extra hold
This is a marketing claim; an ingredient list cannot speak to it.
—
Stated by brand
Can’t be confirmed from label.
Product image coming soon
TRESemmé
é Bouncy Curls Defining Mousse
Styler / Mousse, strong-hold
- Styler
- mousse
- aerosol
- Sulfate-free
- Protein-free
- Strong hold
- Cruelty-free · PETA-listed
Size15 fl ozmost listed · 2 sizes
Price$7.99 Good valueseen at one store · 15 oz
Price / oz$0.71/ozat 15 oz
Where to buy1 store · 2 sizes
Scent:
Reviewers describe it as fresh.
Listing used for research: target.com
Personal fit
Is this right for you?
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Factor
Your profile
Fit
Best for hair types
Wavy–Coily
Not in your profile
Moisture level
Low
Not in your profile
Hold (as stated)
Maximum
Not in your profile
Slip / detangling
High
Not in your profile
Weight on hair
Light
Not in your profile
Fragrance
Present
Not in your profile
Protein
None
Not in your profile
Silicone / wax buildup
High
Not in your profile
Clarifying wash needed
Moderate
Not in your profile
Scent
Fresh & airyStrength not recorded
Not in your profile
Show all 23 factors we check
The rest of what your plan weighs on this product.
Parabens / preservatives
None of these listed
Not in your profile
Essential oils
None listed
Not in your profile
Fast-drying alcohol
None
Not in your profile
Vegan / cruelty-free
Cruelty-free · PETA-listed
Not in your profile
Animal-derived ingredients
Not yet verified
Not in your profile
Aerosol can
Pressurised can
Not in your profile
Needs heat to set
Not determined
Not in your profile
Heavy humectants
Not heavy
Not in your profile
Hard-water defence
None
Not in your profile
UV filter
None listed
Not in your profile
Ingredient list
20 ingredientsAbout average
Not in your profile
Price tier
Drugstore
Not in your profile
Where to buy it
TRESemmé · Target
Not in your profile
The consultation builds your hair profile, then reads every factor in this table against it — and tells you where this product fits, or what to use instead.
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Your avoid-list
Lower cost than most mousses
$0.71/oz at 15 oz — less than 98% of the 138 mousses , which mostly run $1.54–4.12/oz.
Great for
Protein-sensitive hairthat stiffens when protein is added
Maximum slipfor hair that tangles the moment it is wet
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 scent
Curly-method routinesthese silicones need a detergent to remove
Anyone who dislikes a castthe film formers here can set firm
Soft, touchable finishesthe brand states a firm hold
Aerosol avoidancethis is a pressurised can
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)
Maximum
A strong 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.
| Ingredient | What it does | Why it matters | Chip |
|---|---|---|---|
| WaterWATER (AQUA) | solvent | The base everything else is dissolved in | Neutral |
| Isobutane | propellant | Pushes the product out of the can | 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 |
| Propane | propellant | Pushes the product out of the can | Neutral |
| Polyquaternium-11 | film former | Lays down the film that holds a shape | Detangles |
| Polysorbate 20 | solubilizer | Keeps oils dissolved in water | Stabilizes |
| Polyquaternium-4 | conditioning agent | Conditions and softens — this is what makes it comb through | Detangles |
| FragranceFRAGRANCE (PARFUM) | fragrance | The scent | Fragrance |
| Cyclopentasiloxane | silicone | A little smoothing and shine | Buildup |
| Cyclohexasiloxane | silicone | A little smoothing and shine | Buildup |
What the list leaves out, and what it carriesNo sulfates or drying alcohols. Protein-free: this is built for moisture rather than for strengthening. Contains fragrance. The silicones here need a detergent wash to come off.
Full ingredient list (20)
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 ingredientListed in the first three ingredients, it is likely a structural part of this formula.
- solvent
-
2
Isobutane
General function
A pressurised gas that pushes an aerosol out of the can and evaporates on contact.
Leading ingredientPubChemListed in the first three ingredients, it is likely a structural part of this formula.
