Hair Product Usage Calculator

Calculate and compare how much product you use per wash or styling session.

How long do products last?

From our research*, Amazon shoppers seem to replenish their products after 1 to 3 months. Conditioner is more heavily used than other products like shampoo and gel. Please know the products we analyzed and the readers we attract are probably into more curl-friendly styles. Wearers in different hair communities will likely use products differently.

What makes product usage vary?

• Hair Length and Thickness: Shorter and thinner hair may require less or more product depending on the style. For example, a wash-n-go on short hair may use more product than braids on long hair.

• Previous Hair State: Long-term or heavy-product styles may require multiple washes to throughly cleanse the hair. For example, braids are known to develop a ring of lint or residue if worn for several weeks. This means they may need more shampoo to remove it.

• Desired Look: Sometimes styles may need more or less product to achieve a certain look. For example, a sleek bun may use a ton of gel.

• Heavy Handedness: Some people are naturally heavy-handed, which can lead to using more product.

• Learning: When learning wearers may be discovering what their hair likes and does not like. This may require a ton of trial-and-error.

• Family Size: If multiple members are using and loving the same product they may run out more quickly.

• Experience: Products can be used for aroma and tactile therapy. If the smell, feel, or sensation of product is mesmerizing, the wearer may use more to prolong the therapeutic experience.

Why compare product usage?

Comparing product usage can be a helpful metric in determining usage patterns and efficiency. Knowing how much product is needed, can give you a baseline when switching products. For example, if you typically use an ounce of conditioner per wash, you may be able to guesstimate how long a new product you want to try out should last. Please know that some products may be more effective at achieving your desired results, so you may need a little less or little more.

Typical Lifetime of Hair Products

Shampoo	Conditioner	Gel	Edge Control
Shampoo A	Conditioner A	Gel A	Edge Control A
Shampoo B	Conditioner B	Gel B	Edge Control B
Shampoo C	Conditioner C	Gel C	Edge Control C

*Chart data is from Amazon's Subscribe and Save's common customer order frequency as of January 17, 2024. Subscribe and Save allows shoppers to get discounts for recurring deliveries on regularly purchased products. Learn more here.