If you picked up the Davines Elevating Scalp Recovery Treatment expecting a medicated scalp soak, we want to clear something up before you use it. Behind the chair at Sølvi, we reach for this one as a leave-in softener, not a scalp mask. It is a weightless finishing product that smooths hair and tames frizz, and once you use it the way it is built to be used, it earns its spot on your shelf. Here is exactly how our stylists in downtown Boise put it to work.
What this product actually is
The name throws people off, so let us be honest about it. This is a Davines styling product priced at $44.00, and its job is to soften and smooth. The hero ingredient is roucou oil, which conditions the hair without weighing it down and leaves an antioxidant finish that calms flyaways. It works on any hair type, from fine to coarse. What it is not is a treatment for an itchy, flaking, or irritated scalp. If that is what you are looking for, this is the wrong bottle, and we would rather tell you that now than have you frustrated later. You can read the full breakdown on the product page.
Step one: start with clean, damp hair
This is a leave-in, so it goes on damp hair, not dry. After you wash, gently squeeze out the excess water with a towel until your hair is damp rather than dripping. You do not need to rinse it out afterward. Skipping the dry-hair temptation matters here. Applied to soaking wet hair the product dilutes and you lose the smoothing payoff. Applied to bone-dry hair it can sit on the surface instead of absorbing.
Step two: use less than you think
The single biggest mistake we see is overapplying. Start with a small amount, roughly a dime-sized drop for fine hair and a bit more for thick or coarse hair. Warm it between your palms first. Roucou oil is rich, and on finer textures too much will read as greasy by midday. You can always add a second pass. You cannot take it back out without rewashing. We tell every client the same thing at our studio: build up slowly.
Step three: comb through and style
Work the product through the mid-lengths and ends, then comb through with a wide-tooth comb to distribute it evenly. Keep it off the roots if your hair tends to get oily up top. From there, style as you normally would, whether that is air drying, blow drying, or smoothing with a round brush. The roucou oil does its best frizz-fighting work as the hair dries.
Why it works so well in Boise
Idaho air is dry, and downtown Boise summers pull moisture out of your hair fast. That dryness is what turns smooth ends into frizz and flyaways by afternoon. The antioxidant finish on this softener gives your hair a light shield against that, which is why it has become one of our quiet favorites for clients who fight the dry-climate frizz battle. A little daily, or a slightly larger amount once or twice a week, keeps things smooth without the heaviness that other oils leave behind.
Who it is for, and who it is not
This is for anyone who wants softer, shinier hair without product buildup or weight, and it is gentle enough for daily use. It is not for someone hunting for a clinical scalp remedy, and it is not the right pick if you already run oily and use a lot of other product. If you are unsure whether it suits your hair type, that is exactly the kind of thing we sort out in person. Look over our full salon services to see how we pair the right products with the right cuts and color.
Every product on our shelves is one we actually use behind the chair at 104 S Capitol Blvd. If you want a stylist to show you the exact amount for your hair and walk you through it in person, book an appointment with us. We are happy to send you home knowing precisely how to make this softener earn its keep.