The DTCetc Face-Off Beauty Updated July 2026

Formulate Hair Care vs Function of Beauty

Formulate Hair Care and Function of Beauty are both leading brands in the customizable hair care market. While Formulate Hair Care focuses on providing personalized hair care recipes tailored to individual needs and concerns, Function of Beauty offers a wide range of customizable options, including colors, ingredients, and fragrances. Both brands prioritize the use of high-quality ingredients and offer free shipping. However, Formulate Hair Care stands out for its emphasis on eco-consciousness, with all products packaged using recyclable plastic, while Function of Beauty aligns with eco-conscious customers by offering sulfate and paraben-free products and partnering with Terracycle for bottle recycling.

DTCetc score

Formulate Hair Care78/100
Function of Beauty74/100

Customer rating

Formulate Hair Care
Function of Beauty5★ 1

Typical prices

Formulate Hair Care
Function of Beauty$9.99–$36

Pricing tier

Formulate Hair Care$$$$
Function of Beauty$$$$
The verdict

Which should you pick?

Best forConscientious Consumers

★ Quality 90/100 Visit Formulate Hair Care →
Function of Beauty
★★★★★ 5 · 1 reviews
74/100

Best forLuxury Consumers

★ Quality 90/100 Visit Function of Beauty →

The bottom lineBoth brands offer personalized hair care with comparable quality (90/100) and pricing tiers (80/100), but differ in scope and flexibility. Formulate Hair Care specializes exclusively in customized shampoo and conditioner with free shipping and a 30-day reformulation window, making it ideal for those focused on core hair washing. Function of Beauty offers a broader product range (haircare, skincare, body care) with a Subscribe & Save discount (20% off) and a 60-day reformulation guarantee for members, plus international shipping options—better for customers wanting multi-category customization and subscription savings.

Key differences at a glance

  • Formulate Hair Care focuses solely on personalized shampoo and conditioner; Function of Beauty offers customized haircare, skincare, and body care products.
  • Formulate Hair Care provides free shipping on all domestic orders with no minimum; Function of Beauty offers free US/Canada shipping only on orders over $75 or subscriptions.
  • Formulate Hair Care allows reformulation within 30 days; Function of Beauty members get one free reformulation within 60 days, but one-time purchases are non-refundable.
  • Function of Beauty offers Subscribe & Save with 20% off first subscription; Formulate Hair Care has no subscription or discount program mentioned.
  • Function of Beauty ships internationally (EU €30 standard shipping); Formulate Hair Care does not offer international delivery.
  • Function of Beauty has published 5/5-star customer reviews praising product performance; Formulate Hair Care editorial score is slightly higher (78 vs. 74) but no customer review data provided.
  • Formulate Hair Care sustainability score is 90/100; Function of Beauty is 80/100, reflecting different environmental positioning.

Still weighing it up? Save this comparison & get deals on both →

From 1+ published customer reviews

What customers actually say

No aggregated customer-review data for Formulate Hair Care yet — check reviews directly on their site.

her waves are literally per

Function of Beauty verified buyer · via Yotpo
5 1 reviews · via Yotpo

Customers praise Function of Beauty's styling mousse for effectively holding waves in fine, wavy hair.

Customers love
  • Holds waves in place effectively
  • Works well for fine wavy hair
  • Described as a lifesaver

Summarized from each brand's own published customer reviews. We never republish full reviews — read them all at the source.

Shop the face-off

Most-loved pieces, side by side

Function of Beauty typical prices$9.99–$36

At a Glance

Comparison Between
Formulate Hair Care
Formulate Hair Care
Function of Beauty
Function of Beauty
Category Beauty Beauty
Speciality Supplements, Hair, Bath & Body, Skin Care Hair
DTCetc Score 78/100 74/100
Customer rating 5★ · 1
Typical price range $9.99–$36
Free shipping Free
Return window 30 days 60 days
Stereotype Individualist Eco-conscious
Pricing Rating
$$$$$ This brand is premium priced
$$$$$ This brand is premium priced
Sustainability Score
90/100
This brand scores excellent in sustainability
80/100
This brand scores excellent in sustainability
Quality Score
90/100
This brand scores excellent for product quality
90/100
This brand scores excellent for product quality

Who shops at Formulate Hair Care Vs. Function of Beauty

Who shops at Formulate Hair Care

Formulate Hair Care is a 'do it yourself' company that offers personalized hair care recipes tailored to individual needs and concerns. It is suitable for those who are sensitive to certain additives, such as fragrances, dyes, and silicones, and those with dietary restrictions, such as vegan, cruelty-free, nut-free, or gluten-free. It is an efficient alternative to reading ingredient labels when choosing shampoos and conditioners.

More about Formulate Hair Care →

Who shops at Function of Beauty

For people seeking customized beauty products tailored to their individual needs and preferences.

More about Function of Beauty →

Formulate Hair Care Vs. Function of Beauty The Pros

Formulate Hair Care's Pros

  • Highly praised formulation team
  • Easy communication and adjustments
  • Achieve desired hair goals
More about Formulate Hair Care →

Function of Beauty's Pros

  • Tailor-made formulas customized to individual requirements
  • Naturally-derived ingredients
  • Subscribe & Save option provides 20% off first subscription
  • Free standard shipping on orders over $75 in US and Canada
  • Less than 1% return rate
More about Function of Beauty →

Formulate Hair Care's shipping policy Vs. Function of Beauty's Shipping Policy

Formulate Hair Care's shipping policy

Formulate Hair Care offers free shipping on all domestic orders. Customers will receive a tracking number via a confirmation email. Orders typically take 7 business days to be shipped out. Unfortunately, the brand does not offer international delivery at this time. There are no shipping prices, shipping costs, or shipping deals for orders over a certain price.

More about Formulate Hair Care →

Function of Beauty's shipping policy

Standard shipping costs vary by country, ranging from free (US subscriptions, over spending thresholds) to €30 in the EU. Expedited shipping is available in select countries with varying costs.

More about Function of Beauty →

Formulate Hair Care's return policy vs Function of Beauty's Return Policy

Formulate Hair Care's return policy

Formulate Hair Care offers a 30-day window from the date of purchase for customers to request a refund or reformulation. Customers cannot cancel their order once the formula is already dispensed and cannot ask for their money back from the original purchase if they opt for reformulation. Returns should be made directly to Formulate and it is unclear how long it takes for the company to process a return. No other items are eligible for return.

More about Formulate Hair Care →

Function of Beauty's return policy

One-time purchases are non-refundable due to the customized nature of products. Function With Benefits members are eligible for one free reformulation if results fall short of expectations within 60 days. Defective, damaged, or incorrect items can be reported for evaluation and resolution.

More about Function of Beauty →
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