Hims Hair Growth Reviews: The Pros, Cons, and Real Results

Article Summary

Hims has quickly become one of the most recognizable telehealth brands for men’s health, and its hair loss lineup is no exception. But do the sleek branding and promises of “personalized” care translate into real, sustainable regrowth? In this in-depth review, we break down Hims’ most popular hair growth treatments, examining the clinical evidence, convenience, and real-world limitations. We explore where Hims delivers effective, proven options and where its one-size-fits-all protocols and limited routes for modification may leave some users wanting more.

Full Article

In less than a decade since its founding, Hims has grown into an internationally recognized brand. With a range of products available in the USA that can boost testosterone, help with weight loss, and tackle issues in the bedroom, Hims is, unsurprisingly, targeted directly at men. In keeping with this approach, they also have a strong selection of products to tackle hair loss and androgenic alopecia (AGA). As a telehealth provider, Hims offers prescription medications alongside shampoos and supplements. 

The brand positions itself as providing highly individualized care: “It’s more than a plan, it’s personal.” Given the diversity of ways in which hair loss can present, and the sometimes unpredictable nature of men’s response to treatment, this approach is often a strong route to a successful regrowth. But how does Hims’ offering stack up? We’ll examine the range of products available through Hims’ telehealth service in the USA, assess the clinical evidence supporting each option, and explore whether the brand can support effective hair loss management.

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Key Takeaways

• Hims offers proven medications like finasteride and minoxidil in convenient formats, which can be effective for many users.
• Hims promises personalization and individualized plans. However, this personalization is mostly limited to a smaller assortment of Rx options than the involvement of their assessment surveys might lead users to believe, with fewer than 5 Rx products for each gender (male and female) from which to choose. 
• The absence of treatment options, escalation routes, and dosing changes makes sustained management more difficult – especially under circumstances where side effect troubleshooting is warranted. While Hims’ Rxproducts surely help boost hair growth, the limits of customization might still mean many of its customers may lack the options needed to resolve side effects, address scalp inflammation, or even further boost hair growth.

What Does Hims Offer?

Hims offers a range of prescription hair loss drugs, as well as over-the-counter products, including 5% minoxidil and anti-dandruff shampoos. The Rx offering features reliable, clinically proven pharmaceuticals delivered in an impressive range of vehicles: oral supplements are available in pills and “chews”, while topical formulations are available as sprays, serum, and foams. 

We’ll take a tour of the product range and see what the Rx catalog offers. Does the science back up the use of the selection to tackle hair loss? And to what extent is it “personal”?

Finasteride (from $22 a month)

Starting off simple, 1 mg a day of finasteride is FDA-approved for the treatment of androgenic AGA in men. There’s a reason finasteride is one of the most popular treatments for hair loss globally. It has been widely studied both for its efficacy in reversing the impact of AGA and for its potential long-term side effects. It’s reliable, widely available, and relatively cheap. 

Finasteride lowers levels of a hormone called dihydrotestosterone (DHT), which is known to be involved in AGA. An enzyme called 5-alpha reductase converts testosterone into DHT, which then binds to androgen receptors in susceptible hair follicles in the scalp. This leads to shortening of the growth phase in hair follicles, resulting in miniaturizing the follicles until they produce thin vellus‑like hairs or none at all.^[1]Makridakis, N., & Reichardt, J. K. V. (2005). Pharmacogenetic analysis of human steroid 5α-reductase type II: comparison of finasteride and dutasteride. *Journal of Molecular Endocrinology.* … Continue reading

Finasteride blocks 5AR, thereby reducing levels of DHT and inhibiting its effect on hair follicles. Clinical studies suggest that dutasteride can reduce serum levels of DHT (levels circulating in the blood) by around 50%.^[2]Olsen, E. A., Hordinsky, M., Whiting, D., Stough, D., Hobbs, S., Ellis, M. L., Wilson, T., Rittmaster, R. S., & Dutasteride Alopecia Research Team. (2006). The importance of dual 5α-reductase … Continue reading Long-term clinical trials have shown that 1 mg finasteride daily stops AGA progression in 80-90% of men and can lead to a 10% increase in hair count on average after two years.^[3]Shapiro, J., & Kaufman, K. D. (2003). Use of finasteride in the treatment of men with androgenetic alopecia (male pattern hair loss). *Journal of Investigative Dermatology Symposium Proceedings.* … Continue reading

