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Hair loss treatments for men vary, from transplants and lasers to medications such as minoxidil and finasteride. If you’re looking for the most effective option, read on to see our picks along with their benefits, risks, and costs.

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Language matters

In this article, we use the terms “male” and “female” to refer to someone’s sex as determined by their chromosomes, and “men” and “women” when referring to their gender (unless quoting from sources that use nonspecific language).

Sex is determined by chromosomes, and gender is a social construct that can vary across time periods and cultures. Both of these aspects are acknowledged to exist on a spectrum, both historically and by modern scientific consensus.

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It can be difficult to say which is the best hair loss treatment for males. While some people may see strong results with a certain proven treatment, it’s possible that the same treatment won’t work for you or that you’ll experience side effects that prevent you from wanting to continue the treatment.

To help you find the best treatment for your hair loss, we’ve collected a wide array of possible treatments, including prescription medications, OTC treatments, natural treatments, hair transplants, and even some lifestyle changes that you can start right away.

Here’s our deep dive into some of the best hair loss treatments available in 2024.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved two medications to treat male pattern baldness:

Minoxidil (Rogaine)

Rogaine is available over the counter as a liquid or foam in Men’s Rogaine and Women’s Rogaine formulas. You apply it to your scalp twice per day to help encourage hair growth and prevent hair loss. Minoxidil is the active ingredient in Rogaine, and it’s also available in a generic form as a liquid solution or an oral tablet.

Both Rogaine and minoxidil can take 4–6 months to show results. Results also depend on proper application and dosage.

Finasteride (Propecia, Proscar)

Finasteride is a pill you take every day. It’s available only with a prescription from your doctor. The FDA states that the drug will generally take at least 3 months of daily use to show results.

Combination minoxidil and finasteride

Some people experiencing hair loss may benefit from combining minoxidil and finasteride in a prescription treatment. While minoxidil is available over the counter, the highest available concentration is 5%. A prescription is required for anything above 5%.

Through services such as Roman, Hims, Keeps, and Happy Head, subscribers can be evaluated to see whether they would benefit from this treatment and a minoxidil concentration above 5%.

For both minoxidil and finasteride, it may take up to 1 year to see results, and you’ll need to keep taking them to maintain the benefits.

Can I buy hair loss medication online?

You can buy many of the most popular hair loss medications online and, in most cases, have them shipped discreetly to your home. Here are our reviews of some of the top places to buy these medications online, including a closer look at how they compare:

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The two most popular hair transplant procedures are follicular unit transplantation and follicular unit extraction, according to a research article from 2021.

Both procedures are considered surgery, so they can be expensive and may cause some level of discomfort.

There are also certain risks, including infections and scarring. You may need to do multiple hair transplant treatments to get your desired outcome.

Follicular unit transplantation (FUT)

FUT is the more “classic” method and may also be called strip harvesting by some medical professionals. It involves removing some skin — typically from the back of your scalp, where there’s an abundance of hair. A surgeon then removes the hair follicles from that strip of skin and reinserts them into the part of your scalp where you’re experiencing hair loss.

Follicular unit extraction (FUE)

In FUE, a technique sometimes also known as punch or punch harvesting, a surgeon removes hair follicles directly from your scalp and transplants them into the bald parts of your scalp. Direct hair implantation is a modified version of this technique in which a specialized tool is used to complete the procedure.

Laser treatment is thought to help reduce the inflammation in hair follicles that prevents regrowth in some types of hair loss, such as alopecia areata.

There are limited studies to support the effectiveness of laser treatments for hair loss. But a 2016 review indicates that low level laser therapy (LLLT) is safe and effective when used to treat male pattern hair loss. According to a 2019 review, more research on LLLT is still needed.

Quit smoking

If you smoke, you’ve likely heard about the negative effects smoking has on your lungs. But did you know that smoking may be associated with hair loss as well?

A 2021 study involving 1,000 men found that the majority of participants who smoked had some degree of hair loss, while less than half of the participants who did not smoke had hair loss.

If you smoke, quitting may help decrease hair loss.

Try scalp massage

Not only do massages feel wonderful, but they may help with hair loss too. Massaging your scalp stimulates your hair follicles.

In a small 2016 study, healthy Japanese men who received 4 minutes of scalp massage each day for 24 weeks had thicker hair at the end of the study.

Research from 2019 also found that scalp massages were associated with self-perceived improvements in hair density.

Eat a balanced diet

A balanced diet may help keep your hair healthy. It’s important to include a variety of vegetables, fruits, whole grains, unsaturated fats, and lean proteins in your diet. Limiting your consumption of sweets is also helpful.

A 2019 research review suggests an association between certain vitamins and minerals found in food and healthy hair. Consider adding some of these foods to your diet:

Drinking plenty of water is also an important part of a balanced diet.

Try to reduce stress

Stress can have negative effects on your body, including your hair, and can lead to hair loss.

Strategies that may help reduce stress include:

Oils

Some evidence from a 2014 mice study suggests that peppermint oil may help with hair growth.

Rosemary oil has also been traditionally used to increase blood circulation in the scalp. A 2013 study indicated that rosemary leaf extract improved hair regrowth in mice.

Saw palmetto

Saw palmetto is a plant with small berries.

While research is sparse on saw palmetto’s ability to treat hair loss, a 2020 review suggests that it may help with hair growth while causing few side effects.

Biotin

Biotin is a vitamin found naturally in foods such as nuts, avocados, sweet potatoes, eggs, onions, and oats.

