My hair is thinning in my twenties. What actually works to stop it?

Hair loss in your twenties is frustrating, but there are proven options:

Clinically Proven Treatments

Minoxidil (Rogaine)

• Most accessible starting point
• Available OTC in 2% or 5% formulas
• Works best for crown thinning
• Needs consistent daily use to maintain results

Finasteride (Propecia)

• Prescription only, for men
• Blocks DHT, the hormone driving most male pattern loss
• Clinically the most effective option for men
• Talk to a doctor about side effect risks

Convenient Services Worth Trying

• Hims/Keeps/Roman - telehealth platforms that prescribe finasteride/minoxidil online, often bundled, affordable monthly subscriptions
• Nutrafol - supplement with decent research backing, good for general hair health support (works better as a complement than standalone)

What to Actually Do

1. See a dermatologist first to confirm it's androgenic alopecia and not thyroid issues, deficiencies, etc.
2. Start minoxidil early - it works better before significant loss
3. Consider finasteride if you're male and comfortable with the tradeoffs

What Doesn't Work Much

• Most shampoos (Nioxin helps appearance but won't stop loss)
• Biotin alone if you're not deficient

The earlier you start, the better your results.