Every so often a product earns permanent shelf space in our studio, and Davines NouNou Shampoo is one of them. We keep notes behind the chair on the products our stylists at Sølvi reach for most, and this one fills a page. Consider this the short version: what NouNou is, who it actually helps, and the smartest way to buy it if you go through it the way our most damaged-hair clients do.
What it actually is
NouNou is the most nourishing wash in the Davines Essentials range, and it is built specifically for damaged hair. Not "damaged" as a marketing word. We mean chemically treated, over-processed, or very dry hair that has lost the slip it used to have. The formula leans on rich emollients to repair and soften the strand, and the lather is creamy enough that it feels closer to a treatment than a basic cleanse. If you have ever stepped out of the shower and your hair still felt like straw, this is the category of product you want.
Why Boise hair likes it
We work in downtown Boise, and the high desert climate here is rough on the hair cuticle. Low humidity pulls moisture out of every strand, and that is before you add color, lightener, or heat styling on top. Hair that would behave fine in a wetter city shows its damage faster in Idaho. NouNou gives that hair something to hold onto. Clients who color regularly or who are growing out a lot of past lightening tend to notice the difference within a couple of washes, mostly in how the hair detangles and how it feels at the ends.
The "refill set" read on it
People ask us about a NouNou refill set, and here is the honest stylist take. NouNou comes in a clear size ladder, and how you buy it matters as much as what you buy. The Travel size runs 16 dollars and is perfect for trying it or for a weekend bag. The Standard 8.45 ounce bottle sits at 37 dollars and is the everyday pick. The Liter is 91 dollars, and that is the one we point heavy users toward. If you wash with NouNou several times a week, the Liter is your refill bottle. You keep the pretty Standard bottle in the shower and top it off from the Liter, which means less packaging and a lower cost per ounce over the year. That is the smart way to "set" yourself up with it.
How we use it in the studio
Our routine is simple. Shampoo and condition in the shower as your daily or weekly wash. Then, once a week, swap the conditioner step for the NouNou mask and let it sit for a deeper, in-shower treatment. The shampoo and the mask are built to work together, so if you are going to invest in repairing damaged hair, running the pair is where you get the real payoff. We walk clients through this at the chair so they are not guessing at home.
Who it is not for
This is the part we are honest about. NouNou is rich, and rich is exactly what damaged hair wants. If your hair is fine, oily at the roots, or genuinely healthy, those same emollients can weigh it down and leave you looking flat by the afternoon. We would steer you toward a lighter Davines wash instead. The Liter is also a real commitment at 91 dollars up front, so if you are not sure NouNou is your match yet, start with the Travel or Standard and see how your hair responds before you buy big.
Our verdict
For the right head of hair, NouNou is one of the easiest recommendations we make. Damaged, color-treated, or desert-dry hair gets softer, more manageable, and easier to detangle, and the size ladder lets you buy it in a way that fits your routine and your budget. If you are not sure whether your hair is a fit, that is genuinely a conversation worth having with a stylist rather than a guess.
You can read the full product details on our NouNou Shampoo page, see what else we offer on our services page, or just book an appointment and we will match you to the right wash in person. Find us at 104 S Capitol Blvd in downtown Boise.