Because finasteride is a hormonally active drug, it can cause side effects throughout the body. This can include decreased libido, sexual dysfunction, breast enlargement or tenderness, and issues with mood in some rare cases. Long-term studies suggest that some level of side effects are experienced by between 2.6% and 13.4% of individuals, although these normally stop after treatment is halted.^[4]Olsen, E. A., Hordinsky, M., Whiting, D., Stough, D., Hobbs, S., Ellis, M. L., Wilson, T., Rittmaster, R. S., & Dutasteride Alopecia Research Team. (2006). The importance of dual 5α-reductase … Continue reading, ^[5]Shanshanwal, S. J., & Dhurat, R. S. (2017). Superiority of dutasteride over finasteride in hair regrowth and reversal of miniaturization in men with androgenetic alopecia: a randomized controlled … Continue reading,^[6]Choi, G.-S., Sim, W.-Y., Kang, H., Huh, C. H., Lee, Y. W., Shantakumar, S., Ho, Y.-F., et al. (2022). Long-term effectiveness and safety of dutasteride versus finasteride in patients with male … Continue reading

It’s because of these potentially serious side effects that finasteride is prescription-only and should be taken with medical supervision. 

Outside of their sleek branding, there is nothing unique about Hims’ offering here, and the generic finasteride pill is the same you would receive from any vendor. 

Finasteride & Minoxidil + Supplement Blend (from $35 a month)

Things start getting more interesting when we look at combination therapies. Clinical data and anecdotal evidence from our members’ point to combinations of therapies as potentially powerful routes to address AGA. The impact of multiple drugs targeting different causes of hair loss can be additive and may lead to improved results.^[7]Hu, R., Xu, F., Sheng, Y., Qi, S., Han, Y., Miao, Y., Rui, W., & Yang, Q. (2015). Combined treatment with oral finasteride and topical minoxidil in male androgenetic alopecia: a randomized and … Continue reading

Finasteride with minoxidil is a popular combination. While finasteride works by regulating hormonal causes of AGA, the mechanism of action of minoxidil is less clear-cut. The drug appears to shorten the resting phase in hair follicles, promoting earlier entry into the growth phase.^[8]Messenger, A. G., & Rundegren, J. (2004). Minoxidil: mechanisms of action on hair growth. British Journal of Dermatology. 150(2). 186–194. Available at: … Continue reading

Evidence suggests that minoxidil also increases local blood flow to the follicles, activates the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway involved in follicular cell proliferation and differentiation, and may have cytoprotective and anti-inflammatory effects. 

Minoxidil is most commonly applied in topical formulations, while finasteride is typically taken orally. That rule isn’t universal, however, and there is plenty of clinical evidence supporting oral minoxidil and topical finasteride. You can read more about oral minoxidil and topical finasteride in our in-depth articles.

Hims’ combination approaches offer either oral blends or topical blends. This will simplify the production of the drugs, and also help adherence: it’s much easier to take a single pill every day or apply a single lotion than remember to use a combination of both. 

Does Combination Oral Finasteride and Minoxidil Work?

Their finasteride-minoxidil combination includes 1.2 mg finasteride and 3 mg minoxidil, with the option to add a supplemental blend. 

There hasn’t been much research into the impact of the combination of oral finasteride and minoxidil on hair loss. One retrospective study, involving 502 men, found that, after one year of 1 mg finasteride and 2.5 mg minoxidil daily, 92.4% of men were stable or improved, while 57.4% showed overt regrowth. This is a retrospective study with no control group, so we can’t make any comparisons to individual therapies.^[9]Johnson, H., Huang, D., Clift, A. K., Ângela, B. F., & Guimarães, G. A. (2025). Effectiveness of combined oral minoxidil and finasteride in male androgenetic alopecia: a retrospective service … Continue reading

The lack of direct evidence doesn’t mean that this combination won’t be effective, and we know that both therapies are effective independently. What we still lack, however, is long-term safety data on low-dose oral minoxidil.

