By Autumn Schiess, owner and lead stylist at Sølvi Salon in downtown Boise.
Every few weeks someone sits in my chair, runs a hand through their hair, and asks the same thing. How do I get that soft, touchable finish at home without my hair feeling crunchy or weighed down? More often than not, my answer is a small jar of Davines Medium Hold Modeling Gel. It is one of the products I reach for most often behind the chair, and it is one of the few styling pieces I genuinely use on my own hair. This is my complete guide to what it is, how it works, and who it is really for.
What it actually is
Despite the name, this is not a stiff hold gel that locks your hair into place. The Medium Hold Modeling Gel from Davines is a weightless softener. It suits most hair types looking for softness, from fine and flyaway to medium textures, and the whole point of it is softness and shine rather than a hard, structured set. I think of it less as a styling cement and more as a finishing cream that happens to give a little shape. It currently runs $32.00 on our retail shelf, which puts it in line with most professional styling products we carry.
The Roucou oil difference
The ingredient that makes this jar worth talking about is Roucou oil. It comes from the seeds of the achiote plant and it is the reason the gel softens and smooths without leaving any heaviness behind. In my experience it is also what gives hair that antioxidant finish that calms flyaways and tames frizz instead of just coating the strand. For a place like Boise, where the dry high desert air pulls moisture out of hair almost year round, that frizz control matters. I see the difference on clients walking in off the dry summer streets downtown, and I feel it in my own hair in the dead of an Idaho winter when the indoor heat is running nonstop.
How we use it in the studio
The application is simple, which is part of why I recommend it for at home use. Work a small amount through clean, damp hair, comb it through so it spreads evenly, then style as usual. The word small is doing real work in that sentence. A little goes a long way, and most people who get a disappointing result are simply using too much. I keep a jar at my station for my fine-haired clients, and I always start them with less than they think they need. You can always add a touch more, but you cannot pull product back out once it is in.
Who it is for, and who it is not
This gel is a great match for anyone who wants softer, shinier hair that still moves. If you like a natural, lived in finish and you hate the helmet feeling of strong hold products, this belongs in your routine. It also layers well into both a daily styling habit and a once a week reset.
Here is the honest part. If you have very thick, coarse hair and you need all day structured hold for a sleek slicked back look or a sculpted style that does not budge, this is not your product. The hold is genuinely medium, leaning soft. It is a softener first and a styler second. Clients who come to me wanting maximum control are usually happier with a firmer product, and I will tell them so rather than send them home with the wrong jar.
Where it fits in your routine
Most of my clients use it as a leave in styling step after washing, comb it through, and let their hair air dry or rough dry for that soft natural look. If you blow dry, apply it to damp hair first so the Roucou oil can do its smoothing work as the heat sets the style. It pairs nicely with the cuts and color services we offer, and our stylists are happy to show you the exact amount for your hair during your next visit.
Our honest take
After using this on countless heads of hair and on my own, the Medium Hold Modeling Gel earns its spot on our shelf. It is forgiving, it smells good thanks to the light signature Davines scent, and it solves the very real Boise problem of dry, frizzy hair without the heaviness most softeners bring. Just go in knowing it is about softness and shine, not iron grip hold.
You can grab a jar at our downtown studio at 104 S Capitol Blvd, or pick it up when you come in. Read more about it on the Medium Hold Modeling Gel product page, browse everything we offer on our services page, and when you are ready, book an appointment with our stylists so we can match the right products to your hair in person.