Men's Health and Wellness Blog and Resources

What is finasteride and what is it used for? Finasteride, also known by the brand name Propecia®, is a medicine for hair loss taken in pill form. As many as two in three men will experience hair loss in some form during their lifetime, and finasteride is a popular medicine that can help treat it.  Male pattern baldness or hereditary hair loss are such common problems because of a hormone in men called DHT that binds to men’s hair follicles and damages them. Unlike shampoos and hair growth vitamins, finasteride gets to the root of the problem, literally. Finasteride targets the DHT hormone directly and saves men’s hair follicles — preventing hair loss altogether or helping damaged follicles start regrowing hair.  Finasteride is a common medication for male pattern baldness and is one of the main ingredients in Keeps hair loss solutions for men. Finasteride can also be used to treat prostate issues, such an enlarged prostate, in higher doses. Between finasteride as a hair loss solution and as a prostate medication, the difference is just the amount you take. Men taking finasteride to fix prostate problems take 5 mg, while finasteride for hair loss is only 1 mg per day.  How does it work? Finasteride works by blocking DHT (dihydrotestosterone) — a hormone that binds to men’s hair follicles and damages them. This damage results in the hair follicles not being able to grow new hair, which means that many men’s hair starts thinning, hairlines receding, and bald spots forming. Finasteride stops further hair loss by preventing your body from converting testosterone into DHT. Customer Review: Alex from Milwaukee, WI "I was losing my hair so drastically at 25, I was so defeated. After starting with Keeps, I have a full head of hair and receive compliments from friends and my hair stylist!" Since finasteride blocks a type of testosterone, women and children should not take it in any form. Additionally, women who are pregnant should not handle crushed or broken finasteride tablets as it could affect the proper development of an unborn male child. How long does it take to work? It may take at least four to six months of daily and consistent use of finasteride before you start to notice a visible improvement in your hair loss. That may seem like a long time, but the slow and steady process will surprise you. After starting to take finasteride, your hair follicles are slowly starting to heal. Regrowing hair also takes time, but look closely at your scalp after a few weeks, and you may start to see those baby hairs growing. Customer Review: David from New York, NY "Keeps, as well as its main product, Finasteride, have been an incredible boost in my life! After over a year of use, my hair is thicker than ever before, and Keeps makes it easy to maintain this new boost in self-confidence." Since so many men start experiencing hair loss as young as their twenties, even stopping your hairline from receding can be a huge win. Even if you don’t have a full head of thick hair, having a bald spot is much worse than having thinner hair than you used to. If it doesn’t seem like finasteride is working, it may just be preventing you from losing even more hair.  Are there any side effects? Like any prescription medication, side effects are possible. During clinical trials, 3.8 percent of men taking finasteride noticed some of these side effects:  dizziness weakness feeling like you might pass out headache runny nose rash swelling in your hands or feet swelling or tenderness in your breasts impotence decreased sex drive decreased semen volume depression To contrast, 2.1 percent of men taking a placebo during clinical trials (a sugar pill instead of the real medication) had side effects as well. Comparing the placebo to the finasteride medication, the numbers are very similar. It’s important to be aware of possible side effects, but that being said, your chance of having them is really low.  A good way to see how finasteride is working for real men is to check out customer reviews. All of the Keeps reviews on our site have 5 stars, and no men mention having any side effects.  Customer Review: Evan from Van Nuys, CA "So far so good--I love that it gets delivered and I don't have to go somewhere to pick up a prescription. I like that it's a reasonable price. And I like that the pills are small and manageable. I haven't had any side effects. I've been taking pictures, and it does seem like it has at the very least prevented more hair loss and possibly grew some back after a year or so. Other friends and family SWEAR there's been significant regrowth, so that's a plus! People have even commented on my hair looking fuller who didn't know I was on anything. Recommended." Does finasteride cause E.D. (erectile dysfunction)? There’s one specific finasteride side effect that you may be worried about: E.D. or erectile dysfunction. Even though finasteride is a hormonal medication, it only blocks a specific type of testosterone hormone, DHT, that binds to hair follicles.  