We’ve discussed the potential side effects of finasteride, and oral minoxidil also raises safety concerns. Unlike topical minoxidil, which is FDA-approved for hair loss, oral formulations can act systemically throughout the body. The most common side effect is hypertrichosis, or unwanted hair growth outside the scalp, including on the face. Other commonly reported side effects include lightheadedness, fluid retention, an elevated heart rate, and headache.^[11]Vañó-Galván, S., Pirmez, R., Hermosa-Gelbard, A., Moreno-Arrones, Ó. M., Saceda-Corralo, D., Rodrigues-Barata, R., Jimenez-Cauhe, J., et al. (2021). Safety of low-dose oral minoxidil for hair … Continue reading

This leads us to a major issue with Hims’ offerings for hair loss. The brand is marketed as highly personalizable, and there is a range of options available to suit your practical needs: do you prefer a pill or a chew, would you rather spray on or apply a topical solution? However, this customization doesn’t stretch to the actual treatment itself. If you find that the oral minoxidil and finasteride combination is causing side effects, there is no route to decrease your concentration or find a safer option. 

Similarly, if you find the plan tolerable or your regrowth plateaus and you want to escalate your treatment, there is no path to do so with Hims. Dutasteride is a very common escalation route from finasteride: it has been shown to better reduce DHT and can lead to better regrowth, but is not available here.^[12]Harcha, W. G., Barboza Martínez, J., Tsai, T.-F., Katsuoka, K., Kawashima, M., Tsuboi, R., Barnes, A., Ferron-Brady, G., & Chetty, D. (2014). A randomized, active- and placebo-controlled study … Continue reading

A one-size-fits-all treatment plan goes against Hims’ stated aim of providing a personalized approach. In the absence of alternatives or proper guidance, many men will simply persevere with their (potentially harmful) treatment or stop treating their hair loss altogether. 

Does the Supplement Blend Help?

Hims’ oral finasteride and minoxidil are available with a supplement including biotin, vitamin B12, vitamin C, resveratrol, and zinc to “support healthy hair”. It’s unlikely that any supplement will have any substantial impact on hair growth compared to the highly active pharmaceutical ingredients. Instead, these ingredients are typically included to improve the condition and appearance of existing hair. 

Biotin is commonly found in supplements and shampoos, but there is limited data to support its use for supporting hair growth. In fact, data supporting the use of biotin for hair loss comes almost exclusively from studies done on children with a biotin deficiency. Because biotin is a component of keratin, it is essential for hair growth. For people who can’t absorb dietary biotin, supplementation can make a real difference. Unfortunately, this only accounts for around 1 in 110,000 people.^[13]Patel, D. P., Swink, S. M., & Castelo-Soccio, L. (2017). A review of the use of biotin for hair loss. *Skin Appendage Disorders.* 3(3). 166–169. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1159/000462981 

Other inclusions, like vitamin B12, vitamin C, and zinc, are also unlikely to provide boosts in growth to anyone without a vitamin deficiency. For Hims customers in the US, the likelihood of deficiencies in these nutrients is highly unlikely. Instead, these ingredients are typically added to increase the value of the average purchase, rather than because of any proven gains.

Rx Hair Loss Spray (from $35 a month)

Hims’ Hair Loss Spray pairs 6% minoxidil with 0.3% finasteride. Topical formulations are often used to avoid some of the more severe, systemic side effects associated with oral pharmaceuticals. Because treatment is localized to the scalp, off-target effects on other organs are minimized.

Topical minoxidil at 6% is higher than the over-the-counter dose of 5%. There is some clinical data suggesting that increased dosing can improve results for some people, though there is diminishing returns at concentrations of 10% and higher, while the risk of side effects such as irritation and unwanted hair growth increases.^[14]Singh, S., Patil, A., Kianfar, N., Waśkiel-Burnat, A., Rudnicka, L., Sinclair, R., & Goldust, M. (2022). Does topical minoxidil at concentrations higher than 5% provide additional clinical … Continue reading, ^[15]Ghonemy, S., Alarawi, A., & Bessar, H. (2021). Efficacy and safety of a new 10% topical minoxidil versus 5% topical minoxidil and placebo in the treatment of male androgenetic alopecia: a … Continue reading

Topical finasteride is a relatively recent development and has shown promising results in clinical trials. One study suggested that improvements from 1% topical solution were comparable to 1 mg oral finasteride.^[16]Hajheydari, Z., Akbari, J., Saeedi, M., & Shokoohi, L. (2009). Comparing the therapeutic effects of finasteride gel and tablet in treatment of the androgenetic alopecia. *Indian Journal of … Continue reading 

Given the power of topical minoxidil and finasteride to combat hair loss independently, there has been clinical research into the potential of combined therapies. A meta-analysis, which pools the results from multiple studies to find if results are repeatable, found that the combination was superior to minoxidil alone.^[17]Li, Y., Huang, Q., Zhou, Z., & Zhang, Y. (2025). Comparing minoxidil-finasteride mixed solution with minoxidil solution alone for male androgenetic alopecia: a systematic review and meta-analysis … Continue reading As such, there’s reason to believe that Hims’ Hair Loss Spray can provide meaningful improvements for many users.

