If you have ever stood in our downtown studio at 104 S Capitol Blvd holding a bottle of Davines Oi Shampoo and wondered what all the quiet fuss is about, this guide is for you. It is one of the products we reach for most often behind the chair, and clients ask about it almost every week. So here is the honest, full breakdown from our stylists at Sølvi, what it is, how it works, who it suits, and who it does not.
What Oi Shampoo Actually Is
Oi Shampoo is part of the Davines Oi line, built around a weightless softening approach. The headline ingredient is roucou oil, which softens and smooths the hair without weighing it down. It also leaves an antioxidant finish that helps tame flyaways and frizz. The line carries a light signature scent that tends to linger through the day, and most people either love it or find it a touch too present. We will come back to that.
The point of this shampoo is not deep clarifying or volume building. It is softness and shine. Think of it as the product you choose when your hair feels dry, rough, or unmanageable and you want it to feel like silk again.
Why It Works So Well in Boise
Boise is dry. Our high desert air pulls moisture out of hair the same way it pulls it out of your skin, and that gets worse in winter when the heat is running. Frizz, static, and that straw-like feeling at the ends are everyday complaints in our chairs. Roucou oil and the antioxidant finish are a genuine help here because they smooth the cuticle and add slip without the buildup that heavier moisturizing systems can leave behind in our hard local water.
We see the difference most on clients with color-treated or fine hair who live in the foothills or commute in from drier parts of the valley. The hair drinks it up.
Who It Is For, and Who It Is Not
Oi works on any hair type, from fine to coarse, which is rare. If you want softer, shinier hair without heaviness, it earns its spot. It is especially good for dry and frizzy hair.
Now the honest part. If your scalp runs oily or you stretch washes to twice a week, Oi can feel too gentle and you may want more grip at the roots. It is also not a clarifying shampoo, so if you use a lot of dry shampoo or heavy styling product, you will want to alternate it with a deeper cleanse. And that signature scent is real. A handful of our clients find it lovely and a few find it lingers longer than they want. If you are sensitive to fragrance, sample it first.
How to Use It at Home
Less is more. Apply a small amount to wet hair, massage into the scalp, and work it through to the ends. You do not need a mountain of lather for it to do its job. Rinse fully. For dry Boise hair, we usually pair it with the matching Oi conditioner or an Oi treatment to lock in the smoothness, then let hair air dry when you can to protect the softness you just built.
For specifics on what your hair needs and how to layer products, our stylists are happy to walk you through it during a service. You can see the full list on our services page.
Sizes and Price
We carry three sizes on our shelves so you can try before you commit. The travel size at 3 fl oz runs $15 and is the smart way to test the scent and feel. The standard 9.47 fl oz bottle is $43 and is what most of our regulars keep at home. If you are fully hooked, the liter at 33.8 fl oz is $105 and works out to the best value per ounce. Every product we stock is one our stylists actually use in the studio, so you are never buying something off a generic shelf.
You can grab a bottle in person or read the full details on the Oi Shampoo product page.
Our Honest Take
Oi Shampoo is one of the few products we recommend across almost every hair type, and in a dry climate like ours that versatility matters. It will not fix an oily scalp or replace a clarifying wash, and the scent is a personal call. But for soft, shiny, frizz-calmed hair that survives an Idaho winter, it is a reliable workhorse we keep reaching for.
Want us to help you build the right routine for your hair? Book an appointment at Sølvi Salon and we will sort it out together behind the chair.