Hair loss treatments for men can range from lasers and hair transplants to medications like minoxidil and finasteride. See which treatment could work best for you.
- Prescription and over-the-counter (OTC) medications
- Minoxidil (Rogaine)
- Finasteride (Propecia, Proscar)
- Combination minoxidil and finasteride
- Hair transplants
- Laser treatments
- Lifestyle changes
- Natural remedies
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 you can start immediately.
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).
The FDA has approved two medications to treat male pattern baldness: minoxidil and finasteride. You can find these ingredients in prescription medication or in OTC products. We list some OTC and prescription options below.
Note that it may take up to 1 year to see results from these treatments, and you’ll need to keep taking them to maintain the benefits.
Minoxidil (Rogaine)
Rogaine is available over the counter as a liquid or foam in Men’s and Women’s formulas. You apply it to your scalp twice daily to help encourage hair regrowth and prevent hair loss. Minoxidil is the active ingredient in Rogaine, and it’s also available in generic form as a liquid solution or an oral tablet.
Both Rogaine and minoxidil can take 4 to 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 generally takes 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%.
Subscribers can be evaluated through services such as Roman, Hims, Keeps, and Happy Head to review whether they would benefit from this treatment and a minoxidil concentration above 5%.
None of these options stand out?
Check out these reviews of some of the top places to buy hair loss treatments online, including a closer look at how they compare:
- Keeps Review 2023: How Well Does It Work for Hair Loss?
- Hims Hair Loss Treatment Review
- Hims vs. Keeps: Which Hair Loss Subscription Is Right for You?
- A 2023 Review of Happy Head for Hair Loss: Does it Actually Work?
The two most popular hair transplant procedures are follicular unit transplantation and follicular unit extraction, according to a
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 both a
Quit smoking
Smokers are likely well aware of the negative effects of smoking on overall health, but did you know that smoking may be associated with hair loss as well?
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If you smoke, quitting may help decrease hair loss.
Try scalp massage
Massages not only feel wonderful but also may help with hair loss. Massaging your scalp stimulates your hair follicles.
Research from 2019 found that scalp massages were associated with self-perceived improvements in hair density.
A 2020 study suggests that scalp massage helped women with cancer regrow hair loss that resulted from chemotherapy — reporting that their hair regrowth was “significantly improved” in comparison to women who didn’t receive a scalp massage.
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.
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- iron-rich foods, including lean beef, beans, green leafy vegetables, iron-fortified grains, and eggs
- foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids, such as salmon, mackerel, tuna, flaxseed, egg yolks, hemp seeds, and walnuts
- high protein foods, such as eggs, lean meats, and seafood
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:
- regular physical activity such as exercising
- listening to music
- practicing yoga
- meditating
- getting enough sleep
Oils
Rosemary oil has also been traditionally used to increase blood circulation in the scalp. A 2022 study found that rosemary oil had similar effects to minoxidil after using it on the scalp for 6 weeks.
Saw palmetto
Saw palmetto is a plant with small berries.
While research is sparse on saw palmetto’s ability to treat hair loss, a
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,
Want to learn about other foods containing biotin? Here’s our list of the top biotin-rich foods.
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 regrowth.
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Green tea
Another purported herbal remedy for hair loss is green tea.
In an older
Hibiscus
Chinese hibiscus (Hibiscus rosa-sinensis) is marketed widely in India for hair regrowth. A
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.
Other resources about hair loss and treatment
Consider speaking with 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:
- diabetes
- lupus
- lichen planus
- sarcoidosis
- scalp psoriasis
- alopecia areata
- thyroid conditions
- eating disorders
- iron deficiency anemia
- trichotillomania
- celiac disease
- syphilis
If you have any of these conditions or you’re experiencing other symptoms besides hair loss, you can 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:
- chemotherapy and radiation treatments
- some blood thinners (anticoagulants)
- some depression medications
- medications used to treat high blood pressure
- some heart medications
- gout medications
- isotretinoin (Accutane), an acne treatment
A note on prescription medications
It’s wise to talk with a doctor before stopping or changing a medication you’re currently taking.
If you’ve started noticing thinning hair or you have a family history of male pattern hair loss, 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:
- finding ways to lower your stress levels
- supporting your overall health by eating a nutritious diet and staying physically active
- avoiding hairstyles that tug and pull on your hair
- using hair products that may help prevent hair loss
- avoiding smoking
- trying scalp massages
- talking 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:
- Brand-name Rogaine can cost around $78 for a 3-month supply, while generic minoxidil treatments can cost around $53 for a 3-month supply.
- Brand-name Propecia prices start as low as $66 for a 1-month supply, while the generic version (finasteride) is available at a potentially lower cost through companies. Roman offers a 3-month supply of oral finasteride for $60, while Keeps offers oral finasteride for for around $27 for a 3-month subscription plan.
- Hair transplants can cost anywhere from $6,000 to $15,000.
Generic medications and OTC supplements tend to be less expensive.
Hair can grow back as long as the hair follicle is still producing hairs, especially if you can improve blood flow to these follicles.
Hair follicles that have closed or not produced a hair in years are likely not to grow any hair again.
OTC medications, prescription medications, and home remedies may work for men’s hair regrowth in some cases. But these methods do not work for everyone.
Rogaine works best for people with hereditary baldness at the back of the head, just under the crown, especially when it’s taken orally.
Hair transplants are usually more successful than OTC products. But if you have widespread thinning or baldness, or your hair loss is due to chemo or medications, transplants will not be as effective.
The success of a hair loss treatment depends on the treatment you’re using to get your hair back.
If you’re taking an OTC or prescription medication such as Rogaine or Propecia, you’ll have to keep taking it over the long term to maintain results.
It’s possible to regrow hair with medication, other treatments, or a combination of the two. But there are some instances and conditions in which regrowth is not possible.
If you’re experiencing hair loss or thinning due to 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.
But if your hair loss is caused by scalp damage and scarring, such as from staples used to treat a head injury, medications like minoxidil and finasteride are unlikely to stimulate hair regrowth.
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.
It’s wise to speak 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.
