Curly clients are the ones who ask us the most questions at the chair. They have usually tried a drawer full of products that promised bounce and delivered crunch. So when something earns a permanent spot on our shelf at Sølvi, our stylists have already put it through real heads of hair, not just a marketing photo. Davines Love Curl Cream is one of those products. Here is our honest, first-hand take after using it on a lot of different curl patterns in the studio.
What it actually is
Love Curl Cream is a styling cream built for waves, spirals, and everything between. It is part of the larger Davines Love Curl line, which runs from shampoo and conditioner through to this styling step. The cream itself sells for $32 at our downtown studio. The two ingredients doing the heavy lifting are almond and olive extracts, which help define curl shape while adding softness. It is designed to hydrate without weighing curls down or leaving buildup, and that is the part we care about most. Heavy creams are the reason so many curls go flat by mid-afternoon.
How we use it behind the chair
The method is simple and it matters. We apply Love Curl Cream to damp hair, not soaking wet and not dry. From there we scrunch upward toward the scalp to encourage the curl to coil instead of fall. On finer wavy textures we use a small amount and build if needed. On denser, coilier hair we are more generous. We almost always pair it with the Love Curl shampoo and conditioner first, because the cream performs noticeably better on hair that has already been balanced and hydrated at the wash stage.
How it holds up in Boise
Idaho is dry. Boise sits in a high desert climate, and our winters pull moisture out of curls fast. That is exactly where a lot of curl creams fail, because they sit on top of the hair instead of working with it. Love Curl Cream has held up well for our clients here because the almond and olive extracts lean toward conditioning rather than heavy hold. Curls stay defined without the stiff cast that cracks the moment someone touches their hair. For the dry stretch from November through March, we tell clients to refresh with a little water and a pea-sized amount on day two instead of starting over.
The honest drawback
Here is the part most reviews skip. This is a light-to-medium definition cream, not a strong hold product. If you want curls that lock into place and stay rigid all day, or you have very coarse, very dry hair fighting Boise winter air, the cream on its own may not carry you. In those cases it really does need the rest of the Love Curl system, or a gel layered over it, and that adds cost. At $32 for the cream alone, someone expecting a one-bottle miracle for thick, thirsty hair might feel let down. It is also not the right pick for stick-straight hair, since there is no curl pattern for it to define.
Who it is for
We reach for Love Curl Cream for clients with wavy to medium-curly hair who want soft, touchable definition and natural movement. It is a great everyday product for someone who likes the lived-in, undone look rather than a sculpted one. If you are newer to embracing your texture, this is a forgiving place to start because it is hard to overdo. We talk through this exact decision during a styling consultation, and you can see what we offer on our services page.
Our verdict
Love Curl Cream has earned its place on our shelf because it does what it claims without overpromising. It defines, it hydrates, and it respects the curl instead of drowning it. Just go in knowing it is a definition cream, not a hold product, and that it shines brightest as part of the full Love Curl routine. If you want our stylists to match it to your texture and show you how to use it at home, book an appointment with us at our downtown studio at 104 S Capitol Blvd. We are happy to put a little in your hands and let your curls do the talking.