Are “Function of Beauty” Products Really Personalized for Your Colored Hair?

The Great Personalization Promise: Can an Algorithm Outsmart a Colorist?

Function of Beauty (FoB) revolutionized the hair care industry with a simple, brilliant idea: a shampoo and conditioner built from the ground up, just for you. You take a quiz, you select your hair type and, most importantly, your hair goals (like “Color Protection,” “Reduce Frizz,” and “Volume”), and a unique formula with your name on it arrives at your door.

But is this “personalization” a revolutionary scientific breakthrough for color-treated hair, or is it a clever marketing strategy that repackages standard ingredients in a beautiful new bottle?

We’re doing a deep dive into the science of color protection and the Function of Beauty model, comparing it to a specialized salon product to see if it’s truly “personalized” for the difficult task of preserving your color.

This debate of “algorithm vs. expert” isn’t limited to hair color. It’s a growing conversation in many beauty sectors, leading consumers to wonder if an in-store consultation with a specialist is still superior to digital personalization tools.

The Science of Color Protection: What Does Colored Hair Actually Need?

To prevent your expensive hair color from fading, a formula needs to do two fundamental things: it must be gentle, and it must seal the hair cuticle.

1. Gentle Cleansers: The single fastest way to strip color is by using a harsh sulfate-based shampoo. Sulfates are strong detergents that can blast open the hair cuticle, allowing water and the shampoo itself to wash color molecules right down the drain. A color-safe formula must be sulfate-free.
   Since frequent washing is the fastest way to strip color, extending time between washes is a key strategy. For those with darker color-treated hair, this often requires finding the best dry shampoos that don’t leave a white cast to maintain that fresh, vibrant look longer.
2. Acidic pH: A formula, especially a conditioner, should be acidic (have a low pH). This chemically signals the hair cuticle to contract and lie down flat, which “locks in” the color pigments and dramatically increases hair shine.
3. UV Filters & Antioxidants: These are a major bonus. Just like on your skin, the sun’s UV rays can oxidize and fade your hair color. Antioxidants and UV filters help to protect your hair from this environmental damage.

Analyzing the Function of Beauty Model: How Does the Personalization Work?

Function of Beauty’s system reportedly starts with a “base” formula (e.g., for straight, wavy, or curly hair) and then adds “boosters” or “shots” based on the goals you select.

When you check the “Color Protection” box, the algorithm adds boosters that are specifically designed to meet the criteria above. This typically includes a UV filter, antioxidants to prevent fading, and lightweight silicones or emollients to help seal the cuticle and add hair shine. Most importantly, it ensures your base formula is 100% sulfate-free.

So, the answer is yes, the product is genuinely personalized to be color-safe and includes the correct ingredients for that goal.

The Head-to-Head: Personalization (FoB) vs. Specialization (Kérastase)

But is a “personalized” formula the best formula? Let’s compare the Function of Beauty model to a brand like Kérastase and their hyper-specialized Chroma Absolu line.

These salon products are not personalized to you; they are “hyper-specialized” for a single problem. The brand’s entire research and development budget for that line is focused only on finding the most advanced, patented compounds for protecting color-treated hair. As scientific studies on hair damage have confirmed, protecting the hair’s structural integrity after a chemical coloring process is vital for maintaining the color’s vibrancy. Luxury brands like Olaplex and Kérastase often have patented technologies that specifically address this deep, structural damage.

The At-a-Glance Comparison Table

The Verdict: A Smart Choice, But Not Necessarily the “Best”

So, are Function of Beauty products truly personalized for your colored hair? Yes. Their sulfate-free base and the addition of specific color-protecting boosters make them an excellent, high-quality, and color-safe choice.

But are they the best color-protecting formula on the market? Not necessarily. If your hair is severely damaged from bleach or your only goal is to protect a vibrant, fast-fading red, a hyper-specialized line from a salon brand like Kérastase or Olaplex might offer more focused, powerful technology for that single purpose.

Function of Beauty’s true strength lies in its ability to solve multiple problems at once. It’s the perfect choice for the person who says, “I have color-treated hair, but my scalp also gets oily, and I also need help with my thinning hair.” In that scenario, it is undoubtedly the superior, more “personalized” option.