We go through a lot of product behind the chair, and most of what we try never earns a spot on our retail shelf. Oi Oil is one of the few that has. After using it on hundreds of clients in our downtown Boise studio, here is our honest read on whether it deserves the hype.
What Oi Oil actually is
Oi Oil is a lightweight finishing oil built around roucou seed oil, an antioxidant-rich ingredient Davines leans on across the Oi line. The point of it is softness and shine without the greasy weight you get from heavier argan-style oils. It is not a treatment you rinse out. It is a leave-in you work through damp or dry hair to smooth flyaways and add a little polish.
Who it works for
This is one of the rare products we recommend across almost every hair type. Fine hair can use a single pump without going flat. Coarse or curly hair can layer two or three to tame frizz. If your hair reads dry or dull by midday, or you fight flyaways every time you leave the house, this is the bottle we point you toward first.
Why it earns its keep in Boise
Idaho air is dry, and our winters are brutal on hair. We see the same thing every January: clients come in with static, split ends, and color that has gone flat. A finishing oil like this one buys back some of that lost moisture and shine between salon visits. It is not a fix for damage, but it makes dry-climate hair behave.
How we use it at Sølvi
On damp hair, we work a small amount through the mid-lengths and ends before blow-drying. It gives a smoother finish and a little heat buffer. On dry hair, we rub one pump between our palms and skim it over the surface to kill frizz and add shine for photos or events. A little goes a long way. Most people use too much the first week, then dial it back.
The honest drawbacks
It is not a styling product, so do not expect hold or volume from it. And if you have a very oily scalp, keep it off the roots entirely. Used heavy-handed on fine hair, it can look wet rather than shiny. That is a technique issue, not a product flaw, but worth saying out loud.
Our bottom line
For 28 dollars, Oi Oil is one of the easiest wins on our shelf. It is the bottle we reach for to finish a blowout and the one we send home with clients who want their hair to look fresh longer. If you are between a few Davines options, this is where we would start.
You can pick up Oi Oil here, or ask your stylist at your next appointment. New to the salon? Read about our services or book online through Vagaro.