- In-depth questionnaire lets you fully customize your products
- All-natural ingredients in most cases
- You can control exactly what products you purchase
- Available both as a subscription and one-time purchase
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Our Editorial Review
Customer Reviews
Function of Beauty
Summary
Function of Beauty formulates custom haircare products made from healthy ingredients to help you address your personal hair care needs.
Function of Beauty Review: Is It Worth It?
By Lydia Noyes
Updated on: Mar 10, 2020
Shopping the haircare aisle of any drugstore, the number of choices quickly grows overwhelming. How can you decide which products will address your unique haircare needs, and what should you do when nothing seems to offer everything you're seeking?
Function of Beauty claims to solve this problem. This hair care company sends you customized hair products based on your personal goals.
You can select for specialized ingredients designed to address your biggest concerns, and then choose your preferred product type, sizing, fragrance, and even color.
The company claims that they offer more than 54 trillion possible formulations so that you can get the perfect hair care routine for you. Each product is guaranteed to be cruelty-free, 100% vegan, sulfate-free, and paraben-free.
Does this mean Function of Beauty makes sense for your hair care needs? Learn from our analysis whether the company is worth considering.
Pros
Cons
- Many of the ingredients show more effectiveness for hair health when taken as supplements rather than applied topically
- Some users experienced a painful scalp, hair loss, and other negative symptoms
- No returns due to the custom nature of the products
How Function of Beauty Works: Details and Pricing
The first part of signing up for Function of Beauty products is to fill out a hair profile. You’ll share where your hair falls from straight to kinky-curly, whether it is fine or coarse, and whether you tend to have a dry or oily scalp. You can then select up to five hair goals.
The company will indicate which ingredients are being added to your formula based on your goals. Here’s an example of my hair goals and the corresponding ingredients added to my formula:
- Strengthen: horsetail extract and evening primrose oil
- Lengthen: pea sprout extract and blue-green algae extract
- Curl Definition: chia seed extract and linseed extract
- Soothe Scalp: menthol and aloe vera
- Oil Control: vitamin E and rosemary leaf extract
You can also select whether you want your formulas to be silicone-free.
Next, you’ll customize your formula by choosing your preferred fragrance and how strong it is, choosing a name to be displayed on the side of your bottle, and selecting colors for both the shampoo and the conditioner.
You’ll then choose what size combos of shampoo and conditioner you want. Options include:
- 16oz shampoo, 16 oz conditioner: $49
- 8oz shampoo, 8oz conditioner: $39
- 8oz shampoo, 16oz conditioner or 16oz shampoo, 8oz conditioner: $43
- 16oz shampoo/conditioner: $36
- 8oz shampoo/conditioner: $29
You can also add custom hair treatments to your order that will be offered to you based on your hair priorities. These include an 8oz leave-in treatment, 7.5oz hair mask, and a 3oz hair serum (each available for $19). If you purchase a subscription, this add-on will be included with each order unless you change that in settings.
Finally, you’ll choose your delivery frequency. A one-time order will include $5 for shipping. Free shipping is available for deliveries that are monthly, every three months, and every six months.
It’s possible to change up your formula’s key ingredients, coloring, or fragrance between orders. Subscription members also gain access to perks like limited-edition color and fragrance options.
Every order will come with a pump disassembled in the box for easy product dispersal. You can also choose to reuse your pump from one delivery to another and decline to receive a new one through your order confirmation page.
Once your order is submitted, expect to receive your custom formula within 7–9 business days from the time you place it. International orders may take longer.
Function of Beauty Return and Refund Policy
As all Function of Beauty formulas are customized for every order, the company doesn’t accept returns or approve refunds after your order has been processed. Any further formula changes or cancelations you make after processing will affect the next delivery.
If you need to get in touch with Function of Beauty customer service, do so through the company contact page.
Analysis of Ingredients
Function of Beauty claims to use nourishing, all-natural ingredients within every formulation. The specific ingredients will vary based on your chosen formula, but to give you a sense of what to expect, here’s an analysis of the ingredients within my personalized formula:
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Horsetail extract: Often taken as a supplement, horsetail extract is high in silica, a compound responsible for strengthening hair strands, promoting growth, and preventing hair loss. You can also apply it directly to your hair. Though a common ingredient in hair growth products, there is insufficient evidence that it provides any significant benefit.
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Evening primrose oil: Also called the night willow herb, evening primrose oil is a common health supplement and is used to balance hormones and slow down hair loss. While the research on its effectiveness is limited, one study from the Annals of Dermatology found that arachidonic acid, a compound it contains, plays a role in promoting hair growth.
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Pea sprout extract: Considered a great source of protein and essential vitamins and minerals, pea sprout extract is added to hair care products to strengthen hair follicles and keep them in the growth stage of development.
