Causes of Men’s Hair Loss | Treatments Available | Best Options
Male hair loss is incredibly common, and the likelihood of the condition increases with age.
However, no matter what age you experience hair loss, it can be frustrating and embarrassing.
If you are one of the millions of men who is experiencing hair loss at any age, you may be hoping to find an effective treatment option for your condition.
There are many different options available online through men’s healthcare providers, but how do you choose? Are there side effects? Which products work best?
If you’re looking for the best hair loss treatment for men, look no further than this comparison guide.
Causes of Men’s Hair Loss
While there are lots of reasons why hair loss in men can occur, the most common cause of men’s hair loss is male pattern baldness.
Unlike medical conditions, male pattern baldness, also referred to as androgenic alopecia, is genetic, affecting the vast majority of men and is responsible for 95 percent of hair loss in men.
The condition is characterized by hair loss that occurs primarily on the crown of the head as well as along the hairline; most men keep the majority of their hair along the sides and the back of the head.
While many men expect hair loss to occur with age, what most do not realize is that hair loss can start any time after puberty. In fact, up to 25 percent of men who struggle with pattern hair loss begin losing their hair before the age of 21.
The percentage of men that experience balding increases significantly with age; by the age of 50, more than two-thirds, an estimated 85 percent of men who are predisposed to male pattern baldness, will have experienced significant hair loss.
As noted, it is a genetic condition regardless if one has “healthy hair” or not.
FDA-Approved Treatments for Male Pattern Baldness
In considering the best hair loss treatment for men, it’s important to know which treatments are FDA-approved for the treatment of male pattern hair loss, since this is the cause of most hair loss in men.
Only two treatments have been FDA-approved for the treatment of hair loss associated with male pattern baldness: finasteride and minoxidil.
Finasteride is a prescription medication that is available in the form of an oral tablet or a topical solution; however, the medication is primarily used in the form of an oral tablet.
Finasteride belongs to a class of drugs called 5-alpha-reductase inhibitors. Drugs in this class work by inhibiting the activity of 5-alpha-reductase, an enzyme that is responsible for converting testosterone into androgen dihydrotestosterone (DHT).
DHT is a hormone that causes the hair follicles to shrink in men with male pattern baldness, which causes existing strands of hair to fall out and prevents the regrowth of new hair.
Male pattern baldness occurs when levels of DHT rise in men who are predisposed to the condition.
Finasteride has been clinically proven to be effective in stopping hair loss and encouraging hair regrowth for many men with male pattern baldness when taken at a dose of 1 mg per day by mouth.
Minoxidil is available over the counter and is applied topically. Commonly sold under the brand name Rogaine, topical minoxidil has been shown to help minimize hair loss and encourage hair regrowth in numerous clinical studies dating back to the 1980s.
When applied to the scalp, 40 percent of men experienced moderate to dense hair growth on the crown and back of the head. The most commonly studied minoxidil treatment contains a five percent solution and was found to reduce hair loss in 62 percent of men in one observational study.
Best Men’s Hair Loss Treatment Options
There are many different hair loss treatment options for men that are available online, but some companies are better than others. Each of the companies discussed below offer both of the two FDA-approved treatments for male pattern baldness, and some also offer other products designed to treat hair loss and generate thicker hair growth.
Keeps
Keeps is a telehealth provider that provides treatment for hair loss in men. Keeps has four different products with varying active ingredients available through their website: finasteride 1 mg tablets, minoxidil 5% solution, minoxidil 5% foam, and ketoconazole 2% shampoo.
The effects of finasteride and minoxidil have been outlined above, but ketoconazole is typically prescribed for the treatment of seborrheic dermatitis and is sometimes used to treat dandruff.
The shampoo may result in hair regrowth by unblocking the hair follicles that can become clogged as a result of certain skin conditions.
Keeps offers three packages, each of which are delivered once per quarter. Men with overall thinning hair are recommended to purchase the first package, which consists of finasteride tablets and either the minoxidil solution or foam.
Men with receding hair loss along the hairline, crowd of the head, and vertex of the head are recommended to purchase the second package, which contains daily finasteride tablets.
Men who have hair that is thinning only along the crown of the head are recommended to purchase the third package, which includes only minoxidil solution or foam.
None of the packages offer ketoconazole shampoo, but the shampoo can be added on to any order.
