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Redken

Root Lifter Volumizing Spray Foam - 10.58 oz

Styler / Mousse, medium-hold

  • Styler
  • mousse
  • aerosol
  • Sulfate-free
  • Lightweight
  • Not cruelty-free · PETA-listed
Size10.58 fl oz
Price$30seen at one store · 10.58 oz
Price / oz$2.84/ozat 10.58 oz

Scent:

The ingredient list declares fragrance. What it smells of is not stated, and we do not guess.

Strength: Light

Listing used for research: ulta.com

Personal fit

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Upper-mid price for a mouss

$2.84/oz at 10.58 oz — more than 55% of the 138 mousses , which mostly run $1.54–4.12/oz. The cost less.

Price and stores

Great for

Curl definitionfilm formers hold a clump together
Fine hairthat flattens under most products
Soft-hold stylesthat should stay touchable
Very dry hairno fast-drying alcohol in the list

Maybe skip if

this product carries a light scent
Curly-method routinesthese silicones need a detergent to remove
Anyone who dislikes a castthe film formers here can set firm
Aerosol avoidancethis is a pressurised can
Vegan and cruelty-freeour record does not support both claims here
Tight budgetsit sits in the upper price tiers

Whether this hold level is right for you depends on your density, porosity, and how long your style has to last — that is what the consultation works out.

What the formula actually does

Read from the label, not the marketing

Each row says where it comes from: F means we derived it from this product’s own ingredient list, S means it is a claim the brand makes that the formula neither confirms nor contradicts.

Hold (as stated) Medium

A medium hold, as stated by the brand.

Hold system Synthetic polymer

Synthetic hold polymers — the firmest of the hold systems.

Cast risk Likely

Film formers without much softening them — expect a cast to scrunch out.

Weight on the hair Light

Water-first and light: unlikely to flatten fine hair.

Oil absorption None

No absorbent powders or starches.

Oils and butters None

No oils or butters in the list.

Fast-drying alcohol None

No fast-drying alcohol in the list.

Needs detergent to remove Yes

Water-insoluble silicones or waxes: a detergent wash is what removes them.

Fragrance Present

Fragrance is listed; it sits below the working ingredients.

from the formula stated by the brand reported by reviewers Scale: 1 dot low · 5 dots high, within this product type.

Ingredients that matter

The ingredients that change a decision

The workhorse ingredients plus anything lower down that changes a decision. These chips name what an ingredient does — they are not safety scores, and no ingredient here is rated good or bad on its own.

IngredientWhat it doesWhy it mattersChip
WaterAqua/Water/Eau solvent The base everything else is dissolved in Neutral
Hydrofluorocarbon 152a propellant Pushes the product out of the can Neutral
VP/VA Copolymer film former Lays down the film that holds a shape Holds
Butane propellant Pushes the product out of the can Neutral
Phenoxyethanol preservative Keeps the product from spoiling Stabilizes
Decyl Glucoside nonionic cleanser Cleanses
AMP-Acrylates/Allyl Methacrylate Copolymer film former A supporting film former Holds
Polyacrylamide film former A supporting film former Holds
FragranceParfum/Fragrance fragrance The scent Fragrance
Amodimethicone silicone A little smoothing and shine Buildup
Hexyl Cinnamal fragrance The scent Fragrance
Linalool fragrance The scent Fragrance
What the list leaves out, and what it carriesNo sulfates or drying alcohols. Contains fragrance. The silicones here need a detergent wash to come off. Pressurised aerosol.
Full ingredient list (25)

US labelling rules put ingredients above 1% in descending order of amount; below 1% they may be listed in any order. Annotations keep three readings separate: the ingredient's general function, its role in this product type, and what its position can support.

  • 1 Water · Aqua/Water/Eau
    General function

    The base of almost every rinse-off and cream hair product. It carries everything else and is normally the first ingredient on the label.

    Leading ingredient

    Listed in the first three ingredients, it is likely a structural part of this formula.

    • solvent
  • 2 Hydrofluorocarbon 152a
    General function

    A non-flammable aerosol propellant used in dry shampoos and finishing sprays.

    Leading ingredient

    Listed in the first three ingredients, it is likely a structural part of this formula.

    PubChem
    • propellant
  • 3 VP/VA Copolymer
    General function

    A hold polymer that dries to a clear film. It sets the style and washes out with water.

    Leading ingredient

    Listed in the first three ingredients, it is likely a structural part of this formula.

