A few years ago, you couldn’t watch a YouTube video or Instagram reel without the creator, at some point, thanking Function Of Beauty for sponsoring.
If it had anything to do with beauty, fashion, or lifestyle (sometimes even if it didn’t), they were there. Showcasing their pretty pastel-colored products—always with a generous discount code.
Everyone I knew was talking about this fully customizable haircare brand.
Who had tried it? Did it really work? And was it worth the money?
I considered trying it myself at almost triple the cost of high-quality drugstore brands but quickly decided against parting with the cash.
Fast forward to earlier this year when FOB recently reappeared on my radar and, even without a discount code (and a price increase!) I decided it was finally time. I’ve been sudsing up with my personalized shampoo conditioner for almost three months now.
Here are my honest thoughts and the answers to all of your burning questions…
How Much Does Function Of Beauty’s Custom Shampoo And Conditioner Cost?
Okay, let’s talk one-off purchase costs and subscription fees because honestly? This shampoo and conditioner combo isn’t exactly cheap.
If you make a one-time purchase, the 16oz shampoo and conditioner cost $36 each. That’s $72 for both not including delivery costs.
If you’re happy to sign up for the subscription and receive your shampoo and conditioner every 1, 2, or 3 months (you can choose the frequency), you’ll get free delivery and a 20% discount. A fair saving if you know you want to keep using it, but that’s still $57.50.
Looking to try out FOB’s new SOS Custom Repair shampoo and conditioner? These 16oz bottles cost $44 each/ $88 for the set for a one-time purchase excluding delivery. Or, with the 20% discount for a subscription sign-up, about $70.
What Do You Get In A Function Of Beauty Box?
Inside the box, you’ll find your shampoo and conditioner, two pumps (if you requested them), stickers to decorate your bottles with, and detailed directions for use.
The instruction card also includes detailed information about the products themselves and the hair goals you set for yourself. It’s a nice touch and a great referral point for monitoring your hair’s progress.
How Do You Customize Your Function Of Beauty Order?
To fully customize your shampoo and condition set, simply fill out the free questionnaire on Function Of Beauty’s website.
You’ll answer questions about your hair to create your hair ‘profile’, you can then select up to five hair goals based on the areas you want to improve. From these answers, they’ll create a unique formula with beneficial ingredients chosen to nourish and elevate the condition of your hair.
You can also choose the scent, scent strength, and color of the product. Pro tip: pick one that matches your bathroom! When your order arrives, there’s also the option to customize the bottles with the included stickers—not essential, but very cute.
Is Function Of Beauty Cruelty-Free?
For many people, myself included, knowing whether or not a brand is cruelty-free is more important than how well it works. Of course, we want a shampoo and conditioner that gives us soft, healthy tresses we can be proud of, but we never want that to come at the cost of animal testing.
The good news is that Function of Beauty is sustainably made by ‘Eco-conscious, MIT-trained scientists’ and is both cruelty-free and Vegan.
They use naturally-derived ingredients to create every formula so you’re always guaranteed a top-tier product with no ethical compromise. And in case you’re wondering, yes. It’s sulfate and paraben-free too!
What I Liked…
The Color & The Scent
With options including (pear)fection, strike a (r)ose, all (you)calyptus, takes two to (m)ango, go (c)oco, and more, I went with the classic, and most ordered, nude (p)each scent. I look forward to every hair wash just so I get to smell it again. It’s also so long-lasting I can still pick up the scent in my hair a couple of days after washing it.
As for the color, it’s a small thing I know, but I love how I can match it to my bathroom decor. You can also switch up the scent and/or the color with every new order.
The Packaging
I love the generous 16oz bottle size (8oz is also available). Even with my long hair which is on the thicker side, I know it’ll be a while before I run out.
What’s more, having the option to have your name printed on the bottle really does feel luxurious. It made me smile when I opened the box and still does each time I reach for it in the shower.
These bottles and their caps are 100% recyclable, as are the delivery boxes (made of 30% post-consumer recycled materials). While it’s unclear to me if you can recycle the pumps, you can choose not to include them in every order.
Instead, you use the same pumps from your first order with each new set of bottles. As for the regimen cards, they’ll soon be fully digital to further minimize waste.
The Quality Of The Shampoo & Conditioner
I’ve used a lot (a lot) of shampoos and conditioners over the years and the quality you get with Function Of Beauty is often hard to come by.
The product itself feels thick and substantial, meaning I use less and it lasts much longer than many other brands.
The Personalized Instructions
The instructions that come with your order truly make this feel like a luxury product.
What’s more, it lays out your chosen hair goals and gives you all the info you could possibly need about the ingredients within your personalized formula.
The Goals
I love that you can change your five hair goals for each new order.
Do you get greasy roots and dry ends in the summertime? Make thermal protection and oil control a priority. Need to tame the flyaways in winter? Ask for a formula that hydrates, tames frizz, and fixes split ends.
What I Didn’t Like…
The Cost
Although I totally appreciate the personalization of a product, using all-vegan ingredients, and ensuring it’s cruelty-free will raise production costs, my last order set me back $77.
While they may not be personalized to my exact hair type (or designed to match my bathroom) there are other really great cruelty-free, vegan shampoos and conditioners out there that do a great job for a fraction of the cost.
Brands like Faith In Nature, Evolve, and Green People are, therefore, much more cost sustainable.
The Subscription
Having your haircare delivered on a schedule is wildly convenient, however, I’d much rather be able to make a personalized Function Of Beauty order as and when I need it without having to pay extra for delivery plus 20% more of the overall price.
Yes, you can freeze your account and push back your delivery dates somewhat, but there are, of course, limits to the amount of times you can do this.
The Verdict: Does Function Of Beauty Work?
Now that we’ve established the order process, the costs, and a little about the brand itself, let’s get to the real question—is Function Of Beauty worth it?
It’s a yes from me.
For reference, I chose the following scent, color, and goals.
Scent: Peach (strong)
Color: Green
Hair goals: Anti-frizz, shine, oil control, replenish hair, and thermal protection
I’ve noticed a huge difference in my hair over the past few months. It’s less frizzy even after heat-styling, I don’t need to wash it as often, plus it feels super soft yet incredibly strong.
My hair is on the lighter side so it’s not exactly glowing as a brunette’s hair might, but I have noticed an increase in shine too.
Will I use it forever? Probably not. I do consider this a luxury item, and even with all of the genuinely amazing benefits, I can’t justify the cost long term.
But, will I keep coming back to it from time to time to keep my hair in check and rejuvenate my tresses? Absolutely. Now that I know how much it benefits my hair, I’ll certainly order a customized box (or two) again in the future.