Every winter at our downtown Boise studio, the same conversation happens behind the chair. A client sits down, we run our fingers through the mid-lengths, and we feel it. Dry, snappy ends that have been fighting the Idaho air all season. When the hair is also color treated or has lived through a few too many lightening sessions, we usually reach for one bottle first. These are our working notes on the Davines NouNou Conditioner, the stuff we actually keep stocked in our own kits.
What it is
NouNou is the most nourishing conditioner in the Davines Essentials range, and it is built specifically for damaged hair. That means chemically treated, over-processed, or very dry strands. It is not a light daily rinse meant for fine, healthy hair. It is a rich, treatment-style conditioner that sits on the heavier end of the lineup. We think of it less as a quick step and more as a small repair moment in the shower.
How it feels behind the chair
The first thing we notice is the lather. It is creamy and spa-like, the kind of texture that feels closer to a mask than a standard conditioner. The emollients are doing real work here. On damaged hair we see softer mid-lengths and ends that detangle without the usual fight. For Boise clients dealing with our dry high-desert climate, that softening matters. The air here pulls moisture out of hair fast, especially in winter, and a conditioner that puts richness back is worth its shelf space.
Who it is for
This is our pick for hair that has been through something. Balayage that needed a few rounds of lift. A box-dye correction we spent three hours fixing. Curls and waves that read as parched by February. If a client tells us their ends feel like straw, NouNou usually goes in the bag.
Who it is not for
Here is the honest part. If your hair is fine, oily at the roots, or generally healthy, this conditioner can be too much. It is rich by design, and on the wrong hair type it can weigh things down or leave the roots feeling flat by the end of the day. We have had clients with fine hair come back and tell us it was heavier than they wanted, and they were right. For those folks we steer toward a lighter option in the range. Match the conditioner to the hair, not to the hype.
How we use it
Simple. Shampoo first, then work NouNou through the mid-lengths and ends in the shower. We tell clients to skip the scalp if their roots run oily and concentrate the product where the damage lives. Once a week, swap in the NouNou mask for a heavier deep treatment instead. That weekly mask plus daily or every-other-day conditioner is the routine we recommend most often for damaged hair surviving an Idaho winter.
The price and sizes
NouNou Conditioner comes in three sizes on our shelves. The travel size at 2.5 fluid ounces runs $17, which is a low-risk way to test whether your hair likes it before committing. The standard 8.45 ounce bottle is $42, and the liter at 33.8 ounces is $102 for clients who already know it works for them and want the better value. We always suggest starting with the travel size if you are unsure. There is no point buying a liter of something your hair type does not love.
Our take
NouNou earns its spot in our studio because it does one job well. It nourishes damaged hair without a lot of fuss. It is not a miracle, and it is not for everyone, but for the over-processed and the very dry it is one of the most reliable conditioners we stock. If you want us to look at your hair in person and tell you honestly whether NouNou fits, come see us. You can view our service menu or book an appointment online. Our studio is at 104 S Capitol Blvd in downtown Boise, and every product on our shelves is one we actually use behind the chair.