    May suitClimate-sensitive or frizz-prone hair

    A set polymer film is a physical barrier to humidity, so a style keeps its shape longer in damp conditions.

    May suitMaximum-hold styling

    Synthetic film formers dry into a continuous film, which is what holds a shape against movement and against humid air.

    DependsBuild-up-sensitive routines

    Some acrylate copolymers rinse with water and some need a detergent; the label alone does not say which one a formula used.

    • film former
    • polymer
  • 4 Butane
    General function

    A pressurised gas that pushes an aerosol out of the can and evaporates immediately.

    Supporting ingredient

    Listed in positions 4–8, it likely makes a meaningful contribution alongside the formula's main ingredients.

    PubChem
    • propellant
  • Below about this point, order stops being meaningful — these are typically used at 1% or less.
  • 5 Phenoxyethanol
    General function

    The most common modern preservative; it keeps the product free of bacteria and mould. It sits well below 1% of the formula.

    Estimated lower-concentration zone

    It appears around or below the estimated 1% line, where label order no longer indicates relative amount; its role may be minor or technical.

    PubChem
    • preservative
  • 6 Decyl Glucoside
    General function

    A sugar-derived, low-foam cleanser used in gentle and curly-method shampoos.

    Estimated lower-concentration zone

    It appears around or below the estimated 1% line, where label order no longer indicates relative amount; its role may be minor or technical.

    May suitDry, coarse, or high-porosity hair

    Mild cleansing leaves more surface lubrication in place on hair that dries out quickly.

    May suitVery dry or highly damaged hair

    A sugar-derived non-ionic detergent, among the gentlest in use. It cleanses with little foam of its own and little sebum removal.

    May not suitBuild-up-sensitive routines

    Gentle cleansing leaves water-insoluble deposits largely in place; they come off with a stronger wash, not this one.

    PubChem
    • nonionic cleanser
    • cleanser
  • 7 AMP-Acrylates/Allyl Methacrylate Copolymer
    General function

    A hold polymer used for strong, humidity-resistant set in hairsprays.

    Estimated lower-concentration zone

    It appears around or below the estimated 1% line, where label order no longer indicates relative amount; its role may be minor or technical.

    May suitClimate-sensitive or frizz-prone hair

    A set polymer film is a physical barrier to humidity, so a style keeps its shape longer in damp conditions.

    May suitMaximum-hold styling

    Synthetic film formers dry into a continuous film, which is what holds a shape against movement and against humid air.

    DependsBuild-up-sensitive routines

    Some acrylate copolymers rinse with water and some need a detergent; the label alone does not say which one a formula used.

    • film former
    • polymer
  • 8 Polyacrylamide
    General function

    A thickening polymer that also leaves a light film, used in gels and styling creams.

    Estimated lower-concentration zone

    It appears around or below the estimated 1% line, where label order no longer indicates relative amount; its role may be minor or technical.

    May suitClimate-sensitive or frizz-prone hair

    A set polymer film is a physical barrier to humidity, so a style keeps its shape longer in damp conditions.

    May suitMaximum-hold styling

    Synthetic film formers dry into a continuous film, which is what holds a shape against movement and against humid air.

    DependsBuild-up-sensitive routines

    Some acrylate copolymers rinse with water and some need a detergent; the label alone does not say which one a formula used.

    • film former
    • polymer
    • thickener
  • 9 C13-14 Isoparaffin
    General function

    A light carrier used to spread silicones and polymers thinly.

    Estimated lower-concentration zone

    It appears around or below the estimated 1% line, where label order no longer indicates relative amount; its role may be minor or technical.

    May suitFrizz-prone, damaged, or high-friction hair

    Emollients fill and smooth the surface of the strand, which lowers the friction that lifts the cuticle and reads as roughness.

    • emollient
    • solvent
  • 10 Fragrance · Parfum/Fragrance
    General function

    An undisclosed blend of scent ingredients. Regulations let it stay unlisted, so a fragrance-free product is the only way to be certain what is not in it.

    Estimated lower-concentration zone

    It appears around or below the estimated 1% line, where label order no longer indicates relative amount; its role may be minor or technical.

    May not suitFragrance-sensitive routines

    Declared fragrance. On a fragrance-sensitive routine this is the line that decides it, wherever it sits on the label.

    • fragrance
    • declared fragrance
  • 11 Ethylhexylglycerin
    General function

    A preservative booster that also adds a little softness. Almost always paired with phenoxyethanol.

    Estimated lower-concentration zone

    It appears around or below the estimated 1% line, where label order no longer indicates relative amount; its role may be minor or technical.

