Best Shampoo Subscriptions for the Whole Family

Whether it’s the ingredients in its haircare products or the company’s commitment to staying 100% carbon neutral, Prose is all about being fully transparent with customers. Its goal is to positively impact hair as well as the environment.

Founded in 2017, Prose is a certified B Corporation that creates custom haircare. The company has a lengthy questionnaire that factors in location, lifestyle habits, diet, and, of course, hair type to determine how they build your custom hair products. At the end, they will recommend a shampoo and conditioner and suggest options for fragrance (you can also go fragrance-free), in addition to add-ons you want to include in your package. 

All the ingredients Prose uses are ethically harvested from around the globe. They’re free of parabens, sulfates, phthalates, mineral oils, and GMOs and are cruelty-free. When creating your custom shampoo and conditioner, you also have the option to make it vegan, gluten-free, silicone-free, dye-free, or fragrance-free. In addition to the clean ingredients, Prose’s plastic packaging is also all BPA-free. The shampoo and conditioners come in an amber-tinted color to ensure the ingredients in your products remain fresh and effective.  

Your box will include your custom shampoo and conditioner with your name labeled on it. In addition, you’ll have a detailed card noting ingredients and how they target your specific hair care. Your first order also comes with two pumps that you can reuse for your future orders; just make sure to opt out of those from your orders. 

Depending on your formulation, shampoo and conditioner begin at $23.80 each. If you join The Salon (their subscription service), you get 15% off your order. You can add on additional products like their pre-shampoo hair mask, scalp mask, dry shampoo, curl cream, hair oil, and leave-in conditioner to your order as well. 

The Salon Benefits include: 

• 15% off products
• Free product after first 10 product purchases
• Free shipping and returns
• Flexible subscription plan that allows you to change or pause shipments
• New unreleased product testing
• Limited-edition gifts exclusive to Salon members

Prose also has a 30-day 100% satisfaction guarantee. If you aren’t happy with your custom product, you can request either an adjusted formula free of charge or return your order for a full refund.

Function of Beauty claims to have 54 trillion variations of formula to meet every unique hair need for their customers.

Many people will have seen a Function of Beauty ad on social media at some point. They are one of the earliest forms of custom haircare and continue to impress customers with their line of custom hair products in addition to skincare products. 

Based in Pennsylvania, Function of Beauty was founded in 2015 by two MIT students, Zahir Dossa and Josh Maciejewski, and a chemist, Hien Nguyen. Together, they focused on customers' unique needs to create a process that can fulfill custom formulations bottle by bottle. 

Their hair quiz is divided into your hair profile, five hair goals, fragrance, and the color of your formula. The algorithm does the work and creates a formula that determines your recommended shampoo and conditioner, both of which are 16 ounces. 

All formulas are vegan and cruelty-free, made without animal-derived ingredients like beeswax, honey, collagen, lanolin, and gelatin. They are created with over 60 other natural ingredients and are free of sulfates, paraben, and phthalates. Interestingly, Function of Beauty sets its safety guidelines according to the European Union's regulations for safe cosmetics, which currently bans 2,482 ingredients versus the U.S. Food and Drug Administration which has only banned 11 ingredients. 

The shampoo and conditioner set is $49.99 alone. Your first order is 20% off, which will bring it down to $39.99, and you’ll receive free shipping and 25% off all products when you choose to subscribe to recurring orders. 

Orders can be shipped every two, three, four, or six months and you can easily modify formulations and bottle sizes.

The Benefits Loyalty Program offers:

• 25% off all products
• One free hair serum, leave-in treatment, or hair mask with every fourth subscription refill
• Early access to new product launches
• Free shipping

Eartling Co. not only has sustainable practices embedded in every aspect of their products and company, but they are also made with organic ingredients. 

The Earthling Co.’s entire foundation lies in creating sustainable and plant-based, earth-friendly products that benefit people and the planet. 

Their low-waste products use minimal packaging, and the packaging they use is recyclable and compostable, including their shampoo bars. Shipping materials are also completely recyclable and compostable, and they use aluminum and glass for other product packaging.

Earthling Co. carries a range of products, including cruelty-free, gluten-free, and vegan shampoo and conditioner bars. They have an impressive ingredient list devoid of sulfates, preservatives, parabens, fillers, or silicones, making them gentle enough to use on color-treated and bleached hair. Certified-organic ingredients like cocoa butter, coconut oil, and hemp oil are all great for keeping hair hydrated and shiny. 

