As someone who loves customizing items from phone cases to toiletry kits, I was intrigued when I learned that there was a new category in town offering customization: haircare. I can customize my hair care to fit my hair needs and shower aesthetic? Sign me up!
When it comes to custom haircare, there are two main players to know: Function of Beauty and Prose. With each company, you start by taking a quiz about your hair type and needs, and then receive a customized formula created specifically for you. I tried both and am here to help you decide which is right for you.
If you prefer a customized look... Function of Beauty
Function of Beauty offers eight scent options plus fragrance-free, ranging from mango to peach to lavender, and you can customize the fragrance strength from light, medium, or strong. After selecting your scent and fragrance level, you can choose between 10 color options and add your name to the bottle (I love a monogram moment). You can choose different colors for each product and because the bottles are clear, you can easily tell which one is which, as well as how much product is left. Function of Beauty also includes sticker sheets with each order, if you want to take the decoration to the next level.
If you are a haircare expert and want a long quiz... Prose
You’ll start your Prose experience with a long quiz (it took me about 10 minutes to complete, as opposed to 2 minutes for Function of Beauty’s). The quiz starts by asking about your hair and scalp - think questions like hair texture, level of oiliness or dryness, hair denseness, porousness, thickness, washing habits, and more.
From here, you answer a series of questions about how you treat and style your hair, your lifestyle (are you pregnant, what’s your diet, your stress levels, where you live etc.), and any hair goals or preferences. Prose does explain why they ask each question, which I found helpful, but the experience felt a little too in depth for a haircare novice such as myself.
If you want to buy complementary shower products... Function of Beauty
In addition to shampoo and conditioner, Function of Beauty also has a co-wash, leave-in treatment, hair serum, and hair mask. The brand has started expanding outside of haircare to offer products from head to toe including custom body wash and body lotion, plus custom face cleanser, moisturizer, and serum. The face products do not have the same customization options as the hair products in terms of color and scent, but you can put your name on the bottle and the containers look great.
If price matters... Function of Beauty
Function of Beauty offers the shampoo and conditioner in 16 oz bottles, which costs $50 for the set. An 8.5 oz set of Prose shampoo and conditioner will set you back $50.
The Ultimate Winner: Function of Beauty
It’s Function of Beauty for me. I always love the way my hair feels after I shower, and so will you!
