Zoe Saldana's stylist utilizes this essential product for creating textured ethereal waves, and I decided to give it a try.

      If I had to sum up my hair in a single word, it would certainly be: complicated. I don't want to give the wrong impression; I've learned to appreciate my natural type 4, coily texture, but it honestly took me years to reach that point since it's not the easiest to handle. My hair is not only super thick and curly, but it also has low porosity and is picky about most products—even those formulated for curls. This is why I’m always searching for a brand that meets all my hair's needs without making it brittle or dry over time. Easier said than done, but I recently revisited an old favorite and was thrilled to see how much the brand had grown since my last experience with it.

      I discovered Rōz years ago when it launched with its initial product, the Santa Lucia Styling Oil ($45), a hydrating essential I couldn't get enough of. I was instantly drawn to the brand because it's created by celebrity stylist Mara Roszak, whose impressive roster of clients includes Zoe Saldaña, Emma Stone, Sandra Bullock, and Riley Keough—essentially all my favorite celebrity hair icons. Rōz originated from two decades spent styling these stars and working in high-end salons. "I started noticing that many styling products were becoming unnecessarily complicated, heavy, and out of touch with the feeling I wanted my hair to have," Roszak explained. "I aimed to develop something that supported hair rather than battled it—products that enhance natural texture, feel luxurious in the hair, and make styling effortless. Rōz was created from that vision: high-performance hair care and styling that delivers beautiful results while allowing your hair to remain true to itself."

      Her reasoning alone was enough for me to trust Roszak with my hair. Naturally, I frequently browse her Instagram for new hair inspiration, and recently noticed she used a new addition to her brand's styling range to achieve stunning, relaxed waves for Saldaña. They were simply ethereal—soft and textured, yet not so stiff that they looked artificial—in fact, they were just right! That's when I knew I had to try Roszak's secret weapon for creating these looks, the Milk Styling Mousse ($39). Although I've never been particularly fond of mousses, this one is a total game-changer. I tested it on my curly hair, and spoiler alert: I'm in love. For more of my impressions on this product and other Rōz items, keep reading.

      Confession: I was never a mousse enthusiast until this product came along. It’s not that I disliked mousses; I just never found one that worked for my excessively dry, finicky curls. Most left my hair feeling sticky, crunchy, or straw-like, but this one flipped everything I disliked about mousses upside down. It's hydrating and softening while providing significant definition to my curls. Roszak, as a professional stylist, shares my views on mousse: "I’ve tried every type of mousse, and many leave hair feeling crunchy, stiff, or weighed down. I wanted to completely rethink what a mousse could be. The Rōz Milk Styling Mousse is incredibly lightweight and hydrating, yet still provides the strength, volume, and hold you need. The difference is that it offers a soft strength; your hair retains shape and memory but still moves." Though I don't use this product daily, I adore it for styling my hair for dinners and events. Roszak has even stated it's a staple in her celebrity styling kit: "Especially for red carpets and long days of press when hair needs to maintain its shape for hours," she shared. "It’s my reliable workhorse—the product I reach for to achieve volume, durability, and movement without making hair feel overworked." Recently, Roszak has been using it on clients like Saldaña and Emma Stone, citing Stone's 2026 Oscars look as a favorite. "We aimed for that beautiful, effortless blowout that needed to last all night," she explained. "The Milk Styling Mousse was the foundation for that look, offering volume and hold while keeping hair soft and touchable."

      If you have coily hair like me, Roszak has some tips for using this mousse. "For wavy or curly hair, I love working the mousse into wet hair and gently scrunching it in. It provides beautiful definition and shape without the crunchy texture. After that, you can diffuse it, round-brush it, or just let it air-dry. It really complements whatever your natural texture wants to do."

      My Rōz Haircare Routine:

      **RŌZ Foundation Hydrating Shampoo**

      I always feel a bit cautious trying something new on my coarse, dry, low porosity curls, but this shampoo proved there was no reason for concern. It's incredibly gentle and hydrating yet still deep cleans my hair when I need to remove product buildup.

      **RŌZ Foundation Hydrating Conditioner**