Prose Shampoo Review: Social Media’s Favorite Cleanser

Do you often see ads for Zera shampoo and conditioner on Facebook or Instagram? I did see it and I was curious if the hype was true, so I gave it a try – so you don’t have to believe those fancy paid reviews. Let’s take a look at Zera shampoo.

Zera describes itself as a “customized hair care solution for you”. They ask you a series of questions about your hair type and whether you’re worried about greasiness, dandruff, etc., so they can customize a formula just for you. After that, they will deliver a hair care mask, shampoo and conditioner right to your doorstep.

I can’t avoid seeing Zera ads everywhere. On my social media. On the blogs I follow. On the newsletters I subscribe to. It feels like the brand is everywhere. So when readers asked me how it worked, I decided to give it a try.

I took the test and highlighted my specific needs – dry ends and volume. I opted for the unscented version because honestly, the smell of most products makes me ill. After waiting with anticipation for my personalized hair care experience to arrive, I finally received my package.

After reading dozens of glowing reviews on blogs, Pinterest, and Instagram, I was expecting to receive amazing products. Unfortunately, the shampoo I received was a real disappointment.

When using Zera, you first apply a hair mask. Normally, after applying a hair mask, your hair should feel softer and more moisturized after rinsing. But even after rinsing, my hair didn’t get noticeably softer or better.

I was also a little confused by the “customized formula” written on the bottle. It says that my customized shampoo is perfect for smoothing hair. But my hair is very straight and I never mentioned frizz or texture issues in the questionnaire. So why is smoothing the number one benefit it’s supposed to provide?

Then there’s the shampoo. I opened the bottle and the first thing I smelled was an odor. According to Zera, odorless actually means “smells like a public swimming pool in a cheap hotel.” I thought I’d get used to it, but a week later, I could smell it every time I opened the bottle.

And don’t get me started on the design of the bottle. Honestly, tightening the metal cap is one of the least practical ways to seal a shampoo bottle. If you drop it on the floor, the shampoo spills everywhere. It’s also very easy to pour too much water and there’s no way to squeeze the bottle to access any product left at the bottom.

The conditioner was equally disappointing, and like the shampoo, it had a strange odor. So, all in all, these products were not at all what I was looking for.

I really wanted to like Zera. after all, everyone raves about it. But the $80 price tag made me expect it to deliver amazing results. However, I was deeply disappointed. Even if I were to pay $5 for this shampoo at the drugstore, I would only find it average at best.

Bottom line: it’s just a bottle of shampoo. It smells weird. It didn’t improve my hair – it may have even made it feel flatter. Pricey. Honestly, I haven’t been this disappointed with a product in a long time. I wouldn’t recommend Zera, at least not at this price.

Everything I see on social media I pay for myself. I don’t ask for or accept freebies. Because if I didn’t spend my own money, how can I judge the value of a product?

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