Here’s a hard truth: Everyone might eventually lose their hair. In fact, it’s estimated that 80 percent of people assigned male at birth and nearly 50 percent of people assigned female at birth will experience significant hair loss during their lifetime because of a medical condition, hormonal change, or physical and emotional stresses. Luckily, there are hair loss treatments, and not just through prescribed medication. The FDA has approved three over-the-counter medications for hair loss: Rogaine (minoxidil), Propecia (finasteride), and Olumiant (baricitinib). “These medications work by stimulating new hair growth and slowing or stopping the progression of balding,” says Lindsay Modglin, nurse and clinical research specialist.
With Modglin’s help, we evaluated dozens of online prescribers, pharmacies, and telehealth services that ship hair regrowth treatments such as shampoos for thinning hair, hair oils, and supplements through the mail. We looked at over 24 different hair loss products, including gender-neutral options and ones specifically formulated for men or women. To round out the list, we also considered price, quality, and ease of use, noting if the products require a prescription or offer free virtual doctor visits.
Best Hair Loss Treatments
Best for Pattern Baldness: Hims
Hims
At a Glance
Cost: Starting at $15-$60 per month, plus processing feesMedical Consultation Required: Yes, for some productsAccepts Insurance: No
What We Love
Free online telehealth visit with a prescriber
Non-prescription products available too
Combo subscription kits available for discounted price
Shipping is free
Why It’s a Top Pick
If you’re worried about or experiencing pattern baldness (or you’re worried about it because of a family history with this issue), Hims can help. Not only does it offer free telehealth visits with a prescriber to sign up for a prescription subscription, but you can also purchase a range of shampoos, conditioners, vitamins, and non-prescription products. In fact, if you’re eligible, you can even get a Power Pack that contains a mix of prescription pills, topical treatments, shampoo, and biotin vitamins.
The platform features a handy questionnaire to help guide you to the right treatment for the concerns you’re having whether that’s a telehealth visit with a prescriber or some non-prescription products like shampoo, conditioner, topical treatments, or vitamins. All telehealth visits with a Hims physician are free and easy to schedule from the website and, if you’re a candidate for a prescription, you’ll have a variety of options available to you.
For example, if you’re prescribed finasteride tablets, you can sign up for the Hims Hair Power Pack, which comes with four products to combat the type of pattern baldness that is common in people assigned male at birth, which includes:
Your prescription for 1mg strength finasteride tabletsA bottle of topical minoxidil that includes a dropper to help you apply 1ml dosesA bottle of thickening shampoo that is formulated with saw palmetto, a tropical tree that has shown some promise in stimulating hair growth A bottle of vitamin gummies formulated with biotin (B7, an essential B vitamin that helps with skin, hair, and nail growth), B12 (which nourishes hair follicles and strengthens hair), B6 (which supports healthy hair growth), and vitamin D (because a deficiency in this vitamin is believed to contribute to pattern hair loss)
We appreciate that this kit comes with both FDA medications because research has shown that taking oral finasteride along with using topical minoxidil is one of the most effective ways to combat hair loss. This kit is also $60 per month.
Hims also offers prescriptions for topical finasteride and minoxidil spray in addition to finasteride pills, as well as non-prescription treatments such as minoxidil foam, topical minoxidil, biotin vitamins, and several different shampoo and conditioner options.
Shipping is always free, though there is a $5 processing fee on all orders. You can also purchase non-prescription products or sign up for auto-renewing subscriptions.
Best Prescription Subscriptions: Ro
Ro
At a Glance
Cost: $16-$35 per monthMedical Consultation Required: YesAccepts Insurance: No
What We Love
Four different prescription plans available
Free 2-day shipping
Free online doctor visit
Combination is budget-friendly and effective
Two product options, a topical and an oral minoxidil, for those assigned female at birth
Why It’s a Top Pick
Whether you are eligible for a combination of finasteride and minoxidil or just one of these treatments, Ro offers a variety of convenient, effective, and relatively low-cost prescription subscription plans to treat any balding you’re experiencing from home.
Ro is digital health clinic that helps people who identify as men or who were assigned male at birth address common health issues, such as depression, anxiety, erectile dysfunction and—you guessed it—hair loss. Recently, the brand expanded their product range to also offer hair loss treatments for people assigned female at birth as well.
