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Wella Professionals

EIMI Extra Volume Mousse

Styler / Mousse, strong-hold

  • Styler
  • mousse
  • aerosol
  • Sulfate-free
  • Silicone-free
  • Protein-free
  • Not cruelty-free · PETA-listed
Size10.1 fl oz
Price$11–16commonly seen · 10.1 oz
Price / oz$1.31/ozat 10.1 oz
Where to buy8 stores · $7.08–22.50

Scent:

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

Manufacturer page: us.wella.professionalstore.com

Personal fit

Is this right for you?

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Lower cost than most mousses

$1.31/oz at 10.1 oz — less than 82% of the 138 mousses , which mostly run $1.54–4.12/oz. The cost less.

Price and stores

Great for

Protein-sensitive hairthat stiffens when protein is added
Maximum slipfor hair that tangles the moment it is wet
Curly-method routinesno sulfates and no water-insoluble silicones
Curl definitionfilm formers hold a clump together
Fine hairthat flattens under most products
Silicone-free routinesno silicones appear in the list

Maybe skip if

this product carries a scent
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
Vegan and cruelty-freeour record does not support both claims here

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) Strong

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 No

Nothing here needs a detergent wash to remove.

Fragrance Prominent

Fragrance sits in the first eight ingredients — a larger share of the formula.

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
Water solvent The base everything else is dissolved in Neutral
Isobutane propellant Pushes the product out of the can Neutral
Propane propellant Pushes the product out of the can Neutral
Polyquaternium-11 film former Lays down the film that holds a shape Detangles
Phenoxyethanol preservative Keeps the product from spoiling Stabilizes
Panthenol humectant Adds a little water-binding Detangles
Laureth-4 emulsifier Stabilises the mix Stabilizes
Fragrance fragrance The scent Fragrance
What the list leaves out, and what it carriesNo sulfates, silicones, or drying alcohols. Protein-free: this is built for moisture rather than for strengthening. Contains fragrance. Pressurised aerosol.
Full ingredient list (11)

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
    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 Isobutane
    General function

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

    Leading ingredient

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

    PubChem
    • propellant
  • 3 Propane
    General function

    An aerosol propellant, usually blended with butane to set the spray pressure.

    Leading ingredient

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

    PubChem
    • propellant
  • 4 Polyquaternium-11
    General function

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

    Supporting ingredient

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

    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
  • ▾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 Panthenol
    General function

    Provitamin B5. It draws in water and penetrates the strand a little, which is why it is the standard ingredient for softness and shine claims.

    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 suitFine or easily flattened hair

    It hydrates without adding oil or a film, which is the combination fine hair usually needs.

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

    Deposits a lubricating layer that makes combing easier, which is most of what stops mechanical damage adding to frizz.

    May suitVery dry or highly damaged hair

    A humectant that also penetrates the cuticle, so it holds water inside the strand rather than only on the surface.

    PubChem
    • humectant
    • conditioning agent
    • vitamin
  • 7 Laureth-4
    General function

    An oil-side emulsifier that helps a cream hold together.

    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.

    • emulsifier
  • 8 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
  • 9 Disodium EDTA
    General function

    Grabs metal ions from hard water so they cannot dull the hair or destabilise 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.

    May suitBuild-up-sensitive routines

    Binds the calcium and magnesium in hard water, which is what stops mineral deposits accumulating on the strand wash after wash.

    May suitGray, silver, or brass-prone hair

    Copper and iron carried in tap water deposit on the strand and read as a dull, warm cast on gray or light hair. A chelator holds those metals in solution so the wash carries them off.

    PubChem
    • hard-water chelator
  • 10 Methylparaben
    • paraben
    • preservative
  • 11 Cetrimonium Chloride
    General function

    A quick-acting conditioning agent that reduces static and combing force. It also helps keep the formula stable.

    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 suitFine or easily flattened hair

    The C16 quat binds mostly by charge rather than by chain, so it deposits measurably less than the C22 ones. Less deposit is less conditioning and also less weight, which is usually the trade fine hair wants.

    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.