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Blue-green algae extract: This water-based plant source contains lots of proteins and vitamins known to benefit the hair and skin. It’s often added to hair care products for its antioxidant content and moisturizing effects, but there’s minimal scientific evidence to prove any effectiveness.
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Chia seed extract: Chia seeds have more omega-3 fatty acids than fish, which makes them a healthy dietary addition. When the seeds are mixed with water, they develop a sticky, mucous-like coating that’s often added to hair gel for extra curl definition.
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Linseed extract: As another name for flaxseeds, linseed extract is often added to hair care products for its high protein and omega-3 fatty acid content. There are a few animal studies that show the effectiveness of taking flaxseed supplements for hair growth, but these results haven’t yet been replicated with humans or with a topical treatment.
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Menthol: As a member of the mint family, menthol is often added to hair care products for its cooling, scalp-stimulating effects. A 2014 study with mice found that peppermint (menthol) essential oil could help hair grow thicker and faster without adverse side effects.
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Aloe vera: Though often used in skincare products, aloe vera is often added to hair products to promote hair growth and relieve an itchy scalp.
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Vitamin E: Known for its antioxidant properties, vitamin e helps your body avoid damage from free radicals. Preliminary research shows that supplements of the vitamin might improve hair growth for people suffering from hair loss.
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Rosemary leaf extract: This common herbal extract works like menthol extract to improve circulation, stimulate hair growth, and potentially prevent an itchy scalp. One 2015 study found that the extract was just as effective as minoxidil (the main ingredient in Rogaine) for slowing hair loss.
Key Takeaways:
Many of the ingredients included in this version of Function of Beauty products show scientific evidence for delivering the benefits that the company claims they will.
However, a large number of available studies on these ingredients involved taking them in supplement form, rather than topically.
Likewise, your personalized product formulation is likely to be different, and those ingredients may be more or less effective for your specific needs.
Analysis of Customer Reviews
There are more than 40 reviews for Function of Beauty here at HighYa, averaging two stars overall. Trustpilot reviewers are more positive, as the average rating for Function of Beauty is 4.2 stars after close to 1,500 reviews. Here’s what we can learn from these reviewers:
Common Compliments:
- Great customer service experiences
- Solved many user’s hair problems like frizzy, greasy hair and scalp issues
- Concentrated formulas are a good value
Common Complaints:
- Slow delivery times
- Color and fragrances not as ordered
- Products caused an itchy scalp and dry, brittle hair for some
- Led to hair loss
- Difficult to cancel subscriptions
Function of Beauty vs. Prose Custom Hair Care
For those looking for a personalized hair care product brand, a comparable brand to Function of Beauty is Prose.
Like Function of Beauty, Prose lets you take a short quiz about your hair health, which includes questions about your age, hair texture, length, thickness, and oil level, as well as the condition of your scalp and whether you have recently chemically treated your hair.
You’ll also be able to choose your preferred fragrance blend or go fragrance-free.
Unlike Function of Beauty, Prose assesses your location’s impact on your hair in regards to your exposure to UV rays, pollution, hard water, humidity, and wind. For example, I learned that my West MI location is exposing me to high humidity and hard water.
The quiz also puts less emphasis on your hair goals and focuses instead on how your hair is now.
At the end of this quiz, Prose will display eight ingredients it suggests for your personalized blend and then gives you the option to purchase products that contain them. Each 8.5-oz shampoo and conditioner is $25 ($22.50 if you sign up for a recurring subscription) and other products, like a 5.1-oz curl cream, 1.7oz hair oil, and 8.5-oz pre-shampoo mask are also available at varying price points.
As with Function of Beauty, you have complete choice over what products you receive and how frequently the subscription deliveries are, but you can’t change the size of the products in each order. This could be an irritation for anyone who wants to receive more shampoo or conditioner.
The final product for both brands will also look different. Your Function of Beauty order will be brightly colored (if desired) and come with a custom name. Prose, in contrast, doesn’t let you customize the name or color of the final product. However, both brands prioritize natural ingredients and reward longterm customers by offering discounts on the subscription level.
The Bottom Line
Function of Beauty offers a unique solution to the confusion of choosing the right hair products with customizable formulas tailored to your preferences.
Customer reviews are mixed on how well the company delivers on these claims, as many were left disappointed in their personalized formulation and didn’t think it was worth what they paid for it.
Function of Beauty ingredients can vary considerably based on your formula specifications. However, our research shows that many show clinical evidence of improving hair health, though many might be more effective in the supplement form than when taken topically.
We think Function of Beauty makes sense if you’re struggling with hair problems that traditional products haven’t been able to solve. Consider signing up for a smaller size as a one-time purchase for your first delivery so that you aren’t left with lots of products you don’t plan to use if you end up not loving your blend.