- propellant
-
3
Hydrofluorocarbon 152a
General function
A non-flammable aerosol propellant used in dry shampoos and finishing sprays.
Leading ingredientPubChemListed in the first three ingredients, it is likely a structural part of this formula.
- propellant
-
4
VP/VA Copolymer
General function
A hold polymer that dries to a clear film. It sets the style and washes out with water.
Supporting ingredientListed in positions 4–8, it likely makes a meaningful contribution alongside the formula's main ingredients.
May suitClimate-sensitive or frizz-prone hairA set polymer film is a physical barrier to humidity, so a style keeps its shape longer in damp conditions.
May suitMaximum-hold stylingSynthetic film formers dry into a continuous film, which is what holds a shape against movement and against humid air.
DependsBuild-up-sensitive routinesSome acrylate copolymers rinse with water and some need a detergent; the label alone does not say which one a formula used.
- film former
- polymer
-
5
Propane
General function
An aerosol propellant, usually blended with butane to set the spray pressure.
Supporting ingredientPubChemListed in positions 4–8, it likely makes a meaningful contribution alongside the formula's main ingredients.
- propellant
-
6
Polyquaternium-11
General function
A styling and conditioning polymer that adds light hold and shine, common in mousses and setting sprays.
Supporting ingredientListed in positions 4–8, it likely makes a meaningful contribution alongside the formula's main ingredients.
May suitCurls or waves needing flexible holdCationic 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 hairA cationic polymer stays on the hair through rinsing, which is what keeps static and combing friction down after the wash.
May suitMaximum-hold stylingFilm 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
-
7
Polysorbate 20
General function
Keeps fragrance and oils dissolved in a watery formula so it stays clear.
Supporting ingredientListed in positions 4–8, it likely makes a meaningful contribution alongside the formula's main ingredients.
- solubilizer
- emulsifier
-
8
Polyquaternium-4
General function
A cellulose-based hold polymer used in gels and sprays for flexible set.
Supporting ingredientListed in positions 4–8, it likely makes a meaningful contribution alongside the formula's main ingredients.
May suitCurls or waves needing flexible holdCationic 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 hairA cationic polymer stays on the hair through rinsing, which is what keeps static and combing friction down after the wash.
May suitMaximum-hold stylingFilm formers are what hold a style: they dry into a connected film across the strands so the shape resists movement.
- conditioning agent
- film former
- polymer
-
9
PVP
General function
A classic hairspray polymer. It gives firm hold but attracts moisture, so humidity can soften the set.
Secondary ingredientLower in the ordered portion of the list, it is more likely playing a supporting role than defining the formula.
PubChemMay suitMaximum-hold stylingSynthetic film formers dry into a continuous film, which is what holds a shape against movement and against humid air.
DependsBuild-up-sensitive routinesSome acrylate copolymers rinse with water and some need a detergent; the label alone does not say which one a formula used.
May not suitClimate-sensitive or frizz-prone hairThe film takes up water from the air. The patent work that produced the VP/VA copolymers describes a PVP film turning sticky after time in a humid atmosphere, and being dependable only where humidity is low — so hold and feel both move with the weather.
- film former
- polymer
- ▾Below about this point, order stops being meaningful — these are typically used at 1% or less.
-
10
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 zoneIt 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 routinesDeclared fragrance. On a fragrance-sensitive routine this is the line that decides it, wherever it sits on the label.
- fragrance
- declared fragrance
-
11
Ppg-12-Peg-50 Lanolin
- emulsifier
-
12
Olealkonium Chloride
General function
A positively charged conditioning agent. Damaged hair carries a negative charge, so it deposits where the damage is and makes wet hair comb through.
Estimated lower-concentration zoneIt 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 hairA cationic conditioning agent: it binds to the damaged, negatively charged parts of the cuticle and lowers combing friction there.
May suitVery dry or highly damaged hairThe class that does the detangling in a conditioner. It deposits lubrication where the cuticle is worn.
DependsBuild-up-sensitive routinesSubstantive by design. A routine with no detergent wash gives it nothing to leave with.
