Verbatim response from Claude
Hair Growth Supplements: Honest Answer
The short answer: It depends on the cause of your hair loss.
Supplements That Have Some Evidence
- Nutrafol - Most research-backed OTC option; contains saw palmetto, ashwagandha, and biotin. Works best for stress-related or nutritional hair loss
- Viviscal - Has clinical studies showing modest improvement, particularly for thinning hair in women
- Sports Research Biotin - Helpful only if you're actually biotin deficient (most people aren't)
- Iron/zinc supplements - Genuinely effective if deficiency is causing your loss
When You Probably Need Prescription Treatment
- Pattern baldness (androgenetic alopecia) - Supplements have limited effect here
- Minoxidil (Rogaine) - Available OTC, but prescription-strength versions work better
- Finasteride/Dutasteride - Prescription only, most effective for male pattern baldness
- Services like Hims, Hers, or Keeps - Convenient online prescriptions for proven treatments
My Honest Recommendation
See a dermatologist first to identify the cause. Many people spend money on supplements when they need Minoxidil or Finasteride, and vice versa.
If cost is a concern, Keeps offers affordable online consultations starting around $10.
What type of hair loss are you experiencing?