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SheaMoisture

Manuka Honey & Yogurt Smooth & Hold Multi-Styling Hair Mousse

Styler / Mousse, polymer-set

  • Styler
  • mousse
  • Sulfate-free
  • Silicone-free
  • Moisture-rich
  • Not vegan · label states
  • Cruelty-free · label states
Size7.5 fl oz
Price$11–15commonly seen · 7.5 oz
Price / oz$1.47/ozat 7.5 oz

Scent:

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

Listing used for research: target.com

Personal fit

Is this right for you?

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Lower cost than most mousses

$1.47/oz at 7.5 oz — less than 77% of the 138 mousses , which mostly run $1.54–4.12/oz. The cost less.

Price and stores

Great for

Dry, thirsty hairhumectants and emollients both sit up front
Curly-method routinesno sulfates and no water-insoluble silicones
Curl definitionfilm formers hold a clump together
Silicone-free routinesno silicones appear in the list
Stretching wash daysnothing here needs a detergent to remove
Very dry hairno fast-drying alcohol in the list

Maybe skip if

this product carries a scent
Dry or very humid airwhere heavy humectants work against you
Vegan and cruelty-freeour record does not support both claims here
Picking it up locallywe have it recorded in one channel only

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 system Synthetic polymer

Synthetic hold polymers — the firmest of the hold systems.

Cast risk Unlikely

Softening ingredients sit alongside the film formers, so a hard shell is unlikely.

Weight on the hair Medium

Middle of the range — noticeable on fine hair, light on coarse hair.

Oil absorption None

No absorbent powders or starches.

Oils and butters Rich

Butters near the top: a heavy, softening formula.

Fast-drying alcohol None

No fast-drying alcohol in the list.

Needs detergent to remove No

Nothing here needs a detergent wash to remove.

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
WaterWater (Aqua) solvent The base everything else is dissolved in Neutral
PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil solubilizer Keeps oils dissolved in water Stabilizes
VP/VA Copolymer film former Lays down the film that holds a shape Holds
Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter butter Heavy softening — this is what makes it rich Heavy
Honey humectant Pulls water into the hair Moisturizes
Yogurt Extract botanical extract A plant extract, marketed as much as functional Protein
Adansonia Digitata (Baobab) Seed Oil oil Softens the film so it does not set hard Softens
Trichilia Emetica (Mafura) Seed Butter butter Heavy softening — this is what makes it rich Heavy
Potassium Sorbate preservative Keeps the product from spoiling Stabilizes
Phenoxyethanol preservative Keeps the product from spoiling Stabilizes
FragranceFragrance (Parfum) fragrance The scent Fragrance
What the list leaves out, and what it carriesNo sulfates, silicones, or drying alcohols. Contains fragrance. Contains heavier butters.
Full ingredient list (16)

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 · Water (Aqua)
    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 PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
    General function

    A castor-oil derivative that dissolves fragrance and oils into water so the product stays clear and does not separate.

    Leading ingredient

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

    • solubilizer
    • emulsifier
  • 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 Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter
    General function

    A rich, solid plant butter used for heavy conditioning on coarse or dry hair. High in the list it makes a product decidedly heavy.

    Supporting ingredient

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

    May suitDry, coarse, or high-porosity hair

    Coarse, porous hair loses water quickly and can carry the weight; a butter slows that loss more than a thin oil does.

    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.

    May suitVery dry or highly damaged hair

    A solid fat melts onto the strand at body temperature and stays there, which is the heaviest surface moisture-holding a formula can offer.

    • butter
    • emollient
    • sealant
  • 5 Honey
    General function

    A natural sugar-based humectant that holds water against the strand.

    Supporting ingredient

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

    May suitFine or easily flattened hair

    Hydration with no oil attached, so it adds very little weight even high on a list.

    May suitVery dry or highly damaged hair

    Aloe is mostly water carrying sugars that bind more of it, which is why it turns up as the base of moisture-first formulas.

    DependsClimate-sensitive or frizz-prone hair

    A humectant follows the air: it holds water in humid conditions and can give it up in very dry ones. Climate decides what it does more than the label does.

    • humectant
    • botanical extract
  • 6 Yogurt Extract
    General function

    A dairy extract carrying protein and lactic acid, used for conditioning claims. It is animal-derived.

    Supporting ingredient

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

    May not suitProtein-sensitive hair

    A large surface-depositing protein. If protein reliably makes your hair feel rigid, this is the form most likely to do it.