Customer Reviews
Posted on Jan 7, 2019
Nope
I have so many issues with this company. First off, it took close to three weeks to receive my first order. Second, my shampoo and conditioner were the wrong colors (not the ones I had picked), had NO scent even though I chose the holiday scent, and worked nothing like the samples I received a couple of weeks prior.
I contacted customer service for replacements because the non-scented shampoo and conditioners smelled disgusting and they definitely were not the right formula that I had been using for two weeks with my samples. They offered me $10 off of my next order, which I thought was completely insufficient for the amount of things wrong with my order. When I refused, they said I could use my one-time complimentary free reformulation to fix the order. I accepted, and about a week later I received the second order.
This time it was the right color and scent, however, the scent smelled extremely synthetic and I did not like it. I didn't think much of it, I was just hoping it worked this time. I'm positive it was exactly the same formula. I had all the same issues - scalp dryness and itchiness, my hair itself got very dry and brittle, and I was already oily after one day without a wash.
I contacted customer service again after a little over a week of use because it just wasn't working out for me. I simply wanted to return the bottles and receive a refund so I could purchase my usual Briogeo shampoo and conditioner set, which I regretted leaving to try Function of Beauty. Customer service informed me that because I chose a free reformulation, I no longer am eligible to return my products and receive a refund. They didn't actually say this though, I exchanged back and forth with them a few times until I got a straight answer clarifying that I'm just SOL and stuck with these products. I do not understand how after you fail a customer TWICE so very badly that you still keep their money and essentially tell them, "oh well, sorry it didn't work out the way you wanted it to!"
After the extreme disappointment in product quality and customer service, I will never purchase from Function of Beauty again, nor do I recommend these products to anyone that cares about their hair. My hair is completely dried out, brittle, and dull after approximately four weeks of using my custom shampoo. I want to try Prose instead, since they use clean ingredients (and actually show you the full ingredient list) and have a much more thorough hair consultation. I'm positive Function of Beauty uses the lowest quality ingredients they can and slap a "custom" label on it just to make it seem bougie. Head & Shoulders is better than Function of Beauty, to be quite frank.
Bottom Line: No, I would not recommend this to a friend
Helpful Review?
44 People Have Voted
Posted on Apr 25, 2019
Smells great...but lost like half my hair
I wish I researched better...I selected "oily scalp" and like many reviews, I'm now coming across my hair has been falling out by the handful. Never again. Yes, it smells delicious, and my name's on the bottle, but the pros end there. I know we all shed hair naturally, but this is literally in clumps every time I touch my hair. I'm devastated. It took me about 1/3 of the bottle used before figuring this out...but shame on Function of Beauty who call themselves scientists saying they can formulate the perfect shampoo...nothing perfect about this. You couldn't pay me to continue using their products.
Bottom Line: No, I would not recommend this to a friend
Helpful Review?
26 People Have Voted
Posted on Jul 6, 2017
Hair started falling out
I bought this for my daughter, personalized for her thick head of hair. Although at first, she did like the way it made her hair feel (but it did not control the frizz as she had hoped). Within a few weeks, her hair was falling out in clumps.
Bottom Line: No, I would not recommend this to a friend
Helpful Review?
25 People Have Voted
Posted on Dec 21, 2018
Nothing that I expected
I was SUPER excited to get this. I’m usually pretty stingy, I’m willing to spend a little more for good shampoo, but I thought this was such a great idea and I splurged. And it is a great idea, just poor execution. The shampoo I had formulated was for repair and growth and it dried my hair out worse than before. I couldn’t pronounce any of the ingredients listed. Not that I was expecting an exclusively natural shampoo, but I’m not kidding, the only thing I could pronounce was water. Even the scent is artificial. After a month, my shampoo has begun separating, and now three months later (after I stopped using it), my shampoo is completely separated in half. Research what your hair needs and just buy a quality shampoo from Ulta or your hairstylist instead.
Bottom Line: No, I would not recommend this to a friend
Helpful Review?
24 People Have Voted
Posted on Sep 5, 2019
My hair all fell out!
I used this for a few months when my hair started falling out in huge handfuls every single time I showered...it was extreme and I'm praying it stops soon. Many report this happening.
Bottom Line: No, I would not recommend this to a friend
Helpful Review?
24 People Have Voted
Posted on Apr 6, 2019
No chemicals, then why did my product smell like chemicals?
