I get asked about Davines constantly. Clients want to know why we carry it instead of Olaplex, or Redken, or whatever their last salon used. The short answer is: we tried everything, and Davines is what we kept coming back to.
The longer answer involves ingredients, sustainability, and the fact that it actually does what it says it does — which, in professional haircare, is rarer than you’d think.
What makes Davines different
Most professional brands are owned by massive conglomerates. L’Oréal owns Redken, Kérastase, Pureology, and about fifteen others. Henkel owns Schwarzkopf. These aren’t bad products, but they’re made to satisfy shareholders, not stylists.
Davines is family-owned, based in Parma, Italy. They manufacture everything in-house with renewable energy. They’re a certified B Corp. None of that matters if the product doesn’t work — but it does matter to us that the brand behind it actually cares about something beyond quarterly earnings.
The products we use most
OI Oil. This is the one product I’d recommend to literally every client. Two pumps on damp hair, two pumps on dry ends. Instant shine, zero weight, smells incredible. If you buy one Davines product, make it this one.
NOUNOU Shampoo + Conditioner. For color-treated or damaged hair. Deeply hydrating without being heavy. Most of our balayage clients end up on this because it keeps color vibrant and hair soft without the silicone buildup you get from drugstore “color-protecting” products.
LOVE Smoothing line. For anyone fighting frizz. The shampoo is light enough for daily use and the conditioner actually smooths without flattening your hair. Chicago humidity in July will test any product — this one holds up.
Naturaltech Energizing line. For thinning hair or scalp concerns. Not the most glamorous product we carry, but the one that changes lives. Clients who’ve been watching their part get wider for years start seeing real improvement in 6–8 weeks.
What we actually think about sustainability claims
I’ll be honest — when brands lead with sustainability, I’m usually skeptical. It’s easy to slap “eco-friendly” on a label and charge 30% more. Davines actually backs it up.
They’ve been carbon neutral since 2018. Their packaging uses at least 97% recycled plastic. They partner with Slow Food International for biodiversity projects. They publish an annual sustainability report with actual numbers, not just marketing copy.
Does that affect how your hair looks? No. But when two products perform equally well and one of them isn’t filling a landfill, the choice is obvious.
Why we don’t carry Olaplex
Because we carry K18, which we think works better. That’s a different conversation — but the short version is K18’s bioactive peptide actually repairs the keratin chain rather than just cross-linking bonds. The science is different, and so are the results. We’ve done the side-by-side comparisons on our own clients. K18 wins.
Between K18 for repair and Davines for everything else, our clients’ hair is in the best condition it’s been in. That’s not a sales pitch. It’s what we see in our chairs every day.
How to buy
We carry the full Davines line in our online shop and in-salon. Free shipping over $95, 30-day returns, and our stylists are always happy to recommend what your specific hair type needs. Not sure where to start? Ask at your next appointment — or take our hair quiz for a personalized recommendation.