    May suitFrizz-prone, damaged, or high-friction hair

    Emollients fill and smooth the surface of the strand, which lowers the friction that lifts the cuticle and reads as roughness.

    PubChem
    • preservative
    • emollient
  • 12 Amodimethicone
    General function

    A silicone modified to stick where hair is damaged, so it smooths selectively instead of coating everything. It resists rinsing more than plain dimethicone.

    Estimated lower-concentration zone

    It appears around or below the estimated 1% line, where label order no longer indicates relative amount; its role may be minor or technical.

    May suitClimate-sensitive or frizz-prone hair

    A surface film slows how quickly humidity reaches the cortex, which is what limits swelling-driven frizz in damp air.

    May suitFrizz-prone, damaged, or high-friction hair

    Amino-functional silicone carries a positive charge, so it binds where the cuticle is worn rather than coating evenly. Damaged areas get most of it.

    May suitMaximum-hold styling

    Film formers are what hold a style: they dry into a connected film across the strands so the shape resists movement.

    International Journal of Trichology
    • silicone
    • conditioning agent
    • film former
  • 13 Laureth-7
    • emulsifier
    • solubilizer
  • 14 C11-15 Pareth-7
    • emulsifier
    • solubilizer
  • 15 Laureth-9
    • emulsifier
    • solubilizer
  • 16 Glycerin
    General function

    A small water-loving molecule that draws moisture into the hair and holds it there. It is the most common softening ingredient in conditioners and leave-ins.

    Estimated lower-concentration zone

    It appears around or below the estimated 1% line, where label order no longer indicates relative amount; its role may be minor or technical.

    May suitDry, coarse, or high-porosity hair

    High-porosity hair loses water fast; a humectant holds some of it in place for longer than the wash itself would.

    May suitVery dry or highly damaged hair

    Binds water into the outer layers of the strand, and water is what makes dry hair flexible again rather than brittle.

    DependsClimate-sensitive or frizz-prone hair

    Water moves both ways. Measured across concentrations, glycerin solutions give water up in some conditions and take it from the air in others. What it does for you depends on how much of it is there and on the air around it.

    Scientific Reports
    • humectant
  • 17 Trideceth-12
    • emulsifier
    • solubilizer
  • 18 Benzyl Alcohol
    • preservative
    • solvent
  • 19 Hexyl Cinnamal
    General function

    A jasmine-like fragrance component named separately as a recognised allergen.

    Estimated lower-concentration zone

    It appears around or below the estimated 1% line, where label order no longer indicates relative amount; its role may be minor or technical.

    May not suitFragrance-sensitive routines

    One of the 26 scent components the EU requires to be named individually above a threshold. It is named because it is a known contact allergen, not because it is unusual.

    PubChem
    • fragrance
    • named fragrance allergen
  • 20 Linalool
    General function

    A floral fragrance component listed separately as a recognised contact allergen.

    Estimated lower-concentration zone

    It appears around or below the estimated 1% line, where label order no longer indicates relative amount; its role may be minor or technical.

    May not suitFragrance-sensitive routines

    One of the 26 scent components the EU requires to be named individually above a threshold. It is named because it is a known contact allergen, not because it is unusual.

    PubChem
    • fragrance
    • named fragrance allergen
  • 21 Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein
    General function

    A wheat protein given a positive charge so it sticks to damaged areas. It conditions and adds temporary strength in one ingredient.

    Estimated lower-concentration zone

    It appears around or below the estimated 1% line, where label order no longer indicates relative amount; its role may be minor or technical.

    May suitFrizz-prone, damaged, or high-friction hair

    A cationic conditioning agent: it binds to the damaged, negatively charged parts of the cuticle and lowers combing friction there.

    May suitMaximum-hold styling

    Film formers are what hold a style: they dry into a connected film across the strands so the shape resists movement.

    May suitVery dry or highly damaged hair

    Hydrolysed fragments are small enough to sit in the gaps of a worn cuticle for a wash or two, temporarily restoring stiffness and cutting breakage in combing.

    • conditioning agent
    • film former
    • protein
    • hydrolysed protein
  • 22 Salicylic Acid
    • active
    • exfoliant
  • 23 Sorbic Acid
    • preservative
  • 24 Tocopherol
    • antioxidant
    • vitamin
  • 25 Citric Acid
    General function

    Used to bring the product to a slightly acidic pH, which helps the cuticle lie flat. It is almost always near the end of the list.

