Why we like Hims and Hers

Hims is an online telehealth platform offering a variety of services for men, including treatments for erectile dysfunction, weight gain, and hair loss. Hers offers similar services, but with a focus on women’s wellness. Both platforms offer hair loss treatments. 

Hims offers a variety of hair loss treatments for men, including topical and oral minoxidil, topical and oral finasteride, and some combination treatments with more than one active ingredient. They also sell non-prescription products, like non-prescription minoxidil (5% or lower concentration), shampoo, and supplements containing biotin. 

Hers offers a similar variety of products, but they do not prescribe finasteride for women. Instead, they offer varying strengths and formats of minoxidil, including oral and topical. They also offer biotin gummies and shampoo and conditioner sets. 

Both the Hims and Hers platforms offer subscription-based products, likely because hair loss products require continuous, long-term use to see results. Both platforms also offer access to licensed health care providers who screen users seeking prescription-strength hair loss treatments. Hims and Hers subscribers can message a provider through the website’s messaging platform at any time.  

Our testing experience with Hims and Hers

Our Hims and Hers testers have mostly positive things to say about the platform’s ease of use. In general, they said the process of finding products and connecting with a health care provider on the platform was straightforward. 

Hims testers appreciated the high-quality look and feel of the products they received, though some were worried the topical products made their hair feel greasy. When they brought up this concern, our experts suggested they swap out serums for foams, and they reported good results. Hers users appreciate the platform’s focus on education—how to use each product and why they work. 

The Hims and Hers customer experience

On both Hims and Hers, users are guided through a detailed questionnaire about their hair loss goals and symptoms. At the end of the quiz, users are directed to a product or a series of products matching their needs. 

While it’s possible to make a one-time purchase on Hims and Hers, the platform recommends subscriptions due to the long-term nature of hair loss treatment. All subscribers have access to direct messaging with their health care provider. Response times from providers may vary, but subscribers can reach out with questions and concerns at any time.

Why we like Ro

Like Hims and Hers, Ro is a telehealth platform providing clinical-grade hair loss treatments through online access to health care providers who screen users and recommend hair loss medications, sometimes writing prescriptions. Ro offers a broad range of treatments, from topical minoxidil to oral finasteride, but it offers fewer products for women than for men. 

Our testing experience with Ro

Ro, formerly Roman, was created as a telehealth platform exclusively for men that now treats women as well. Though Ro has fewer products for women than for men, our tester noted the women’s intake questionnaire was relatively long compared to other hair loss platform questionnaires, including Ro’s hair loss questionnaire for men. 

The Ro customer experience

Ro users complete a brief questionnaire to help match them with the right hair loss treatment. If prescribed, their medications are delivered right to their door. Because of the importance of ongoing use, Ro products are typically only available on a subscription basis. All Ro subscribers benefit from unlimited messaging with a Ro provider through the website’s secure online platform. Our Ro tester likes the availability of Ro providers when she has a question; she described her provider’s responses as “thorough.” 

Why we like Happy Head

Happy Head is another telehealth platform serving both men and women, but it focuses exclusively on hair loss treatments. Founded by a dermatologist and a hair-loss surgeon, this platform has a broad range of products, including their StrandIQ System, designed to offer insight into your hair’s biology and possibly help you find the most effective treatment. Happy Head offers a broader range of active ingredients than other hair loss platforms we tested, including spironolactone and the DHT-blocker dutasteride. They also offer custom hair loss treatment blends, adding and removing ingredients based on your needs. Due to the custom nature of its products, Happy Head is one of the more expensive hair loss platforms. 

Our testing experience with Happy Head

Our testers described the Happy Head intake assessment as very thorough, including screening questions about pre-existing conditions. For people who aren’t comfortable with online questionnaires, Happy Head offers the option to answer questions over the phone. Compared to other platforms, Happy Head does a good job of making users aware of potential risks and side effects, such as the risks of finasteride and dutasteride for pregnant women. 

The Happy Head customer experience

After a thorough online screening from a health care provider, Happy Head users are matched with a recommended treatment and may receive customized prescriptions, often combining active ingredients such as minoxidil, finasteride, dutasteride, or spironolactone. Prescriptions are delivered to their door. Like the other platforms we reviewed, Happy Head subscribers have ongoing access to health care providers for questions and concerns. 

Why we like Nutrafol

In our review of the best hair loss treatments for women, our team picked Nutrafol as the best non-prescription supplement. Nutrafol is a drug-free option for anyone who’s not ready to begin using active ingredients like minoxidil or finasteride. Its ingredients include vitamins, minerals, and herbs, like milk thistle, methyl B12, and saw palmetto. While Nutrafol is best known for its “nutraceuticals” (pills or gummies you ingest), they also carry scalp care in the form of shampoos, conditioners, serums, and masks. 

