A client asked us last week if the Davines Energizing Thickening Tonic would grow her hair back. It is a fair question. The name promises a lot, and the bottle sits on our shelf next to products we tag for hair loss. So our stylists at Sølvi decided to give you the honest version, the one we share behind the chair in our downtown Boise studio at 104 S Capitol Blvd. Is it worth $50? Here is our real take.
What it actually is
Let us clear up the biggest source of confusion first. Despite the name, the Energizing Thickening Tonic is a weightless softener. The product itself describes its job as softer, shinier hair without heaviness. The hero ingredient is Roucou oil, which smooths the strand and leaves an antioxidant finish that calms flyaways and frizz. It also carries the light signature Davines scent that tends to linger through the day. That is the product. It is a finishing and softening tonic, not a regrowth serum.
How we use it in the studio
Application is genuinely simple, which is part of why we reach for it during blowouts and quick refreshes. You work a small amount through clean, damp hair, comb it through, and style as usual. It works across hair types, from fine to coarse, because it does not weigh anything down. We have used it on a guest with thick, frizz-prone hair right before a humid summer event and on someone with fine, flat hair who just wanted shine. Both walked out happy, for different reasons.
Why it earns its spot in Boise
Boise is dry. Our high desert air pulls moisture out of hair fast, and that is when flyaways and dull, staticky ends show up. A softening tonic that finishes with an antioxidant layer and tames frizz is genuinely useful here in a way it might not be in a humid coastal city. We see clients fight static all winter, and a few drops of this through damp hair before styling smooths that down without the greasy weight a heavier oil would leave. For the local climate, the anti-frizz and softening angle is the real value, more than anything the name suggests.
The honest drawback
Here is where we have to be straight with you. The word thickening in the name sets an expectation the product does not claim to meet. The description talks about softness, shine, and smoothing flyaways. It does not promise more density, fuller strands, or regrowth. If you are buying this hoping to fix thinning hair or fill in a sparse area, you will likely be let down, and we would rather tell you now than have you feel that at the sink. The scent is also distinctive. Most of our guests love it, but a few find any fragranced product too much, so know that going in.
Who it is for, and who it is not
This is for someone who wants softer, shinier, frizz-calmed hair from a light leave-in step they can do at home in seconds. It is for fine hair that needs shine without flatness and for coarse hair that needs smoothing without grease. It is not for someone expecting a clinical hair loss treatment or visible added volume. If real thinning is your concern, book a chat with us and we will point you toward the right approach for your scalp and goals instead.
Our verdict
At $50, the Energizing Thickening Tonic is worth it if you buy it for what it does, soft, shiny, frizz-free finishing that holds up against Boise dry air. It is not worth it if you buy it for the name. Set the right expectation and it becomes a quiet staple. If you want us to feel your hair and tell you honestly whether this is the right pick, come see the team. You can read about our work on our services page or book an appointment online and we will sort it out together at the studio.