Prose Review - Consumer Spy

Highlights
Pricing Info
Pros & Cons
General info
Gifting
Customer service
Packaging & shipping

Highlights

Prose is a personalized hair-care experience that offers unique products designed for each specific consumer. The company opposes the mainstream hair-care industry, which they claim produces goods for the masses and offers little variety for individuals. By contrast, Prose uses an online survey system to determine your hair-care needs, lifestyle, and environment. The survey is free to take. Then, Prose uses the customer? information to create a formula for customized hair products that suit the consumer? specific needs. If the customer decides to make a purchase, all products are freshly mixed and delivered within seven to ten days.
Prose regularly updates their products and personalized formulas. Prose helps its customers achieve the best possible results by regularly improving their products with new ingredients and complexes. The company also adjusts each customer's formula seasonally to adapt to the weather conditions in the customer? ZIP code area. Finally, Prose continuously updates each customer's formula based on their feedback and reviews. When a customer provides feedback about a product? performance, Prose alters its products to achieve better hair-care results with the next order.
Trained chemists use all-natural ingredients to create Prose? innovative hair-care products. Each ingredient was sourced and tested by chemists on the company? research and development team. Moreover, Prose provides a full list of their ingredients on their website, including each ingredient? Environmental Working Group (EWG) score, which rates ingredients on a scale of one to ten according to their toxicity. The majority of their ingredients received a rate of one, which indicates the lowest level of toxicity. The ingredient list also includes the country of origin and the purpose of each additive. Additionally, Prose includes a "Never List, "which contains all of the ingredients that will never be included in a Prose product.
Prose offers a subscription service called The Salon. This personalized service allows customers to pick each product in their routine and set the date for when it will arrive. Customers join by signing up at checkout, and it is free to join. The service is flexible, meaning you can pause deliveries, adjust your plan, or cancel any time. Subscribers can also schedule free virtual appointments with Prose professionals to discuss any hair-care needs. Other perks include 15% off all subscription orders, as well as free shipping. Finally, subscribers also receive a free product for every ten products purchased.

Price range ~$25

Custom hair-care products start at $25, including shampoo, conditioner, and dry shampoo, curl cream, and leave-in conditioner. Other products, like the pre-shampoo hair mask and pre-shampoo scalp mask, cost $38. Finally, Prose? hair oil costs $48. The brand also offers customized hair brushes for $78. As a member of the subscription service, customers receive 15% off everything, but the service does require regular purchase (every one to three months) of their selected products.

Cost Compared to Competitors

Compared with its competitors, Prose is averagely priced. Both Prose and Function of Beauty (one of Prose's main competitors) charge $25 for shampoo or conditioner (Function of Beauty offers a set of both for $49.99). Prose is cheaper than other luxury haricare brands like Cell MD, which charges up to $60 for a set of both shampoo and conditioner. However, there are also cheaper brands out there, such as Purador and Wow Skin Science.

Pros:

Prose? hair-care products are suitable and effective for a wide range of hair types. According to their website, Prose has over 136,000 5-star reviews, and 84% of its customers would recommend the brand to a friend. Many users report that their customized products really do make a difference after only a few uses.

Prose offers a highly customizable experience based on each customer? routine, lifestyle, and hair goals. Customers can also specify the scent of their products. This ensures that customers never have to compromise when it comes to hair care. In this way, Prose eliminates the guesswork and trade-offs that come along with purchasing traditional hair products. Ultimately, Prose allows for a simple and straightforward user experience, which can be helpful for anyone who isn't very knowledgeable about hair care.

The online consultation is free and takes only a few minutes. Prose's website is easy to navigate, and the survey is straightforward. Prose asks direct questions about your hair type, lifestyle, goals, and how you currently treat your hair. The survey uses direct and easily understandable language, making the survey suitable for anyone. When the survey is completed, Prose provides a summary of the products they recommend, as well as a list of some of the ingredients that would be used in the recommended formula. Overall, Prose is very transparent about what goes into their products.

Prose delivers their products directly to their customers·doors, eliminating the need to go to the store and make the purchase in person. Additionally, the subscription service ensures that customers do not need to go through the processing of ordering more products each time they run out. Rather, users can schedule their products to be delivered every one, two, or three months, based on personal preference.

Cons:

Customers cannot sample Prose? products. The company claims that it is unable to offer samples of their shampoo, conditioner, and other items because their formulas are custom-made and mixed for each individual order. With a relatively high price tag, it would be nice to request a sample before investing in a whole new hair routine, but this is not an option. However, they do offer a 100% satisfaction guarantee within the first 60 days of every order. Although this is a convenient option, it can sometimes be a hassle to return an entire order by mail and potentially place a new order.

The price is relatively high. When it comes to hair products, Prose is certainly more expensive than your typical drugstore shampoo and conditioner. If you already have a successful and effective hair-care routine, spending the extra money on Prose might not be worth it.

The shampoo and conditioner are watery. Many reviewers claim that their shampoo and conditioner has an unusual watery texture. Most shampoos and conditioners available in stores tend to have a thick, creamy texture. The watery texture doesn't necessarily influence the effectiveness of the product, however. Some users still enjoyed their experience despite the watery texture.

Some users find that it has little to no effect on their hair. For some people, their customized set of products simply does not change their hair texture, look, etc. Furthermore, some users have found that their custom products actually made their hair feel and look worse. Ultimately, while Prose products work wonderfully for some, this is not a universal experience. Because Prose is relatively expensive compared to traditional drugstore hair products, taking the risk may not be worth the money.

IDEAL CUSTOMER

Prose? target audience is women. Most of the photos and advertising on their website is geared towards women, although men could certainly use these products too. They also emphasize the fact that their products are available for all types of hair and women of all ages.

How long does the product last?

The length of time that Prose products last varies depending on each unique formula. For shampoo and conditioner, Prose gives a recommended number of pumps to use each time you apply the product. Prose also gives a suggestion on how often you use the product. These two recommendations will determine how long a product lasts. With the subscription service, customers can choose to replace their products everyone, two, or three months.

Coupon/sales

One major discount that is always available is the 15% off discount plus free shipping that customers can receive by joining the subscription service, The Salon. There is no extra cost to join, but customers must sign up to receive products everyone, two, or three months.

GOOD FOR GIFTING?

Prose offers digital e-cards. Customers select one of two gifting options: either a $50 package of shampoo and conditioner, or an $88 complete package with a pre-shampoo mask, shampoo, and conditioner. When the gift recipient receives their e-card from Prose, they will take the formula survey, and their customized product set will be created and shipped to them. This is an easy and thoughtful personalized gift option.

CUSTOMER SERVICE

Prose has an extensive FAQ page on their website. The company also has customer service associates available by email Monday through Friday, 9am-9pm. They usually respond within 2-3 days.

Visit Contact Page

Packaging

The packaging is minimalistic and aesthetically pleasing. Each product is also customized with the username, location (ZIP code), and the details of the product. Prose shampoo and conditioner come with a convenient pump. Overall, the packaging is simple but effective.

shipping

Products are currently being delivered 10-15 days from when the order is placed. Orders tend to arrive on time. Free shipping is available for members of the Prose subscription service.

Prose

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