There’s some evidence that taking biotin may help slow down hair loss, but most of the research has been done in women with a biotin deficiency. There is a lack of evidence to suggest that supplementing with biotin has a noticeable effect in people without a deficiency.

Want to learn about other foods containing biotin? Here’s our list of the top biotin-rich foods.

Onion juice

A small 2002 study found that the use of onion juice as a topical treatment resulted in significantly more regrowth than just tap water in people with patchy alopecia areata. But more research on people with male pattern hair loss is needed.

Bhringraj

Bhringraj (Eclipta alba), also called false daisy, is a species in the sunflower family. In Ayurvedic medicine, it’s known as an herb that supports hair growth.

A rat study from 2008 showed that extracts of the herb resulted in better hair regrowth than minoxidil. However, more research is needed to find out whether these effects would occur in humans.

Green tea

Another purported herbal remedy for hair loss is green tea.

In a 2005 study in mice, the polyphenolic compounds present in green tea showed promise as a natural remedy for hair loss. But there have not been any studies in humans to confirm these effects.

Hibiscus

Chinese hibiscus (Hibiscus rosa-sinensis) is marketed widely in India for hair growth. A 2003 study in mice showed positive effects on hair follicles, but no studies have been done in humans.

Looking for more hair growth products to treat hair loss and thinning? We compared over-the-counter and prescription treatments to find the 9 Best Hair Growth Products for Hair Loss and Thinning of 2024

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Hair loss could be caused by any of the factors mentioned below.

Genetics and family history

If your relatives have hair loss, you’re more likely to develop it. Male pattern baldness, or androgenic alopecia, is a genetic condition that causes gradual hair loss. This could show up as a slowing receding hairline or thinning patches on the crown of your head.

Medical conditions

Some medical conditions, such as hormonal conditions and autoimmune diseases, cause hair loss.

For example, thyroid problems, scalp infections, or trichotillomania (a hair-pulling disorder) could lead to thinning hair or bald patches.

An autoimmune condition called alopecia areata develops when your immune system attacks hair follicles, resulting in bald patches.

Medications and medical treatments

Hair loss is a potential side effect of several medications for diseases such as cancer, depression, gout, heart disease, and arthritis.

Stress

Chronic stress or stressful events could lead to temporary hair thinning.

What is male pattern baldness?

Male pattern baldness, also known as androgenic alopecia, is an inherited trait that affects more than half of men over 50 years old.

It’s typical to lose 50–100 hairs per day. Usually, this loss isn’t noticeable because new hair grows to replace the lost hair. Hair loss and baldness occur when hair falls out too quickly or new hairs stop growing.

Depending on the cause of hair loss, you may notice slowly thinning hair or a sudden bald patch. Hair loss can affect the hair on only your scalp or on your whole body.

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Consider seeing a doctor if you:

  • experience sudden patchy hair loss
  • think a medication may be causing your hair loss
  • also have a rash
  • have scaly skin

The following conditions could lead to hair loss:

If you have any of these conditions or if you’re experiencing other symptoms besides hair loss, talk with a doctor about treating underlying conditions. Your hair loss should improve as your condition improves.

Certain medications can also lead to hair loss, including:

A note on prescription medications

Talk with your doctor before stopping or changing a medication you’re currently taking.

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If you’ve started noticing thinning hair or you have a family history of male pattern baldness, you may not be able to completely stop your hair loss. But you may be able to slow or prevent it.

Consider trying these tips to help prevent hair loss in males:

  • Find ways to lower your stress levels.
  • Support your overall health by eating a nutritious diet and staying physically active.
  • Avoid hairstyles that tug and pull on your hair.
  • Use hair products that may help prevent hair loss.
  • Avoid smoking.
  • Try scalp massages.
  • Talk with a healthcare professional to see whether any medications or medical conditions could be increasing your hair loss.

The cost of hair loss treatment depends on which treatment you decide to try.

For example:

Generic medications and OTC supplements tend to be less expensive.

Talk with a doctor to figure out which hair loss treatment may be best for you. While OTC products and home remedies may work for some people, they are not for everyone.

Some people find success with hair loss treatments such as OTC medications, prescription medications, and home remedies. But these methods do not work for everyone.

For example, Rogaine works best for people with hereditary baldness at the back of the head, just under the crown.

Hair transplants are usually more successful than OTC products. But if you have widespread thinning or baldness or if your hair loss is due to chemo or medications, transplants will not be as effective.

It depends on the treatment you’re using. If you’re taking an OTC or prescription medication such as Rogaine or Propecia, you’ll have to keep taking it long term to maintain results.

Hair implants are typically permanent. But depending on your hair growth goals, you may need multiple implants.

It is possible to regrow hair with medication, other treatments, or a combination of the two. But there are still some instances and conditions in which regrowth is not possible.

If you’re experiencing hair loss or thinning tied to a period of increased stress or a change in your nutrition, your hair will likely begin to regrow over time when your stress levels drop or you change your nutritional intake.

However, if your hair loss is caused by scalp damage and scarring, typical medications such as minoxidil and finasteride are unlikely to stimulate hair growth.

If you find limited results from home remedies or OTC products such as Rogaine, talk with a healthcare professional about what might be causing your hair loss and how best to treat it.

There are several treatments you may want to try for hair loss, including OTC and prescription medications, hair implants, and home remedies.

Talk with a doctor first. They can help you figure out the cause of your hair loss and decide what the best treatment option might be.