Cibu Shang High Volumizing Mousse, $20

A couple of years ago I worked as a receptionist for Bubbles Hair Salon. (I actually still go there to get my hair done!) The stylists loved to use my hair to experiment with new products or techniques. When Bubbles's brand Cibu made a volumizing line, I got really excited; though I am told I have a good amount of hair, it is pretty fine. If I don't put anything in it, it tends to just lay there. The stylists tried the Cibu Shang High Volumizing Mousse on me and I've been hooked ever since.

The mousse is made with white and green tea extracts and ginseng, which are supposed to protect your hair from sun and environmental damage while giving it volume. Plus, they give the mousse a clean and fresh scent.

The mousse itself is soft and luxurious. And really thick! You can see from this picture that the bubbles are really tiny, meaning it's super concentrated (not just full of air).

We used to love doing this--if you put it in your hand and hold it upside down, it doesn't move! As a demonstration we would put some on the table and leave it for 20 minutes or so. Some air would deflate out of it but it pretty much remained intact. It's pretty cool!

What I love most about the mousse is that it gives my hair volume whether I'm blowdrying it or letting it get some curl naturally (like in my sexyface pic above). And my hair's always soft--never sticky or crunchy.

Final verdict
Cost: I'm willing to pay $20 for this even though that's kind of a lot. It just works! Plus the bottle lasts a long time. Even when you think it's empty there's still more left!
Soooft: My hair feels really soft, whether I'm scrunching it and letting it dry naturally or blowdrying it.
Tips: As with any hair product, start off with a little and add more. Use when your hair is wet but not soaking wet. It doesn't say to shake the bottle first but I always do (I feel like it makes it thicker).
Hair types: I can only really relate to my own hair, which is fine, soft to the point of flat, and nearly stick-straight. Probably best for girls who need extra help getting "big hair."
Availability: Bubbles Salons are mostly on the east coast but the Cibu line is available for purchase online.
Repeat offender: This is the only mousse I ever use! It's also the only thing that gets that tiny bit of curl in my flat hair. I love it! Too bad I don't get my discount anymore! ;)

BTW, Ratner (who owns Bubbles, Hair Cuttery, and Cibu) is donating hair to help clean the oil spill in the Gulf. Check it out here.

-T