We get asked about Davines Curl Building Serum almost every week at our downtown studio, usually by someone who saw the name and assumed it was a curl cream. So our stylists at Sølvi pulled it off the shelf, used it on real clients for a few weeks, and wrote down what we actually think. Here is our honest take, including who should skip it.
What it actually is (and is not)
Let us clear up the name first, because it trips people up. Despite "Curl Building" on the label, this is a weightless softener, not a curl definition product. The Davines description says it plainly: it works on any hair type from fine to coarse and leaves hair softer and shinier without heaviness. Nowhere does it promise hold, clumping, or a tighter curl pattern. The hero ingredient is Roucou oil, which softens and smooths the hair and leaves an antioxidant finish that tames flyaways and frizz. So think of it as a finishing oil that happens to play nicely with waves and curls, not a gel that sculpts them.
Why our stylists keep reaching for it
The weightlessness is the real selling point. A lot of softening oils sit heavy and flatten fine hair by lunchtime. This one does not. We have worked a few drops through fine, color treated hair and it stayed soft and movable instead of greasy. On coarse and curly textures it knocks down the halo of frizz without dulling the curl. The signature Davines scent lingers all day, which clients notice and comment on at the chair more than you would expect.
The Boise dry air factor
Here in Boise we deal with a high desert climate that pulls moisture out of hair year round, and winter forced heat makes it worse. Dry air is what turns a clean blowout into a frizzy halo by mid afternoon. A lightweight softening oil like this is genuinely useful for that. We have had clients walk out of our studio at 104 S Capitol Blvd, run errands in the dry downtown wind, and report that the frizz stayed down far longer than with their old products. That is the use case where this serum earns its spot.
How to use it without overdoing it
Less is more. The Davines instructions say to work a small amount through clean, damp hair, comb it through, and style. Our stylist note: start with a pea sized amount for fine hair and a dime sized amount for thick or coarse hair. Emulsify it between your palms first so it does not land in one heavy stripe. You can also smooth a tiny bit through dry ends later in the day as a frizz touch up. If your hair looks oily, you used too much, so scale back next time.
Who it is not for
Here is the honest drawback. If you bought this expecting defined, springy, held curls, you will be disappointed. It does not build curl and it does not hold a style. People with very curly hair who want clumping and definition should pair it with an actual curl cream or gel and use this only as a finishing softener over the top. It is also a softening product, so if your hair is already very fine and limp, even a small amount can be one step too far. This is a smoothing and shine tool, not a styling foundation.
Is it worth it?
For the right person, yes. The travel size runs $18 and the full standard 8.45 fl oz bottle is $34, which is fair for a salon grade Davines oil that lasts months when you use it correctly. If you want softer, shinier, calmer hair that holds up against dry Boise air, it is an easy yes. If you want curl definition or hold, look at a dedicated styling product instead. You can read the full details on the Curl Building Serum product page, and our stylists are always happy to match you to the right product during a service. See what we offer on our services page, or book an appointment online and we will hand you the bottle that actually fits your hair.