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Get started for as low as $8 a month
 | FINASTERIDE,1 MG (RX) | Keeps |
Finasteride is a prescription pill that’s taken daily. It works by blocking the production of DHT, a hormone that causes male pattern baldness. This FDA-approved treatment has been proven to prevent the spread of receding hairlines and boost hair regrowth. After initial discount, $25/mo.
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Get started for as low as $8 a month
 | MINOXIDIL SOLUTION, 5% | Keeps |
Minoxidil is a topical solution that slows down hair loss and even promotes hair regrowth at the crown of your head. When it’s consistently applied twice a day to the scalp, it can help you maintain a fuller head of hair. $10/mo after initial discount.
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3 Month Bundle
 | Finasteride & Minoxidil | Keeps |
Get started for as a low as $8/mo with initial discount.
| Buy Now |
Hims
Hims is able to offer a wider variety of products than Keeps. Although Hims does not offer minoxidil foam or ketoconazole shampoo, it offers thickening shampoo made with saw palmetto, thickening conditioner made with niacinamide, and biotin gummies in addition to prescription finasteride and topical minoxidil.
Saw palmetto is a natural DHT blocker that has been shown in numerous studies to lower the levels of DHT in the scalp, which may help to stop hair loss and promote hair regrowth in men prone to male pattern baldness.
Hims’ thickening shampoo removes buildup from the scalp and promotes new hair growth by unblocking the hair follicles.
The thickening conditioner hydrates the hair and improves volume, which keeps the hair looking thicker and fuller while waiting for a new growth phase to come in.
Biotin gummies supplement the amount of vitamin B7 in the body, which helps to strengthen the hair, skin and nails.
Four different packages are available through Hims, each of which are delivered monthly. Men suffering from overall hair loss are best suited to the Hair Power Pack, which includes finasteride tablets, minoxidil solution, thickening shampoo, and biotin gummies. Men with receding hairlines and bald spots should order the second package, which includes finasteride tablets and minoxidil solution.
Men with receding hairlines are recommended to order the third package, which includes finasteride tablets.
The final package is appropriate for men who want to prevent hair loss or treat early stage hair loss through the use of topical treatments. This package includes thickening shampoo, biotin gummies, and minoxidil solution.
The thickening conditioner is not included as part of any of the packages but can be added to any order.
| Image | Product | Features | Price |
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The Pill Free Rx – Award Winner
 | Topical Finasteride & Minoxidil Spray | Hims | If a pill feels like an overwhelming way to treat male pattern hair loss, this spray could be for you. Emerging evidence suggests it can help regrow hair and prevent further hair loss with a lower risk of sexual side effects compared to finasteride pills.
| Buy Online |
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Your Custom Kit
 | Hair Power Pack | Hims | You came here for something that really works, and that’s finasteride. It’s been shown to effectively help hair regrowth in about 85 percent of men who take it over a span of three to four months. You’ll also get a chance to upgrade your plan with products to support fuller hair. Win-win.
| Buy Online |
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The Pill – Top Seller
 | Finasteride | Hims |
More hair…this is the pill for that. It treats male pattern baldness, at the crown and in the middle of the scalp. You’ll see thicker hair and slower hair loss with regular use.
| Buy Online |
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Regrowth Made Easy
 | Minoxidil Foam | Hims |
Look and feel your best with thicker, fuller hair—thanks to this FDA-approved minoxidil foam. It’s clinically proven to regrow hair in 3-6 months, no pills required.
| Buy Online |
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The Drops
 | Minoxidil 5% | Hims |
This 5% topical solution for men, used once or twice a day, can treat hair loss by promoting new hair growth of lost hair. Hair today, hair tomorrow. Plenty of hair for grabbing, twirling and such.
| Buy Online |
Shapiro MD
Unlike the other hair loss treatment companies on this list, which primarily focus on products with synthetic ingredients that are designed to treat male pattern baldness, Shapiro MD offers hair loss treatments that are based on natural ingredients.
The website does offer oral finasteride and topical minoxidil, but the backbone of the brand is shampoos and conditioners that contain natural DHT blockers.
Shapiro MD offers the following products for the treatment of hair loss in men:
- DHT Blocking Shampoo
- DHT Blocking Conditioner
- Leave-in Daily Foam
- Men’s 5% Minoxidil Serum
- Finasteride tablets
- Hairbiotic dietary supplements
Shapiro MD offers two packages through their website that offer savings on the products, but each of the products are also available a la carte on Amazon. The Natural Kit contains only products designed to block DHT with the use of naturally occurring ingredients and includes the DHT Blocking Shampoo, DHT Blocking Conditioner, and Leave-in Daily Foam. The Regrowth Kit includes the full line of topical products, including the DHT Blocking Shampoo, DHT Blocking Conditioner, Leave-in Daily Foam, and Men’s 5% Minoxidil Solution.