What made it stand out to us, though, is the wide range of prescription plans available to people who are experiencing hair loss. Whether you are prescribed finasteride, oral minoxidil, topical minoxidil, or a combination of both meds (which often leads to the best results), you can schedule a free telehealth visit and (if eligible) receive a prescription at Ro that will ship the medications right to your door. Once you have your prescription, you’ll be able to order your medications and schedule virtual follow-ups as needed.
Prices per month vary depending on which medication you’re prescribed:
Topical minoxidil (generic Rogaine) costs $16 per monthFinasteride (generic Propecia) costs $20 per monthOral minoxidil (generic Loniten) costs $30 per monthCombination of topical minoxidil and finasteride costs $35 per month
Regardless of what you’re prescribed, shipping is always free and your prescription arrives in two days. You can cancel anytime.
Best Range of Products: Hers
Hers
At a Glance
Cost: $15-$45 per monthMedical Consultation Required: Yes, for some productsAccepts Insurance: No
What We Love
Multiple subscription options
Offers prescription and non-prescription products
Treatment for eyelash regrowth available too
Shampoos, conditioners, and hair masks available
Online consultation with prescriber easy to schedule
Why It’s a Top Pick
If you’re looking for a prescription for hair loss, eyelash regrowth, a non-prescription treatment, or volumizing shampoos, Hers can probably help you as long as you were assigned female at birth.
Minoxidil is currently the only FDA-approved hair loss treatment for people assigned female at birth, but just because medication options are limited doesn’t mean you can’t find cost-effective medications or products that will ship to your home. Hers, a wellness company aimed at people who identify as female or nonbinary, offers prescriptions, treatments, and products for a variety of health conditions—including hair loss.
Not only can you schedule a free online consultation with a prescriber to obtain a prescription for minoxidil pills, but you can also get a prescription for Latisse (which helps with eyelash regrowth), finasteride and minoxidil spray (if you’re post-menopausal), and spironolactone, which slows down the production of hormones that contribute to hair shedding.
Hers has non-prescription products too, including Hers Minoxidil Foam, which contains a 5 percent formula that is safe for color-treated hair and absorbs directly into your scalp so your hair doesn’t feel greasy, and a minoxidil solution, which is a topical 2 percent formula. While both are clinically proven to show results in three to six months, neither should be used if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.
The company also sells volumizing shampoo and conditioner and a hair mask duo (a.k.a. “the weekender kit.”)
Prescription prices are difficult to view before you meet with your provider. The finasteride and minoxidil spray costs $45 per month, while the oral spironolactone costs between $5 and $12 per month. You should be aware, though, that there is a $5 processing fee on all orders, although shipping is free.
Best for Supplements: Nutrafol
Nutrafol
At a Glance
Cost: $88Medical Consultation Required: NoAccepts Insurance: No
What We Love
Five formulas available
Physician-formulated with medical-grade natural ingredients
For adults 18 and over
Clinically tested supplements
Drug-free and manufactured in an FDA-certified facility
Why It’s a Top Pick
If you’re looking for non-prescription options that aren’t topical, supplements might be it. Nutrafol hair growth supplements are physician-formulated with medical-grade ingredients. Whether you’re pre-menopausal, postpartum, post-menopausal, or assigned male at birth, the company offers supplement formulas that are aimed to help address some of the main causes behind your hair loss. The company also offers five different types of supplements depending on your assigned sex at birth and life stage:
Core for Women, for people assigned female at birth between the ages of 18 and 44
Women’s Vegan, for people assigned female at birth between the ages of 18 and 44 who follow a plant-based lifestyle
Women’s Balance, for people assigned female at birth over the age of 45 (during or after menopause)
Postpartum for Women, for people who have given birth in the last year or who are chest-feeding
Nutrafol Men, for people assigned male at birth over the age of 18
All of these supplements are taken as four capsules daily with food. None of the supplements—except the formula aimed at postpartum people—should be taken if you are pregnant or breastfeeding. These supplements are also not for people who are on blood thinners or other blood medications, are prone to bleeding, or have a blood condition.
The company states that the supplements are clinically tested to make sure they’re more effective than placebos—and it shares the results publicly. A six-month clinical trial evaluating Core for Women found that 80 percent of people saw better hair growth overall, as well as thicker hair. A trial of the Women’s Balance showed 100 percent improvement in visible hair growth, 80 percent less shedding in three months, and 77 percent thicker hair in six months. Another study found 80 percent less breakage and thicker hair in people assigned female at birth and 84 percent more hair scalp coverage in people assigned male at birth.
