Styling mousse first came on the scene back in the 80s when big hair was the thing. Janet Jackson and Whitney Houston were the ladies who set the hair trends back then. If you see pictures of your mom from the 80s, you will see the waterfall bangs and curls. Hairstyles were teased, fried, and crunchy. It was a cool look, then. It’s not cool now. Hair trends and the products we use have changed over the decades.
NOT YOUR MOMMA’S HAIR MOUSSE | TIPS ON MASTERING HAIR MOUSE
Maya Smith, International Master of Natural Curls and founder of The Doux®, a haircare line she created specifically for naturally curly hair, has seen the evolution of mousse from the very beginning to now. We caught up with Maya and scored some fantastic tips and insights to help you know which ingredients to look for and how to best use mousse to maximize your modern style.
Q: First, to get things clear, what is the purpose of mousse? How has it changed from when you first saw it back in the day? What is the main difference between the mousse we see today and those from the 80s and 90s? Were they intended for different kinds of styles and textures?
A: When I started in the industry, the 90’s hair was in full effect. Naturally, curly girls used mousse to create the Hillary Banks (Fresh Prince of Bel-Air) “wet” look. For volume, you can use a diffuser to get the hair to stand up at the roots. The visual results were fantastic, but if you tried to re-style your hair once it is dried, you could be in big trouble! While we only used mousse on curly weaves, extensions, and wigs, this wasn’t even an option for girls with super-tight curls or kinky textures. These days mousse is more popular than ever if you want to achieve definition and shine; Mousse is no longer used for height with a stiff overall look. It now gives a much softer look with movement.
Q: What are some ingredients to look for? What’s good and what should be avoided?
A: Always look at the ingredients when shopping for products because this can make a big difference. Elements such as sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS), Isopropyl, and Polyene cause breakage and dry your hair. The best way to achieve healthy hair is to have that balance between protein and moisture.
Q: What causes that crunch, and what were some of the problems with the mousse options that inspired you to create your own? Can mousse be combined with other products? What are the benefits of combining products and steps?
A: It’s common for the mousse to be combined with gel or cream because most mousses on the market contain alcohol to make the hair dry faster. They are also polymer rich, which creates a sticky coating on the hair, much like hairspray, which can leave hair feeling dry and stiff. We formulated our Mousse Def as an all-in-one solution for this problem. It creates the shine and definition of a mousse yet leaves hair soft and touchable with no flaking.
Q: How does mousse compare to gels and balms? Are gels a thing of the past? Can a cream be used in place of a mousse?
A: Mousse and gels are water-based products that contain polymers and holding agents that “stiffen” the hair shaft to hold the hair in place. On the other hand, balms, pomades, and control pastes are emulsions, a mix of oils and water. The Doux’s Bonita Afro Balm is an emulsion developed for moisture and softness that also contains a small amount of polymer for a softer, more flexible hold.
Q: Finally, are Salon or Professional brands worth the money? Do they contain better ingredients?
A: Yes. Products formulated for salon use typically contain higher-quality ingredients. They also have less water and fillers, so you get a more concentrated product with longer-standing results.
Q: What other advice can you offer to girls with natural curls who want to mix up their hairstyles?
A: Try something new. Gone are when heavy pomades and gels were your only styling options. Girls with natural curls deserve to enjoy lighter products that are easy to apply and create bounce and movement. Maximizing your natural God-given hair is what’s popular now.
NOT YOUR MOMMA’S HAIR MOUSSE | TIPS ON MASTERING HAIR MOUSSE
About Maya Smith: Maya Smith is an International Master Stylist and Founder of The Doux Salon and haircare line now available in Target. With over two decades of styling experience, Maya dedicated two decades to cracking the code on curl care, maintenance, and expert styling. Regarding caring for one’s natural hair and styling it, according to NaturallyCurly, Maya is among the best.
While still in high school, Maya got her hair-cutting license and graduated from beauty school. Soon after graduating high school, Maya began following her passion and worked as an assistant for celebrity stylist Tracy Johnson. She learned from Johnson and progressed as a hair stylist for celebrities and entertainers. Years later, the military wife relocated to Germany, where Maya opened up her first salon, The HoneyComb, a mecca for textured hair care for women from all over Europe, The UK, and Africa. Maya’s unique system of textured hair styling sparked the development of The DOUX® hair care products, first launched overseas and distributed throughout Germany, France, Italy, and the Netherlands.
Currently, Maya leads a carefully selected team of stylists at The DOUX® Salon in Macon, Georgia, and celebrated the arrival of The DOUX® in select Target stores nationwide. Maya Smith, wife, mom of 5, and savvy businesswoman, is an example for women of color and all women who believe their gifts can impact the world, striving for entrepreneurial endeavors with grace, ease, and hustle.