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$19.95 – Subscriptions Available
 | Finasteride | Shapiro MD | Finasteride is an FDA-approved and clinically proven once-daily medication for male pattern baldness (androgenetic alopecia, or typical male balding) that works by blocking the conversion of testosterone into dihydrotestosterone (DHT). Finasteride’s demonstrated regrowth capabilities have made it a powerful solution for millions of men dealing with hair loss.
| Buy Now |
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$19.95 – Subscriptions Available
 | 5% Minoxidil Regrowth Serum | Shapiro MD | A clinically proven regrowth solution for hair loss, 5% Minoxidil has been helping men regrow hair for over three decades. Minoxidil can revive hair follicles, help maintain hair density, and is the #1 dermatologist-recommended and approved solution on the market. 90% of men who use minoxidil over 12 months report results, and it’s a go-to for those first starting their hair restoration journey.
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$60.87
| 5% Minoxidil + Finasteride | Shapiro MD |
Finasteride is the only FDA-approved, once-daily oral medication for male pattern baldness, clinically proven to regrow hair by reducing dihydrotestosterone (DHT) in the body, the so-called “hair loss hormone.” Combined with 5% Minoxidil, an easy-to-use topical treatment that can aid in the growth of new hair, this bundle takes restoration to the next level for men dealing with balding, patchiness, or thinning hair.
| Buy Now |
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$79.95 – Subscriptions Available
 | Natural Leave-In Kit | Shapiro MD | The Natural Leave-In Kit features some of our most powerful topical formulas – each of which contains three active ingredients shown to fight the effects of DHT, a hormone linked with hair loss. These topicals work together to protect and nourish your scalp and strands, so your hair looks thicker, fuller, and healthier overall.
| Buy Now |
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$89.95 – Subscriptions Available
 | Men’s Regrowth Kit | Shapiro MD |
This regrowth kit is a powerful, broad defense system for men dealing with hair loss, including the Shapiro MD DHT Fighting Shampoo, Conditioner, Leave-In Foamer, and the clinically proven power of our 5% Minoxidil Hair Regrowth Serum. These patented haircare solutions contain natural, active ingredients that have been shown to fight the effects of DHT, the hormone widely believed to be a leading cause of hair loss. Our 5% Minoxidil serum harnesses the validated regrowth capabilities of minoxidil, an ingredient shown to produce results in over 90% of men.
| Buy Now |
Roman
Roman is a men’s telehealth company that offers treatments for male pattern baldness as a small component of its product offering. Roman offers topical minoxidil solution at a concentration of five percent and finasteride pills at a dose of one milligram per day. Roman does not offer gummy vitamin supplements, thickening shampoo, or other products designed to treat hair loss in men.
Roman offers significant flexibility in their pricing structure, with customers able to purchase finasteride and minoxidil either a la carte or as part of a package that offers a discount on both products. Roman’s model ships hair loss treatments monthly.
Summary
Men who experience male pattern baldness and other types of hair loss have many different options when it comes to treating their condition from Propecia to topical treatments.
As opposed to a hair transplant surgery, the best part is that you don’t have to step foot outside your house in order to get treatment; all of the companies offer their products entirely online.
Keeps, Hims, Shapiro MD, and Roman all offer a variety of products that are designed to treat the cause of hair loss in men.
If you’re looking for FDA-approved treatments other than the best shampoos, in regards to hair care for male pattern baldness, or to increase hair density, make sure to purchase a package that contains finasteride and/or minoxidil, which are the only two FDA-approved treatments for male pattern baldness. In conclusion, male pattern baldness is a genetic condition affecting a large population of men no matter the type of hair or styling.
However, thanks to many of these hair care products and breakthroughs in modern medicine, there are FDA approved options to help stop hair loss and even help you grow back your hair.
References, Studies and Sources:
https://www.americanhairloss.org/men_hair_loss/introduction.html
https://www.webmd.com/skin-problems-and-treatments/hair-loss/hair-loss-treatments-men#1
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/9951956/
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25112173
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Current Version
2023-01-12
Edited By
2022-11-29
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