After combing through hundreds of pages of hair loss forums and drug treatments studies, I’ve learned a thing or two about the state of hair loss products. Let me say right here that I have no financial stake in any of these companies or products, and as you can see, I don’t have any affiliate links. I just want to save other people the time I spent looking through these things. Let me also say that I’m a pretty skeptical guy, so if a product doesn’t have a double blind study behind it that has been replicated by a non-industry researcher, it isn’t worth mentioning.
Enough of that. So what works? Well, hair loss that’s permanent, or “pattern” hair loss, is caused by DHT. That’s a hormone derivative (an androgen) that is created when testosterone and the enzyme “5 alpha-reductase type 2” combine. Needless to say, all hair loss drugs involve DHT in some way. The level of effectiveness, and level of side effects, depend on how they accomplish that.
We will start with the so-called Big Three. These are what doctors reliably recommend for patients with hair loss.
Finasteride
Also known as Propecia or Proscar, Finasteride blocks the creating of DHT in the body. Unfortunately, it also block a few other hormonal processes. Since it’s a pill, the side effects are body wide. The good news is that this stops your hair follicles from dying, meaning that you keep the hair you have. The bad news is you can suffer sexual side-effects because you are messing with your hormones. Most men report nothing serious, but a significant number report impotence or change in sex drive. “Brain fog” and other weird things are also reported. There are rumors that some of these side-effects could continue after discontinuing use of the drug, but those reports might simply be people who suffer from an unrelated problem blaming the drug itself.
Bottom line: Finasteride is the best working drug for hair loss, and the most dangerous. It works in 2 out of 3 men, and about half of those report regrowth. It’s worth nothing that regrowth is actually dying hair follicles coming back. Once your hair follicles are fully dead, nothing can bring them back.
Minoxidil
Now available without a prescription, Minoxidil is sold under the name Rogaine and is applied topically. While this reduces side effects, it also increases inconvenience. in fact, most user regard it as a real pain in the butt. A foam version has been introduced, but no matter which way you cut it, Rogaine must be applied multiple times per day and left in for a considerable amount of time. This can be hours. Its worst side effect is shedding. That’s right; it can make your hair fall out, not particularly desirable in a hair loss product. This is related to how Rogaine works. The big revelation for Rogaine is that is doesn’t actually stop hair loss. In fact, all Rogaine does is accelerate the rate at which your hair grows and decrease the rate at which it falls out, making it appear as if you have more hair. Studies indicate it doesn’t actually stop hair loss. For these reasons, I can’t recommend it.
Nizoral
Nizoral is a dandruff shampoo (active ingredient Ketoconazole) that’s been on the market for thirty years. It’s also as effective as Rogaine in improving the appearance of your hair, and at about a third of the cost. You use it the same way you use any shampoo and few side effects have been reported. On forums where no one can agree on anything, everyone seems to agree that Norizal is safe, cheap, and effective. It works in three ways, it is mild androgen blocker, it reduces sebum which is associated with hair loss, and it reduces inflammation, which cause hair loss as well. If that wasn’t enough, it also thickens the follicle, so you see results in about two weeks. I really can’t recommend this one enough. Its available at any drugstore.
A note on “natural” remedies
The web is chalk full of natural cures and age-old remedies. Saw palmetto for instance. Saw palmetto, along with soy and some other plants, stimulate estrogen production. While that may stop hair loss, you’d grow breasts long before it saved your hairline.
The only natural remedy that actually effect your hair positivity is caffeine. Don’t go out and buy stock in coffee yet, you’d never get enough. I mean caffeine works when applied directly to the scalp. Many hair loss products contain 1% caffeine for this reason.
The future
There are a lot of potential hair miracles on the horizon, but most are years away. Hair cloning may be here in a few, but this process would just make hair transplants easier. Gene therapy is the most promising, and it would actually fulfill the fantasy of a total cure without side effects-just one shot and you’re done! That dream, however, may be decades away. A kind of super-Finareide called Dutasteride is on its way. It works the same way, only its effects (and side effects) are more pronounced. Overall, there is no reason to wait for any of these.
