding it’s giving me even better results than the Pantene used to (which I absolutely loved!) Also budget friendly!
Thank you for this post ! You read all of our minds. When the pantene mousse became obsolete I then switched to another recommendation of yours- the Treluxe serum. I have been loving that as it works beautifully to define. I have been following you for many years and your advice & wisdom never disappoint. Thank you for all you do !
I would be interested to hear your thoughts on the Wella curl mousse (Professionals Care EIMI Nutricurls Boost Bounce Curl) please.
Both as a comparison and generally, as I have gotten on with it pretty well.
Thanks!
Yes please, PLEASE do the post with mousses that haven’t worked for you. It would be so helpful just to have examples to compare other formulas to.
Have you tried the Pantene Pro-V soft curls?
The new mousse that they’ve launched as a replacement? Not yet!
I did try this one and my results weren’t good. It was definitely too soft for my hair.
I agree waste of money
Have you tried the new innersense “I create definition”? I think that is next on my list to try. Curious your thoughts on it.
Yes, I just posted a review and my recommendations for it about 2 weeks ago, see my older posts x
I’ve been using Totally Twisted since May 2022 after my curl clinic with you (I could never find Pantene). I have not noticed any change in the formula. I can still find it in the DC/VA/MD area in the US. Thanks for all you do for the curl community!!
I mentioned on your IG post that Umberto Giannini products aren’t readily available in Canada where I live. At least I can’t find them. I tried the Curl Jelly as it was in a Winners store, very reasonably priced (Like a TK Maxx, I think where you live). It made my head itch terribly. I think it may have been the scent. Even if I could get the mousse here I fear I’d have the same problem.
Can’t get the Wella one either, as well have to order Innersense and Treluxe. It’s very frustrating, lol.
I was using a Joico mousse but it’s not specifically for curly hair, and I even bought an extra tin. Used it forever, but lately I think it’s weighing down my curls.
Currently trying Ouidad ACC gel (red bottle). Not enough hold.
I’ve really run into an issue lately with styling products, lol.
I’ll be interested to see if anyone suggests anything that is easier to purchase in Canada. Pantene was available everywhere! I’m tired of paying shipping, duty and exchange on products; gets pricey.
I don’t really get too caught up if something is “specifically” designed for curly hair. Most brands think curly hair just needs a tonne of heavy, rich, creamy products – not true. And other brands like Innersense Organic Beauty have some of the best products on the market and technically only 2 of their products were designed for curly hair! However, Umberto Giannini should be available in Canada via the LOOKFANTASTIC site, and my code is valid. I hope that helps x
Not your mothers curl talk mousse works better than anything for me , curious if you e tried, I think it def comes down to what works for your hair!
I can’t seem to find the Totally Twisted in stores or on their website. There’s a curl boosting but it doesn’t look like it has the same ingredients as listed above. Is anyone else having this issue?
Hi there! You can usually find Herbal Essences Totally Twisted Mousse on Amazon in the US. Herbal Essences has two new mousse that have replaced the Totally Twisted line. One is called Curl Boosting and the other is Volumizing.
Thank you for doing all this work (and buying all those mousses) to help us find a replacement mousse. May I ask what the smell of the Umberto Giannini mousse is like?
Aww thank you so much. It smells like…my teenage years…I don’t know how to describe it. But everything about the packaging and scent feels like it’s been designed for a teenager. Someone else commented on Instagram that they don’t like the scent. I’ll admit, it’s quite strong at first, but it doesn’t linger. I have used some hair products in the past where the scent lingers right until the next washday, and it isn’t like that. It’s kind of sweet, floral with a hint of bubble gum….?
Thank you for your reply. The fact that the scent doesn’t linger is reassuring, I think I’ll try a tin when my (little) stock of Pantene runs out. Thanks again.
Hi, there. Thanks so much for all the work and money you put into this. I live in the US and can’t seem to find the Totally Twisted, Umberto Giannini or the Wella Shockwaves ones. I did try to go to the Canadian Look Fantastic site as well as the company websites and can’t find them there either. I’m willing to try the Innersense and Treluxe brands. I typically follow the LMG method. Do these products have the same effect as the old Pantene does? I’ve never tried a serum really. Thanks again!!
