Umberto Giannini Curl Whip Mousse Review

When it was finally confirmed that Pantene Defined Curls Mousse was being discontinued, I began the search for a mousse that would replace such an iconic, cult-favourite styling product for wavy + curly hair.

I’ve been using the Pantene Defined Curls Mousse for almost 25 years, so it’s been difficult. Here’s my Umberto Giannini Curl Whip Mousse Review – which is the closest thing in terms of consistency, results, compatibility, longevity and price!

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). So it’s an absolute winner for me, and hopefully it will be for so many others too.

Umberto Giannini Curl Whip Mousse Review

The Umberto Giannini Curl Whip Mousse Review is 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

Frizz Free Definition + Shine

As you can see from the images throughout this review, 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…

How to apply Umberto Giannini Curl Whip Mousse

If you hair feels a little dry at the ends, either don’t rinse your conditioner out fully or use a small amount of leave in conditioner. Then apply 3-4 golf ball sized amounts of Umberto Giannini Curl Whip Mousse to your hair, glazing it from the ends upwards.

Because it’s slightly heavier and contains water soluble silicones, I only don’t apply it to my roots, but glaze it upwards until I’m about an inch away from my roots. Then smooth down either using your hands in the praying hands or praying claw method. Or you can use a Denman cushioned paddle brush, or similar. Then scrunch up to enhance curl definition and apply a gel.

Pantene vs Umberto Giannini Curl Whip Mousse

One of the great things about the Pantene Defined Curls Mousse was you could put as much of that mousse into your hair without causing white flakes when it dried, or weighing the hair down. The more mousse the better! Pantene Defined Curls Mousse also gave incredible, gel-like hard hold.

I’ve found neither of those things with the Umberto Giannini Curl Whip Mousse. Because of the water soluble silicone quite high up the ingredients list, you can’t put loads of Curl Whip Mousse into the hair. Especially if it’s fine and easily weighed down. I’ve found 3-4 golf ball sized amounts is what works best for my hair. Any more than that and it gets weighed down.

Umberto Giannini Curl Whip Mousse doesn’t give the same hold that the Pantene Defined Curls Mousse gave, so I recommend following with a gel if you want that extra, hard hold. Adding gel is part of my LMG Styling Method using a leave in conditioner, mousse + gel. The gel also helps to create thick, juicy curl clumps, as well as frizz control, hold + shine.

Umberto Giannini Curl Scrunching Jelly

I used the Umberto Giannini Curl Scrunching Jelly for this washday. It’s such a great, budget friendly gel! It gives medium-strong hold, doesn’t weigh the hair down and plays well with lots of other styling products. If you want more body and volume than what I’ve got in these images, pair it with the Innersense I Create Lift Volumizing Foam or Bouclème Super Volumising Foam instead of the Curl Whip Mousse (which gives more definition).

You can get 20% off Umberto Giannini at LOOKFANTASTIC or the brand is often 3 for 2 at Boots in the UK + Ireland. You can get 20% off Bouclème at LOOKFANTASTIC too and Maven Market for where you can get up to 15% off Innersense Organic Beauty wherever you are in the world.

Let me know if you’ve tried the Umberto Giannini Curl Whip Mousse as a replacement to the Pantene Defined Curls Mousse or if you’ve found a better replacement. I’m absolutely delighted that the one I’ve found is affordable AND my 20% discount code CURLMAVEN works on it at LOOKFANTASTIC!

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! 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

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