We pitted the 2 most popular personalized hair-care startups against each other to see how they stack up

First, take a hair quiz, the answers of which will be used to create your customized formula. Then, choose which products or set of products you want to buy. Prose sends you your hair-care products in seven days while Function of Beauty takes a little longer, up to nine days. Both services let you go back to your profile and readjust your hair quiz answers, and thus your formulation, when you want to reorder.

Function of Beauty asks you some basic questions about your hair and scalp type, then has you select up to five hair goals (choices include volumize, color protection, anti-frizz, and curl definition). By asking what you want out of your shampoo and conditioner, the company assumes you already at least partially understand your hair and its various intricacies.

Prose's hair quiz is more in-depth, resulting in 85 data points, and inquires about everything from what products you usually style your hair with to your diet and stress levels. It also asks about hair goals (though there are only four choices), but seems to focus more on your current hair characteristics to create whatever solution is most appropriate for your hair.

After inputting the name or nickname to print on your Function of Beauty bottles, you can choose from at least six different colors (limited-edition colors are sometimes available), or go dye-free. Since the bottles are clear, these glittery colors will be displayed front and center in your shower. It offers four main fragrances, with adjustable fragrance strengths, or you can go fragrance-free. The best seller is the pineapple-coconut blend and the scent with the best reviews is the peach-citrus blend.

You cannot customize the name or color of your Prose products. It makes seven fragrances in total, but offers only its signature fragrance plus two others depending on your quiz results. Some standouts include the floral, powdery Signature scent and herbal, sweet Botanical scent. Like Function of Beauty, you can forego the fragrance.

Function of Beauty and Prose never use parabens, sulfates, mineral oil, or GMOs in their hair-care products. Instead, they make use of dozens of healthy and effective natural ingredients (over 50 for Function of Beauty and over 75 for Prose) to help your hair look and feel great. Prose's products can also be made vegan, gluten-free, and silicone-free upon request.

When you subscribe to Function of Beauty (deliveries made every one or two months, or whatever timing you choose), you get free shipping, access to discontinued colors and fragrances, invitations to help test-drive new products, and more.

When you subscribe to Prose (deliveries made every one, two, or three months), you get 20% off your total order.

If you're not happy with your Function of Beauty products, reach out to hello@functionofbeauty.com. If for some reason they're not able to help you, you'll get a full refund.

If you're not happy with your Prose products, reach out to hello@prosehair.com to get a reformulation, free of charge. You may also return no more than half-used products for a full refund.

Function of Beauty offers various gift card options so your loved one can create their own customized shampoo and conditioner. In addition, its referral program gives both you and your friend $5 off your orders.

Prose does not yet offer a gifting option, but it also has a referral program, which gives both you and your friend $10 off your orders.

...but one will be better than the other based on your budget, preferences for customization, and hair needs.

Function of Beauty's hair quiz isn't as in-depth, but the customizable features (name, color, fragrance) make it feel more personal. It's also simultaneously flexible and inflexible: you can only buy its shampoo and conditioner in pre-arranged sets, but there are multiple sizes and combinations to choose from. Its products are cheaper than Prose's and are a great gift option.

What Prose lacks in camera-ready packaging it makes up for in its use of detailed data to create your unique formulation. Its products are more expensive, though it does have the added hair mask option, and you aren't constrained to pre-made bundles. If you're willing to spend a little more and don't care that it's not (yet) giftable, try Prose.

Thankfully, with whichever one you choose, you can enjoy high quality ingredients, great customer service, and the convenience of customized hair-care delivered right to your door.