Davines Oi Oil is one of those bottles that lives within arm's reach of almost every chair in our studio. We reach for it during finishing, we send it home with clients, and a few of us keep one in our own bathroom cabinets. This is our full breakdown of what it actually does, how to use it without overdoing it, and who it is genuinely right for. No fluff, just what our stylists at Sølvi have learned using it day after day behind the chair.
What Oi Oil Actually Is
Oi Oil is a weightless softener built to work across any hair type, from baby-fine to thick and coarse. The standout ingredient is roucou oil, sourced from the seeds of the achiote plant, which softens and smooths the hair while leaving an antioxidant finish that helps calm flyaways and frizz. It is not a deep repair treatment and it is not a leave-in conditioner. Think of it as the final layer that makes hair feel like silk and look like it caught good light. It runs $28 in our retail area, which for the number of uses you get out of one bottle is reasonable for a salon-grade finishing oil.
Why It Works So Well in Boise
Idaho is dry. Our high desert climate pulls moisture out of hair the same way it chaps your lips in February, and the swing between heated indoor air and cold outdoor air leaves a lot of our clients fighting static and dullness. A lightweight oil like this one is a small daily defense. It does not coat hair in grease, so it works in our climate where heavier oils can feel like too much. Clients walking out of our downtown studio at 104 S Capitol Blvd into a dry afternoon hold their shine and softness far longer with a few drops worked through.
How to Use It Without Overdoing It
The instructions are simple, but the amount is where people go wrong. Start with a small amount, roughly a pea size for fine hair and up to a dime size for thick or long hair. Warm it between your palms, then work it through clean, damp hair from mid-length to ends. Comb through and style as usual. You can also rub a tiny bit between your fingers and smooth it over dry hair ultimately, to refresh shine and tame frizz before an evening out. Less is always the safer starting point. You can add more, but you cannot take it back out once your roots look flat.
Who It Is For, and Who It Is Not
This oil is a strong fit for anyone chasing softer, shinier hair without weight, and it pairs beautifully with curly, wavy, color-treated, and frizz-prone hair. Here is the honest part. It is not a repair product. If your hair is genuinely damaged, breaking, or over-processed, this will make it look and feel better on the surface, but it will not rebuild the hair. For that you need a bond or protein treatment, and we are happy to talk through those during a visit. The other thing worth flagging is the scent. Davines gives Oi a signature fragrance that lingers all day, and most people love it, but if you are sensitive to fragrance or share a pillow with someone who is, sample it first before you commit to a bottle.
How We Use It in the Studio
Behind the chair, our stylists most often reach for Oi Oil at two moments. The first is on damp hair before a blowout, where it cuts down on frizz and gives the finish a polished, glassy look. The second is as a finishing touch on dry hair, smoothed lightly over the surface to catch stray ends. We also like it on the lengths of long hair the night before a wash to soften without buildup. If you book a blowout or a cut and finish with us, ask your stylist to show you exactly how much to use for your texture. That two-minute demo saves a lot of trial and error at home. You can see everything we offer on our services page.
The Bottom Line
Oi Oil earns its spot on our shelf because it is genuinely versatile, it suits our dry Idaho climate, and one small bottle stretches a long way. Set your expectations correctly. It is a softening, smoothing, shine-building finisher, not a fix for damage, and the scent is a real preference to consider. If that sounds like what your hair needs, grab a bottle next time you are in, or book an appointment and let us match it to your texture in person.