Function of Beauty is a strong choice for consumers seeking highly personalized hair, skin, and body care with a focus on natural ingredients and sustainability. However, mixed reviews on effectiveness should be considered. Ouai is suitable for those who prefer products tailored to specific hair types and enjoy strong, signature scents, but some may find the fragrances overpowering or the price point high.
| Attribute | Function of Beauty | Ouai |
|---|---|---|
| Customization Options | Highly customizable formulas for hair, skin, and body care. Customers can select their hair type, goals, fragrance, color, and even name for the product bottles. | Offers products tailored to different hair types (fine, medium, thick) and concerns, provides a hair type quiz. |
| Ingredient Quality | Prioritizes safe, naturally-derived ingredients and science-backed formulas. Adheres to both US and EU cosmetic regulations, with formulas reviewed by toxicologists. Bans 45 ingredients sometimes found in hair products. | Uses a combination of natural and synthetic ingredients, including keratin, biotin, and chia seed oil. Some products contain silicones, fragrances, and other chemicals. |
| Scent Options | Range of fragrance options, including floral, fruity, and earthy scents. Option to choose fragrance strength or opt for fragrance-free. Some scents include: nude (p)each, (pear)fection, strike a (r)ose, all (you)calyptus, takes two to (m)ango, true l(o)vender, cherry bl(awesome). | Known for signature fragrances like Mercer Street (Italian lemon, Turkish rose, jasmine sambac, iris, lily, and white musk) and Dean Street (citrus, magnolia, and rose). |
| Hair Type Compatibility | Offers products suitable for straight, wavy, curly, and coily hair types. | Offers specific lines for fine, medium, and thick hair. |
| Cruelty-Free Status | Certified cruelty-free by PETA, meaning they don't test their products or ingredients on animals. | Cruelty-free brand, does not test on animals. |
| Sulfate-Free Formulation | All products are free of sulfates. | Many products are sulfate-free. |
| Paraben-Free Formulation | All products are free of parabens. | Products are generally formulated without parabens. |
| Silicone-Free Formulation | Customers can opt for silicone-free formulas. | Some products contain silicones, others are formulated without them. |
| Packaging Sustainability | Uses 100% recyclable kraft packaging with 30% post-consumer recycled materials. Their bottles and jars are also 100% recyclable. | Making efforts towards sustainable packaging, with recyclable bottles and refill pouches available. |
| Price | Haircare starts at $19.99, and skincare starts at $24.99. Subscription options may offer lower prices. | Mid-range to high-end |
| Customer Service | Does not offer phone support. Customers can contact them via email, live chat, or in-app support. Function With Benefits members can request a one-time reformulation within 60 days of receiving their order if they are unsatisfied. | Not available |
| Brand Reputation | Function of Beauty has received mixed reviews. Some customers praise the line for softening, conditioning, and defrizzing hair. However, some users have complained of a lack of results or issues like hair loss. | Popular brand founded by celebrity hairstylist Jen Atkin, known for sleek packaging and social media presence. |