Strands Hair Care Review: The Ultimate Guide to Personalized Hair Products
Are you tired of playing Russian roulette every time you buy a new shampoo, hoping this will finally be the one that transforms your lackluster locks into shiny, voluminous tresses? If you have a bathroom graveyard of half-used hair products that missed the mark, it may be time to try a more personalized approach with Strands Hair Care.
Strands is flipping the script on hair care by developing completely custom formulas based on the unique needs of your hair. Intrigued? Keep reading for my ultimate guide to Strands Hair Care, complete with in-depth reviews of their products, real customer feedback, an unboxing of the Strands Starter Kit, FAQs, and my take on whether this brand is worth the hype.
What Is Strands Hair Care?
Strands Hair Care was founded in 2018 by Eric Delapenha, a genetics biologist who wanted to bring a more scientific approach to the oversaturated hair care market. Together with a team of expert chemists and engineers, Strands develops completely bespoke shampoos, conditioners, and hair masks by analyzing the biological factors that make your hair uniquely yours.
The mission behind Strands is simple but powerful – to help people feel more confident and beautiful by giving them the best possible hair of their lives. They believe everyone‘s hair is unique and deserves products that are precisely formulated to help it look and feel its healthiest.
What really sets Strands apart is the ultra-personalized experience. It all starts with their signature Hair Quiz and Testing Kit (more on that in a bit) that takes a deep dive into your hair type, texture, length, density, porosity, scalp condition, styling habits, environment, and more. Strands then uses these data points to cook up your custom formula in their LA lab.
The Strands Hair Care Process
Here‘s how Strands works its magic from start to finish:
Step 1: Hair Quiz
Your personalized hair care journey kicks off with a short quiz on the Strands website. You‘ll answer questions about your natural hair color and texture, length, thickness, primary concerns (frizz, dullness, thinning, etc.), how often you shampoo, your diet, stress levels, and zip code (to assess environmental factors like humidity, pollution, and UV levels).
Step 2: Testing Kit
Once you‘ve completed the quiz, it‘s time for the really fun part – your Strands Testing Kit! You‘ll receive a kit in the mail with instructions for collecting samples of your hair and completing a few additional evaluations of your scalp and strands.
The testing process was surprisingly quick and easy. Strands provides a prepaid envelope to mail your samples to their lab for in-depth analysis. I popped my kit in the mail on a Monday and received an email that my samples had been received and were being processed that same week.
Step 3: Formula Development
This is where the real magic happens. The expert chemists at Strands use your hair profile and lab samples to create completely bespoke formulations designed to target your hair‘s needs and goals.
Their algorithm looks at a mind-boggling number of data points – everything from your hair‘s porosity and elasticity to your scalp‘s oil production and sensitivity. Strands has one of the most extensive databases of hair types and ingredient interactions in the industry, which allows them to create formulas that are precisely calibrated for your strands.
Step 4: Custom Products
About a week after your Testing Kit is received, you‘ll get an email with your personalized hair care prescription and a detailed breakdown of your custom formula. Mine included a 10 oz. shampoo and conditioner set specifically created for my long, color-treated, frizz-prone hair.
The unboxing experience was really luxe – the products came in a beautiful gift box with my name printed on the bottles. You can really feel the attention to detail and quality of ingredients, from the light, fresh scent to the silky texture.
Strands Product Reviews
Now for the good stuff – how well do Strands products actually work? I tested the Strands Starter Kit, plus a few of their other bestsellers, for a full month. Here‘s my verdict:
Strands Starter Kit
The Starter Kit ($50) is the gateway into the Strands haircare system. It includes the Hair Quiz, Testing Kit, and your first personalized shampoo and conditioner set.
I was honestly blown away by the results after just one use. The shampoo gave a rich lather that left my scalp feeling clean and invigorated, but not stripped. The conditioner delivered intense hydration without weighing my fine strands down. After a month of use, I can visibly see a difference in my hair – it‘s shinier, smoother, and overall healthier-looking. The Starter Kit is an amazing value considering the high-end ingredients and completely customized formulas. It‘s a definite repurchase for me.
Strands Custom Shampoo and Conditioner
If you want to continue with Strands after your Starter Kit, you can subscribe to receive a personalized shampoo and conditioner set ($35/month, with free shipping). Strands offers a lot of flexibility with their subscriptions – you can get deliveries every 1, 2, or 3 months depending on how often you wash.
I love that Strands gives you the option to tweak your formula if anything changes with your hair over time. I started heat-styling more often a few months into my subscription, so I requested a formula change to add more heat protection. The updated products were in my shower a week later and the added TLC was just what my strands needed.
