Decoding Davines: The Ultimate Guide to the Italian Brand’s Vegan Haircare Range
Jas is the former Senior Content Specialist at Adore Beauty. A beauty admirer turned certified addict, she brings a sharp editorial eye and pop-culture pulse to everything she creates. Her words have appeared in The Age, Sydney Morning Herald, and Broadsheet. When she’s not producing viral content or podcasting about skincare, you’ll find her thrifting for vintage treasures or binging Bravo (strictly for research, of course).
In Partnership With Davines.
Davines has been on my list to try since its launch into Adore Beauty late last year. I’ve dabbled on occasion, just not devoured, you know?
The Davines OI Milk, in particular, has been sitting pretty on my wishlist since reading Beauty Editor–and fellow fine-haired sister–Lisa Patulny’s review for Beauty IQ.
Yet, in true Jas style (read: Dory), I’ve since been distracted by many other beautiful, shiny things. I wish I could road-test them all! So much to try, so little tresses.
Then, by some stroke of fate, I recently started going to a new salon and you’ll never guess what haircare brand they use on their clients… you can see where I’m going with this… Davines!
The Italian haircare brand’s B Corp certification and commitment to sustainability proved the perfect match for the zero-carbon salon. That and their seriously good products, which I can now say for a fact (spoiler).
My appointment was the first time I experienced a complete Davines hair routine, from colour to wash, treatment to styling. Let’s just say I left with more ‘tude than I came in with.
It was the push I needed to explore the Davines range for myself. And boy, have I ever.
I’ve been fortunate to get my hands on quite the collection, and have been road-testing the range the last few weeks.
And because good things are best shared, I’ve asked a couple of my Adore colleagues if they could try the other Davines ranges on their tresses, too. At least then I could count all my research as “work”.
Here’s our honest thoughts and everything you need to know about Davines.
Your Davines Cheat Sheet.
Now, navigating such an extensive range like Davines can be overwhelming and confusing as heck, so before we dive into our reviews, allow me to break it down for you.
Davines ESSENTIALS.
This is Davines' most popular range, featuring nine ‘families’ (collections) tailored for different hair types and concerns such as nourishment, hydration, volume, shine, etc.
Each product is enriched with active ingredients sourced from Italian Slow Food Presidia farms, which support biodiversity and sustainability.
They also come packaged in biodegradable materials designed to be reused–can confirm they make an excellent homemade hummus jar.
Here’s a little overview of the Davines Essentials families:
- MOMO: Focused on hydrating dry hair.
- NOUNOU: Deeply nourishes dry hair.
- LOVE: Moisturises and tames frizz.
- LOVE CURL: Elasticies and controls curls.
- VOLU: Volumises fine or limp hair.
- SOLU: Clarifies and removes product buildup.
- MINU: Protects and enhances color-treated hair.
- MELU: Helps reduce breakage.
- DEDE: Delicately cleanses for featherlight locks.
Davines has also recently released refill pouches in a handful of their most popular Essentials ranges for those who like to buy in bulk.
Davines NATURAL TECH.
Where Davines Essentials is all about your classic, everyday haircare, Natural Tech takes things up a notch with complete programs for specific hair and scalp issues.
The range consists of eight families that combine sustainable beauty practices (i.e. the ‘natural’) with advanced technology (the ‘tech’) to address conditions like thinning hair, scalp sensitivity, hair aging, etc.
Here’s an overview of the Davines Natural Tech range:
- Energizing: Targets hair loss and thinning.
- Nourishing: Hydrates and restores damage.
- Purifying: Balances oily scalps.
- Rebalancing: For greasy scalps.
- Calming: Soothes sensitive scalps.
- Replumping: Renews elasticity.
- Renewing: Maintains wellbeing for longevity.
- Wellbeing: Untangles and moisturises.
(You can find my road test and review of Davines Natural Tech Energizing below!)
Davines OI.
If you’re lusting after luxurious locks with enviable shine, this is your guy.
Davines OI is an ultra-nourishing range imbued with Roucou oil, an ingredient that adds shine, tames frizz, and leaves a gorgeous scent in its wake.
The most popular products include:
- OI Shampoo: A nourishing shampoo that enhances shine.
- OI Conditioner: Provides weightless hydration.
- OI Oil: A versatile oil for added moisture and smoothness.
- OI All-in-One Milk: A leave-in treatment for hydration and styling.
Davines HEART OF GLASS.
If you’re blessed with gorgeous golden locks, Davines Heart of Glass is the range to know.
It’s all about enhancing, protecting and maintaining the vibrancy of blonde hair, whether natural or colour-treated.
The Davines Heart of Glass range includes five main products:
- Shampoo: Cleanses and enhances blonde tones.
- Conditioner: Provides nourishment and protection.
- Intense Treatment: Offers deep conditioning to strengthen and repair hair.
- Heat Protection Sheer Glaze Adds shine and protects hair from heat damage.
- Repair Glow Treatment: A serum that enhances shine and colour for all shades of blonde.
Davines MORE INSIDE.
Whether you’re the sleek and polished kind or prefer volume and texture, Davines’ More Inside styling range has you covered.
These products can be used alone or layered together to create your desired look.
The extensive collection contains an "Extra Moisturizing Factor," a blend of moisturising ingredients that help deposit water molecules onto the hair shaft. This gradual release of moisture enhances the product's performance, keeping hair healthy and hydrated for longer periods.
OK now that we’re all experts on all things Davines, let’s dive into our team’s product reviews, shall we?
Our Davines Haircare Reviews.
Davines ESSENTIALS MOMO.
