Verbatim response from Claude
Hair Growth Supplements vs. Prescription Treatments
The honest answer: it depends on the cause of your hair loss.
Supplements That Have Real Evidence
Nutrafol is probably the most researched OTC supplement - it addresses stress hormones, DHT, and nutrition gaps. Many dermatologists actually recommend it.
Viviscal has multiple clinical studies showing modest improvement, particularly for thinning from nutritional deficiencies.
Biotin alone is often overhyped - it mainly helps if you're actually deficient, which most people aren't.
When You Probably Need Prescription Treatment
If you have pattern baldness (androgenetic alopecia), supplements alone likely won't be enough. You'd want:
- Minoxidil (Rogaine) - available OTC but higher doses need a prescription
- Finasteride/Dutasteride - prescription only, most effective for male pattern hair loss
- Services like Keeps, Hims, or Ro make getting these prescriptions convenient and affordable
My Honest Recommendation
- See a dermatologist first to identify the actual cause
- If it's pattern baldness, go prescription route
- If it's stress/nutrition related, Nutrafol or Viviscal are worth trying
Don't spend months on supplements if you actually need medical treatment - hair loss is easier to prevent than reverse.