    DependsBuild-up-sensitive routines

    Substantive by design. A routine with no detergent wash gives it nothing to leave with.

    International Journal of Cosmetic Science
    • conditioning agent
    • cleanser

What the whole list adds up to

  • 2 propellants
  • 2 conditioning agents
  • 2 preservatives
  • 1 solvent
  • 1 film former
  • 1 polymer
  • 1 humectant
  • 1 conditioning agent
  • 1 vitamin
  • 1 emulsifier
  • 1 fragrance
  • 1 declared fragrance
  • 1 hard-water chelator
  • 1 paraben

Ingredient list captured 2026-08-26. Formulas change — check the package in your hand when an ingredient matters to you.

Price · 10.1 oz

Commonly seen $11–16 Midpoint $13.27 · 6 stores · checked Aug 30
Good value under $9 Under $0.94/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 $9 line; products that do this job typically go for about $13 at this size.

Show the price ladder
Where we’ve seen it7 listings · 7 stores

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. 10.1 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 10.1 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 $9 comes from the 8 products we score as doing the same job as this one. A quarter of them cost less than $0.94/oz; at 10.1 oz that is $9. Under that line you are paying less than most of them.
  4. About $13 is what those same products typically cost at this size — the midpoint of their prices per ounce, scaled to 10.1 oz.

Formula

Formula score
7 of 10

The formula covers the core of what a mouss does, and it costs less per ounce than most mousses in our library.

How the score is counted
  • 3 products we score as doing the same job cost less per ounce
  • Costs less per ounce than 82% of the 138 mousses we’ve priced
  • No softeners alongside the hold in the formula
  • 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.

Herbal EssencesLowest cost per oz Curl Boosting Mousse for Frizzy Hair $0.73/oz $0.58/oz less
  • Protein-free
  • Curly method
  • Lightweight
· Same function
Differs
  • Cruelty-free
  • Value tier
  • 6.8 oz bottle
Compare
AussieSame function Instant Freeze Sculpting Mousse $0.97/oz $0.34/oz less
  • Protein-free
  • Curly method
  • Lightweight
Differs
  • Cruelty-free
  • Value tier
  • 6 oz bottle
Compare
AussieSame function Instant Volume Mousse $0.83/oz $0.48/oz less
  • Protein-free
  • Curly method
  • Lightweight
Differs
  • Cruelty-free
  • Value tier
  • 6 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 stiffens on protein who want a protein-free formula and real detangling slip

Biggest tradeoff

Less suited to anyone sensitive to fragrance, anyone who will not scrunch out a cast, or anyone who wants a soft, touchable finish

Best alternative if not

Herbal Essences Curl Boosting Mousse for Frizzy Hair — for similar results 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.

3
SupportedBacked by ingredients
0
Partly supportedSome supporting logic
1
Stated by brandNo clear evidence
0
Potential conflictFormula works against claim
strong hold

Synthetic hold polymers are present.

  • Polyquaternium-11
Supported

Structure that lasts the day.

head-turning volume and body

It reads light on the strand, which is what volume claims depend on.

  • Polyquaternium-11
Supported

Leaves room for lift.

heat protection

Heat protection is a performance claim; an ingredient list cannot confirm it.

  • Polyquaternium-11
Stated by brand

Only lab testing can show this.

helps protect against dehydration during blow drying

Humectants or rich emollients sit in the first eight ingredients.

  • Panthenol
Supported

Helps hair feel hydrated.

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 recent reviewer with fine, straight hair says this is the most effective product they have tried for creating fuller-looking blow-dried volume.

Written Ulta review from Baton Rouge, Louisiana; fine straight hair.

One oily-haired customer reports that the volume lasts through the second day and can be revived with another blow-dry on day three.

Ulta's most-helpful written positive review of the exact mousse.

A critical reviewer experienced dryness without the promised hold and felt it straightened their hair instead of supporting curl.

Ulta's most-helpful written critical review of the exact mousse.

More from Wella Professionals

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 (2 manufacturer or regulatory, 1 retailer, 0 editorial), last checked 2026-08-26.
  • Ingredient references are linked for 3 of 5 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.

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