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Byrdie / Chloe Jeong
According to the Cleveland Clinic, more than 50% of women are dealing with hair loss. There's only one FDA-approved ingredient formulated to effectively treat hair loss, minoxidil, so consider a product with a concentration of minoxidil for the best growth potential.
Byrdie Researched & Approved
Our best overall pick is Rogaine's Women's 5% Minoxidil Topical Aerosol Hair Regrowth Treatment for its high concentration of active, clinically proven growth ingredients. For a more affordable pick, consider Keranique's Hair Regrowth Treatment for Women 2% Minoxidil Topical Solution USP, which also contains the FDA-approved ingredient for hair growth and is an effective thickener.
Causes of hair loss is multifactorial and can include things such as stress, hormonal changes, medications, genetics, and hair products that irritate the scalp, says dermatologist Peterson Pierre, MD. He notes that there is only one FDA-approved medical treatment for hair loss: topical minoxidil. Formulas that exfoliate the scalp can also be helpful, he says. Ingredients like saw palmetto and tea tree oil have antibacterial and healing properties that contribute to overall scalp health.
With this in mind, we conducted hours of research on the best hair loss treatments for women, evaluating formulas on active ingredients, type, and results. Our team then combined these results with dermatologist-recommended picks to create this list.
Ahead, find the best hair loss treatments for women for thicker, fuller hair.
Best Overall
Women's Rogaine 5% Minoxidil Foam for Hair Thinning and Loss
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Amazon
Easy to use
Dermatologist-recommended brand
Unscented
Must use daily to maintain results
Who else recommends it? Today and Prevention both picked Rogaine Topical Aerosol Hair Regrowth Treatment.
What do buyers say? 78% of 12,900+ Amazon reviewers rated this product 4 stars or above.
“OTC minoxidil has a long-standing history of being effective in slowing down hair loss while promoting hair growth,” says Pierre. Longsworth is a fan, noting that this option, which contains a 5 percent concentration of the ingredient, is effective and scientifically proven to boost hair growth. In short, this is our top pick because there’s no question about it getting the job done. The unscented foam is easy-to-use, though FYI, it does have to be used daily to see and then maintain results. One box contains a two-month supply.
Price at time of publish: $45
Type: Leave-on | Active Ingredients: Minoxidil | Dosage: Once daily | Cruelty-Free: No | Byrdie Clean: Yes
Best Overall, Runner-Up
Nioxin Hair Regrowth Treatment For Women
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Gentle
Easy to use
Unscented
Has to be used twice daily
Takes a little while to dry
Another minoxidil-based pick contains 2 percent of the active ingredient. Apply it (twice daily) just on top of the scalp, on any areas where you have hair loss. Reviewers rave about how well it works, though note that it does take some time to see results.
Price at time of publish: $62
Type: Leave-on | Active Ingredients: Minoxidil | Dosage: Twice daily | Cruelty-Free: No | Byrdie Clean: Yes
Best Budget
Keranique Hair Regrowth Treatment for Women 2% Minoxidil Topical Solution USP
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Targeted sprayer for precise application
Clinically proven
Affordable
May leave hair greasy
A 30-day supply of this option, yet another pick that contains 2 percent minoxidil, comes in at just under 30 dollars, making it a great wallet-friendly choice. Reviewers note the targeted sprayer makes it super easy to apply exactly where you need it.
Price at time of publish: $29
Type: Leave-on | Active Ingredients: Minoxidil | Dosage: Twice daily | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: Yes
Best Shampoo
Advanced Trichology HairStem DHT Blocking Treatment Shampoo
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Amazon
Targets various hair and scalp issues
Leaves hair soft
Trichologist-developed
Three- to five-minute application
While a rinse-off shampoo isn’t going to be a miracle solution on its own, it is a good option to use in tandem with other treatments. This one was developed by a trichologist and has 14 years of research behind it. The formula contains ingredients such as saw palmetto to help block DHT, an androgen that’s derived from testosterone and can shrink the hair follicle. Plus, it also contains natural antibacterial tea tree oil to combat scalp issues and strengthening biotin, among other ingredients.