- conditioning agent
-
13
Polyquaternium-7
General function
A conditioning polymer that improves wet combing and adds body. Repeated use can build up on fine hair.
Estimated lower-concentration zoneIt appears around or below the estimated 1% line, where label order no longer indicates relative amount; its role may be minor or technical.
May suitCurls or waves needing flexible holdCationic 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 hairA cationic polymer stays on the hair through rinsing, which is what keeps static and combing friction down after the wash.
May suitMaximum-hold stylingFilm formers are what hold a style: they dry into a connected film across the strands so the shape resists movement.
- conditioning agent
- film former
- polymer
-
14
Sodium Benzoate
- preservative
-
15
Propylene Glycol
General function
A small humectant and solvent that keeps formulas stable and helps active ingredients spread.
Estimated lower-concentration zoneIt appears around or below the estimated 1% line, where label order no longer indicates relative amount; its role may be minor or technical.
PubChemMay suitFine or easily flattened hairLight and water-binding rather than oily, so it hydrates without contributing weight.
May suitVery dry or highly damaged hairA small water-binding solvent. It holds moisture and helps the rest of the formula spread evenly over the strand.
DependsClimate-sensitive or frizz-prone hairA 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
- solvent
-
16
Cyclopentasiloxane
General function
A light, fast-evaporating silicone that spreads other ingredients then leaves. It gives serums their weightless glide.
Estimated lower-concentration zoneIt appears around or below the estimated 1% line, where label order no longer indicates relative amount; its role may be minor or technical.
PubChemMay suitBuild-up-sensitive routinesIt leaves the hair by evaporating rather than by being washed off, so it is not part of what accumulates.
May suitClimate-sensitive or frizz-prone hairA surface film slows how quickly humidity reaches the cortex, which is what limits swelling-driven frizz in damp air.
May suitFine or easily flattened hairA cyclic silicone evaporates after it has spread the formula, so it carries the other ingredients without leaving weight behind.
- silicone
- emollient
-
17
Sorbitol
General function
A sugar-based humectant that adds moisture and a slight cushiony feel.
Estimated lower-concentration zoneIt appears around or below the estimated 1% line, where label order no longer indicates relative amount; its role may be minor or technical.
PubChemMay suitDry, coarse, or high-porosity hairHigh-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 hairBinds 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 hairA humectant moves water in whichever direction the air allows: it holds moisture in humid conditions and can pull it back out of hair in very dry ones.
- humectant
- 18 GYLCERIN
-
19
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.
Estimated lower-concentration zoneIt appears around or below the estimated 1% line, where label order no longer indicates relative amount; its role may be minor or technical.
Indian Journal of DermatologyMay suitDry, coarse, or high-porosity hairMild cleansing leaves more surface lubrication in place on hair that dries out quickly.
May not suitBuild-up-sensitive routinesThe mildest detergents are also the least complete: a routine that deposits films needs something stronger periodically.
DependsVery dry or highly damaged hairAmong 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.
- amphoteric cleanser
- secondary cleanser
- cleanser
-
20
Cyclohexasiloxane
General function
A light, evaporating silicone that spreads other ingredients then leaves nothing behind.
Estimated lower-concentration zoneIt appears around or below the estimated 1% line, where label order no longer indicates relative amount; its role may be minor or technical.
PubChemMay suitBuild-up-sensitive routinesIt leaves the hair by evaporating rather than by being washed off, so it is not part of what accumulates.
May suitClimate-sensitive or frizz-prone hairA surface film slows how quickly humidity reaches the cortex, which is what limits swelling-driven frizz in damp air.
May suitFine or easily flattened hairA cyclic silicone evaporates after it has spread the formula, so it carries the other ingredients without leaving weight behind.
- silicone
- emollient
What the whole list adds up to
- 5 film formers
- 5 polymers
- 4 conditioning agents
- 3 propellants
- 2 solvents
- 2 emulsifiers
- 2 humectants
- 2 silicones
- 2 emollients
- 1 solubilizer
- 1 fragrance
- 1 declared fragrance
- 1 preservative
- 1 amphoteric cleanser
Ingredient list captured 2026-08-26. Formulas change — check the package in your hand when an ingredient matters to you.