I got this to try and when I opened the bottle the first time it smelled a little chemically, but I was like ok, I will still give it a try. The first and only time I used it I washed my hair and the shampoo smelled a bit chemically, not at all like pear. The conditioner on the other hand, as soon as I put it in my hair, it smelled like pure nail polish remover. I have never rinsed my hair out so fast in my life. After using it my hair actually felt really dry. Maybe they made a bad batch for me, but I wouldn't risk it again! Funny thing also, when looking back at my emails, not a single one of them has an order number, just pictures of what I ordered and the date!
Bottom Line: No, I would not recommend this to a friend
Helpful Review?
20 People Have Voted
Posted on Jul 11, 2019
I feel conned
An ad for this company popped up on my Instagram feed and I contemplated whether or not to get this for two whole months, I watched YouTube reviews and they all raved about how great it is, but when I finally ordered mine it was nothing as amazing as everyone raves.
For one of my hair goals, I chose anti-frizz because it's always a problem I have with my curly waves, yet the only thing this product seems to be doing is making my hair frizzier as well as drier. Adding other products like leave-in condition only makes the frizz worse.
Sure, the custom colors and scents are great and it's aesthetically pleasing but it's like any other cheap formula shampoo and conditioner only more expensive.
Bottom Line: No, I would not recommend this to a friend
Helpful Review?
20 People Have Voted
Posted on Dec 28, 2019
Worst product ever, can't even deliver the basic function of a shampoo/conditioner, much less a "personalized" one.
I made an order on the 12th of October 2019 and only received the product on the 8th of November 2019 - but didn't use it until last week because I still had my current shampoo and conditioner to finish up.
I was looking forward so much to using FOB's products after reading about how highly-raved they were, but it was such a huge disappointment that my shampoo and conditioner worked the exact opposite of what was expected. I've only done two washes using the shampoo and conditioner and on top of making my hair drier and frizzier than before, my hair has been falling out a lot more than usual - not just after washing but as I go about my day as well.
When it falls out, it's just clumps of hair that's everywhere and it's heartbreaking. I've been taking extra care of my hair over the past few years and to have just these products that cost almost $100++ and have my hair condition depleted so badly in just 2 washes is just beyond me. I was looking forward to this so much because of the branding and strong reviews, but I've soon realized that a lot of other people have been reviewing that like me, their hair has been falling out a lot more than usual on top of having the products completely deplete their hair condition too. This is such a huge disappointment because I'm no longer eligible for the refund policy anymore, but I obviously can no longer continue using these products because of the incomprehensible damage done to my hair.
I would really appreciate it if your company can look into your products more carefully and give me a refund of what I ordered because it just does not even serve the basic purpose of being a "personalized haircare shampoo/conditioner" to suit our individualized needs. This is such a huge disappointment and I'm so upset at what it has done to my hair. I would give this a thousand zero stars if I could - please don't give your hard-earned money to this company ever.
Bottom Line: No, I would not recommend this to a friend
Helpful Review?
20 People Have Voted
Posted on Dec 19, 2018
Never again
Smells nice, good idea for a product, HOWEVER, it dried out my hair so badly it took several weeks of hair masks to get it back to soft and shiny again. Also, despite selecting "one of" purchase on my account, I got an email that I was being charged for a second set that I certainly did not want or order. The website would not let me log into my account to cancel the order or see what was going on, so I had to dispute the charge through PayPal.
Either their terms of service are dodgy, or the website has poor security and someone else made an order with my details. So mad.
Bottom Line: No, I would not recommend this to a friend
Helpful Review?
19 People Have Voted
Posted on Jun 26, 2019
Function of Beauty, my results from this product
I started using this product back in February 2019. I love the colors, the scent, the consistency and how you can take the quiz and it's tailored to your results BUT...I noticed a few weeks ago my hair has been falling out. I have super long hair and very thick hair and my stylist even noticed. She said, "What are you doing differently?" This is what's changed. I changed hair products. I read some other reviews and I'm not the only one this is happening to. I should have requested the ingredients but I didn't so I quit using it. My scalp was even getting itchy every time I used it. It's taken me a good month to get my hair back to normal but I'm sad that this has happened and wish they would change their ingredients but for now I'm going back to my old products.
Bottom Line: No, I would not recommend this to a friend
Helpful Review?
19 People Have Voted
Posted on Oct 10, 2019
Disappointing
I ordered my Function of Beauty via Instagram. First wash was great because I love the smell! But then I also noticed there's more hair fall than usual. But I persevered because this isn't cheap and I can't be giving up so soon! After 5 days, I noticed my hair getting drier and drier and I stopped using it. I stupidly decided to order the leave-in conditioner. When it arrived, I used it 3 times and realized it does nothing for my hair. My hair wasn't more hydrated or softer. It was disappointing. I have since canceled my subscription and will not order from them again.
Bottom Line: No, I would not recommend this to a friend
Helpful Review?
19 People Have Voted
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