The shampoo bars were created to be used on all hair types, including curly hair. There is only one formula, but it includes six scents with the option of an unscented bar. You can choose from sweet sandalwood, vanilla coconut, citrus sun, simple fresh, cool breeze, and wild vanilla. While many shampoo bars without sulfates do not lather well, Earthling Co’s are known to lather like regular shampoo to gently remove any product and oil build-up in your hair. 

Despite being only 3 ounces, the shampoo bar will last you between 50 and 75 washes or two to six months, depending on how frequently you wash your hair. And once you’ve used it all up, it leaves no waste.

There is no rewards program for customers who sign up for a shampoo subscription. However, they do offer 15% off the original $15 price, with options for one, two, and three-month deliveries. You need to spend at least $55 to receive free shipping, but the shipping is carbon-neutral. So even if you don’t hit the minimum order mark, you can be assured that the shipping costs will at least be kind to the planet.

Formulate gives customers access to a chemist consultation to fully customize their shampoo and conditioner.

Founded by two developers and a chemist, Formulate is a company that allows customers to develop custom shampoo formulations. You begin by answering a questionnaire with 25 questions, then you’ll be matched to a chemist who will review your formulation. They will then work with you to fine-tune your shampoo’s formula to your specific hair care goals by helping you select the right ingredients. 

You can also update your formula if needed after you try it—the first formulation is free. The company claims that most customers are able to get the formula right within two bottles—but you can always pay for additional adjustments if needed. 

All formulas are free of sulfates and parabens. They’re also cruelty-free, meaning no ingredient or formula is tested on animals. All shampoos are cold-mixed without harsh preservatives and individually dispensed within the U.S. to ensure fresh product deliveries. 

The entire process, from building your custom shampoo to giving feedback, can be done through the Formulate mobile app, which is available on iOS and Android. 

The shampoo and conditioner set comes in three sizes: 4 ounces, 8 ounces, and 14 ounces. Prices begin at $19.95 up to $49 for the largest sizes and all include free shipping. 

There is no discount applied for recurring orders, however you can manage your delivery by days, weeks and months. 

With the motto of “refill, reuse, rejoice,” Plaine Products creates reusable and refillable shampoo that hits all the marks: Their products are vegan, cruelty-free, non-GMO, biodegradable, sulfate-free, palm-oil free, and silicone-free. Plus, they ship carbon neutral.

Plaine Products focuses on reducing waste by creating a system where customers buy refillable shampoo bottles that are sent back to the company to be reused. Founded in 2017, Plaine Products was started by two sisters, Alison Webster and Lindsey McCoy, who wanted to create a world with less plastic. 

They invested time and research exploring natural, chemical-free products that they and their family could use. The company partners with various organizations to find the best ingredients and ensure they always maintain carbon-neutral and sustainable standards. Additionally, Plaine Products is a Certified B Corporation that is also a member of 1% for the Planet, pledging to donate at least 1% of their revenue to environmental nonprofits. All of Plaine Products are Leaping Bunny certified as well as PETA vegan certified. 

The formulation is suitable for all hair types and is made without sulfates, parabens, and phthalates. Since they are all-natural and free of synthetic fragrance, they are safe to use for children, color-treated hair, and those with sensitive scalps as well.

The main ingredient in the shampoo is aloe, and the rest are plant and essential oils that include soothing and shine-improving ingredients like carotene and vitamins C and E. They come in two scents made with essential oils: citrus lavender and rosemary mint vanilla. There is also a fragrance-free option for those who prefer a truly all-natural shampoo experience.

Your first order will come with a pump (an option you choose at checkout) designed to be reused for each refill you receive, including another 16-ounce aluminum close-capped reusable bottle. You switch the pump from the finished bottle to the new bottle and ship your previous empty shampoo bottle back to Plaine Products to be cleaned and reused for new orders.

Plaine Products only have one subscription option built around each item. Customers have the option of a single purchase or a subscription that will deliver a reusable bottle of shampoo every two, three, four, or six months. The website also has a subscription calculator to help determine subscription frequency.

Created by and designed for people with curly hair, Curlbox is an affordable and exclusive hair care subscription service that allows customers to sample a variety of hair-care products specifically made for curly hair.

Founded in 2011, Curlbox partners with companies like L’Oreal, Unilever, SheaMoisture, Walmart, and Procter & Gamble to curate boxes with full-size hair products just for curly hair. For those eager to try new products or still searching for what works best for their curls, Curlbox gives you the chance to experience something new each month.

