Reviewed by Autumn Schiess, owner and lead stylist at Sølvi Salon, with 14 years behind the chair and Davines color and care training.
We keep a short list behind the chair at Sølvi. The products that earn a spot are the ones we reach for on real clients, day after day, not the ones with the prettiest label. Davines OI Oil has been on that list for years now, so I sat down to write an honest review of it from our downtown studio on 104 S Capitol Blvd. Here is what I actually think.
What OI Oil Is
OI Oil is a weightless, multi-function hair oil from Davines. The point of it is simple. It makes hair softer and shinier without leaving it heavy or coated. The hero ingredient is roucou oil, which smooths the cuticle and leaves an antioxidant finish that helps tame flyaways and frizz. It runs $28, and you can see the full listing on our OI Oil product page.
How We Use It in the Studio
The application is about as easy as it gets. I work a small amount through clean, damp hair, comb it through, and then style as normal. That is the whole thing. There is no rinse-out step and no waiting. For stylists who are blow-drying client after client, a product that goes on damp and disappears into the hair is a real time saver.
The scent deserves a mention too. Davines has a light signature fragrance that lingers without being loud, and clients comment on it more than almost any other product we carry. It is the kind of smell people ask about at the front desk.
Where It Shines in Boise
Boise air is dry. Idaho dry. If you have lived through a high-desert winter, you know what it does to hair, that staticky, lifeless feeling where strands will not lie down. This is exactly the situation where OI Oil pulls its weight. Back in January, I had a regular come in with fine, color-treated hair that had gone flat and full of static from the cold, dry stretch we get downtown. A few drops of OI Oil worked through damp hair before her blowout, and the static was gone for the rest of her appointment. The roucou oil smooths the cuticle so hair catches the light instead of looking dull, and the antioxidant finish keeps flyaways in check on those bone-dry days when nothing else seems to behave.
It performs across a wide range too. It works on fine hair and on coarse hair, which is rare for a single oil. Most products that handle coarse texture will flatten fine hair, and most that respect fine hair do nothing for coarse. This one threads that needle better than most.
The Honest Drawback
No product is perfect, and I promised honesty. The weightless promise has a catch on very fine hair. Because it is an oil, fine hair needs a genuinely small amount. Use too much and that weightless feeling tips over into greasy and flat. Start with less than you think, and add only if you need it.
It is also worth saying what this is and is not. OI Oil is a finishing and softening oil. It is not a bond-builder or a repair treatment. If your hair is damaged and you are looking for structural repair, this is the wrong tool. On heat, OI Oil does offer some thermal and humidity protection, and that is a real bonus on a Boise summer day. It is not a substitute for a dedicated heat protectant, though. Before hot tools, I still reach for a true thermal product like Davines OI All In One Milk first, then finish with the oil.
Who It Is For
I reach for OI Oil for clients with dry or frizzy hair who want softness and shine without product buildup or weight. It pairs naturally with the work we do at the chair, so if you are booking a blowout or a color appointment through our services, ask your stylist whether it fits your hair before you commit to a bottle. We would rather you skip it than buy something that does not suit you.
Our Verdict
OI Oil has held its place on our shelf for good reason. It is genuinely easy to use, it solves a real problem for Boise hair fighting dry air, and the finish looks expensive. The price is friendly, and the light-hand rule on fine hair is the one honest caveat, but for the right head of hair it is one of the best finishing oils we keep in stock. If you want a stylist to confirm it is the right call for you, book an appointment at Sølvi and we will sort it out at the chair.