According to the Cleveland Clinic, over half of women face hair loss. The only FDA-approved ingredient for effective hair loss treatment is minoxidil.
Hair loss causes are incredibly varied. These include stress, hormonal changes, medications, genetics, and irritating hair products, according to dermatologist Peterson Pierre, MD.
He notes only one FDA-approved medical treatment for hair loss: topical minoxidil. However, exfoliating formulas can also help.
Ingredients like saw palmetto and tea tree oil aid overall scalp health. With this in mind, we researched the best hair loss treatments, evaluating formulas on active ingredients, type, and results.
We combined these findings with dermatologist recommendations to create this ultimate list.
Best Overall: Women’s Rogaine 5% Minoxidil Foam for Hair Thinning and Loss. OTC minoxidil effectively slows hair loss while promoting hair growth, says Pierre.
Experts approve, noting this 5% concentration option is effective and scientifically proven. This is our top pick because it actually works.
The unscented foam is easy to use, though it requires daily use for the best results. One box provides a generous two-month supply.
Best Scalp Scrub: Drunk Elephant T.L.C. Happi Scalp Scrub. Exfoliation is incredibly important for your scalp.
It removes residue and dead cells that can severely clog your follicles. We like this option because of its alpha-hydroxy acids, including glycolic, citric, lactic, and tartaric.
These powerful acids dissolve buildup without irritating your skin. Unlike other scrubs, it comes in an easy-to-use squeeze bottle.
Best Serum: Vegamour GRO Hair Serum. Vegan and cruelty-free, this powerful serum uses plant-based ingredients.
It actively combats shedding and thinning. Turmeric and mung bean condition the scalp perfectly.
Reviewers consistently note the formula leaves no greasy residue behind.
Best Overall, Runner-Up: Nioxin Hair Regrowth Treatment For Women. Another minoxidil-based pick, this contains 2% of the active ingredient.
Apply it twice daily directly to areas of hair loss. Reviewers praise its effectiveness, though they note results take time.
Best Budget: Keranique Hair Regrowth Treatment for Women 2% Minoxidil Topical Solution USP. A 30-day supply of this 2% minoxidil option costs under 30 dollars.
It’s an amazing budget-friendly choice. Reviewers note the targeted sprayer makes daily application extremely easy.
Best Supplement: Nutrafol Women Hair Growth Supplement. According to Pierre, this is one of the very few supplements with actual research backing it.
It’s also a best-seller with overwhelmingly positive reviews. The formula contains saw palmetto to address DHT, ashwagandha, and marine collagen peptides.
These ingredients work together seamlessly to slow shedding and promote hair growth.
Best Supplement, Runner-Up: Viviscal Hair Growth Supplements for Women. A more affordable pick, Pierre heavily supports its efficacy.
It uses a targeted blend of biotin, iron, and horsetail extract. It promotes regrowth and strengthens your existing hair.
Take two tablets daily, but keep in mind that results may take three to six months.
Best Shampoo: Advanced Trichology HairStem DHT Blocking Treatment Shampoo. A rinse-off shampoo isn’t a miracle, but it helps tremendously when used with other treatments.
This was uniquely developed by a trichologist. The formula contains saw palmetto to actively block DHT.
It also has tea tree oil for scalp issues and strengthening biotin.
Best Shampoo, Runner-Up: Pura D’Or Original Gold Label Anti-Thinning Biotin Shampoo. This Pura D’Or formula uses 17 natural herbs specifically for hair loss.
These include argan oil, saw palmetto, and tea tree oil. It’s clinically tested to drastically improve hair growth.
It has almost 15,000 5-star reviews on Amazon. Reviewers absolutely love the thicker hair and heavily reduced shedding.
Best Conditioner: BosleyMD BosRevive Volumizing Conditioner. Conditioners are for your hair lengths, not the scalp.
They can strengthen hair and make it look much fuller. This pick has panthenol to strengthen hair and improve overall moisture retention.
A brand study showed that a shocking 94% of users saw more volume.
Best Conditioner, Runner-Up: Baebody Argan Oil Conditioner. This is a great conditioner choice for intensely nourishing and protecting hair.
It is full of moisturizing and strengthening ingredients, like argan oil, olive oil, shea butter, and vitamin E. Reviewers find that this product does not leave their hair feeling greasy or heavy.
Best System: Collective Laboratories Regimen. This three-part system provides a complete daily hair loss solution.
Use the detoxifying shampoo, which contains DHT-blocking saw palmetto. Follow up with the strengthening conditioner.
The final step is a leave-on serum that actively stimulates microcirculation. The serum strengthens hair, balances oil production, deters yeast growth, and addresses hair loss.
Best for Scalp Health: Alodia Soothe Hair & Scalp Herbal Infusion. This oil formula penetrates deep into follicles to strengthen from within.
