In this post I break down my top 5 foams for wavy + curly hair, and what results you can expect from each. So you know which one to buy to give you the best results for your hair type, and the look you want to achieve.
I don’t know about you, but it seems like every brand is launching a hair styling foam lately. So I wanted to cut through all the noise and new product marketing, to give you my top 5 foams for wavy + curly hair.
All of the foams in this post contain protein, which is key for long-lasting definition. As protein not only defines a wave and a curl, but it also gives it strength, so it holds better, for longer. But not all foams are the same, or give the same results.
Styling foams for wavy and curly hair are making a huge come-back. They were traditionally formulated to create volume, body and texture in the hair. But didn’t give much hold, and the formulas were often quite drying. Which can have it’s benefits, and I’ll get into that later in this post. But the styling foams now are more hydrating and defining than ever. And some even give medium to strong hold!
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My Top 5 Foams for Wavy + Curly Hair
There are lots of reviews here on curlmaven.ie that include foams from various different brands. My opinions, tips and recommendations from those reviews still stand. I just wanted to give you my top 5 foams for wavy + curly hair, along with my application tips and styling combination recommendations.
For those of you who’ve asked for more of a comparison between my favourite hair styling foams, new launches and some of the most popular foams for wavy and curly hair. And as you’ll see from the images throughout this post, the results between the foams can be very different!
Just a quick note: mousses and foams are two completely different products. With different textures, formulas and ingredients. A mousse – which comes in an aerosol can – will generally give you more definition, hydration, shine and hold.
A foam – which comes in a pump bottle – is generally more light weight and will give you more volume, body, texture and often thicker, juicier definition but with a little less shine and hold – sometimes.
The Most Affordable Foam:
Giovanni Hair Styling Foam
Let’s start off my top 5 foams for wavy + curly hair with the most affordable one shall we? The Giovanni Hair Styling Foam has been a long-time favourite and featured on the blog many times. I’ve been using it for years!
It’s super-affordable and very user-friendly. It’s not as concentrated as a lot of the newer foams on the market, which means you may need to use more. But it’s very lightweight, and contains protein which is great for long-lasting definition.
The Giovanni Hair Styling Foam is a traditional foam suitable for all hair types that gives volume, body and texture. On my hair, the curl definition is a little looser and elongated, but it still gives juicy, frizz-free curl clumps. It can be a little drying on the hair, but it’s perfect if your hair is soft, fine, fluffy and/or over-moisturized or easily weighed down.
It works really well with lots of other styling products. But my favourite styling combo is Giovanni Direct Leave In Conditioner, Giovanni Hair Styling Foam followed by Giovanni LA Hold Gel.
Or pair it with the Aveda Liquid Confixor Gel if your hair is super fine, easily weighed down or over-moisturized. I use 9-12 pumps for all my hair, about 3-4 pumps/section. Get 20% off all those products at LOOKFANTASTIC using code CURLMAVEN.
The Most Volumizing Foam:
Innersense I Create Lift Volumizing Foam
Another long-time favourite of mine is the Innersense I Create Lift Volumizing Foam. Not only does it give great root lift and volume, but definition and curl clumps too. It contains protein, but doesn’t dry out the hair. The perfect light weight styling product if you have fine or wavy hair. But works equally as well on thicker, curly and coily hair too. I use 9-12 pumps for all my hair, about 3-4 pumps/section.
Innersense I Create Lift Volumizing Foam plays really well with lots of other styling products. Pair it with I Create Volume for lots of volume and root lift, or if your hair is super fine and even gels are too heavy and weigh it down.
Or layer your favourite gel on top for volume, definition and hold. Read this review if you’re curious about how it compares with Innersense’s newest launch, I Create Definition Styling Foam, which is protein-free.
Use code CURLMAVEN to get 15% off your first order on the Innersense website in the US. Or 10% off at Curl Warehouse in Canada, The Clean Beauty Edit in Ireland/EU and Kiyo Beauty in the UK.
The Most Defining Foam:
Bouclème Super Volumising Foam
I’ve been waiting for Bouclème to come out with a mousse or foam for years! I felt it was the only product missing from their styling range. Launched in May 2023, Bouclème came out with one of the best foams for wavy and curly hair on the market! And my favourite for refreshing when I want to redefine my waves and curls in between washdays.