Still, as with any supplement, consult your doctor before taking them—especially if you’re already taking another prescription or have a medical condition that requires regular treatment.
Best Leave-In Serum: Bosley MD Healthy Hair & Scalp Follicle Energizer
Bosley MD
At a Glance
Cost: $32 per bottleMedical Consultation Required: NoAccepts Insurance: No
What We Love
Lightweight and fast-absorbing
Safe for color-treated hair
Available at multiple online retailers
No prescription required
What We Don’t Love
Shipping is not free when ordering from company directly
No subscription options available
Does not contain an FDA-approved medication for hair regrowth
Why It’s a Top Pick
If you’re looking for a hair regrowth treatment you don’t need a prescription for, BosleyMD’s Healthy Hair and Scalp Follicle Energizer is a good option: this leave-in serum is lightweight and fast-absorbing so you don’t have to worry about whether it’s going to make your hair greasy all day. It’s a vegan, cruelty-free, sulfate-free formula that contains four ingredients that may help regrow or strengthen hair, including:
Biotin, which is believed to strengthen hair folliclesCaffeine, which can inhibit the effects of DHT, an androgen—or sex hormone—that can affect your hair and scalpPanthenol, which helps your hair retain moisture so it looks fuller or thickerApple stem cell extract, which some believe stimulates hair growth
While this serum is not a prescription medication to help your hair grow like some of the other products on our list, it is created by a company that is considered a leader in hair regrowth products and it can be used as a complementary serum with any treatment you’re currently undergoing. The company also sells a number of complementary products—including some with minoxidil—that you can use with this serum. Plus, you can buy online not only through the company, but also on Amazon and at pharmacies like RiteAid. Since you’re only applying this serum to targeted areas, one bottle should last over a month.
One bottle of the Healthy Hair and Scalp Follicle Energizer costs $32. On the Bosley website, shipping is only free for orders over $35—so you’ll need to purchase it alongside another product if you want that free shipping—but the product is also available on Amazon and in-store at several pharmacy locations.
Unfortunately, there is no subscription option available, so bottles will need to be purchased as needed.
Most Affordable: Blink Health
Blink Health
At a Glance
Cost: $9 per monthMedical Consultation Required: YesAccepts Insurance: Yes
What We Love
Prescriptions are FSA/HSA eligible
Subscription includes unlimited access to licensed clinicians
Free delivery on all prescriptions
Doctor appointment easily scheduled
Also treats other health conditions
Why It’s a Top Pick
Blink Health is an online pharmacy that offers oral finasteride for those assigned male at birth. Since the oral medication requires a prescription (unlike its topical form), you’ll need to see a doctor to get prescribed—but that visit will only cost you $10 and it can be done from your smartphone or computer.
If your prescription is approved—and it only takes 24 hours to get a yes or a no from the doc—your prescription will be shipped right to your door in discreet packaging every month for $9 a month. You can also pick up your prescription at a participating in-person pharmacy if you prefer, such as Walmart Pharmacy, Safeway, or one of the other 35,000 other options, for $20.
The company can help you with other generic medications too, including erectile dysfunction pills, birth control, cold sore meds, and cholesterol medication.
The biggest drawback to Blink Health—at least in terms of hair loss treatments—is that it only offers one treatment opinion (i.e. oral finasteride) and it will only prescribe that to you if you happen to be someone assigned male at birth between the ages of 25 and 65 in one of the states Blink Health operates in.
Best Hair Loss Shampoo and Conditioner: Keeps Thickening Duo
Keeps
At a Glance
Cost: $44 every three months (first order is $22)Medical Consultation Required: Yes, for some productsAccepts Insurance: No
What We Love
Paraben free, natural shampoo and conditioner set available
Access to medical provider support
Multiple prescription and non-prescription products available
Why It’s a Top Pick
Designed for people assigned male at birth, this thickening shampoo and conditioner duo from Keeps can help you thicken your hair in four to six months after using every day—and it makes a great add-on if you want a prescription treatment from the company too. So if you’re looking for a doctor to prescribe you medication, you’re looking for over-the-counter products, or you want some hair care products to help your hair look thicker, it’s got you covered. And it has a short one-minute quiz to help you figure out what treatment is best for you.
But what caught our eye was the shampoo and conditioner kit. While the company is careful to say these products are not clinically backed (like its prescription products or generic Rogaine), it can help your hair look thicker, making it a great complementary product. The shampoo and conditioners are paraben-free and contain four ingredients believed to help strengthen and thicken your hair: biotin, saw palmetto, green tea, and caffeine.