Studies on finasteride as a treatment for male pattern baldness have shown that a small percentage of men experienced side effects related to sexual health, but those side effects most often stopped when the participants stopped taking finasteride. Even better though, the side effects also often went away after time when participants kept taking finasteride. So even if you’re part of the small (less than five) percent of men who experience sexual health side effects, waiting it out while still taking finasteride or stopping treatment right away are both good options to get whatever side effects you have back to normal.  With or without taking finasteride, many men experience E.D. at some point in their lives. There are many men’s health companies that specialize in sexual health that can help solve conditions like E.D.  Where can you buy finasteride? The easiest way to buy finasteride is through companies that provide men’s hair loss solutions. You don’t even have to visit your doctor — companies like Keeps have doctors that give you the prescription and get you started with finasteride 1mg right away.  Customer Review: Jasonsilber33 from Vacaville, CA "I have been using Keeps for almost 2 years. It has been an extremely simple and effective process for not only maintaining but regrowing my hair. I recommend any man who is concerned about their hairline give it a try. For about a dollar a day I have hair again!" Since all of the Keeps reviews on our website have five stars, with so many customers mentioning excellent customer service, a streamlined treatment process, and great results, we recommend looking into Keeps for finasteride men’s hair loss solutions. Keeps Reviews Learn more about Keeps hair loss products and read reviews from real customers. Learn More

If you have experienced some type of hair loss, it is safe to say that it was not a very positive experience for you. Men’s hair loss is not just the loss of hair, but for many it is the loss of confidence. In this article, we will explain men’s hair loss and discuss the non-surgical ways that it can be treated. For more information about the companies that are discussed in this article, see here.  Men’s hair loss Hair loss can present itself in a variety of ways. Some common ways include rapid shedding, shedding in atypical patterns, hair breakage, etc. Side effects that may accompany this type of irregular hair loss include itching, skin irritation, redness, scaling, pain, etc. If you have experienced any of these things, it would be good to meet with a medical professional.  There are two main types of hair loss experienced by men. Alopecia is used to describe male baldness and androgenetic alopecia is used to describe male hair loss. As men look for treatments for their hair loss, it is important to know what types of solutions are available as well as which ones have been FDA approved and have been proven through studies.  Hair loss medications Only two hair loss medications have been approved by the FDA for regular use. They are Minoxidil (Rogaine) and Finasteride (Propecia). Though other medications or surgical solutions are available, we will only focus on the medications that have been FDA approved in this article.  Minoxidil (Rogaine) — This over-the-counter (nonprescription) medication has been approved for use by men and women. Typically, it will come in a liquid form (sometimes converted to foam) and is best used by rubbing directly into your scalp each day. When you first start using this solution, it is not uncommon to lose a little bit of hair as your body adjusts to the treatment. This medication is best used over long periods of time and for many it is only effective as it is used continually. It is important to note that some users have experienced side effects including scalp irritation, unwanted hair growth on other parts of the body, and rapid heart rates. Finasteride (Propecia) — Finasteride is a prescription drug that has been approved for treating men’s hair loss. It is taken in the form of a pill each day. This drug has been known to slow hair loss and help jumpstart the growth of new hair. In order to retain the benefits of this drug, you will need to continue taking it. Some side effects that have been identified include diminished sex drive and sexual function as well as increased risk of prostate cancer.  Hair loss industry leaders A number of companies have released men’s hair loss products during recent years. For a list of some that we have highlighted, see here. Companies on this list offer services ranging from hair loss, surgical hair restoration, sexual health, daily health, etc. Make sure that you research all of the details of each company to ensure that you find the right services for you.  Highlight: Keeps Information provided by the Keeps team As you look for the best solution to help with your hair loss or hair thinning, finding a company that focuses wholly on the health of your hair can be greatly advantageous. Many companies in this industry have started producing and selling a number of other products to treat other health concerns as well. Keeps has been able to maintain a unique image due to its complete focus on hair care, retention, and regrowth.  Keeps is a full-service healthcare company that brings FDA-approved solutions to consumers through virtual doctor appointments and diagnosis. It recognizes that about 66 percent of men struggle from hair thinning and/or male pattern baldness by the age of 35. It strives to help many of them stop losing their hair and maintain the hair they currently have sooner rather than later.  