Hair Loss Treatments That Work (and Don't Work)

 

Unfortunately for many of us, hair loss is a common occurrence, and it is said that over half of men and women will experience some form of baldness by the age of 40. That really is a quite frightening statistic, when you really think about it. 

The problem is, there is no known cure for any type of baldness, as the market stands. However, there are literally thousands of treatments on the market, some which make far-fetched claims. The lack of a cure is what feeds the hair loss treatment market, which is said to be worth an estimated £2.5 billion. 

Do hair loss treatments work? 

This is a commonly asked question, and to be honest, it's almost impossible to give an exact number or statistic of how effective hair loss treatments actually are. The reason being that when it comes to hair loss treatments and hair growth products, results tend to work differently with each individual. So, something that may work for you, might not work for the next person. 

Hair loss treatments that can work are also few and far between. If we're being totally realistic then we'd go as far as to say that around 99.9% of treatments on the market will not help prevent hair loss or regrow hair. That's the simple reality of the matter. However, some (very few, but some) products and treatments can, and have proved to be, hugely effective in the sense that hair loss can be halted. 

The only two medically approved hair loss treatments available are the oral pill Finasteride (for men), and Minoxidil topical solution (5% for men and 2% for women), more recognisable under the brand Regaine/Rogaine.  The problem is, both these treatments, particularly Finasteride, have this nasty habit of giving negative side-effects, which in the case of Finasteride, include: Low libido, impotence (erectile dysfunction), face rash and spots, headaches, mental health issues, and weight gain.  

Most hair loss sufferers want to get away from such harsh treatments, and therefore opt for safer, naturally made treatments such as topical serums and multi-vitamin supplements. Multi-vitamin supplements are the most effective solution for combating hair loss, and some of the market leaders are Viviscal, Nutrafol and HR23+. 

Hair loss treatments that DON'T work

Hair loss sucks, and so it's easy to want to believe in a product or treatment.  This is how the brands market themselves, by praying on your insecurities. Fear usually pushes someone into buying a product, regardless of how good (or bad) it actually is. So, here we've listed a few scammy hair loss products that you may want to avoid. You'll notice some common signs in each of these products, which may help you spot other scammy products in the future... 

 

a - Hair Again by John Kelby. 

If you're serious about beating hair loss then by all means do your research, but never pay for an eBook, or any other form of reading material.  You'll be able to gather enough information about the topic of hair loss on the internet, for free, and eBooks like Hair Again by John Kelby won't tell you anything you can't already find without parting with your hard earned cash. In every instance, hair loss eBooks are there to sell you something, be it a product (that most likely doesn't work), so just the eBook itself. Avoid at all costs! 

b - Revifol

If you know about Revifol then you've probably seen their promotional video. The video makes some of the most outrageous claims you'll ever likely to see or hear about a hair loss product. It claims to be the cure we've been waiting for, and promises to help regrow all your lost hair from the past decade. If you believe that then you'll believe anything. It's all absolute nonsense, and it's surprising that Trading Standards haven't pulled this brand up on it yet. If you're looking for a good multi-vitamin supplement, then you'll find much better options than Revifol. That's not to say Revifol is bad, because it isn't, but it's certainly nowhere near as effective as they claim it to be. 

c - Alpecin shampoo 

It would be extremely harsh (and inaccurate) to label the Alpecin shampoo range as a scam, because it really isn't. However, this range, and any other shampoo for that matter, will not treat hair loss in men or women. There has been no scientific evidence to suggest that any shampoo can halt shedding or help regrow lost hair. However, shampoos are often bought to compliment a viable treatment, such as a supplement, for example, and work in conjunction with one another to get effective results. Buying Alpecin will do you hair (and bank account) no harm, but neither will it perform miracles on your strands. 

d - HairPrin 

Again, much like with Revifol, HairPrin makes outrageously far-fetched claims that simply can't be true. It's ranked as the #1 hair supplement on various hair growth websites, but we suspect these websites are owned and set up by HairPrin themselves. The product itself, as a multi-vitamin hair supplement, isn't actually that bad, but if you're looking to invest in a good product of this nature, then you'd be better off trying something in the "hair loss treatments that work" category later on in this article. 

e - Chinese shampoos

We shouldn't really need to tell you this, but we will anyway. Do not, under any circumstance, buy any hair loss "treatments" from China. China are great at manufacturing many things, but this is a sector you should be cautious of. Stay safe and only shop with reputable brands. Your health is more important than your hair. 

f - YUDA Spray

YUDA "hair growth" spray has been around for more than a decade now, under a host of different labels. Basically, if you see a hair growth spray anywhere, it's more than likely to be YUDA. Avoid them. There is no spray on the market that has been medically proven to treat hair loss. 

g - Hair Pill 

Hair Pill is a relatively new multi-vitamin hair supplement that came to market. It's branded in a quirky way, and sells for around £25 per bottle, which will give you a one month supply. This is priced in the low to mid range for hair supplement of this nature.  Again, much like HairPrin, this isn't a bad supplement, as such, but it certainly won't help stop hair loss. It only contains half the ingredients that you'd find in a more potent and effective formula, so rather than spend £25 a month on this, you'd be better off spending a little more for better results. 

Hair loss treatments that DO work

It would be foolish to suggest that there are treatments on the market that can reverse male or female pattern baldness, but in reality, there are some products that can at least help minimise hair loss and promote healthy hair growth. 

The most effective solutions for hair loss include infrared combs, derma rolling, topical serums, and multi-vitamin supplements. The latter has proved to be the most effective. The market's leading multi-vitamin hair supplements are Viviscal and HR23+.

HR23+ is made from natural ingredients that have been clinically tried and tested to benefit the hair. HR23+ is absolutely free from any major negative side-effects, and it is also suitable for vegan and vegetarian. 

This supplement is often touted as the most effective solution for thinning hair, and you'll be hard pushed to find a better product of its kind on the market. 

 

When looking for a hair loss treatment, just bear a few things in mind. Check its reviews, ingredients, success rate, and country of origin. Avoid eBooks and far-fetched claims. Also, spending a little more can often go a long way, and don't just settle on the first product you try. Shop around and explore your options. Most treatments do not work, but that's not to say you won't find something that does work.

Finding an effective treatment for hair loss can take time, and lots of trial and error. But if you remain patient, it can be a journey worth taking...