    Estimated lower-concentration zone

    It appears around or below the estimated 1% line, where label order no longer indicates relative amount; its role may be minor or technical.

    May suitBuild-up-sensitive routines

    Holds hard-water minerals in solution so they rinse away instead of depositing on the hair.

    May suitFrizz-prone, damaged, or high-friction hair

    The acid side of pH adjustment, and the reason it matters is measured: alkaline formulas raise the fibre's surface negative charge, increase friction between strands and lift the scales, while lower-pH ones do the reverse.

    May suitGray, silver, or brass-prone hair

    Where a warm cast comes from water minerals rather than from the hair itself, holding those metals in solution is what removes it.

    International Journal of Trichology
    • pH adjuster
    • hard-water chelator

What the whole list adds up to

  • 5 film formers
  • 4 preservatives
  • 4 emulsifiers
  • 4 solubilizers
  • 3 solvents
  • 3 polymers
  • 3 fragrances
  • 2 propellants
  • 2 emollients
  • 2 named fragrance allergens
  • 1 nonionic cleanser
  • 1 cleanser
  • 1 thickener
  • 1 declared fragrance

Ingredient list captured 2026-08-27. Formulas change — check the package in your hand when an ingredient matters to you.

Price · 10.58 oz

Seen at $30 1 store · checked Aug 30
Good value under $12 Under $1.10/oz it costs less than three-quarters of the 8 products we score as doing the same job

Priced above the products that do the same job. Stores sell it above the $12 line; products that do this job typically go for about $34 at this size.

Show the price ladder
Where we’ve seen it3 listings · 2 stores
  • Ulta
    $30.00
    10.58 oz · $2.84/oz
    Aug 25Lowest per oz
  • Ulta
    $30.00
    10.58 oz · $2.84/oz
    Aug 27
  • Ulta Beauty
    $30.00
    10.58 oz · $2.84/oz
    Aug 30

Sorted by price per ounce. Dated observations from our research, not live prices. Direct store pages, no affiliate links. We don’t sell this product.

How we work this out
  1. 10.58 oz is the size stores list most often; every comparison on this page is made at it. Other sizes are shown in the Sizes row and the store list.
  2. Seen at $30 is the price we have observed for the 10.58 oz. We need three stores before we call a price commonly seen.
  3. Good value under $12 comes from the 8 products we score as doing the same job as this one. A quarter of them cost less than $1.10/oz; at 10.58 oz that is $12. Under that line you are paying less than most of them.
  4. About $34 is what those same products typically cost at this size — the midpoint of their prices per ounce, scaled to 10.58 oz.

Formula

Formula score
10 of 10

The formula carries the systems a mouss is built around, and it sits in the middle of the range for mousses per ounce.

How the score is counted
  • 4 products we score as doing the same job cost less per ounce
  • Costs more per ounce than 55% of the 138 mousses we’ve priced
  • Covers 6 of the 6 things a mouss should do
  • Reviewers mention 2 things they like about how it performs
  • A hold systemThe polymer, gum, or wax that holds the shape.3 pts
  • Softeners alongside the holdWhat keeps a film flexible instead of brittle.2 pts
  • No drying alcohol in the first threeFast drying without leading on alcohol.2 pts
  • A humectantBinds water into the hair.1 pt
  • A humidity claim with a mechanismThe claim has a film former or silicone behind it.1 pt
  • Fragrance kept out of the top eightScent as a finishing touch, not a major share.1 pt

The formula score is completeness for the job: the share of the systems this product type is normally built around that we can find in this list, weighted. It is not efficacy, not quality, and it never compares across product types.

Does the same job, for less

Same derived functions — what it cleans, conditions, coats or holds — at a lower cost per ounce. Scent, texture and where you buy it can still differ.

L'Oreal Paris ElviveClosest function Elvive Collagen Peptide + Lifter Big Lift Volumizing Mousse for Thin, Flat Hair $1.19/oz $1.65/oz less
  • Budget
Function
  • Film formers
  • Water-binding (humectants)
Also
  • Vegan
  • Drugstore tier
  • 6.7 oz bottle
Compare
TRESemméLowest cost per oz TRESemmé Bouncy Curls Defining Mousse $0.71/oz $2.13/oz less
  • Protein-free
  • Lightweight
  • Flexible hold
· Close function
Function
  • Film formers
  • Slip and detangling
  • Protein
Also
  • Fresh scent
  • Cruelty-free
  • Drugstore tier
Compare
MatrixClose function High Amplify Foam Volumizer Full Bodifying Mousse $2.00/oz $0.84/oz less
  • Protein-free
  • Lightweight
  • Alcohol-free
Function
  • Film formers
  • Water-binding (humectants)
  • Protein
Also
  • 11.3 oz bottle
Compare

See more alternatives in the product library

These are functional neighbours, not personal recommendations — they are close on formula, not chosen for anyone. Get the one that fits your hair, routine, and budget

Suits every hair pattern

Final decision

Should you buy it?