    DependsVery dry or highly damaged hair

    Unhydrolysed protein is too large to enter the strand. It sits on the surface, which is a coating effect rather than internal reinforcement.

    • botanical extract
    • protein
  • 7 Adansonia Digitata (Baobab) Seed Oil
    General function

    Baobab oil, a medium-weight oil used in textured-hair conditioners.

    Supporting ingredient

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

    May suitDry, coarse, or high-porosity hair

    Coats the surface and slows water leaving the strand, which is usually what coarse hair that dries out fast is missing.

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

    A thin oil layer lowers friction between strands and flattens the raised cuticle that scatters light and catches on its neighbours.

    May not suitFine or easily flattened hair

    Near the top of a list an oil is weight before it is anything else, and fine hair shows that first at the roots.

    • oil
    • emollient
  • 8 Trichilia Emetica (Mafura) Seed Butter
    General function

    The solid fat from Mafura (Trichilia Emetica)'s seed. Plant butters seal the surface and soften coarse or dry hair; high on a list they make a product decidedly rich.

    Supporting ingredient

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

    May suitDry, coarse, or high-porosity hair

    Coarse, porous hair loses water quickly and can carry the weight; a butter slows that loss more than a thin oil does.

    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.

    May suitVery dry or highly damaged hair

    A solid fat melts onto the strand at body temperature and stays there, which is the heaviest surface moisture-holding a formula can offer.

    • butter
    • emollient
    • sealant
  • 9 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.

    Secondary ingredient

    Lower in the ordered portion of the list, it is more likely playing a supporting role than defining the formula.

    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
  • 10 Polyquaternium-11
    General function

    A styling and conditioning polymer that adds light hold and shine, common in mousses and setting sprays.

    Secondary ingredient

    Lower in the ordered portion of the list, it is more likely playing a supporting role than defining the formula.

    May suitCurls or waves needing flexible hold

    Cationic polymers hold a curl loosely and stay soft, which is why they turn up in definition products rather than firm-hold ones.

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

    A cationic polymer stays on the hair through rinsing, which is what keeps static and combing friction down after the wash.

    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.

    • film former
    • polymer
    • conditioning agent
  • 11 Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride
    General function

    A conditioning polymer made from guar bean gum. It deposits during rinsing, which is why sulfate shampoos can still leave hair soft.

    Secondary ingredient

    Lower in the ordered portion of the list, it is more likely playing a supporting role than defining the formula.

    May suitCurls or waves needing flexible hold

    Gums thicken and set soft, which gives definition that bends rather than a rigid cast.

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

    Cationic conditioners bind to the negatively charged damaged cuticle, laying it flat and cutting the friction that causes combing breakage.

    May suitMaximum-hold styling

    A styling polymer dries into a film across the strands, which is what makes a shape hold instead of relax.

    • conditioning agent
    • polymer
    • gum
  • 12 Cocamidopropyl Betaine
    General function

    A mild coconut-derived co-cleanser that boosts foam and softens the effect of stronger detergents. It appears in most shampoos, gentle or not.

    Secondary ingredient

    Lower in the ordered portion of the list, it is more likely playing a supporting role than defining the formula.

    May suitDry, coarse, or high-porosity hair

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

    May not suitBuild-up-sensitive routines

    The mildest detergents are also the least complete: a routine that deposits films needs something stronger periodically.

    DependsVery dry or highly damaged hair

    Among the mildest detergents in use — it is what baby shampoos are built on — but it is almost always the second detergent in a formula. How much a wash strips is still decided by the primary detergent listed above it.

    Indian Journal of Dermatology
    • amphoteric cleanser
    • secondary cleanser
    • cleanser
  • Below about this point, order stops being meaningful — these are typically used at 1% or less.
  • 13 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
  • 14 Potassium Sorbate
    • preservative
  • 15 Phenoxyethanol
    • preservative
  • 16 Fragrance · Fragrance (Parfum)
    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

What the whole list adds up to

  • 3 polymers
  • 3 emollients
  • 2 film formers
  • 2 butters
  • 2 sealants
  • 2 humectants
  • 2 botanical extracts
  • 2 conditioning agents
  • 2 preservatives
  • 1 solvent
  • 1 solubilizer
  • 1 emulsifier
  • 1 protein
  • 1 oil

Ingredient list captured 2026-09-05. Formulas change — check the package in your hand when an ingredient matters to you.