There are options for three-, six-, and 12-month subscriptions, depending on the product. However, if you just want to try it, you can also purchase the kit on Amazon too.
It is worth noting that the Keeps company caters only to people assigned male at birth. And while none of the ingredients in this shampoo are necessarily unsafe for people assigned female at birth, it wouldn’t be our top choice for them either (we recommend Hers products instead, like its shampoo and conditioner kit).
The Keeps shampoo and conditioner kit ships every three months for $44 a month. Other product prices vary depending on what you’re prescribed or choose to buy sans prescription. Shipping for all orders is $5.
Final Verdict
Ultimately, the best hair loss treatment for you will depend on whether you are looking for a (and are eligible for) a prescription or not. If you were assigned male at birth and want a prescription, we recommend Ro as a good starting place: You can schedule a visit with a prescriber and order your treatments right from the website. However, if you were assigned female at birth, we recommend Hers instead. Similar to Ro, Hers also lets you schedule a visit with a medical provider that can prescribe you medication or products (if you’re eligible) to help regrow your hair and eyelashes. You can also purchase over-the-counter, clinically backed products here too, such as minoxidil solution or foam. The company also offers a range of strengthening hair products too, such as shampoo, conditioner, and hair masks or scrubs.
How to Choose the Best Hair Loss Treatment for You
Goals: Hair loss treatments can be beneficial for anyone experiencing unwanted hair loss, thinning, or excess shedding. The type of treatment that’s best for you will depend on the root cause of your hair loss: Hormonal, hereditary, stress, or, anxiety. That’s why it is usually best to see a doctor if you’re concerned so they can help determine if you’re eligible for prescription treatments and advise you on what might work best for you. Also, consider you prefer an oral supplement, topical treatment, or both.Side Effects: Hair loss treatments—especially those that contain FDA-approved medication—can help prevent or slow hair loss and promote new hair growth. Hair regrowth can come with a major confidence boost for many people. However, there are several side effects to be aware of with prescription treatments. With topical minoxidil, you could experience scalp irritation, itching, burning, or redness; whereas finasteride can cause decreased libido or erectile dysfunction. You should talk to a doctor if you experience any of the following: Sudden hair loss, hair falling out in clumps, bald patches, itching or burning on the scalp, scaly skin, or new or worsening rash.Cost: To be effective, hair loss treatments require continual use and it’s typically not covered by insurance. “The cost of treatment can become expensive and may not be worth it for some,” says Modglin. With the needed continued use of many products to see results, be prepared to budget hair loss treatments for a minimum of 90 days to six months.Sex assigned at birth: Not all treatments are appropriate for people of different sexes. That’s why it’s important to choose a treatment based on your assigned sex at birth or consult a doctor to make sure you get the best dosage. Oral or topical: Would you prefer an oral supplement, topical treatments, or both?
Frequently Asked Questions
What causes hair loss in men and women?
Hair loss can be caused by a number of different things. The most common cause of hair loss is androgenic alopecia, a hereditary condition associated with older age. “It’s often a normal part of aging,” Modglin says, “though genetics can affect the severity and rate of balding.” However, several other factors can lead to hair loss too, including certain medical conditions (such as thyroid or autoimmune disorders), medications, chemotherapy or radiation treatments, nutrient deficiencies, scalp issues (think: dandruff), hormonal changes like those that occur during menopause or pregnancy, stress, and hairstyles, such as tight ponytails.
Are hair loss treatments effective?
“Effectiveness largely depends on the cause and severity of hair loss,” Modglin says. Hereditary hair loss is more difficult to treat, whereas if balding is due to stress or nutritional deficiencies, it may respond more quickly. However, minoxidil has been proven to be extremely effective for many people looking to regrow hair.
Is hair loss treatment expensive?
Unfortunately, hair loss treatment can be very expensive, especially considering that it’s not typically covered by insurance. Certain treatments, such as hair transplants or platelet-rich plasma (PRP) can cost several thousand dollars. Topical products and supplements tend to cost between $15 and $80 a month, thus making them more accessible for most people. But they still require prolonged use, meaning costs can add up.
How long can you expect results after beginning hair loss lreatment?
“Hair growth is a process that happens slowly,” Modglin says, so patience is key. Most treatments require consistent use for a minimum of six months to see results.
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Simone Scully is the former editorial director for performance marketing, where she oversaw health, fitness, family, and mind content.