Only for a specific need
Best user

Curls that need definition — for defined, clumped curls and something that will not weigh hair down

Biggest tradeoff

Worth skipping for anyone sensitive to fragrance, curly-method routines, or anyone who will not scrunch out a cast

We do not sell products or take placement fees. This page states what the formula and the prices show; the consultation is what matches it to a person.

Claims check

What the brand says, against what the formula shows

Claims are quoted from the brand. We only mark one supported, partly supported, or conflicting when the ingredient list actually speaks to it; everything else stays "stated by the brand", which is not a criticism — most claims simply cannot be read off a label.

0
SupportedBacked by ingredients
0
Partly supportedSome supporting logic
3
Stated by brandNo clear evidence
1
Potential conflictFormula works against claim
Adds flexibility, fullness and thickness to hair

This is a marketing claim; an ingredient list cannot speak to it.

Stated by brand

Can’t be confirmed from label.

Long lasting, natural feel and texture

This is a marketing claim; an ingredient list cannot speak to it.

Stated by brand

Can’t be confirmed from label.

Anti-frizz formula and controls fly-aways

Possible from silicones or film formers, but not something the list targets.

  • VP/VA Copolymer
  • AMP-Acrylates/Allyl Methacrylate Copolymer
  • Polyacrylamide
Stated by brand

May help, but not a primary focus.

Boosts hair with flexible fullness and bold, gutsy style

Hold polymers appear without the emollients that usually keep a film from setting firm.

  • VP/VA Copolymer
  • AMP-Acrylates/Allyl Methacrylate Copolymer
  • Polyacrylamide
Potential conflict

Expect a cast you have to scrunch out.

How to read this

We look at the first 10–15 ingredients and what they do in a formula — not marketing. If the list doesn't speak to a claim, we don't assume.

Reviewers

What people report

Recurring themes our researchers wrote in their own words from sourced reviews. We do not store or scrape star ratings.

Gives fine hair dramatic root volume and body, describing results as 'crazy volume in the roots'

fine-haired reviewer

Applies without feeling sticky on the scalp and has a mild, unobtrusive scent

reviewer commenting on application feel and scent

Believes the formula was reformulated from the original 'Guts 10' and now causes flyaways it didn't before

long-time repeat buyer comparing old vs new formula

Bottle dispenses foam in an intense concentrated line that stays in one spot, making even distribution harder

reviewer describing the applicator/nozzle

More from Redken

How this page was made

  • Everything above is generated from our researched product record — identity, the ingredient list as printed, the brand's own claims, dated price observations, and review themes written in our researchers' own words. No part of this page is written per product.
  • The value band is a fixed label over two stored numbers: this product’s cost per ounce as a percentile of every product of this type we have priced, each at the size it is most often sold in, and how many products we score as doing the same job cost at least a quarter less per ounce.
  • Both scores out of ten are defined on this page. The formula score is completeness for the job, computed from a fixed per-format checklist shown beneath the gauge; the price score is cost per ounce against every product of this type we have priced.
  • The "Is this right for you?" panel reads only your own consultation answers, and it applies exactly the filters our recommendation engine applies. It is computed when you load the page and is never stored on it.
  • 1 source consulted for this product (0 manufacturer or regulatory, 1 retailer, 0 editorial), last checked 2026-08-27.
  • Ingredient references are linked for 7 of 13 product-aware annotations on this page. Fit notes are conditional formulation guidance, not a conclusion about the finished product or about you.
  • We have not tested this product in a lab and we do not physically test your hair. Formula readings come from the ingredient list; behaviour claims are labelled as the brand's.
  • Ingredient order tells you relative amount only above roughly 1%. Prices are observations on the dates shown and change without notice.
  • Ingredient names link to our ingredient library, where each entry shows what it does, which product types use it, and where it usually sits on a label across everything we have researched.
  • This is cosmetic information, not medical advice, and nothing here diagnoses or treats a health condition.
  • Formula readings: derivation v22. Record last updated 2026-08-27.