“Picture this:
You’ve just spent a day swimming in the warm, crystalline waters of the Mediterranean Sea off the Italian coast. The sun has kissed your skin (but protected by SPF, of course), an Aperol Spritz is in hand, and you're already daydreaming about the gelato you'll enjoy after dinner.
Welcome to the world of Davines, an Italian-founded hair care brand that blends luxury with sustainability.
From the moment I discovered Davines, I was hooked. Efficacious hair care products backed by science and nurtured by nature. Yes, please!
The MOMO range, in particular, called my name. Tailored for dry and dehydrated hair, this collection promises to leave your locks soft, silky and revitalised.
The MOMO Hydrating Shampoo transforms into a creamy, luscious foam, gently cleansing your hair with natural active ingredients. My hair felt fresh, clean, and invigorated.
Following up with the MOMO Conditioner was pure indulgence. It deeply hydrates and nourishes, effortlessly detangling even the driest strands (a major win in my book).
And the scent? A refreshing blend of fruit and greenery that lingers subtly in your hair, making you actually look forward to your next wash day (a rare phenomenon indeed).
But the best part? The practical and eco-friendly 500ml refill pouch. With 74% less plastic, you can refill your MOMO Moisturising Shampoo twice, all while feeling good about reducing your environmental footprint.
Davines is also a certified B-Corp, producing each product with 100% clean energy, zero impact, and recyclable, food-grade packaging.
In short, it’s a good hair day that also respects Mother Earth.
Now that’s what I’m talking about.” - Ally, Social Media Specialist.
Davines ESSENTIALS LOVE CURL.
“I loved the Davines Curl Conditioner! It felt rich and so nourishing, which if you have curly hair you know is essential!
The smell of both the shampoo and conditioner was pleasant and felt quite nostalgic - I just can't put my finger on it!
I was able to double clean using the shampoo and felt that it didn't strip my hair which I really liked.
Compared to other curly hair products, I found this one was more suitable for achieving definition so if that is something you're after this is a great pick.” - Nicole, Associate Product Manager.
Davines ESSENTIALS NOUNOU.
This range was the catalyst for my newfound obsession with Davines.
I was fortunate enough to get my hands on a couple of Davines NOUNOU samples a little while ago and had used them on occasion, but it was my hairdresser Cat who reintroduced me to the range and I haven't looked back.
It more than delivers on the hydration front, nourishing my dry ends and infusing them with shine and silky softness that I can't help but keep running my fingers through.
Each product is as lovely as the next, whether used together or paired with another brand, to restore moisture and keep frizz at bay.
The NOUNOU Shampoo lathers up nicely to a full-bodied foam, effectively cleansing my fine tresses without stripping them of moisture.
The mask is lovely too. You don't need much to reap its rejuvenating benefits. And its lightweight formula didn't weigh my fine hair down. A HUGE win.
Davines NATURAL TECH Energising.
The first time I tried the Davines Energising routine it sent shivers down my spine.
I massaged the shampoo's ruby-hued texture into my hair and was taken aback by how quickly it started to stimulate my scalp.
I stood in the shower with my eyes closed breathing in its soothing peppermint aroma. For a second there I almost forgot I was at home in my shabby rental bathroom and not a five-star, minty-fresh day spa.
On the recommendation of my hairdresser, I've been using it every other day for the last month or so, leaving the second round of shampoo on for a full five minutes for it to work its 'Intensive Treatment' magic.
I then follow each wash with the Davines NATURAL TECH Energising Thickening Tonic, spritzing it onto my scalp and along my hairline, allowing it to sink for a few minutes before combing it through.
I don't know whether it's a placebo or straight-up haircare wizardry, but I swear my fine hair has felt fuller and looks healthier since using this Davines range.
I've noticed less hair comes out when washing it too.
This is the first time I've tried a tailored treatment for my tresses such as this. It does require a little more work on your end, but the way it stimulates and soothes all of the senses makes it worth the extra washes worth it.
Although it's a little too soon to speak to new hair growth, I feel optimistic that its unique Hair Energy Complex, which includes caffeine phytoceuticals that stimulate the cellular metabolism of the scalp, is doing what it can to give this fine hair a new lease on life.
Davines OI Daily Nourishing Shampoo.
"This is the second shampoo I’ve tried from the Davines range and can confidently say I like this one much better.
While the other one was gorgeous and smelled amazing, I don't know that it was very thick-hair friendly so I ended up passing it on to my aunty who LOVED it (but also has much thinner hair than me).
The OI Daily Nourishing Shampoo was much better suited to my frizz-prone and unruly locks.
After washing, drying and styling, it weighed my hair down a tiny bit (in a good way) while still leaving it looking fresh and thick.
I know, magic.
When you have a lot of hair that can get really frizzy and stick out sideways, having it look and feel more tamed is important.
If I could describe the results with a clothing metaphor, I’d say it made my hair more “flowy” or in hair speak I’d say it felt more soft, light and airy.
If your hair texture is like mine, I think you’ll enjoy this one." - Sadaf, Senior Beauty Editor.
Honourable Mentions.
I couldn't in good conscience wrap things up without at least a quick mention of the aforementioned Davines OI Milk 135ml.
I've been spritzing it silly, on both dry and wet hair, and have become obsessed with how soft and beautifully scented this spray makes my mane.
Needless to say, it's worth the hype!
Finally, a shout-out to the Davines MORE INSIDE Dry Texturizer 250g.
This lightweight, texture-building spray helps my fine hair hold shape and doesn't feel sticky or make my hair crusty like some other styling sprays can – full review coming soon...
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