4 Hair Loss Products That Work

Curious about what works and doesn’t work for the treatment of hair loss? Read on below to find out about non-surgical hair restoration treatments that have been proven to be effective in the treatment of thinning hair.

1. Minoxidil

Minoxidil is the most recognised non-invasive hair loss product on the market. Also known as Rogaine or Regaine, it comes in the form of a scalp lotion which should be applied once or twice daily. It’s available in 2 strengths: Minoxidil 2% and Minoxidil 5%.

Minoxidil was discovered to be an effective hair loss treatment by accident — so the mechanisms behind how it works aren’t exactly known [1]. It acts as a vasodilator, which means the blood vessels on the scalp open to allow more blood to flow to the follicles, delivering essential nutrients.

Many studies have found Minoxidil to be effective in treating androgenetic alopecia [1-3]. It’s also used to treat alopecia areata and body hair loss.

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2. Finasteride

Finasteride is an oral hair loss medication. It works by inhibiting the activity of an enzyme known to trigger the conversion of testosterone to DHT. DHT is the key hormone that causes pattern baldness, so by blocking production, it can prevent premature hair loss.

Studies show that Finasteride is a highly effective hair loss drug for men with male pattern baldness [4-5]. However since it only works against the mechanism that triggers androgenetic alopecia, it’s not usually effective against other types of hair loss.

Finasteride is also not recommended for use by women, as it can interfere with contraception effectiveness and foetal development in pregnant women.

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3. Dutasteride

Dutasteride is the same kind of drug as Finasteride: a 5-alpha reductase (5AR) inhibitor. It blocks this enzyme from converting testosterone to DHT.

Dutasteride is perhaps less well-known than Minoxidil and Finasteride. However, studies have found it to be the most effective hair loss solution of these options for treating androgenetic alopecia [7-9]. One study showed that Dutasteride was between 3 and 100 times more powerful as inhibiting 5AR as Finasteride, depending on whether it was type 1 or type 2 [8].

Like Finasteride, Dutasteride isn’t usually suitable for use by women.

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4. Caffeine solutions

Research shows that caffeine shampoos for hair loss can work if they’re left on the scalp long enough [10-11]. In fact, certain caffeine concentrations can be as effective as Minoxidil for reducing hair loss over a 6-month period [10].

Even better, caffeinated formulas aren’t just good for treating pattern baldness. They can also help people with stress-related hair loss known as telogen effluvium, as well as non-specific hair loss [11-12].

Caffeine shampoos can take a long time to boost hair regrowth, and you’ll need to leave the formula on your scalp for an extended time with each use to see results. But if you have mild hair loss, it can be a great way to restore your tresses.

Learn more about the role of caffeine and other natural remedies for hair loss:

Do non-surgical hair loss products really work?

These hair loss products really work — but they usually need to be taken continuously and indefinitely for the effects to last.

Some hair loss sufferers have had concerns that Minoxidil actually caused hair shedding after use. This is a known effect of this hair loss product — but it’s nothing to worry about. This happens because Minoxidil stimulates hairs in the resting (or telogen) phase of the hair growth cycle to fall out quickly. Shedding telogen hairs quickly makes room for your follicles to return to the growth phase sooner.

Minoxidil and caffeine shampoos are the only hair loss products that work and are suitable for both men and women.

What do I need to consider when using hair loss products?

Application – don’t overuse, underuse, or misapply these products. Always follow the guidelines and take advice from professional hair loss specialists
External factors – heavy styling and heat can cause hair loss, and compromise the effectiveness of some hair loss products, so take it easy on styling products and hairdryers while using these products
Medical advice – it’s always best to get treatment advice from an experienced professional hair loss clinic who can assess your individual hair loss issues, provide clarity and give you unbiased options.

The extent of your hair loss is also a key factor. Some specialists suggest that using these products may in part be an experiment to see if the product really gives you the kind of hair restoration you’re looking for. You may also need to consider your individual skin type, hair care routine and the convenience of using either a regular lotion or taking a tablet every day.

Some people use a hair loss product in conjunction with hair thickening spray to create the look of denser hair.

What other hair restoration options are there?

If you want a more permanent solution to your hair loss, a hair transplant from a reputable hair transplant clinic is the most effective option.

At the Wimpole Clinic, we offer a free, no obligation consultation to assess your hair loss and give you a clear set of options for your hair restoration and hair care. Depending on the extent of your hair loss, you may benefit from the hugely successful advances in modern hair loss surgery.

If you would like to consider your options in a discreet and experienced environment, book a free consultation with the Wimpole Clinic. You can also see our patient success in our before and after hair transplant gallery and hair transplant clinic reviews.