Price · 15 oz
Seen at
$7.99
Good value under
$30
Usually a good value. Most stores sell it under the $30 line, and products that do this job typically go for about $39 at this size.
Sizes
10.5 oz
$7.99
$0.76/oz
15 ozmost listed
$9.99
$0.67/oz
The sizes cost about the same per ounce.
Show the price ladder
Where we’ve seen it2 listings · 1 store
How we work this out
- 15 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.
- Seen at $7.99 is the price we have observed for the 15 oz. We need three stores before we call a price commonly seen.
- Good value under $30 comes from the 8 products we score as doing the same job as this one. A quarter of them cost less than $2.00/oz; at 15 oz that is $30. Under that line you are paying less than most of them.
- Each size is guarded on its own, so a multipack or a marketplace listing at one size cannot move another.
- About $39 is what those same products typically cost at this size — the midpoint of their prices per ounce, scaled to 15 oz.
Formula
8
Formula score
8 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
- Costs less per ounce than 98% of the 138 mousses we’ve priced
- Covers 5 of the 6 things a mouss should do
- Reviewers mention 2 things they like about how it performs
- Drugstore tier, sold at TRESemmé and Target
- 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
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.
MatrixLowest cost per oz
Setter Mousse
$1.88/oz $1.17/oz more
- Protein-free
- Lightweight
- Flexible hold
- Function
- Also
TRESemmeClose function
TRES Two Extra Hold Mousse
$1.99/oz $1.28/oz more
- Protein
- Lightweight
- Humidity
- Function
- Also
DavinesClose function
This Is A Volume Boosting Mousse
$4.38/oz $3.67/oz more
- Protein-free
- Lightweight
- Alcohol-free
- Function
- Also
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
Final decision
Should you buy it?
A solid pick for the hair it suitsBest user
Hair that stiffens on protein — for a protein-free formula and real detangling slip
Biggest tradeoff
Not ideal for anyone sensitive to fragrance, curly-method routines, or anyone who will not scrunch out a cast
Best alternative if not
Nothing in our library matches it closely at a lower price.
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.
2
SupportedBacked by ingredients
0
Partly supportedSome supporting logic
1
Stated by brandNo clear evidence
2
Potential conflictFormula works against claim
24-hour definition
Film formers or natural gums are present, which is what holds a clump together.
- VP/VA Copolymer
- Polyquaternium-11
- Polyquaternium-4
Supported
Holds a clump together.
touchable hold
Hold polymers appear without the emollients that usually keep a film from setting firm.
- VP/VA Copolymer
- Polyquaternium-11
- Polyquaternium-4
Potential conflict
Expect a cast you have to scrunch out.
frizz control
Silicones or film formers smooth the cuticle, which is the usual mechanism.
- VP/VA Copolymer
- Polyquaternium-11
- Polyquaternium-4
Supported
Smoother strands, less frizz.
crunch-free curls
Hold polymers appear without the emollients that usually keep a film from setting firm.
- VP/VA Copolymer
- Polyquaternium-11
- Polyquaternium-4
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.
A reviewer describes more formed curls that stayed soft rather than heavy or hard, with better shape in humidity and a fresh scent that was not overpowering.
Target review originally posted on Influenster, July 2026A verified purchaser with a tighter curl pattern says the mousse replaced gel in their routine, keeping definition and resisting day-two frizz through hot, humid weather.
Target verified-purchase review, July 2026Multiple long-time users praise the curl result but report that the tall aerosol can's nozzle can break after tipping, making the remaining mousse difficult to dispense.
Target review originally posted on TRESemmé, May and June 2026One user says a small amount kept curls firm, moisturized, and shiny through the day, though another report says the product can make hair crunchy while adding volume.
Target reviews originally posted on Influenster, May 2026More from TRESemmé
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.
- 2 sources consulted for this product (1 manufacturer or regulatory, 1 retailer, 0 editorial), last checked 2026-08-26.
- Ingredient references are linked for 6 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 2026-08-26.