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Aging is the most common cause of hair loss in both people assigned male at birth and those assigned female at birth. "Everyone has some degree of that at some point in their lives," confirms Julia Tzu, MD, a board-certified dermatologist and medical director of Wall Street Dermatology in New York City. "It's normal wear-and-tear, like joint pain."
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This condition, called androgenetic or androgenic alopecia, is largely genetic and seems to be fueled by high levels of male hormones, says Jerome Potozkin, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in Danville, California and member of the American Academy of Dermatology.
But there are ways to combat it. Here are the best shampoos, foams and solutions for hair loss.
How We Chose
We tapped the experts on hair loss (read: dermatologists) for their recommendations and narrowed down our top picks based on criteria including:
- Effective ingredients
- Safety
- Availability
- Cost
1. Rogaine
Visit Page https://www.rogaine.com
The active ingredient in Rogaine — minoxidil — is probably the best hair-thinning treatment out there, says Jeffrey Rapaport, MD, a board-certified dermatologist and founder of the Rapaport Hair Institute in Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey.
Almost two-thirds of men in one landmark March 2004 study in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology had reduced hair loss after using topical minoxidil for a year. In another landmark April 2004 study in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, topical minoxidil at both 5 and 2 percent concentrations reduced hair loss for women, though the higher concentration was more effective.
Minoxidil has few side effects, but about 10 percent of people will get some kind of scalp irritation, Dr. Potozkin says.
It also takes a while to kick in. "You have to plan on staying with it for a year," Dr. Rapaport says.
Rogaine, available in drugstores, comes in both solutions and foam. Dr. Rapaport recommends buying the foam (it's less messy).
Buy It
- Men's Rogaine Foam: Rogaine.com ($41.59 for a 3-month supply); Amazon ($44.97 for a 3-month supply)
- Women's Rogaine Foam: Rogaine.com ($41.59 for a 4-month supply); Amazon ($46.57 for a 4-month supply)
2. Keeps
Visit Page https://keeps.q3qw.net
Minoxidil is also the main ingredient in Keeps' topical hair loss treatment, which is available in both solution and foam formulations.
Keeps also offers a shampoo and conditioner to support hair growth, both meant to enhance the results of the topical treatment by keeping hair follicles clean and healthy and making thinning hair look thicker. They contain ingredients like biotin, caffeine and green tea, which some research has connected to hair loss prevention, Dr. Rapaport says.
Keeps sells its products using an online subscription model, so you get a new shipment in the mail every three months.
Keep in mind that, to be effective, hair-loss products require a lifelong commitment. In other words, you have to continue using them in order to keep your results. "It's like brushing your teeth," says Dr. Potozkin. "You have to keep doing it."
Buy It
Keeps.com for:
- Keeps Minoxidil Foam ($7.50 per month for the first 3 months, then $15 per month)
- Thickening Shampoo ($3.67 per month for the first three months, then $7.33 per month)
- Thickening Conditioner ($3.67 per month for the first three months, then $7.33 per month)
3. Nizoral Anti-Dandruff Shampoo
Visit Page https://www.amazon.com
Although billed as an anti-dandruff product, Nizoral also works as a shampoo for thinning hair because it contains a compound called ketoconazole, which may reduce dihydrotestosterone (DHT), a male hormone that drives androgenetic alopecia, Dr. Tzu says.
The anti-dandruff effect may also thicken your hair, given that dandruff can also contribute to thinning, Dr. Tzu adds.
"It's not as effective [as minoxidil], but it's better than nothing," says Dr. Tzu. "It's healthy for your scalp."
And other than potentially drying out your hair, there's little downside. Nizoral is available in 1% concentration over the counter or 2% concentration by prescription.
Buy It
Nizoral Anti-Dandruff Shampoo: Amazon ($14.84); Target ($14.89); Walmart ($14.84)
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4. Nioxin Diamax Advanced Hair Thickening Treatment
Visit Page https://go.skimresources.com
Like Keeps products, Nioxin shampoo contains minoxidil.
The "Scalp & Hair Treatment" component of the multiple-product system also contains niacin, a B vitamin. A small December 2005 pilot study in the Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology found that applying niacin derivatives topically increased hair fullness in women with female pattern hair loss (basically, age-related hair loss).
This doesn't necessarily mean that shampoos containing niacin will work the same way. Dr. Tzu says that in her experience, "Half of patients who use it are super happy, and the other half don't see a single thing."
Buy It
Nioxin Diamax Advanced Hair Thickening Treatment: Ulta ($53.90); Amazon ($53.90);
5. Bondi Boost Thickening Therapy System
Visit Page https://bondiboost.com
Biotin is a B vitamin (B7, to be exact) and one of many ingredients found in Bondi Boost.
People who have a documented biotin deficiency may benefit from supplements, and one 2015 study in Dermatology Research and Practice did report that a tablet containing biotin improved hair loss in healthy women over three months. However, there's little comparable evidence that topical biotin has the same effect, Dr. Rapaport says.
Some Bondi Boost products also contain caffeine, which may help promote hair growth. "It stimulates growth by blood vessel dilation. There's good scientific evidence for caffeine," Dr. Rapaport says.
The system includes a thickening shampoo and conditioner, therapy spray and hair mask.
Buy It
Bondi Boost Thickening Therapy System: BondiBoost.com ($106.05)
6. Revita High-Performance Hair-Stimulating Shampoo
Visit Page https://www.amazon.com
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Several products on this list contain biotin along with other ingredients that may promote hair growth. This shampoo includes biotin along with ketoconazole and caffeine.
Shampoos in general may provide another, often overlooked benefit. "The act of shampooing increases circulation in the scalp," says Dr. Rapaport. "Increased circulation will lead to a decrease in hair loss and possibly an increase in regrowth."
A March 2019 study in Dermatology and Therapy backs this up, with almost 70 percent of survey respondents who massaged their scalp 11 to 20 minutes a day over about six months reporting either a cessation of hair loss or regrowth.
Buy It
Revita Hair-Stimulating Shampoo and Conditioner: Amazon ($56)
What to Know Before You Buy
1. Look for Active Ingredients
Some ingredients have more evidence supporting their use as hair-thinning treatments than others. These include:
- Minoxidil
- Ketoconazole
- Biotin
- Caffeine
- Niacin
Ginger and green tea may also provide some benefit, Dr. Rapaport says.
2. Timing Is Key
If you are completely bald, chances are that none of these remedies will help you, says Dr. Potozkin. The earlier you start treatment, the more likely you are to see results.
3. More Research Is Needed
Much of the scientific research showing that these ingredients work for hair thinning involved oral formulations like tablets, not topical formulations. You can't be sure the benefits extend to topical formulations, which are applied and not ingested.
Minoxidil is available as a prescription pill as is a medication called finasteride (Propecia), another popular and effective hair-loss treatment.
4. See a Doctor
Although androgenetic alopecia associated with getting older is the most common type of hair loss, there are others. Alopecia areata, for instance, is an autoimmune disease, while physical and emotional stress can also trigger alopecia.
Before starting any treatment, check with a dermatologist about what's causing your hair loss so you can target treatment. A doctor can do blood tests to check for irregularities in iron, thyroid and hormone levels, says Dr. Potozkin. You can also ask him or her about other treatments, such as light devices.
