We tried Davines’s essential haircare on multiple hair types – here’s our review

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Davines has long occupied a unique space in the haircare world, marrying salon-grade formulas with a strong commitment to sustainability.

This year, the Italian brand refreshed its cult essential haircare range – which boasts shampoos and conditioners, alongside a myriad of styling products – updating the packaging and further spotlighting the regenerative organic farming projects that sit at the heart of the collection.

Each shampoo, from minu to volu, is built around an ingredient grown by small-scale Italian producers, with the aim of supporting biodiversity while targeting specific hair concerns, such as colour fading, heat damage, flat roots and dehydration.

Of course, good intentions only get a brand so far. With price tags that sit somewhere between mid-range and aspirational, together with a devoted following, I wanted to find out whether the range could deliver on performance as well as credentials.

To put it through its paces, myself and IndyBest’s expert team of testers (spanning men and women with fine, thick, coloured, damaged, dry and oily hair types) spent weeks washing, styling and reviewing the shampoos in everyday life. From lather and cleansing power to hydration, shine and long-term results, this is how the Davines essential haircare formulas stacked up in real life.

We spent weeks testing the formulas (Danielle Attwater/The Independent)

The best Davines shampoos and conditioners for 2026 are:

Best for coloured hair – Davines minu duo: £50, Davines.com
Best for frizz – Davines love smoothing duo: £50, Davines.com
Best for damage – Davines nounou duo: £50, Davines.com
Best for long hair – Davines melu duo: £50, Davines.com
Best for build-up – Davines solu shampoo: £24, Davines.com