Strands Hair Mask
This is one of Strands‘ most popular one-off products and it‘s easy to see why. The Hair Mask ($38) is a super concentrated treatment that delivers an intense dose of moisture, strength, and repair. The texture is really thick and luxurious – a little goes a long way.
I used this mask once a week in place of my regular conditioner and was seriously impressed. It made my dry, over-processed ends feel so soft and healthy after just one use. With continued weekly treatments, I can see a huge difference in the overall resilience and thickness of my strands. If your hair is feeling parched or damaged, this mask is a must-have.
Strands Scalp Serum
I didn‘t know I needed a scalp serum until I tried this one. The Strands Scalp Serum ($35) is a lightweight, fast-absorbing treatment that soothes irritation, reduces flaking, and rebalances oil production.
As someone who deals with an oily, itchy scalp year-round, this serum has been a game-changer for keeping my scalp‘s microbiome in check. I use a dropper-full on my roots 2-3 times per week, either as an overnight treatment or in the morning before air-drying. With consistent use, I‘ve seen a noticeable improvement in the overall health and comfort of my scalp.
What Customers Are Saying
Strands has racked up some serious praise from beauty insiders and customers alike. The brand has been featured in Allure, Glamour, InStyle, Refinery29, and more for their innovative approach to bespoke hair care.
On the Strands website, the Custom Shampoo and Conditioner Set has an impressive 4.8-star rating from over 1,000 reviews. Customers rave about the noticeable improvement in the health, appearance, and manageability of their hair. Here are a few highlights:
"I was skeptical that a shampoo could make that big of a difference, but Strands has made me a believer. After one month of using my personalized products, my hair has never looked or felt better. My color is shinier, my ends are healthier, and I can air-dry with minimal frizz for the first time in my life. I‘m hooked!" – Rachel K.
"I have struggled with a dry, itchy scalp for years and have tried every medicated shampoo out there. Strands is the first line that has actually helped rebalance my scalp and reduce irritation. I no longer find flakes on my shoulders and can go longer between washes. The personalized conditioner has also worked wonders for my coarse, unruly strands. 10/10 recommend!" – Jenna M.
Of course, no brand is without a few less-than-perfect reviews. A handful of customers with very oily hair found the Strands products too heavy or moisturizing. A few others were disappointed to find silicones in their personalized formulas, which can be a dealbreaker for some.
It‘s important to keep in mind that Strands is still a relatively young brand, so there may be some growing pains as they continue to expand their product offering and ingredient options. But overall, the vast majority of customers seem thrilled with their bespoke Strands formulas and the results they‘re seeing.
Is Strands Hair Care Worth It?
So, is Strands Hair Care worth the hype? In my opinion, it‘s a resounding yes for anyone who has struggled to find off-the-shelf products that work for their hair type and concerns. The in-depth consultation process, personalized formulations, and high-quality ingredients truly set Strands apart in the crowded hair care market.
If you have a tricky hair type (curly, coily, fine, thick, damage-prone, etc.) or scalp issues like dryness, oiliness, or sensitivity, Strands could be the solution you‘ve been searching for. Their custom approach takes all the guesswork out of building a hair care routine and delivers targeted results.
That said, Strands is definitely a luxury hair care experience and the price point reflects that. The Starter Kit is $50 and individual products range from $25-$40, which can add up over time. If you‘re on a tighter budget, you may want to stick with more affordable options at the drugstore.
But if you‘re ready to invest in your best hair and finally get a routine that‘s 100% tailored to your needs, Strands is absolutely worth trying. The personalized results and luxe experience make it a treat to use your products every day – plus, you can feel good knowing you‘re supporting a small, science-backed brand.
The Verdict
Strands Hair Care is the real deal for anyone looking to level up their hair care game with personalized products. By analyzing the unique needs and goals of your strands, Strands is able to create completely bespoke formulas that deliver visible results.
The Starter Kit is the perfect introduction to the Strands system and offers a luxe unboxing experience and high-quality custom products. Both the shampoo and conditioner performed exceptionally well for my long, dry, color-treated hair – after a month of use, my strands look and feel significantly healthier, shinier, and more resilient. For more intense treatments, the Hair Mask and Scalp Serum are must-haves for deep moisture and rebalancing the scalp‘s microbiome.
While Strands is definitely a luxury hair care brand, their scientific approach, potent ingredients, and personalized results make the higher price point feel justified. If you‘ve been searching for that holy grail hair care system, Strands could be the answer to your #hairgoals prayers.