The Bouclème Super Volumising Foam is incredible! I was blown away from the first time I used it and every washday and refresh since. It’s the most defining foam I’ve tried, with volume and root lift, but also some grit and texture to it (in a good way). It contains protein, which gives amazing long-lasting definition. But it can be a little drying on the hair if you use too much. So I don’t rinse my conditioner out fully, or use a leave in conditioner first.
It’s very concentrated so you don’t need much, I use 6-8 pumps for all my hair, about 2-3 pumps/section. It plays well with other styling products. If your hair is fine, easily weighed down, or a little dry, I recommend applying the Bouclème Curl Defining Gel after the Bouclème Super Volumising Foam.
This will give you hydration that isn’t heavy, lightweight hold, volume, shine and long-lasting definition. Get 20% off Bouclème at LOOKFANTASTIC using code CURLMAVEN.
The Most Hydrating Foam:
Flora & Curl Curl Volumizing Foam
I love and adore the Flora & Curl Curl Volumizing Foam so much! It’s the most hydrating foam on the market, despite containing protein, which is great for long-lasting curl definition. It gives incredible smooth, frizz-free definition and shine. If you’re looking for big, thick, juicy curl clumps and definition. But in a lightweight formula that doesn’t dry out the hair, or weigh it down – then this is the foam for you!
If your hair tends to be a little soft, fluffy or over-moisturized, the Flora + Curl Volumizing Foam might be too hydrating for you to use consistently long term, washday after washday. It plays really well with loads of other styling products. Although it’s called a Volumizing Foam, I think it’s much more defining than it is volumizing.
You can get 20% off Flora & Curl at LOOKFANTASTIC using code CURLMAVEN. Or if you’re in the USA, you can purchase the Flora & Curl Volumizing Foam on Amazon.
The Most Drying Foam:
Curlsmith Bouncy Strength Volume Foam
Okay let me start by saying, I’ve listed the Curlsmith Bouncy Strength Volume Foam as the most drying. But it’s still one of my top 5 foams for wavy + curly hair, so it isn’t necessarily a bad thing. It’s probably the best foam for wavy and curly hair if you have soft, fluffy, over-moisturized hair that won’t hold a wave or curl for very long.
Curlsmith Bouncy Strength Volume Foam has the most protein in it out of my 5 top foams for wavy + curly hair. It’s the fourth ingredient, which is why it can be so drying for some. And why it’s so great for over-moisturized hair that needs protein. I don’t find that it gives my hair that much volume though.
The Curlsmith Bouncy Strength Volume Foam plays well with other styling products. If you love the definition it gives, but want to avoid the dryness when used consistently.
I recommend applying a leave in conditioner first. Then pairing it with a lightweight, hydrating gel, such as the Bouclème Curl Defining Gel. Or the Curlsmith Fragrance Free Shine Gel or Flexi Jelly.
You can get 20% off Curlsmith at LOOKFANTASTIC using code CURLMAVEN.
Comparing All Five Foams
So let me compare my top 5 foams for wavy + curly hair, which might help if you’re still not sure which one would be best for your hair. They all contain protein, listed in order from the most to the least amount of protein: Curlsmith, Flora + Curl, Bouclème, Innersense and Giovanni.
The Innersense and Giovanni foams are probably the most user-friendly. Because they contain less protein, are less drying with long-term use and aren’t as concentrated as the others. I love the Flora + Curl Foam for the juicy curl clumps and definition it gives my hair.
But it can be a little too hydrating for my hair long-term. The Curlsmith Foam gives very similar results to the Flora & Curl, but not as hydrating and can be a little too drying for my hair long-term.
The Bouclème Super Volumising Foam is defining and gives my hair body, volume and texture. I find my hair is fine when I use it washday after washday. But it sits right in the middle in terms of protein, so that’s probably why. The same for the Innersense I Create Lift Volumizing Foam, so those are the two foams I can use consistently with no issues.
I can’t wait to hear what you think of this post! I really hope you have found it helpful in finding out what foam will work best for your wavy and curly hair. Or maybe understand why one of these foams may not be working for you. Let me know in the comments which one is your favourite, and what styling combo you use with it too.
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