Keeps uses a smart supply chain with direct, digital-first relationships to best provide customers with affordable treatments. Though many of its competitors offer other health solutions (e.g. skin care, acne, and sexual health products), Keeps has no intention of becoming a “lifestyle brand” now or in the future. Company overviews and reviews Have you ever wondered what hair loss provider offers you the best solutions for you? Here are some other companies that we have highlighted on BestCompany.com with some recent customer reviews. There is an option for everyone.  Roman Roman has been a name in the men’s hair industry since the later part of 2017. It is known for being a telemedicine practice and pharmacy that is able to provide men with medications for a number of personal health concerns including hair loss, erectile dysfunction, premature ejaculation, cold sores, and herpes.  This hair loss provider offers men access to Finasteride and Minoxidil. Though the company recognizes that these medications do not work perfectly for every individual, many customers have seen significant regrowth over time.  Pricing for Roman hair loss products Finasteride — starts at $20.00 per month  Minoxidil — starts at $16.00 per month Note: Shipping and billing takes place quarterly. Roman reviews Erin Miller is a writer and developer for MensPrimp.com. He began using Roman when he noticed that his hair was thinning and took advantage of the free online consultation. He started his treatment with the Minoxidil (Rogaine) solution and found that within a month he was seeing new hair growth.  Hims After its founding in 2017 by Andrew Dudum and Jack Abraham, Hims has quickly become one of the leading men’s health and wellness providers in the industry. It offers solutions for hair loss, skin care and acne, male enhancement, and sexual health. During the final months of 2019, it announced partnerships with Alex Rodriguez and Jennifer Lopez as well as the Louisiana-based Ochsner Health System, all with hopes to make Hims products more easily accessible to consumers.  Hims offers a number of products to help men struggling with male pattern baldness or general hair thinning, including the following: Finasteride, Minoxidil, Shampoo+, Conditioner, and Biotin gummies. Each of these products is made with ingredients that either help strengthen existing hair, facilitate growth of new hair, block DHT on your scalp, and/or slow the loss of your current hair.  Pricing for Hims hair loss products Finasteride — $28.50 per month supply Minoxidil — $15.00 per month supply Biotin gummies — $16.00 per 60 units Shampoo+ — $19.00 per bottle (6.4 fluid ounces) Conditioner — $22.00 per bottle (6.4 fluid ounces) Hims reviews Erin Miller has used both the Shampoo+ and the Conditioner offered by Hims to help with his hair loss. He uses these products in conjunction with Minoxidil and feels that his hair has become thicker and healthier than it used to be. Though he doesn’t believe that these products will completely reverse your hair loss, he has seen them work effectively over time.  Taylor Kelly signed up for monthly delivery of the Finasteride tablets, the Biotin gummies, and the Shampoo+ back in the early stages of 2019. After a couple months of use, he started noticing regrowth. This was particularly noticeable in areas in the front that after dramatic thinning were now fostering new hair growth. He feels that one of the most important ingredients to Hims products is the DHT blockers found in the Hims Shampoo+.  Rogaine Rogaine first offered hair loss products to customers in 1988. It has become known for its use of topical Minoxidil (which is now called Rogaine). After thorough testing proved the Minoxidil could help regrow hair over an extended period of time, Rogaine became one of the most trusted hair loss prevention brands in the hair industry.  Rogaine sells Minoxidil in two different forms. The Minoxidil solution is a liquid that is applied with a dropper directly onto the scalp. After application, it should be massaged into the scalp for best results. The Minoxidil foam regrowth treatment is also a topical solution that should begin working upon contact. Both treatments should be used twice daily.  Pricing for Rogaine hair loss products Minoxidil solution — $27.49 per month Minoxidil foam regrowth treatment — $27.49 per month Rogaine reviews Jeremy Lindy, Marketing Manager for Tani USA, has used Rogaine foam since 2016. During his time using this product, he has found it to function successfully when used consistently. He stopped using it for a time and found that the results were not completely retained. Lindy suggests that Rogaine works well to help avoid future hair loss and regrow healthy new hair as long as used regularly.   Stella Samuel is a team manager with Brandnic.com and has used the women’s version of Rogaine since 2017. Though she did not see results after two months (as was suggested by the provider), she did start seeing results after just over three months. Samuel doesn’t feel that Rogaine is some miraculous solution, but she has found it effective. She did not experience any side effects and would recommend it to any woman who is starting to experience hair thinning.