Price · 7.5 oz

Commonly seen $11–15 Midpoint $10.99 · 3 stores · checked Sep 6
Good value under $7 Under $0.97/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 $7 line; products that do this job typically go for about $11 at this size.

Show the price ladder
Where we’ve seen it3 listings · 3 stores
  • Target
    $10.99
    7.5 oz · $1.47/oz
    Sep 6Lowest per oz
  • Vitacost.com
    $10.99
    7.5 oz · $1.47/oz
    Sep 6
  • Walmart
    $18.31
    7.5 oz · $2.44/oz
    Sep 6

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. 7.5 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. Commonly seen is the middle half of current prices for the 7.5 oz at recognised stores — the cheapest quarter and the dearest quarter are left out, so one sale or one overpriced listing can’t move it.
  3. Good value under $7 comes from the 8 products we score as doing the same job as this one. A quarter of them cost less than $0.97/oz; at 7.5 oz that is $7. Under that line you are paying less than most of them.
  4. About $11 is what those same products typically cost at this size — the midpoint of their prices per ounce, scaled to 7.5 oz.

Formula

Formula score
10 of 10

This formula covers the systems a mouss is built around, and it costs less per ounce than most of the mousses we have researched.

How the score is counted
  • 3 products we score as doing the same job cost less per ounce
  • Costs less per ounce than 77% of the 138 mousses we’ve priced
  • Covers 6 of the 6 things a mouss should do
  • Reviewers mention 3 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.

As I AmFragrance-free Rosemary Styling Mousse $1.00/oz $0.47/oz less
  • Fragrance-free
  • Curly method
  • Lightweight
· Close function
Function
  • Oils and butters
  • Weight on the hair
Also
  • Mint scent
  • Vegan
  • 8 oz bottle
Compare
Creme of NatureClose function Hair Food Smoothing & Frizz Control Styling Mousse $0.87/oz $0.60/oz less
  • Protein-free
  • Curly method
  • Silicone-free
Function
  • Film formers
  • Slip and detangling
  • Protein
Also
  • 7 oz bottle
Compare
CantuLowest cost per oz Natural Shea Butter Moisturizing Curl Activator Cream $0.58/oz $0.89/oz less
  • Curly method
  • Silicone-free
  • Rinses clean
· Close function
Function
  • Film formers
  • Needs detergent to remove
Also
  • 12 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?

A solid pick for the hair it suits
Best user

Hair that craves moisture, looking for moisture that stays in and a curly-method-compatible formula

Biggest tradeoff

Worth skipping for anyone sensitive to fragrance, very dry or very humid climates, or vegan and cruelty-free shopping

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.

3
SupportedBacked by ingredients
0
Partly supportedSome supporting logic
2
Stated by brandNo clear evidence
0
Potential conflictFormula works against claim
24-hour humidity protection

Silicones or film formers smooth the cuticle, which is the usual mechanism.

  • VP/VA Copolymer
  • Adansonia Digitata (Baobab) Seed Oil
  • Polyquaternium-11
Supported

Smoother strands, less frizz.

Flake-free hold

No flake-prone resins sit high in the list, but flaking depends on how much you use.

Stated by brand

Can’t be confirmed from label.

Paraben-free, phthalate-free, no mineral oil or petrolatum

No parabens appear in the ingredient list.

Supported

Preserved without parabens.

Cruelty-free and ethically traded

Our researched record has this brand as cruelty-free.

Supported

Matches our researched record.

Sustainably produced

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

Stated by brand

Can’t be confirmed from label.

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.

Provides exceptional hydration and moisture using manuka honey and yogurt, leaving hair soft and manageable

reviewers praising the hydrating properties

Mild, pleasant scent that is not overpowering, adding to the appeal of daily use

multiple reviewers appreciating the fragrance profile

Lightweight mousse that provides soft hold and curl definition without crunchiness or stiff texture

multiple reviewers describing the mousse as light and non-crunchy

Can leave residue or feel heavy for fine and thin hair types, though works well for thicker hair

some reviewers reporting residue or heaviness, particularly with fine hair

More from SheaMoisture

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.
  • 3 sources consulted for this product (0 manufacturer or regulatory, 1 retailer, 2 editorial), last checked 2026-09-08.
  • Ingredient references are linked for 3 of 12 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 2026-09-09.