Thank you Formulate for providing the product in exchange for an honest review.
Recently, I’ve been seeing a variety of advertisements for customized shampoo and conditioner, which made me excited to try Formulate.
How It Works
When you sign up for Formulate, the first thing they do is give you a questionnaire. They ask you a variety of questions about your hair type, such as the color, length, texture, and moisture.
Afterward, they ask for your hair goals. Some options including anti-frizz, strengthening, hydration, or preventing split ends. One of my favorite parts was being able to choose the scent of the product. You can choose both the scent and the strength: I chose burgeon in a medium scent. As you are crafting your formula, remember that Formulate’s formulas are sulfate-free, cruelty-free, and paraben-free ingredients.
A custom shampoo and conditioner set costs $38 for an 8oz bottle of each. It is a subscription service (you can choose the frequency) and can cancel at any time.
The Review
From the time I submitted my questionnaire to the time the product shipped only took a few days, and my product arrived soon after that. The communication during the days in between was great and the Formulate team was ready to answer any questions I had.
When Formulate arrived, the first thing I noticed was Formulate’s beautiful product packaging. They nailed the minimalist design, and when I opened the bottles, both smelled great.
I tried both the shampoo and conditioner. The product unfortunately left my hair feeling greasy and it left a residue. I tried it for about two consecutive days on a few separate occasions, only to end up showering mid-day since my hair was a mess. I tried the shampoo with no conditioner and I still ended up with the same problems. (Edited to add: after trying just the conditioner without the shampoo, I ended up liking it. It worked well and didn’t leave any residue.)
In the pamphlet and again in an email, Formulate says your hair may go through an oiler or greasier period that may last up to ten washes. However, I (and most people I know) don’t want to go ten days with greasy hair. I understand the transitional period might’ve been the issue, but I’ve switched shampoo and conditioner brands before and I haven’t had an issue.
With that being said, after my initial feedback, Formulate quickly sent an updated formula, but the same issues persisted. You can provide feedback to your personal chemist through their app or website. (The app is super easy to use.)
In short, Formulate is a communicative company that’s easy to work with, but the products just didn’t work for my hair. Everyone’s hair is different, so you may have to play around with the formulas to see if Formulate is a good fit for your hair.