Price at time of publish: $30
Type: Shampoo | Active Ingredients: Saw palmetto, biotin, tea tree oil | Dosage: Up to three times daily | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: Yes
Best Shampoo, Runner-Up
Pura D'Or Original Gold Label Anti-Thinning Biotin Shampoo
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Amazon
Packed with natural ingredients
Vegan
Clinically proven to help with hair thinning
Can take time to see results
Another great shampoo option, this formula from Pura D'Or contains a blend of 17 natural herbs to help with hair loss, such as argan oil, saw palmetto, and tea tree oil. Its been clinically tested to show that its formula to improve hair growth, but if that isn't enough to convince you, it's almost 15,000 5-star reviews on Amazon will probably do the trick. Reviewers love that their hair looked noticeably thicker after continued use, and they saw less shedding after washing.
Price at time of publish: $30
Type: Shampoo | Active Ingredients: Biotin, saw palmetto, argan oil | Dosage: Daily | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: Yes
Best Conditioner
BosleyMD BosRevive Volumizing Conditioner
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Ulta
Doesn't weigh down hair
Comes in two sizes
Reduces scalp inflammation
Not compatible with colored hair
By definition, a conditioner is meant for the lengths of your hair and not your scalp; in other words, it’s not going to do much in the way of growth. But what the right conditioner can do is help strengthen hair and make them look fuller, giving you instant gratification that other products can’t. This particular pick has panthenol to strengthen hair and improve moisture retention so that hair looks fuller, so much so that, according to a brand-backed study, 94 percent of users saw more volume in their hair.
Price at time of publish: $26
Type: Shampoo | Active Ingredients: Panthenol | Dosage: Daily | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: No
Best Conditioner, Runner-Up
Baebody Argan Oil Conditioner
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iHerb
Strengthens hair
Adds shine
Vegan
Reviewers note the bottle doesn't come with a pump
This is a great conditioner choice if you're looking for something that can nourish and protect the hair. It's full of ingredients that are popular for their moisturizing and strengthening properties, such as argan oil, olive oil, shea butter, and vitamin E. Reviewers love that it doesn't leave their hair feeling greasy or heavy.
Price at time of pulbish: $19
Type: Conditioner | Active Ingredients: Argan oil, shea butter, vitamin E, coconut oil | Dosage: Daily | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: Yes
Best Serum
Vegamour Gro Hair Serum
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Sephora
Vegan
Non-greasy
Works on all hair types
Dropper could be designed better
Vegan and cruelty-free, this relies on plant-based ingredients to help combat shedding and thinning. Turmeric and mung bean help condition the scalp for optimal growth. Reviewers note the formula doesn't leave behind a greasy residue.
Price at time of publish: $58
Type: Serum | Active Ingredients: Panthenol | Dosage: Daily | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: Yes
Best Supplement
Nutrafol Women Hair Growth Supplement
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Has clinical evidence behind it
Targets various hair and scalp issues
Full of medical-grade, natural ingredients
Have to take four pills daily
According to Pierre, this is one of the very few supplements that has research backing up its claims. It's also a best-seller with tons of positive reviews The formula contains saw palmetto to help address DHT, ashwagandha, and marine collagen peptides. Ingredients work in tandem to help slow shedding and help hair grow longer, faster, and stronger.
Price at time of publish: $88
Type: Supplement | Active Ingredients: Saw palmetto, ashwagandha, marine collagen peptides | Dosage: 4 capsules daily | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: Yes
Best Supplement, Runner-Up
Viviscal Hair Growth Supplements for Women
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Gentle on the stomach
Drug-free formula
Nourishing
Can take time to see results
A more affordable pick, Pierre says this has research behind it to show it works; credit a combo of biotin, iron, and horsetail extract. Not only can it help promote hair regrowth, but it also strengthens the hair you do have, always a good thing in our book. You only need to take two tablets daily, though bear in mind that it may take anywhere from three to six months to see results.