Our testing experience with Nutrafol

Among other hair loss supplements, Nutrafol stands out for its use of varied and quality ingredients, including herbs, vitamins, and minerals. The results of some studies on Nutrafol products are promising, showing self-reported hair growth improvement and hair quality. These studies are conducted in third-party research centers, but they are funded by Nutrafol (Nutraceutical Wellness, Inc.).⁸ 

The Nutrafol customer experience

Nutrafol’s intake assessment, called the “Hair Wellness Quiz,” asks a series of questions about your age, lifestyle, and metabolism and then recommends products based on your answers. Our tester was directed to use the “Women’s Balance” supplement for women 45 and over (four capsules daily), but there are also treatments for men and postpartum women. Vegan options are also available. Nutrafol supplements can be pricey, starting around $79 per month.  

Our experts’ take on minoxidil

Experts like Dr. Bauman recommend both topical and oral minoxidil, though all agree that results take consistency and patience. Topical minoxidil does come with some challenges. It can be messy to apply, must be applied daily, and results take time, sometimes up to a year to see the full benefit. Still, it’s a popular treatment for hair loss. It is FDA-approved and has been around for decades.

When it comes to topical minoxidil, says board-certified dermatologist Dr. Yadev, the keyword is consistency. “Many people stop too early because they do not see immediate improvement, but hair takes time. About a third of users will notice meaningful improvement after several months.” According to Dr. Yadev, topical minoxidil is “not a miracle fix, but it can help slow shedding and encourage regrowth when used consistently.” 

What you should know about minoxidil

The biggest challenge with minoxidil is having patience and sticking with it. To be most effective, you need to continue using it indefinitely—otherwise, your hair will likely start falling out again. Some people also experience scalp irritation. If this happens to you, check the list of inactive ingredients; many generic brands mix the drug with herbal supplements and other additives that might cause redness and itching. You can also try switching to a lesser strength (2% rather than 5% or greater).

"I often tell patients, ‘If you cannot commit to daily use, you will not love your results.’"

—Geeta Yadev, MD, board-certified dermatologist and Medical Director & Founder of Facet Dermatology

How to use topical minoxidil

Minoxidil is a topical medication applied directly to the scalp. It comes in either a liquid serum or a foam, and is available in concentrations ranging from 2% to 8%. For concentrations greater than 5%, a prescription is required.

How minoxidil works

While doctors and scientists don’t fully understand why, minoxidil stimulates new hair growth by increasing blood flow to your follicles.

Minoxidil's effectiveness

Minoxidil is widely regarded as one of the best hair loss medications for men and for women. Studies show it can successfully treat many common forms of hair loss.¹ It can take several months to notice any positive difference.

Safety tips for using minoxidil

There are few specific contraindications for (reasons not to use) topical minoxidil. The FDA has approved it for adults ages 18-65 only, mainly because its effectiveness drops after age 65, and you may need a greater strength to see results. Recommended precautions: avoid getting the liquid or foam in your eyes or mouth; don’t apply it anywhere but your scalp; and wash your hands immediately after using it. Your health care provider can go over the list of ingredients with you and identify any potential concerns specific to you.

Where. to buy:
Hims: Starting around $15/month with a subscription

Hers: Starting around $13/month with a subscription 

Ro: Starting around $16/month with a subscription

Happy Head: Starting around $47/month with a subscription (Happy Head topicals are compounded with multiple ingredients)

Our experts’ take on finasteride

The experts we spoke to agree that finasteride can be a highly effective treatment for male pattern hair loss. Though the drug comes with a risk of potentially concerning side effects, Dr. Bauman says side effects like erectile dysfunction and mood changes “are relatively uncommon (less than 2%), reversible within about a week, and typically dose-dependent.” With his own patients, he aims for the lowest effective dose of oral finasteride or uses topical finasteride to “minimize systemic exposure” while still maintaining the drug’s benefit.

What you should know about oral finasteride

Since finasteride is a pill, it’s pretty easy to stick with on a day-to-day basis. But, like minoxidil, it requires a lifelong commitment. Some men experience unwanted side effects, including reduced sex drive, erectile dysfunction, and/or depression. Talk to your doctor about reducing your dose or changing treatment if any of these happen to you.

How to use oral finasteride

Finasteride is a pill you take once daily, preferably at the same time each day. The recommended dose for hair loss treatment is 1mg daily. A dosage higher than 1mg may be used to treat other conditions, like prostate-related issues. 

How finasteride works

Finasteride interferes with your body’s production of dihydrotestosterone (DHT). “By reducing DHT, the hormone responsible for follicle miniaturization, male pattern hair loss can be stabilized and often reversed,” says Dr. Bauman.

Finasteride's effectiveness

Finasteride is among the best hair loss treatments for men with androgenetic alopecia (AGA, or male-pattern baldness), specifically, with hair regrowth or reduced hair loss shown in a majority of men treated.³ It can take up to 12 months to start working, though some people may see results around four months. Your doctor will monitor your results and determine whether it makes sense for you to continue taking it.

