If you have ever left our chair with soft, smooth hair and then wondered why it never looks quite the same at home, you are not alone. We hear it every week behind the chair at Sølvi. The good news is that most of the gap comes down to how a product gets applied, not the product itself. Davines Relaxing Moisturizing Fluid is one we reach for often in the studio, and it is genuinely easy to use at home once you know the small details that make it work.
This is a quick, honest guide from our stylists on how to get salon-level softness out of this $32 fluid in your own bathroom, plus where it fits and where it does not.
What this fluid actually does
Relaxing Moisturizing Fluid is a Davines styling product from their More Inside line. It is a lightweight leave-in fluid meant to smooth, soften, and calm the hair so it sits down instead of puffing out. Think of it as a finishing and prep step rather than a deep treatment. It is not a hold product, so do not expect it to lock a style in place all day. What it does well is take the rough, dry edge off your hair, which matters a lot here in Boise.
Why Boise hair needs it
Idaho air is dry, and downtown Boise sits in that high-desert pocket where humidity drops fast, especially from late fall through spring. Dry air pulls moisture out of the hair cuticle, and that is what gives you flyaways, dullness, and that straw-like feel by midday. A moisturizing fluid like this one puts a little softness back so your hair behaves. We see the difference most on clients who blow-dry daily or spend time outdoors. If that sounds like you, this product earns its spot on your shelf.
How to use it, step by step
Here is the routine we walk clients through at the studio. It works on damp or dry hair, so you have options depending on your morning.
- Start small. Dispense one pump into your palm first. You can always add more, but you cannot take it back out once it is in.
- Rub it between your hands. Warming it in your palms helps it spread evenly instead of landing in one heavy patch.
- Work mid-lengths to ends. Skip the roots. The ends are oldest and driest, so that is where the moisture needs to go. Roots get oily fast when product creeps up there.
- On damp hair, apply before you blow-dry to smooth as you style. The fluid helps the cuticle lie flat under heat.
- On dry hair, use a tiny amount as a midday refresh on frizz or flyaways. A half pump is plenty for a touch-up.
- Comb through to distribute, then style as usual.
How much is too much
This is the mistake we see most. One pump covers most shoulder-length heads. Fine or thin hair should start with even less, maybe half a pump, because overapplying weighs it down and makes it look greasy by lunch. Thick or coarse hair can handle two pumps. Always build up slowly. If your hair ever feels coated or limp after using it, you used too much, and the fix is simply less next time.
Who it is not for
We like to be straight about this. If you want volume and lift, this is not your product, because a moisturizing fluid naturally smooths hair down rather than pumping it up. People with very fine hair who already struggle with limpness may find it too much. And if you are looking for all-day structured hold for an updo or a slicked-back look, you will want a styling cream or gel layered with it, not this fluid on its own. It is a softness and smoothness tool, plain and simple.
A few stylist notes
One thing we appreciate about the Davines More Inside line is the refillable packaging, which keeps waste and restock cost down, something we care about in the studio. We also like that it layers cleanly with other stylers if you do need more hold on top. Bring your bottle in and we are happy to show you exactly how much to use for your hair type during your next visit.
You can grab Relaxing Moisturizing Fluid on our retail shelf, and every product we carry is one our team uses on real clients. If you want a finish tailored to your hair, take a look at our full salon services or book an appointment online. Stop by the studio at 104 S Capitol Blvd in downtown Boise and we will get you sorted.