They have one subscription box that will either feature four to six products from different brands or a range of products from a single brand. And more often than not, you will receive full-size products that range from shampoo and conditioner to hair masks and treatments. The products in each box all focus on maintaining, growing, styling, and restoring curly hair. 

Because of its limited supply, Curlbox opens up its subscriptions to new customers once a month. You will be notified of the box’s availability and decide whether or not you want to opt in. 

If you aren’t interested in a monthly subscription, there are a number of different curated boxes that you can purchase. They currently offer a Battle of the Brands Box that highlights six different brands’ best deep conditioners and masks, in addition to single brand boxes like the Curls Dynasty box that features a range of their products.

The Curlbox Monthly Subscription is $25 with a $5 shipping fee. They currently only offer their boxes in the U.S. Boxes ship out once a month on the 12th, and customers are charged on the 15th of each month.

Vegamour has created holistic hair products that don’t contain harsh chemicals, toxins, or hormones but still provide hair growth results. 

Vegamour’s innovative plant-derived Karmatin protein is the building block to their products. It bonds to the hair follicles to create an instant smoothness and shine while deeply nourishing, repairing, and protecting hair. As a result, it helps strengthen hair damaged or weakened by environmental stressors, chemical processes, and heat styling. 

While the brand is most known for its GRO Hair Serum, the GRO Revitalizing Shampoo and Conditioner kit shows promising hair growth and health results. It’s vegan, cruelty-free, color-safe, and formulated without sulfates, silicones, parabens, gluten, and artificial fragrance. Vegamour uses natural vegan ingredients to ensure that the health of hair does not come at the expense of animals or the health of our planet and our bodies. 

According to the company’s website, 91% of customers using the Vegamour formulas experience noticeable improvements. Those who try the GRO Serum have seen a 52% increase in the appearance of hair density and reduced shedding by 76% after four months of use. Eighty-six percent of users said they would continue to use Vegamour products for the next three years.1 

Like with any hair growth, consistency is key. You can commit to using the shampoo and conditioner or combine other products in Vegamour’s range for faster results. The GRO line includes hair serum, hair foam, detoxifying scalp serum, dry shampoo, and edible biotin gummies. 

Vegamour has both a subscription option for products and a rewards program to give customers the chance to earn and redeem points for exclusive discounts. 

The GRO Revitalizing Shampoo and Conditioner kit comes out to $96, but subscribers save 23% and receive free shipping, bringing the total down to $74. For the shampoo subscription alone, it comes out to $42. You can easily change, skip, or pause your subscription through the customer portal, but you need to directly call customer service to cancel.

The Gro Rewards Program offers:

• 1 point per $1 spent
• Free shipping on orders over $25 
• Free shipping on recurring subscription orders
• Discounts using accumulated points

Made by men and designed for men, Huron is a brand focused on bringing affordable premium grooming products them.

Huron’s founder, Matt Mullenax, wanted to break into a largely untapped market of the men’s grooming industry. He and his business partner, Matt Teri, aimed to develop high-quality products that could compete with premium brands at an affordable price.

Teri spent years researching and developing products that men could use for visible results. As a result, they created Huron, which focuses on the “basics” of grooming necessities. 

The brand’s hair care line includes shampoo, conditioner, a hair pomade, and a hair gel. Everything from its brand design to the ingredients is broken down to be approachable, easy, and effective without any elaborate names or descriptive adjectives. 

The shampoo and conditioner are vegan, cruelty-free, and made in the U.S.A. They’re also made without parabens, sulfates, phthalates, silicones, or aluminum. Ingredients like argan oil and vitamin E help hydrate, soften, and restore shine to damaged hair. Despite the absence of sulfates, the shampoo still lathers well. You’ll also be left with a fresh, clean scent of citrus, juniper, and aromatic greens. 

In addition to the hair care line, Huron also carries body wash, face moisturizer, face wash, and eye serum. While the shampoo and conditioner only come in one scent, the body wash comes in a second fragrance option that combines sandalwood and black pepper. 

The shampoos come in either 11.7 ounces or jumbo 32 ounces, and the bottles are 100% recyclable. All products can be obtained with a recurring subscription, which will save you 15%, along with free shipping. Customers can easily manage their subscription schedules online and cancel any upcoming orders without penalty.