Safety tips for using oral finasteride

The FDA first approved finasteride to treat prostate enlargement. That means many men take it, and it’s generally considered safe (though its effectiveness may drop as we age). That said, any oral medication you take is processed through your liver; if you have liver disease or take other prescription drugs, your doctor can help you identify any concerns or potential interactions. Finasteride may also cause side effects like mood changes or erectile dysfunction, so be sure to use finasteride under the supervision of a trusted health care provider.

Our experts’ take on spironolactone

Often used to treat hypertension and heart failure, spironolactone is a diuretic prescribed off-label to treat female hair loss. Spironolactone can be effective both on its own and in combination with minoxidil.⁴ 

What you should know about spironolactone

Spironolactone can be combined with minoxidil to create a more effective treatment for women, helping to slow down hair loss and even increase hair thickness. People with blood pressure problems or women who are pregnant should not take Spironolactone. 

How spironolactone works

Spironolactone works by reducing androgen levels in women who have polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) or are in menopause. By slowing the body's production of androgen, spironolactone also slows hair loss and may encourage regrowth. A systematic analysis of oral spironolactone for treating female pattern hair loss found an overall hair loss improvement rate of 56% in women using the treatment. Those combining spironolactone with minoxidil saw a higher improvement rate (65%) than those who used spironolactone alone (43%).⁵

 Safety tips for using spironolactone

Side effects from using spironolactone may include an itchy scalp, increased facial hair growth, and irregular menstrual periods. Spirolactone is not recommended for people who are pregnant, as it may cause birth defects. It can also interact with certain drugs, like blood thinners and high blood pressure medications.⁵ It's important to speak with your doctor before taking spironolactone.

Our experts’ take on hair growth supplements

If your hair loss is due to a hormonal imbalance or a specific nutritional deficiency, like low levels of vitamin B12, hair growth supplements could be effective in restoring thicker hair simply by helping to replace the nutrients or hormones you are missing.

Dr. Yadev is skeptical of non-prescription treatments for age-related or genetic hair loss, though. “A lot of people hope that supplements, thickening shampoos, or biotin gummies will regrow hair,” she says. “Unfortunately, we do not have strong evidence that these products reverse male pattern baldness. They may help overall hair health, but they do not replace medical treatment.” 

What you should know about hair growth supplements

Though most supplements do not contain active, prescription-strength ingredients, they do show some positive results in research, with few side effects reported. Many supplements come in larger capsules, and some are taken multiple times per day, which may be unpleasant or impractical for some people. Many hair growth supplements are more expensive than other treatments like minoxidil. 

The most common hair growth supplements include:

Biotin

This B vitamin helps your body produce keratin: a protein that’s important for healthy skin, hair, and nails. It stands to reason, then, that taking a biotin supplement—or using hair products that contain biotin—can help address hair loss. Or does it?

Yes and no. It’s important to know that biotin does not work like minoxidil or finasteride, both of which can regrow hair. Biotin won’t do that. But it might prevent you from losing hair. And it could help keep the hair that you do have looking its best. Study results are mixed, and scientists still don’t fully understand why or how biotin works for hair loss. The good news? It generally doesn’t hurt to try a biotin supplement or topical treatment.

Zinc

Like biotin, the mineral zinc is essential to keratin. If you have a zinc deficiency—either because you don’t get enough of it in your diet, or you have a condition that prevents you from absorbing it—your hair can suffer.

That said, the jury is out on whether or not zinc supplements are useful for hair loss. And there are some risks to be aware of. For starters, taking too much zinc can actually cause your hair to fall out. It can also lead to gastric symptoms like nausea, diarrhea, and belly pain.

Research shows a strong link between low levels of vitamin D and hair loss. In particular, being deficient in vitamin D can cause telogen effluvium (large-scale shedding, usually due to environmental factors); alopecia areata (an inflammatory condition that leads to recurring areas of patchy hair loss); and even pattern baldness.

There are many reasons to be sure you’re getting enough vitamin D. When it comes to hair, however, the science remains unclear. Like biotin and zinc, vitamin D supplements might help with your hair loss—and they might not. If you’re not deficient, taking vitamin D likely won’t regrow your hair or keep it from falling out. If you are deficient, there may be an underlying condition that you need to address. That condition itself, rather than your vitamin D deficiency, could be causing your hair loss.

Saw palmetto

Extracted from palm trees, this supplement seems to work similarly to finasteride—at least according to early research. Its natural compounds help block DHT, which is the sex hormone linked to male pattern hair loss.⁷

Is it effective? Some small initial studies suggest it is. Men who used a topical treatment or took an oral supplement reported decreased hair loss and increased density compared to those who didn’t.⁷ Side effects are generally minimal. Stilll, check with your doctor before giving it a try.