3 Easy Steps to Beautiful Hair

1. Activate Kit

Then test your scalp, select your fragrance and send a small hair sample.

2. We Analyze

We'll run tests on your sample to provide a comprehensive report and ingredient list optimized for your strands.

3. Get the perfect products

We'll send you custom formulated hair products based on your in depth hair analysis.

How We Test

Who we are

Strands is changing the status quo for the hair care industry by creating products based on hair's data. We're introducing science and precision into an industry that has been a guessing game for so long.

Products

We can only personalize a shampoo or conditioner to your specific hair profile after we've tested your hair. We want to make sure we're customizing your hair products based on real data from your strands.

Yes. After you have received the first order of your products, you will be able to log in to your Strands account and reorder or subscribe to receive individual bottles of your shampoo and conditioner.

Depending on your hair test results, our chemist might recommend silicones in your product. If you prefer not to have silicones, you will be able to select silicone-free formulas during your online hair diagnostic or you can let our team know by reaching out at hello@strandshaircare.com. In some cases, silicones alternatives may not work as well, but we do understand that some people prefer silicone free.

Our shampoo and conditioner bottles are 8 fluid ounces.

Our hair care products are inclusive to all hair types and conditions since each product is designed based on your hair data, routine, environment and lifestyle.

Each test kit includes 4 scent cards for you to smell and select your scent preference. You will be able to select your scent preferences once you activate your kit.

Yes we do offer a scent free option. You will be able to select your fragrance preferences once you activate your kit.

We strive to source only ingredients that have been validated for specific benefits and only use them at proven efficacy levels. Ingredients are assigned to each customer once their hair reports are generated and we use test results, environmental, and treatment factors when customizing your products. You can learn more about our ingredients here

Yes, all of our products are SLES- and SLS- free. These are the typical ingredients known to cause color-loss.

Yes, as long as you indicate that you treated your hair with keratin during your online kit activation. Our chemists will ensure to design your formulations without any ingredients known to affect keratin treated hair.

Yes all of our formulations are paraben free. You can learn more about our ingredients here

Yes, we are able make your formulations vegan and free of silicones, dye, mineral oil, wheat, honey, nuts, hemp, aloe vera, and avocado oil. Although we don't encourage modifying our formulas because of the way they are created, we do understand that you may want some ingredients removed.

You can learn more about our ingredients here

Your shampoo may lather less than you're used to because all our formulas are sulfate-free. In some instances, the lather will be very light due to the active ingredients that we've added to your customized products. We recommend starting with a few pumps of our shampoo and massaging the product into your hair and scalp. If you don't feel like you have the proper coating over your hair, we recommend using more product.

Strands uses PET bottles, which are recyclable.

You will receive two separate shipments:

Strands is 100% cruelty free and leaping bunny certified!

We are able to provide products that are SLS/SLES free and silicone free.

Test Kit

Sebum test strips
Scent cards
Sample collection bag
Pre-paid Return Envelope

Strands currently performs 4 different accurate hair tests to build your biological hair profile. These tests are:
1. Scalp Sebum Test to determine your scalp sebum (oil) level.
2. Microscopic Cuticle Analysis to assess your cuticle integrity at specific locations on your hair fiber.
3. Microscopic Diameter Analysis to assess your hair texture down to the micrometer.
4. Molecular Protein Analysis to asses your cuticle integrity across your entire hair sample.

We do not perform DNA testing on any of our customer hair samples.

Our tests look at your cuticle integrity, which is related to your porosity. The cuticle layers present on your hair fibers are like shingles on a roof. When these layers become compromised, you typically experience higher porosity. When your cuticle layers are in great condition, you typically experience low porosity.

To start activating your test kit, please visit https://strandshaircare.com/activate and enter the unique Test Kit ID found in your test kit. Once you enter your Test Kit ID, you will need to complete the entire questionnaire before your test kit is successfully activated.

It takes approximately 2-4 business days to analyze your hair and upload your test report to your Online Strands account. You can track the progress of your sample testing and custom formulation production on your account here: https://strandshaircare.com/pages/my-strands-updates

You will discover your: overall cuticle integrity, true hair texture, microscopic cuticle analysis,molecular protein analysis, scalp sebum level, and a formula that fits your lifestyle

You should do your scalp test when you are prompted during your online kit activation after your hair is clean and dry to ensure accurate results. Start by parting your hair in the problematic region of the scalp and pressing one sebum test strip on the region for 10 seconds. Remove the strip after 10 seconds and compare it to the results field on the back of the sebum test card to understand your sebum (oil) level. Enter your results online.

No you do not need to send in your scalp sebum test. When you activate your kit online, you will be prompted to perform the scalp sebum test and enter your results online.

