Essential Haircare: a sustainable heritage

Hair care that is kind to every type of hair, that respects people, their values, and the planet on which we all live. This was the vision behind Essential Haircare, which celebrates its 20th anniversary this year.

Natural, planet-protecting ingredients

Made using high percentages of easily biodegradable natural origin ingredients, Essential Haircare products are enriched with active ingredients from Slow Food Presidia farms in Italy, that help keep endangered plant species alive, supporting biodiversity.

Sustainable packaging and manufacture

The Essential Haircare line is produced and packaged at the Davines Village using 100% renewable electricity. We have been constantly working to reduce the amount of plastic used for our packaging.

The Essential range: daily care for every hair type

The Essential Haircare range is made up of nine distinct families, each of which is dedicated to addressing a unique hair care need: nourishment, hydration, volumizing, shine enhancement, protection, elasticizing, smoothness, and daily care.

LOVE SMOOTHING

Smooth frizzy or unruly hair

The LOVE SMOOTHING family contains extract of Sicilian Minuta Olives from the farm of Mr Carmelo Messina, Ficarra, Messina. These olives are rich in fatty acids and vitamins, which promotes smoothness in hair and makes it feel softer.

LOVE CURL

Elasticizing and controlling for wavy or curly hair

The LOVE CURL family is made with extract of Noto Almonds from the farm of Mr Carlo Assenza, Noto, Syracuse. This helps make hair more elastic, thanks to a rich variety of elements including proteins, B-group vitamins, vitamin E, unsaturated fatty acids, magnesium, iron, potassium, copper and phosphorus.

MOMO

Moisturize dry hair

The Momo family contains extract of yellow Cartucciaru di Paceco Melon from the farm of Mrs Francesca Simonte in Dattilo, Trapani. Rich in water, vitamins and mineral salts, it contributes to long-lasting hydration of the hair.

NOUNOU

Nourish damaged hair

The NOUNOU family is made with extract of Fiaschetto di Torre Guaceto Tomatoes from the Calemone farm of Mr Mario di Latte in Serranova di Carovigno, Brindisi. Powerfully nourishing, they are rich in carbohydrates and protein, as well as Vitamin C, which has an antioxidant action.

MELU
Anti-breakage for long hair

he MELU family contains extract of Villalba lentil seeds from the farm of Mr Francesco di Gesu, Villalba, Caltanissetta. Rich in serine and glutamic acid, which are the most abundant amino acids in keratin, the products are ideal for nourishing and repairing hair that has been damaged.

VOLU

Volumize fine or limp hair

The VOLU family is formulated with extract of Caprauna turnips from the farm of Mrs Donatella Ferraris, Caprauna, Cuneo. Caprauna turnips are rich in minerals such as phosphorus, iron and calcium, and vitamins (A, B and C), giving the hair body and volume.

DEDE

Gentle, for daily use

The Dede family is created using extract of Orbassano red celery from the farm of Messrs Giancarlo and Doriano Pozzatello, Orbassano, Turin. This extract is rich in mineral salts, which has a remineralizing action on the hair, keeping it healthy and strong.

MINU

Illuminate and protect colour-treated hair

The MINU family is made using Salina caper blossom extract harvested on the farm of Mr. Salvatore D'Amico, located in Leni, Salina Island, Messina. Salina capers are rich in polyphenols, which helps to protect colour, as well as quercetin, which has a potent antioxidant effect that provides long-lasting shine and preserves hair structure.

SOLU

Refresh all types of hair

The SOLU family contains an extract of Valtellina buckwheat from the farm of Mr Patrizio Mazzucchelli of Teglio, Sondrio. This extract is rich in mineral salts - particularly iron, zinc and selenium - as well as a high concentration of all essential amino acids and antioxidants

How Essential Haircare supports biodiversity

The Slow Food Foundation’s Presidia Project is dedicated to protecting biodiversity and the planet by supporting small producers to grow plants that are typical of their local area. By doing this, the non-profit also supports the economies of these areas and prevents the extinction of artisan traditions.

Since 2014, we’ve collaborated with the Slow Food Foundation by including one active ingredient from a Slow Food Presidium in each of the Essential Haircare families. We also feature the story, face and name and the person who grew that ingredient with care and passion, spreading awareness of the important work they are doing.

Meet our farmers

The evolution of Essential Haircare

2004

Essential Haircare is born.

2014

We marked the 10th anniversary with an improved, fully recyclable packaging reduced in weight, and new active ingredients sourced from Slow Food Presidia to protect biodiversity.

2017

The line transitions to packaging made of bio-based plastic from renewable vegetal sources.

2020

The Essential Haircare solid shampoo bars are launched with 100% paper packaging.

2024

New Essential Haircare shampoo refill pouches are launched.

Learn more about Davines

Davines’ purpose is to do our best for the world, creators of good life for all, through beauty, ethics, and sustainability. Founded in Parma, Italy in 1983 Davines is a family-owned B Corp which favors the use of natural origin ingredients to create salon-quality haircare.

NATURE AND SCIENCE

Our sustainable beauty products contain active ingredients studied in the Scientific Garden and our R&D laboratory, mixing an artisanal botanical spirit with advanced cosmetic technologies. We support Regenerative Organic Agriculture.

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DECARBONIZATION

Davines production plant and offices have been carbon-neutral since 2018, achieved by reducing emissions and neutralizing the remainder through Plan-Vivo-certified reforestation projects, and we committed with SBTi to reach net-zero emissions by 2050 at the latest.

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CIRCULARITY

We enable circularity by using eco-design principles to minimize packaging impact, and our products have been plastic net-zero since 2022 thanks to our partnership with Plastic Bank, which collects as much plastic as we use for our products.

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SALON QUALITY

Davines' sustainable haircare is endorsed by salon professionals worldwide and can be enjoyed at home, too, for beauty that is good for both you and the planet.

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Essential Haircare: a sustainable heritage

Natural, planet-protecting ingredients

Sustainable packaging and manufacture