• 11.7-ounce bottle: Every 30, 60, or 90 days for $11.90 
• 32-ounce bottle with pump: Every 60, 90, or 120 days for $30.60

Hairstory’s various sizes make it an easy way for families to always have enough shampoo. Its formula is designed specifically without detergents like sulfates, parabens, and phthalates to ensure your hair is not stripped of moisture.

Hairstory’s New Wash shampoo is an all-in-one cleanser designed to be used alone without additional hair care products like conditioner or detanglers. Its formulation contains natural essential oils and gentle cleansers to effectively clean while maintaining the health of your hair and scalp. 

The product is made without detergents like sulfates, parabens, and phthalates. Instead, New Wash uses natural ingredients, like sunflower seed, jojoba seed, and evening primrose oils, to pull away excess oil while conditioning your hair and scalp without irritation.

There are three different formulations: New Wash Original, New Wash Rich, and New Wash Deep. New Wash Rich is designed for dryer hair types looking for an extra boost of moisture, and New Wash Deep is for those who struggle with oily hair looking for a deep clean. If you aren’t sure which to purchase, you can take the Hairstory hair quiz to help determine which formula will work best for you.

All three can be used on all hair types, and customers with fine hair and thick, curly hair have reported the formula’s effectiveness in softening and keeping their hair hydrated. It is also safe (and used by salons) on bleached and colored hair because it is designed to preserve its moisture and thus retain color. 

If you’re looking for additional products to protect and style your hair, Hairstory has a full lineup of hair balm, heat protectant, texturizing spray, and waxes that can all be added to your subscription.

Prices and frequency of shipping depend on the size of shampoo you select. All three versions of New Wash come in three sizes: 8 ounces, 20 ounces, and 32 ounces. You can order one or bulk buy up to 10 pouches, which is a great option for big families. 

Here is a breakdown of the subscription: 

• 8-ounce pouch: 6, 8, and 10 weeks for $40
• 20-ounce pouch: 10, 12, and 14 weeks for $90
• 32-ounce pouch: 16, 20, and 22 weeks for $136

The subscription will enroll you into the Refill Club that will save you 5% or more depending on which size and frequency you choose from, in addition to free shipping. The 20- and 30-ounce pouches also come with a free empty aluminum canister and travel bottle that you can use to store your shampoo if you prefer a bottle over a pouch. 

Customers can cancel their subscriptions anytime through their account settings. You can also pause your subscription using the Snooze function to push your ship date up to 45 days. It will automatically go back to your regular shipping frequency afterwards.

Not only is HiBAR budget friendly, but it is entirely plastic-free. Everything from the salon-quality shampoo bar to the cardboard shipping box’s label has been designed to minimize waste. 

Gluten-free, cruelty-free, color-safe, and free of sulfates, phthalates, parabens, and silicones, HiBAR is a natural shampoo bar that comes in various formulas and scents to work for any hair type. From the shampoo bar itself to the stickers on the packaging, HiBAR’s products are built around being entirely plastic-free and zero-waste. 

The vision all started with four friends who went to the beach and saw plastic all over the ground. They realized how much plastic is involved in their hair care products and decided to tackle the issue with shampoo and conditioner bottles. It took three years to finalize a formula that would give salon-quality performance created with natural ingredients and plastic-free packaging. 

There are several different HiBAR shampoo bars targeted for each hair need. The Maintain bar is a great choice for gentle clarifying and everyday use, with honeyquat and shea butter for shine. Volumize is for thin, fine, frizzy hair and also adds definition to waves and curls. The Moisturize bar is made with coconut oil and rice proteins and designed to hydrate and nourish thick or dry hair. Soothe’s formula includes white willow bark extract and kukui nut oil to help calm itchy, flaky scalps without compromising hair’s softness and moisture. 

For those who have scent sensitivities or sensitive skin, the Maintain and Moisturize bars are both also available in fragrance-free formulations.

If you’re unsure which shampoo bar is best for you, HiBAR’s website has an in-depth Q&A section that details what shampoo bar would work best for what type of hair. They also offer a shampoo sampler set for customers interested in testing various formulas. In addition, HiBAR has conditioners that complement each of their shampoos, which can also be purchased in a curated set. 

The shampoo bar is 3.2 ounces, which should last the same amount as a 16-ounce shampoo bottle would. Some customers have reported that they have used their bars up to six months at a time. Because the bars are made with natural ingredients, HiBAR recommends using them within six months.

The shampoo alone is $13.95, but comes out to $13.25 if you subscribe—a 5% discount off the original price. Shipping options range from every month to six months, which can be set up at the time of purchase.