When it comes to the debate of Prose vs. Function of Beauty, many of us are torn on which custom shampoo brand to try out. Both of these seem top-notch and offer very similar options. Which one is better?
Each brand has its own differences. We’re here to break down the two brands in every way possible to see which one truly comes out on top!
P.S. Check out our in-depth review of Function of Beauty here!
Prose vs. Function of Beauty (Overview)
| Prose | Function of Beauty |
|---|---|
| Price: $25 for 8.5 fl oz shampoo $25 – $48 depending on other product | Price: $29.99 for 8 fl oz shampoo Other products vary |
| 15% off with every subscription | Free shipping + 20% off subscription w/ code MEL20 |
| Offers a variety of products: – Shampoo & Conditioner – Scalp mask & Hair mask – Hair oil – Curl cream – Dry shampoo – Leave-in conditioner | Offers a variety of products: – Shampoo (including purple shampoo) – Conditioner – Hair mask & serum – Leave-in treatment – Body wash & lotion – Skincare products (cleansers, serums, moisturizers) |
| 8 fragrance options | 6 fragrance options + color options |
| Clean ingredients (view list) | Clean ingredients (view list) |
| 100% satisfaction guarantee (60 days from ship date) | Free re-formulation or refund within 30 days |
| Custom formulated based on in-depth quiz | Custom formulated based on in-depth quiz |
| Free product for every 10 products purchased | No rewards program |
How Prose & Function of Beauty Work
Both of these brands create products that are custom-formulated based on a variety of factors. Prose only creates haircare products, while FoB offers hair products as well as skincare.
First, you pick the product you’re interested in and they will have you take a detailed quiz. This asks a variety of questions about your hair and life factors that may affect your hair.
Each may include questions about the following factors:
- Hair type
- Hair structure
- Hair goals
- Where you live
- Diet
- Other lifestyle habits
- Color
- Fragrance
What Do Reviews Say?
When it comes to Prose vs. Function of Beauty, a lot of other people have tried one (or both to see which is better). Here are some top quotes we came across when searching through other customer reviews:
Like most online stores, you’ll notice an abundance of amazing reviews on their websites. Sometimes these are real, but I’ve learned to look outside of their website to get the full spectrum on what people think about the brand.
“I tried FoB about two years ago. I didn’t like it, it smelled awful (fragrance plus tea tree) and made my hair feel disgusting.” – mrskmh08 on Reddit
“I bought FoB last spring and overall had a pretty positive experience. I work in a super dry environment (10% humidity on a bad day) so it did wonders for my itchy scalp and dry hair. My biggest issue was the price and how strong the scent was – it was overwhelming and I smelled like an old lady.” –unheededturtle on Reddit
“They looked pretty and smelled nice and I so wanted them to work since I thought I had pretty low maintenance hair – but it wasn’t for me. I used about half the bottle.” – nicanh on Reddit
RELATED: 16 Best Smelling Shampoos Out There
Analyzing the Differences
Products
While both Prose and FoB started out with shampoo and conditioner, both brands have added quite a few additional products to their catalog.
- Shampoo & Conditioner
- Scalp mask
- Hair mask
- Hair oil
- Curl cream
- Dry shampoo
- Leave-in conditioner
- Shampoo & Conditioner
- Purple shampoo
- Leave-in treatment
- Hair mask
- Hair serum
- Body wash
- Body lotion
- Skincare – cleanser, serum, and moisturizer
- Exclusive products available at Target
Customization
Both brands offer in-depth customization, but there are a few subtle differences between the two.
Fragrances: Prose offers 8 fragrance options, while FoB offers 6 fragrance selections.
Colors: Prose doesn’t offer any coloring selections, while FoB has a variety of color selections.
Pricing Differences
Prices between the two brands do vary a bit. Here are a few cost examples:
| Prose | FoB |
|---|---|
| $25 for 8.5 fl oz shampoo or conditioner $35 for 8.5 fl oz hair mask $25 for 5.1 fl oz leave-in conditioner $25 for 5.1 fl oz curl cream $48 for 1 fl oz hair oil | $29.99 for 8 fl oz shampoo or conditioner $39.99 for 16 fl oz shampoo or conditioner $19.99 for 8 fl oz leave-in conditioner $24.99 for 3 oz hair serum $19.99 for 7.5 oz hair mask |
You’ll notice that some items at FoB are more affordable than Prose (such as the hair mask and leave-in conditioner), while others are more expensive (such as the shampoo and conditioner).
You can view all of Prose prices on their product page, while most FoB products will show the price on each individual product page.
Another main factor between Prose vs. Function of Beauty is discounts.
Prose offers a 15% discount on ALL subscription orders, while Function of Beauty does not. The only discounts you can find for FoB is occasional coupons for your first order.
Prose vs. Function of Beauty – Which is Better?
Overall, both brands have their pros and cons. In my experience, Prose is the winner. They’re usually more affordable, offer a 15% discount on every subscription order, offer a rewards program, and have very detailed customization. That said, both brands offer clean hair products that are thoughtfully customized to create your best hair ever!
However, I have noticed quite a few negative reviews for first-time users, so it seems like both companies have a hard time getting the first formula right. Luckily, both offer satisfaction guarantees, so you can get it reformulated until it’s perfect. Although a hassle, it might be worth it when you get that perfect formulation!
Some people also have a great experience the first time. That said, these products might just not work for some people’s hair.
I do love that Function of Beauty offers customized skincare – although I haven’t tried any of these products yet, it sounds like something I’d enjoy a lot more than haircare.
Finally, don’t limit yourself to these two companies if you’re not sold on them! There are plenty more custom haircare companies popping up that may work better for you. A few other favorites include Formulate and AURA.
Up Next: Out Honest Function of Beauty Review