Hi there! You can usually find Herbal Essences Totally Twisted Mousse on Amazon in the US. Herbal Essences has two new mousse that have replaced the Totally Twisted line. One is called Curl Boosting and the other is Volumizing. I recently saw those two at Target.
This is wild. The Umberto Giannini Curl Whip Mousse isn’t available on Look Fantastic or Amazon for the US.
And I’m a freak who can’t seem to get Treluxe to work for me. Argh.
Oh no!! Have you tried the Herbal Essence Totally Twisted Mousse? That is easily accessible in the US.
The Totally Twisted has been discontinued, too. They now have Curl Boosting but it doesn’t have the same ingredients. I emailed Herbal Essences and they confirmed they no longer have Totally Twisted. Thanks!
oh no, that’s disappointing because that was such a great mousse! Thanks so much for the info though, really helpful!
Has the Umberto Giannini Curl Whip Mousse been discontinuee? Can’t find it anywhere!
I tried the Herbal Essences Twisted Mousse with Ouidad Climate Control gel and am very pleased with the results. I can’t compare to the Pantene because I never used it. I’m excited to see how my second day hair will be tomorrow. Thank you for the recommendation. For those looking in the US I found it on Amazon.
Umberto Giannini Cutl whip
Is awful on my hair! I am still trying all sorts of mouses and still can’t find one like Pantene no 5
It looks like wella and tresseme are the closest ones when it comes to ingredients. Praying I find a match soon
So sorry it’s not working for you, I feel the same way about Not Your Mother’s Nature Curl Talk Mousse, it took me a solid month of clarifying my hair weekly to get whatever is in that stuff, out of my hair. I tried a Wella mousse last washday and didn’t find the results great at all, so it’s really about finding what works for you. However, make sure you’ve clarified recently, and you’re using the right products, nothing that’s too rich, heavy or moisturizing for your hair. In order to get the best results from your styling products.
Umberto Giannini Curl Whip is awful on my hair too!
I have just discovered the Wella Deluxe Definition and Protection mousse and am so relieved after trying so many mousses and gels! I was dismayed when Pantene discontinued their mousse, which I used for many years but I actually think the Wella Deluxe is better and is great for my frizzy, unruly curls. I’m just praying that this one never gets discontinued!
Thanks so much for all this help. Have tried the umberto curl whip mousse and scrunch jelly together, dried using a diffuser and was impressed with the crunchy cast so was so excited to see the next morning. Its just not the same for me unfortunately my hair felt very dry and stray like by the end of the day, tried just the mousse again on the next wash day and still the same. My hair also felt very matty while washing so did a cleanse with the Sunday shampoo. Have just used the last of my pantene now this evening and I’m devastated have the shock waves to try on next wash day so fingers crossed
I literally just came on here to see if what I suspected is true I’ve just run out of my Pantene Defined Curls mousse and couldn’t find it in any of the shops! I’m so sad! Thank you for recommending it in the first place and for putting in all that work to find a substitute. They say change is good but I’m not feeling it!!
Thanks so much for posting this! It’s super helpful. I’ve been using the Tresemme Volumizing mousse for 15+ years. They just changed the formula & it is awful. The old ingredients made my curls so soft. The new formula makes my hair frizzy & it feels like straw.
I’ve been trying out new brands but sadly nothing seems to compare. It sounds like several different mousse brands all changed formulas around the same time.
Glad to hear that this post helped you! Hopefully you find something that your hair likes, soon!
I’m in the US. Looks like all of these products have been discontinued. I can’t get the Umberto Giannini here either. I don’t know what to use or what to try. My hair is not looking great and I’m so disappointed. I can’t seem to get more than one or if I’m lucky 2 days of nice curls. I’m so frustrated. I tried the Tres Luxe styling serum and it just doesn’t give me the curls I’m used to. Are there any other mousse products that might work?
Have you tried the new Herbal Essence mousses? They have two new ones, Curl Boosting and Volumizing. I saw them at Target recently.
I would highly recommend Wella Deluxe Definition and Protection mousse. I have tried so many mousses and gels after Pantene discontinued their mousse and all of them have been unsuitable for my frizzy, unruly curls.
The Wella Deluxe mousse is in my opinion even better than the Pantene discontinued Mousse and has done wonders for my curls!