curlBOX vs. CurlKit

I was on twitter when I first saw that two separate companies developed a monthly subscription for natural hair with similar goals in mind. I was shocked. I was also intrigued to see which company was going to make a bigger impact. And I could tell from early on which company that was going to be. 
I am not tied to either company so I was willing to try out both of them to see which one was going to be the "better bang for your buck". 
But then again, the goal of both companies is to help the natural hair community and by supporting these companies and the brands that support them helps us in return.


First, lets discuss the similarities of the companies
$20/month
$220/year
Free shipping
5-7 samples per month
Offers coupons or discounts on featured products
Themed boxes
Similar missions-Providing curlies with sample products for natural hair


Now the differences
curlBOX (www.curlBOX.com)
Ms. Myleik Teele, started this company and we all knew she was the creator from day one. Two boxes have already been sent out for subscribers. The premier box provided us with 6 samples and a full sized product that was that retailed for $20. Being that the subscription itself is $20, I saw this as an important part in maintaining the customers that they had and also gaining potential customers in the future. I was very excited to get my box but there were some items that I didn't like and wouldn't use because of my hair type and texture. 

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The second box, The Spring Issue, provided subscribers with a full sized body soap, and if I counted right, 16 samples! There was also one coupon code. 
Their first two boxes allowed them to achieve their mission by providing us with products from companies that are unknown to those that are well known. They also provided us with coupons for most of the items in the box. 
Public Relations (PR) and customer service is so much better with curlBOX, whatever issues you may have with them, they will email back to you within the day. They continually communicated with customers through email, Twitter and Facebook about updates and when the boxes would be sent out. Shipping information was emailed and I received the box the next day, which was great.
So the for curlBOX subscribers, it seems like they are getting a bang for their buck.  


CurlKit (www.CurlKit.com)
For me, not knowing the creator of a company isn't such a big deal, but on the other hand, knowing the creator makes it much more personable to the buyer. I am still not clear on who the creator of CurlKit is, although on the introduction card it is signed by "Heather and the CurlKit team". I guess one day we may get to know who they are.
The first box, which was their premiere box, was sent out with the theme of Women's History for the month of March. The box did not contain any full sized items. They provided samples of products from companies that are not well known (at least to me) and those that are popular. I liked all the products provided in the box and I will probably use all of them. 

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On their welcome card they mentioned that there will be coupon codes for ALL the items in the box. There was ONE coupon code, and low and behold when I tried to use the code, it was invalid. I contacted the company and I have yet to get a response. (UPDATE 3/19/11: I finally got the codes, through twitter direct message)
Another big issue I had is that they actually had a trial box they sent out to some vloggers and bloggers. The problem was that the boxes they sent these girls were boxes decorated with flowery detail and with string to tie the box. Nothing like the plain grey box they sent the to paying subscribers. So to me, that is false advertisement.
Their PR isn't as solid as curlBOX and I didn't see the same rave for CurlKit as I did for curlBOX. They did communicate on Twitter and Facebook and sent out emails. The shipping information was sent and I received my package about 2-3 days later.


***One thing about being a product junkie and having subscriptions to these companies, is that it has its flaws. When you receive a box filled with samples you don't want to use, because it may contain ingredients you don't like, such as silicone or sulfates, the money MAY not be worth it. On the other hand, if you are open to everything then it shouldn't affect you.***


Verdict: If I am going to get a long term subscription with any of these two companies, it would have to be curlBOX. Even though I wasn't in love with each product they provided, they did stick to their claims and they went above and beyond in their approach. 
I am not trying to bash either one of these companies and I am not telling you which one to subscribe to. This is just my personal experience with both companies and it has lead me to this decision. It is still up to you, to which one you choose, because in the end they are offering the same thing, hair products. 


So if you are not subscribed to either of these subscriptions, go ahead and check out both of the websites, do your research and make your choice. 


Thank you for reading,