Prose and Cons: My Review of Customized Shampoo

This post may contain affiliate links, which means I'll earn a small amount based on your click-- that doesn't mean that it costs you anything, and I'll never recommend something I don't like. 

I have a problem, and it's called "I'm a sucker for social media advertising."

Little glass bead roll on bracelets? Got 'em. Sustainable shoes? Bought too many, shared a bunch of pictures, have a bunch of "sole sisters" I've never met. DIY lash extensions? Bought 'em, subscribed to 'em, joined the Facebook group for 'em.

So it's safe to say it was only a matter of time before I clicked through the custom haircare ads and tried out my recommended shampoo conditioner. When my Love Beauty Planet bottles were running low, I figured it was the perfect time to try it out.

Prose was the company that fell into my newsfeed on that fateful day, and so off I went, clicking through the questions that asked me about my glorious mane.

You get to choose your hair goals, whether or not you want silicones in your formula and your fragrance.

My hair is very fine and I have a lot of it, and it took me until my late twenties to discover that it wasn't straight. I describe it as "secretly wavy". When you grow up thinking your hair is straight, you only know that hair needs to be brushed, and thus, I spent much of my life thinking that hair only looks good when you blow it out and flat iron it. By accidentally discovering the CG (curly girl) method, I've discovered that my hair is pretty darn wavy if I treat it properly. While I've gotten highlights, I rarely (and during the pandemic season, never) use heat in any form, and I use sulfate and silicone-free products. All of that to say, my hair is in great condition, so I wasn't exactly expecting a huge change.

I chose basically all of the "goals" they offer. I want shine. I want volume. I was definition. I want my scalp to be happy. The end.

Prose doesn't come in a super fancy bottle. The label and font are a type-writer-esque print, and I was a little disappointed that my label seemed to have half printed or faded so it wasn't totally legible. However, I also found the style of the bottles a bit sciency and endearing, in a "we care and are a small business" way-- you can kind of tell there will be a revamp at some point, but it's exciting to be there on the ground floor trying their products.

I chose "Elixir" as my scent, which was described as "floral and beachy". I found it to be floral and powdery, similar to the Amazing Grace Perfume by Philosophy-- it's "nice" but not really my style. However, it's not overpowering so it isn't a deal-breaker, though I'll be trying something new if I order again.

The shampoo, itself, however, is amazing. As mentioned, my hair is fine-ish but dense. I often feel like sulfate-free shampoo doesn't reach my scalp somehow, but Prose is different. It doesn't just sit on my hair, but it actually cleans and I don't need to scrub vigorously to actually get through the layers of hair on my head. That alone makes Prose worth trying, in my opinion, especially if you're committed to sulfate-free products; so many require you to really scrub, without the harsh detergents to do the work for you, and I just don't find that to be necessary with Prose.

The conditioner is nice as well. I'm still deciding on it because part of me thinks conditioner "needs" to feel thick and heavy, and this certainly doesn't, but at the same time, I don't necessarily have any complaints. I sometimes have some frizziness, but nothing major. I wouldn't say the shine has increased, but overall, I'm pretty happy with my hair, especially because it's now down to the middle of my back, and still holds its wave.

Prose allows you to review your purchase, not only as a consumer to advise others but also to their team, so that they can adjust your products moving forward. I didn't sign up for a subscription when I first tried the products, but it's nice to be able to update my choices and give feedback, in case I'd like to place another order.

So, was Prose a dramatic difference in my hair?

Like I said earlier, my hair was in good shape before Prose. If you're looking for something helpful because you're struggling, even good things will take time to work. I have not seen an instant improvement in shine or volume, but my hair is soft without being "too" soft or flying away. It detangles without static or knots. It comes out of an invisibobble easily and I've noticed less hair fall. It also really gets my scalp clean, which is something that those of us with dense hair can appreciate. Plus, they take your feedback into account and let you make changes, and nothing is more refreshing to me than a company that you find on social media that actually lets you change things easily.

Overall, I find it to be a low-risk option for those who want clean beauty, good hair, and options. I think Prose has promise, and I'm looking forward to seeing how it treats my hair going forward!

Want to try Prose for yourself? Use my link and get $10 off of Prose.