Visit your board-certified dermatologist at the first sign of hair loss—or even earlier if you’re proactive—to discuss the most recent and successful retention and prevention strategies. (That is, if you want to maintain your hair.)
Men now have various alternatives, all of which have exceptionally high success rates. We polled our expert network for their thoughts on the most frequent ways. Before we begin, here’s what some of those board-certified dermatologists had to say about the road ahead.
Begin Early
“We know that early intervention gives us the best opportunity to recover, maintain, and reinforce hair,” explains Heights Dermatology and Laser’s Robert Finney, M.D. “When you detect thinning, that’s when you should start therapy.” Don’t be delusory.”
The more you wait, the less effective the outcome will be: “Men who notice early thinning with hair loss beginning at the vertex of their scalp, but aren’t completely bald, have the best chance to slow down loss, halt loss altogether (by maintaining their hair density), and even regrow some or all of their hair,” says Laura Haygood, M.D., of Adagio Dermatology & Aesthetics. “This indicates that the earlier you start, the greater the overall outcomes.”
Recession Is an Outlier
“A receding frontal hairline is rarely treated,” advises Haygood. “Men may concentrate on regrowing hair on the whole frontal, crown, and vertex of the head.” The vertex is the place where the crown meets the midscalp.
Exercise Patience
“Whichever hair treatment you pick, it’s critical not to abandon it too soon and to persist with it for at least 3-6 months,” says Lindsey Yeh, M.D. It takes time for hair to grow and for visible changes to occur.
You’re playing a long game (maybe forever): “Once you see progress, you must stick to the treatment plan to keep the outcomes,” Haygood says. “So, if and when you decide to discontinue therapy, your hair simply reverts to the density it would have been at that time in your life.”
The 5 Best Hair Regrowth Methods
1. The Tablet
A 1mg prescription of finasteride is one of the most frequent methods of regrowing hair. (This is its common name.) Propecia is another name for it.) It works by inhibiting the formation of dihydrotestosterone (DHT), which progressively suffocates and shrinks hair follicles, causing hair to thin and fall out before the follicle dries up.
“Oral finasteride is an excellent therapy for male-pattern baldness,” explains Newport Beach Dermatology’s Anne Marie McNeill, Ph.D M.D. “It’s easy, safe, and one research just shown that it lowers your risk of prostate cancer in addition to promoting hair growth.” As previously said, starting while you’re just starting to thin can assist you preserve the hair you have.
“Oral finasteride is one of the greatest therapeutic choices,” Finney says. A tiny minority of patients, however, may develop sexual adverse effects such as diminished libido and erectile problems. “If someone has tried this and experienced those side effects, or is concerned about them,” Finney adds, “I change the conversation to a topical finasteride and minoxidil combination, such as HairStim from Hair Medicinals.”
“HairStim is a prescription solution that combines both drugs—and the minoxidil concentrations are greater than what is available over the counter.” (For further information about minoxidil, see the following advice.) “I’ve discovered that people who experienced sexual negative effects with finasteride orally do not experience them with topicals.” This is due to it not being absorbed by your blood and moving throughout your body.
2. The Cure
The other popular at-home alternative is minoxidil, which is the generic for Rogaine. It works by increasing blood flow to hair follicles, which thickens the hair shaft and strengthens the follicle. It is used twice daily as a topical solution or foam.
“One recommendation I share with patients is that special compounding pharmacies (typically the Mom & Pop pharmacies we adore, rather than the giant chain pharmacies) are eager to produce an even stronger version,” Haygood explains.
“Many of my patients prefer the 7% minoxidil, but in the end, I recommend making your decision based on price, convenience, and how the product feels on your skin, especially since you’ll be taking it on a regular basis.”
Almost every doctor will recommend combination therapy to improve your outcomes, with the most frequent combo being finasteride + minoxidil.
3. The Plasma
Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) has gained in popularity during the last few years. It entails drawing one’s own blood, separating the plasma (which takes about 10 minutes in the office), and injecting the plasma back into the patient’s scalp. Plasma contains active growth factors that can activate dormant or weak follicles. It’s also a frequent combination treatment approach, often used in conjunction with finasteride, minoxidil, or both.
“PRP is my favorite hair growth therapy, and studies show that 75 percent of males see [substantial] hair growth,” says Anna Karp, D.O. of Skin Institute of New York. “I recommend at least two treatments, one month apart.” (Many doctors may recommend four monthly treatments at first, followed by a yearly top-up.)
“PRP is natural, and patients don’t have to remember to do anything at home,” explains Finney. “It’s a relatively newer therapy, but it’s shown to be a terrific alternative to regenerate, retain, and fortify over the previous several years.”
PRP rates vary from doctor to doctor, but you should budget roughly $1,500 each treatment. (Yes, it is still rather pricey.)
4. The program
A good at-home supplement and grooming routine can also assist to reinforce hair and restore some of the weaker, near-dead follicles. It’s crucial to note that they aren’t as promising as the ways listed above, but supplements aren’t a gimmick: they supply the nutrients your hair requires to stay strong. As a result, it might be both a preventative and a proactive technique.
“We believe that using as many procedures as possible to tackle all probable reasons yields the greatest outcomes,” explains Elias Dermatology’s Matthew Elias, D.O.
“I usually suggest a hair vitamin like Nutrafol, Viviscal, or biotin forte with zinc,” explains Mountain Dermatology’s Lauren Meshkov Bonati, M.D. “I also recommend Nioxin shampoo and conditioner.”
5. The Methodology
If everything else fails, or if the patches have progressed too far, it may be time to contemplate a hair transplant—if you’re that involved in the procedure. Consult with your doctor about the finest alternatives available and where you should do it. Because the effects vary so greatly, this should only be used as a last option.
Know that new technologies indicate that we may soon be able to clone hairs and grow them anywhere we choose. Meanwhile, this treatment removes thicker hairs from the sides and back of your head and inserts them in regions of dormant development to “fill in” the hair.
It also takes some time to observe results: after a few months, the transplanted hair will fall out, just to start its first new growth cycle. So, if it sprouts and fills in, it might take 4-6 months to see long-term (although temporary) effects (assuming you’re not aggressive about keeping it this time).
“I normally advise patients to try topicals for 6+ months before concluding if it’s worked for them,” says Dermatology Group’s Avnee Shah, M.D. “[Still,] I advocate for a mix of therapy.” “The more, the better.”
The cost of hair transplants rises with the quantity of coverage required, making it difficult to predict without first seeing your doctor. You should budget for thousands of dollars, maybe between $5,000 and $10,000.