Price at time of publish: $95
Type: Supplement | Active Ingredients: Biotin, iron, horsetail extract | Dosage: 2 capsules daily | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: Yes
Best Scalp Scrub
Drunk Elephant T.L.C. Happi Scalp Scrub
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Courtesy of Sephora
Gentle
Squeeze-top applicator
Sulfate-free
Hard to rinse off
Exfoliation isn’t just for your face or body. It’s also an important step for your scalp, where it can help eliminate built-up residue and dead cells that can clog the follicles from which new hair grows. We like this option because it uses a combo of different alpha-hydroxy acids—glycolic, citric, lactic, and tartaric—to dissolve all of the above without irritating. And unlike so many other scalp scrubs out there, it comes in an easy-to-use squeeze bottle versus a jar, which can easily get messy.
Price at time of publish: $36
Type: Scrub | Active Ingredients: Alpha-hydroxy acids | Dosage: Once to twice per week | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: Yes
Best System
Collective Laboratories Regimen
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Collective Labratories
Potent
Safe, daily regimen
Anti-bacterial
Can take time to see results
This three-part system makes for a super easy (and very effective) way to address hair loss every single day. Suds up with the detoxifying shampoo, which contains DHT-blocking saw palmetto, then follow up with the strengthening conditioner. The final step is the brand’s hero product, a leave-on serum that stimulates microcirculation, strengthens hair, balances oil production, deters yeast growth, and can help address all kinds of different types of hair loss as a result.
Price at time of publish: $89
Type: Shampoo, conditioner, serum | Active Ingredients: Varied | Dosage: Daily | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: Yes
Best for Scalp Health
Alodia Soothe Hair & Scalp Herbal Infusion
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Amazon
Natural formula
Affordable
Feels great on scalp and hair
Can take time to see results
This oil formula penetrates the hair follicles to strengthen from the inside. A blend of tea tree, chamomile, peppermint oil, and spearmint oils stimulate growth, and cool, calm, and soothe an itchy or irritated scalp.
Price at time of publish: $20
Type: Oil | Active Ingredients: Jojoba oil, chamomile, tea tree oil | Dosage: 1 to 2 drops per section of hair | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: Yes
Best Oil
Soultanicals Bloom-Supa Potent Healthy Hair Growth Oil
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Soultanicals
Natural formula
Strengthens hair to prevent split ends
Stimulates blood circulation
May leave hair greasy
Bridgette Hill, a certified trichologist likes this pick because it contains rosemary oil, which can help stimulate hair follicle growth with daily application. She adds that it also improves blood circulation to the scalp and destroys bacteria that clog hair follicles, and has fewer side effects than minoxidil. Plus, there are other ingredients here that are good for your hair and scalp, including moisturizing olive oil, horsetail extract, and biotin, among others.
Price at time of publish: $16
Type: Oil | Active Ingredients: Rosemary oil, horsetail extract, biotin | Dosage: 3 to 5 drops | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: Yes
Best Oil, Runner-Up
Tropic Isle Living Strong Roots Red Pimento Hair Growth Oil
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Amazon
Restores hair's natural moisture
Volumizing
Can be used many different ways
Feels a bit heavy to some
The start of the show here is castor oil, which is rich in ricinoleic, oleic, stearic, palmitic, linoleic, and linolenic acid, says Hill. These fatty acids have been shown to reduce DHT formation by inhibiting the enzyme that converts testosterone to DHT, she explains, adding that DHT production is a major cause of genetic hair loss. Also nice: There are plenty of ways to use it. It works well as a pre-shampoo treatment, hot oil treatment, or simply to accompany a scalp massage.
Price at time of publish: $12
Type: Oil | Active Ingredients: Castor oil, coconut oil | Dosage: A liberal amount | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: Yes
Best for Shedding
Dr. Barbara Sturm Anti- Hair Fall Scalp Serum
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Cult Beauty
Trichologist-recommended
Protects against pollutants
Anti-itching effect
Can take time to see results
This scalp serum contains botanical active ingredients and nutrients helps keep the hair follicle healthy and the hair fiber strong and intact. Also nice: It contains pro-vitamin B5 to keep the hair you do have from splitting.