A blend of tea tree, chamomile, peppermint, and spearmint oils rapidly stimulate growth. These oils also calm and soothe an itchy or irritated scalp.
Best Oil: Soultanicals Bloom-Supa Potent Healthy Hair Growth Oil. Bridgette Hill, a certified trichologist, likes this pick because it contains rosemary oil.
This specific oil stimulates follicle growth with daily use. It improves blood circulation and actively destroys bacteria.
It has significantly fewer side effects than minoxidil. There are also moisturizing olive oil, horsetail extract, and biotin packed into this oil.
Best Oil, Runner-Up: Tropic Isle Living Strong Roots Red Pimento Hair Growth Oil. Castor oil is the main active ingredient here.
It is incredibly rich in fatty acids. These acids are known to drastically reduce DHT formation.
DHT production is a major cause of genetic hair loss. It works well as a pre-shampoo treatment, a hot oil treatment, or as a scalp massage.
Best for Shedding: Dr. Barbara Sturm Anti-Hair Fall Scalp Serum. This luxury scalp serum contains botanical ingredients and key nutrients.
It works hard to keep the follicle healthy and the hair fiber strong. It also contains pro-vitamin B5 to prevent splitting.
Best Preventative: Renee Furterer Triphasic Progressive Serum. If you’re currently trying to prevent hair loss, Hill highly recommends this serum.
It deeply nourishes the scalp and feeds it essential ingredients. It only needs to be used twice per week for the first month and once per week thereafter.
Best Treatment: Mielle Organics Rosemary Mint Scalp & Hair Strengthening Oil. This product is incredibly popular on TikTok for a reason.
It contains over 30 essential oils designed to stimulate hair follicles. The oil is heavily infused with biotin.
It soothes a dry scalp and actively treats split ends. Reviewers love the cooling sensation and the highly visible results.
Final Verdict
Our best overall pick is Rogaine’s Women’s 5% Minoxidil Topical Aerosol. This is due to its high concentration of active, clinically proven growth ingredients.
For a more affordable pick, seriously consider Keranique’s Hair Regrowth Treatment. It also contains the FDA-approved ingredient for hair growth and acts as an effective thickener.
What to Look For in Hair Loss Treatments
Minoxidil
Trichologist Bridgette Hill stresses that there are many reasons for hair loss, meaning there is no single cure. However, there are many products that support overall scalp and hair health.
She says only one ingredient is FDA-approved to actually regrow hair: minoxidil. It was initially created to support patients with hypertension and later found to help regrow hair, she says.
It’s reported to push the hair from the resting phase directly to the growing stage. While there may be adverse side effects when using Minoxidil, there are many products on the market to improve hair health safely.
Scalp Health-Boosting Ingredients
A healthy scalp is the absolute key to healthy hair. Hill suggests utilizing products with scalp health-boosting ingredients.
If you have an itchy scalp, dandruff, or severe irritation, she recommends topical ingredients like salicylic acid. She also recommends natural options like rosemary, peppermint, and tea tree oils.
She recommends completely avoiding products with silicones and heavy oils. Silicones or heavy oils combined with your hair’s natural sebum can clog the follicles, causing follicle stress and negatively impacting overall follicle fitness, she says.
DHT-Blocking Ingredients
Hill says it could be beneficial to try a DHT-blocking product if your hair loss is related to hormones or genetics. Fluctuations in hormones can negatively impact your hair’s life cycle, she warns.
For example, dihydrotestosterone (DHT), derived from testosterone, can shrink the follicle. This basically kills it, causing hair loss and future hair growth challenges.
It’s thought that topically applied DHT blockers like saw palmetto and pumpkin seed oil could help stop DHT from attacking the follicle.
FAQ
What are the causes of hair loss?
William Gaunitz, a trichologist, explains that genetic hair loss in both men and women is connected to a sensitivity to DHT. It revolves around certain levels of androgens connected directly to hair follicle receptors.
This type of hair loss only affects the top of the scalp, he says. Gaunitz adds that inflammatory hair loss—caused by stress, medications, and lifestyle factors—is the most challenging to deal with.
This type of hair loss can be patchy, unpredictable, and associated with severe itching and burning, he says.
Another big cause of hair loss is a lack of nutrition. Nutritional hair loss, in my opinion, is the most prominent form of hair loss worldwide and is also the most easily correctable, he says.
To get your hair back to its thickest, fullest potential, it’s important to address all the root causes of your hair loss.
How can I stop further hair loss?
Hair is very sensitive to inflammation, so it’s important to avoid anything that irritates the scalp, such as certain hair dyes, says Peterson Pierre, MD. The frequent use of heating tools can easily cause breakage.
You should also condition your hair and moisturize your scalp regularly to minimize your chances of hair loss. As for nutrition, you want your doctor to run a full blood panel so they can recommend nutrients you could be lacking.