Yes, you will be able to change your product shipping address during your online kit activation.

You can find your Test Kit ID inside your test kit.

Yes you can change your diagnostic answers up until our lab receives your hair sample. To change your answers, log in to your Strands account and navigate to the Account Settings page.

Hair Sample

You will find a sample reference image that will help you check if you have collected enough hair in the test kit. Please send an image of your hair sample to hello@strandshaircare.com if you are unsure about your sample size. Depending on your hair length and hair type, it may take a few days to collect the right amount. Always try to send us more hair than you think we’ll need.

You can collect hair from your brush, comb, shower, or haircut.

Absolutely! We just need to make sure you send us enough hair by checking the reference card.

Yes, however please ensure your hair care and treatment routine have not changed since the last time you cleaned out the hair in your brush/comb .

If you plan on using your customized Strands formulations on treated hair, you should collect and send in your hair sample after the treatment. This ensures that your formulations are up to date as your hair routine changes.

No. The cleanliness of your sample will not affect your results. Our lab cleans each hair sample before we perform our tests.

We'll ask you about the type of hair extensions you have during our online hair diagnostic once you receive and begin activating your test kit. If you plan to use your customized products on your extensions, then your hair sample should include strands from your extensions.

The pre-paid envelope provided in the test kit has a tracking number for you to follow the sample back to our lab. Depending on the postal carrier, your sample should arrive in about 5 business days.

Our team will reach out to you by email or text to let you know we need more hair. Then we’ll ship you another sample collection bag and prepaid return envelope to collect more.

Strands recently partnered with Matter of Trust, a non-profit organization dedicated to cleaning up the ocean by creating environmentally-friendly hair mats to absorb oil during oil spills. We donate all hair samples to support our environmental impact mission, however, you can opt to have your hair sample destroyed by contacting us at hello@strandshaircare.com. You can learn more about Matter of Trust here.

Subscription

Your product subscription includes a hair test kit on your first delivery and one customized shampoo and conditioner set each month. You will be able to pause, change renewal date, cancel or change your bottle quantity at any time after your first delivery.

No, you can choose to purchase your products once without a subscription.

Your first subscription includes one 8 oz shampoo and conditioner set. You can modify which products are included in your subscription on your Strands account under the subscriptions tab.

You will also receive an email reminder a few days before your subscription renews to update your formula, change your delivery date, or update any delivery details like your shipping address or billing info. Updating your formula allows you to adjust your product scent, change your hair care or treatment routine, and provide direct product feedback for our chemists to perfect your products before your subscription renews.

Unfortunately we do not currently offer the ability to gift or transfer subscriptions to another person. The person who places the subscription order will continue to be billed at the interval of their choice until they cancel their subscription.

You can change your formula or subscription details at any time on your online Strands account under the subscriptions tab.

You can subscribe at 1 month, 2 month and 3 month intervals.

You can cancel your subscription at any time by logging in to your account and navigating to the subscriptions tab. We cannot refund your exisiting order if we have already filled your bottle.

Shipping and Returns

If you would like to change the shipping address of your products on your first order, you can update your address online when activating your kit. For reorders and subscriptions, you can enter your new shipping address when placing your order or before your subscription renews on your online Strands account under the subscriptions tab.

You can reformulate or refund your personalized products within 30 days of when your order shipped. For more details, please see our full satisfaction guarantee here.

We currently only ship within the United States. We'll be shipping to other countries in the near future. Stay tuned! We'll make announcements on social media so make sure to follow us at @strands_hair to stay in the loop.

We charge a standard $5.00 fee for USPS shipping for the Strands Kit and product reorders. We do offer expedited shipping through FedEx for $15.00. Shipping is always free with our subscription plan.

You will receive a tracking number after ordering a Strands Kit. Depending on the postal carrier, your test kit will typically arrive in 5 business days.

For your first order, your hair analysis report and personalized ingredient list is uploaded to your online Strands account. Our chemists then start formulating your products based on the specific results in your hair report and profile. It takes approximately 2-4 business days to formulate your products depending on order volumes. You will receive a tracking number when your products are shipped. Depending on the postal carrier, your products will typically arrive in 2 business days.

For subscription orders and reorders, our chemists formulate based on your hair analysis report as well as any feedback or changes in routine, hair, etc. that you provide. It takes approximately 2-4 business days to formulate your products depending on order volumes. You will receive a tracking number when your products are shipped. Depending on the postal carrier, your products will typically arrive in 2 business days.

Frequently Asked questions

Strands is changing the status quo for the hair care industry by creating products based on your hair's data. We're introducing science and precision into an industry that has been a guessing game for so long.