Price at time of publish: $100
Type: Serum | Active Ingredients: Purslane extract, sunflower seed sprout extract | Dosage: A few drops as needed | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: No
Best Preventative
Renee Furterer Triphasic Progressive Serum
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Dermstore
Easy to work into an existing routine
Nice smell
Drug-free formula
May tingle the scalp to some
If you’re trying to prevent hair loss, Hill recommends this serum. “It nourishes the scalp with hydration and feeds it the necessary ingredients to support scalp and hair at the cellular level, helping to create healthy hair." It only needs to be used twice per week for the first month and once per week thereafter.
Price at time of publish: $86
Type: Serum | Active Ingredients: Purslane extract, sunflower seed sprout extract | Dosage: Twice weekly for the first month and then once a week on an ongoing basis | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: No
Best Treatment
Mielle Organics Rosemary Mint Scalp & Hair Strengthening Oil
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Works for all hair types
Soothes an itchy scalp
Prevents damage
Reviewers note it has a strong smell
This product has been all over TikTok lately as a must-have product for hair growth, and for good reason. It's formulated with over 30 essential oils to stimulate the hair follicles and infused with biotin to accelerate hair growth—and it can also be used to soothe dry scalp and treat split ends. Reviewers love that it has a cooling sensation when applying and that they can see noticeable results.
Price at time of publish: $10
Type: Oil | Active Ingredients: Rosemary oil, jojoba oil, peppermint oil | Dosage: Daily | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: Yes
Final Verdict
Our best overall pick is Rogaine's Women's 5% Minoxidil Topical Aerosol Hair Regrowth Treatment for its high concentration of active, clinically proven growth ingredients. For a more affordable pick, consider Keranique's Hair Regrowth Treatment for Women 2% Minoxidil Topical Solution USP, which also contains the FDA-approved ingredient for hair growth and is an effective thickener.
Meet the Expert
- Peterson Pierre, MD is a board-certified dermatologist specializing in both medical and cosmetic dermatology.
- Dr. Gaby Longsworth, Ph.D., is a certified hair practitioner who earned her hair practitioner’s certificate from the International Association of Trichologists. She is also the owner and founder of Absolutely Everything Curly.
- Bridgette Hill is a certified trichologist and the founder of Root Cause Scalp Analysis, a platform to help people understand and work through hair and scalp concerns.
- William Gaunitz is a certified trichologist and the founder of Advanced Trichology.
- Kerry Yates is a trichologist, beauty expert, and the founder of Colour Collective, a brand development agency and incubator for new hair products, concepts, and trends.
What to Look For in Hair Loss Treatments
Minoxidil
Trichologist Bridgette Hill stresses that there are a multitude of reasons why you could be experiencing hair loss and that there is no single cure. However, she says there are many products out there that support both scalp and hair health, so it's important to get to the root of your issue and treat it accordingly.
She says there is truly only one ingredient approved by the FDA to help 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 to the growing stage. However, there is no defined reason for how this happens.” She also mentions that there may be some adverse side effects when using a Minoxidil product, so be sure to do your research before trying it for yourself. Of course, there are plenty of products on the market that can improve hair health, though they don’t boast growth benefits.
Scalp Health-Boosting Ingredients
A healthy scalp is the key to healthy hair, so Hill also suggests reaching for products, such as ingestibles, that contain scalp health-boosting ingredients. If you’re dealing with an itchy scalp, dandruff, or irritation, she recommends topical ingredients like salicylic acid or natural options like rosemary, peppermint, and tea tree oils.
With that in mind, she also recommends avoiding products with silicones and heavy oils. “Silicones or heavy oils of any type 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 says. “For example, dihydrotestosterone (DHT), derived from testosterone, can shrink the follicle, basically ‘killing’ it and 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 eliminate DHT from attacking the follicle.”
Why Trust Byrdie
Byrdie contributor Melanie Rud has over a decade of experience in the beauty industry, writing for some of the biggest magazines and websites out there. She considered numerous formulas from various brands, ultimately choosing options with clinically proven ingredients to treat hair loss in women. These insights, along with dermatologist-recommended picks was used to create this list.
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