I Tried Prose Customized Hair Care and This is What Happened

I bleached my hair platinum blonde every four weeks for five years.

You don't have to be good at math to know that adds up to beyond-damaged hair. I went back to my natural color in April because my bank account and hair couldn't survive another full year of being blonde. But even after I became a brunette again, the years of damage left my hair a dry, tangled and broken mess.

I tried everything I could think of to save my hair. I cut off several inches. I bought every hair product brand that I could find at CVS. I tried highly recommended brands like Olaplex. I purchased hair masks and even made my own—and no, olive oil is not easy to get out of your hair. Nothing worked, and by October, my hair was still dry and unhealthy.

But one day, an ad from Prose popped up on my phone screen. I had heard of customized hair products before, but it seemed like just another overhyped trend. Prose's ad made a compelling point that our hair is all so different, so why are we buying hair products made for everyone? I decided to try it because I had already tried everything else. What could I lose? I bought a shampoo, conditioner and scalp mask, and after two months of consistent use, I have the results and I am surprised.

(via Prose)

The Brand

Prose was founded in France in 2017. The lab, where the chemists create the customized formulas, remains in Paris, but the actual products are made in Brooklyn, New York. Prose noticed that mass haircare was designed for as many people as possible, so they wanted to make haircare that could work with your hair and address your specific concerns. All the ingredients in Prose are natural, globally and sustainably sourced. Prose is cruelty-free, sulfate-free, paraben-free, GMO-free, phthalate-free and alcohol-free. You can also request ingredients that are vegan, gluten-free, silicone-free, dye-free and fragrance-free.

(via Prose)

 

The Consultation

Prose customizes your hair products by using a virtual consultation to figure out your hair's unique needs. You answer a series of questions on their website about your hair, like your age, hair type, hair length and how often you wash your hair. Prose also requests information about how you style your hair and if you've ever treated it. Finally, Prose asks about your lifestyle, including where you live to address environmentally caused hair problems, and what your hair goals are. You can also send a picture of your hair and scalp, but that's optional.

My goals were to get more shine and smoothness, and to reduce brassiness. I live in California, so Prose customized the shampoo to address problems caused by pollution, humidity and UV rays. I also requested a vegan and gluten-free formula because I'm vegan and allergic to wheat. I bought the shampoo and conditioner, each $25, and a pre-shampoo hair mask for $38. They offered a conditioning hair mask and hair oil, but that wasn't in my budget. Once I ordered, I excitedly waited for my new haircare products, which came within a week.

(via Prose)

 

The Product

The shampoo, conditioner and hair mask came in a cute brown package. A card in the package included a list of which ingredients were in my hair products and how the ingredients worked. In the pre-shampoo, they included plant collagen, lilac and hyaluronic acid for fiber repair. The shampoo had fermented rice water for smoothing and the conditioner had red algae extract for anti-pollution. I was impressed by how transparent they were with their ingredients. The bottles had a minimalist aesthetic with my name and hair goals on a label. They also included two pumps, in case you wanted to use them for the shampoo and conditioner. I requested a eucalyptus scent, which smelled amazing and wasn't overpowering like some other hair products—I'm looking at you, Herbal Essences. Prose was off to a good start.

(via Prose)

 

The Results

I noticed a change in my hair almost immediately, and after two months, I can honestly say that Prose has saved my hair. My scalp always feels clean and refreshed after the pre-shampoo mask. The shampoo cleanses my hair without stripping it and leaving it dry. And after using the conditioner, my hair feels soft and moisturized. I can now run a brush through my hair without finding a single tangle, which is something I have never experienced in my entire life.

The few problems I have with the products, like the slight heavy feeling to my hair after conditioning, can easily be fixed. I wrote my feedback in the Review and Refine section, so Prose will adjust the formula to address these issues. I will definitely be repurchasing this product. If you have unproblematic and untreated hair, I would say it's probably not worth the money unless you're very into hair care. I'm sure there are less expensive brands that will work just as well for manageable hair. If you have a complicated hair history that needs extra attention, this is the product for you. It's pricey, but it's absolutely worth the expense. Your hair has a unique history, and it deserves a unique product too.

(via Prose)

 

Are you obsessed with hair products and tools? Check out THIS review of the Dyson Airwrap to see if it lives up to your expectations!