The ultimate guide to hair regrowth products for men

Around 80 percent of men will experience male-pattern baldness by the time they are 80 years old. “Most kinds of hair loss are treatable to some extent,” says Marie C. Leger, MD, PhD, a board-certified dermatologist practicing at Entière Dermatology in New York City. (For the purposes of this article, "man" and "woman" refer to individuals' biological sex as opposed to their gender identity.)

Here’s what to know about the sensitive topic of hair loss, and what the science says about products that might help manage it.

In this article:

What causes hair loss in men?

Hair loss is usually not the result of a single condition, explains Mary Lupo, MD, a New Orleans-based dermatologist and fellow of the American Academy of Dermatology. “If someone is really losing their hair, they shouldn’t waste time,” she says. “They should find a board-certified dermatologist, because there are so many things that can be in play.”

Different causes for hair loss in men can include:

• Autoimmune hair loss (alopecia areata). In this disease, which affects men and women equally, the body attacks its own hair follicles. Most people will notice coin-sized patches of hair loss on their head, but some will lose hair everywhere, including their eyebrows and eyelashes.
• Male-pattern baldness or hereditary hair loss (androgenetic alopecia). The most common type of hair loss in men often starts with thinning at the temples, creating that classic receding-hairline look. Someone who is losing their hair can probably thank their parents: This form of hair loss has a strong genetic component. “Over 50 million men in the United States will develop some sort of androgenetic alopecia,” says Silvina Pugliese, MD, a clinical associate professor of dermatology at Stanford University.
• Scalp ringworm (tinea capitis). Fungal infections like ringworm can infect the hair follicle and the hair shaft, causing hair to fall out. While ringworm is most often found in children, men can also catch the disease through shower stalls or barber tools that aren’t properly disinfected.
• Stress-related hair loss (telogen effluvium). So stressed that hair is falling out? This is a very real condition. Life events — like going through a divorce, caring for a sick relative or having a high fever — can trigger hair to shed. While it’s more common in women, telogen effluvium affects men, too.

Outside of these common conditions, hair loss can also be caused by disease treatments (like chemotherapy), medications, thyroid issues, tight hairstyles, vitamin or mineral deficiencies, and more.

Whatever the reason, it’s always a good idea to seek the help of a health care professional to get a diagnosis and develop a treatment plan.

Can a man’s hair grow back?

Hair regrowth to some extent is possible in most cases, according to Dr. Leger.

But the ability for hair to regrow depends on whether the hair follicle has developed scar tissue, explains Dr. Lupo. As such, hair loss can be separated into two types: scarring and non-scarring. “Almost all non-scarring alopecia can be reversed or at least improved,” Dr. Lupo says. “But once the hair follicle is dead, there’s nothing anyone can do.”

Certain types of hair loss — including hair loss from a serious infection or burn — are more likely to lead to scarring.

“In hereditary hair loss, hair may regrow with early treatment,” says Dr. Pugliese. “But if someone has male-pattern hair loss that’s been going on for decades, it’s unlikely if they start treatment that they are going to regrow a large amount of hair.”

Before creating a treatment plan, a dermatologist may inspect the scalp to look for indications of scarring. “To be definitive, we’ll often do a punch biopsy [where a small round piece of scalp tissue is removed] and send it to pathology,” says Dr. Lupo.

Over-the-counter (OTC) hair loss products for men

Search “hair loss products” on Google and nearly four million results will pop up. So how does someone decide which one to choose?

Here are some OTC options:

• Solutions and foams. Picking a product containing minoxidil is one possible option. Normal, healthy hair is in a constant state of rest (telogen phase), shedding (exogen phase) and growth (anagen phase). Minoxidil works by shortening the telogen phase to encourage hair growth. It may take about 6 to 12 months to see results, and minoxidil may lose its benefits if the person stops daily application.

Products with minoxidil include solutions (like Rogaine Men’s Extra Strength 5% Minoxidil Solution for Hair Regrowth) and foams (like Rogaine Men’s 5% Minoxidil Foam for Hair Regrowth and hims Extra Strength 5% Minoxidil Foam for Hair Regrowth).

Over-the-counter (OTC) shampoos, conditioners and styling products

Other products can encourage hair growth or help manage hair loss:

• Shampoos and conditioners. Dr. Lupo explains that maintaining a clean and healthy scalp is important to encourage hair growth. “If someone doesn’t wash their hair and they have inflammation at their follicles, that will make them start losing their hair,” she says. She recommends seeking out a zinc-based shampoo.
• Styling products. “There are a lot of things that can be done to try to manage hair loss in a styling type of way,” says Dr. Pugliese. While these products may not treat hair loss, they can help mask the effects and improve confidence.

Depending on the look people want to achieve, Old Spice Thickening Pomade with Biotin and Toppik Hair Building Fibers may be good options.

Prescription hair loss products for men

Prescription treatments can be an option, too. Depending on the diagnosis and the progression of hair loss, a dermatologist may recommend a prescription treatment.

Hair loss products

The hair loss product that fits best will depend on a number of factors, including where the hair loss is coming from and personal preferences. How successfully hair regrows “often depends on having the correct diagnosis and targeting the treatment effectively,” says Dr. Pugliese. People should speak with their health care provider about what treatment options may work best for them.

When deciding between delivery systems, consumers should consider lifestyle, as well. Some people prefer solution formulations because they can easily target areas of the scalp that need treatment, while others prefer foams because they can cause less mess.