We get asked about this one a lot at the shampoo bowl, so here are our actual notes on Davines Love Smoothing Shampoo. No marketing spin, just what we have seen behind the chair at our downtown Boise studio. The short version: it is one of the most reliable frizz-taming washes we keep on the shelf, and it earns its spot for a specific kind of hair.
What it is
Love Smoothing Shampoo is part of the Davines Love Smooth family, built for frizzy, coarse, or humidity-prone hair. It is a daily or weekly wash that softens rough textures and makes the next step, the blow-dry, go faster and finish sleeker. We pair it with the Love Smoothing leave-in perfector on damp hair before drying. The shampoo runs $32 for the standard 8.45 oz bottle, $16 for the travel size, and $91 for the liter if you go through product fast or want to split it at home.
Who it is for
If your hair fights you every time the weather shifts, this is the bottle we point to. Boise is dry most of the year, which already roughs up the cuticle, and then a humid afternoon in late spring undoes a good blowout in twenty minutes. Love Smoothing was made for exactly that swing. It works on thick, unruly, coarse hair, and it is not just for people who wear their hair straight. We have seen it calm wavy and curly textures too, taking the edge off the frizz without flattening the shape. A lot of our regulars who used to fight a halo of flyaways every morning tell us this is the bottle that finally made their wash days predictable.
Who it is NOT for
Here is the honest part. If your hair is fine or already on the limp side, this is probably not your shampoo. Smoothing formulas are rich by design, and on fine hair they can read as heavy or leave roots looking a little weighed down. If that is you, we would steer you toward a lighter Davines line and save Love Smooth for the people who actually need the extra control. It is also not a substitute for a smoothing treatment. It manages frizz day to day, it does not chemically straighten anything.
How we use it
Our routine is simple. Shampoo and condition in the shower, rinse well, then towel-dry until the hair is damp but not dripping. Work the Love Smoothing perfector through mid-lengths and ends before you pick up the dryer. That leave-in step is where a lot of people stop short, and it is the difference between okay and genuinely smooth. A little goes a long way, so start with less than you think you need and add more only if the ends still feel rough. For our Boise clients heading into a humid stretch, this combo holds a blowout noticeably longer, and the smoothing carries through to day two without needing a full restyle.
The stylist verdict
Love Smoothing Shampoo does what it says for the right hair type, and it does it without a heavy artificial scent, which we appreciate working in it all day. The main drawback is that it is specific. Match it to coarse, frizz-prone hair and it is excellent. Use it on the wrong texture and you will wonder what the fuss is about. When in doubt, ask whoever is doing your hair, or grab the travel size first to test it before you commit to the big bottle.
You can pick it up on our Love Smoothing Shampoo product page or in the studio at 104 S Capitol Blvd. Curious whether it fits your hair? Take a look at our services and book an appointment so we can feel your texture and point you to the right routine in person.