Where Does Hims’ Rx Hair Loss Spray Come Up Short?

Unfortunately, we find the same problems with the Hair Loss Spray offering as we did with the tablet and chew. A one-size-fits-all approach doesn’t provide the nuance that is essential to provide effective care. There is no standard, safe dosing regimen for topical finasteride, and one study has shown that aa 0.25% solution can reduce serum DHT by 35%. While this is lower than oral (55%), it does suggest that there is still a risk of side effects.^[18]Piraccini, B. M., Blume-Peytavi, U., Scarci, F., Jansat, J. M., Falqués, M., Otero, R., Tamarit, M. L., et al. (2022). Efficacy and safety of topical finasteride spray solution for male androgenetic … Continue reading

Some users may find that the high concentration used here is not sustainable, but will have no route to try alternatives. Furthermore, Hims’ Hair Loss spray includes propylene glycol, which is unfortunately common in hair growth treatments. Propylene glycol causes irritation in around 7% of users and can add to inflammation in the scalp. This acts to worsen, rather than improve, hair growth outcomes.^[19]Patel, K., Palmer, A., & Nixon, R. (2023). Allergic contact dermatitis from propylene glycol: a case series from Australia. *Contact Dermatitis.* 89(2). 79–84. Available at: … Continue reading 

Sprays also cause issues for users. Particularly for men who wear their hair longer, sprays are often absorbed by the hair and cannot reach the follicles, where drugs are active. This is also likely to increase the proportion of the drug that does not reach the target areas, thereby increasing systemic absorption and the likelihood of further reductions in serum DHT.

What Else is Missing?

As we’ve noted above, dutasteride is a common route to escalate therapy when finasteride isn’t having the expected impact. Dutasteride can provide stronger DHT reduction, with a similar incidence of side effects.^[20]Shanshanwal, S. J., & Dhurat, R. S. (2017). Superiority of dutasteride over finasteride in hair regrowth and reversal of miniaturization in men with androgenetic alopecia: a randomized controlled … Continue reading,^[21]Choi, G.-S., Sim, W.-Y., Kang, H., Huh, C. H., Lee, Y. W., Shantakumar, S., Ho, Y.-F., et al. (2022). Long-term effectiveness and safety of dutasteride versus finasteride in patients with male … Continue reading. 

In fact, the FDA recently issued a warning for topical finasteride, noting that “Absorption of finasteride through the skin into the bloodstream is expected, and the reports describe adverse events that are consistent with those reported in association with the approved oral finasteride products”.^[22]U.S. Food and Drug Administration. (n.d.). FDA alerts health care providers, compounders, and consumers about potential risks associated with compounded drugs. *FDA.* Available at: … Continue reading This further highlights the need for ongoing physician involvement and expert input.

Interested in Topical Dutasteride?

Hair gains bigger than finasteride? Dutasteride makes this possible, if prescribed*

Take the next step in your hair regrowth journey. Get started today with a provider who can prescribe a topical solution tailored for you.

Click Here For 15% Off

*Only available in the U.S. Prescriptions not guaranteed. Restrictions apply. Off-label products are not endorsed by the FDA.

There is also no option to include add-ons to help promote the activity of the pharmaceutical components. Tretinoin, for example, can help minoxidil penetrate into the skin and hair follicles, enhancing its activity

Rx Hair Loss Serum (from $35 a month)

Hims’ Hair Loss Serum contains the same ingredients as the Hair Loss Spray, except for the absence of propylene glycol. This would reduce the chances of scalp irritation. It is also applied directly to the scalp, avoiding the issues associated with spray-on topicals. The serum should, therefore, help with adherence and increase the proportion of active ingredients reaching the scalp when compared to the spray.

Where to Find Real Personalization

Unfortunately, the issues found in Hims’ products are systemic in the hair loss industry. Over-standardized dosing, limited escalation paths, and a lack of meaningful medical oversight are widespread and pose a major hurdle for men looking to combat hair loss.

Ulo was launched in response to these issues. Rather than offering fixed, one-size-fits-all protocols, Ulo was designed to give patients and physicians the flexibility needed to manage hair loss as it presents and was built around three core pillars: evidence, personalization, and consumer safety.

At a practical level, this personalization is built-in in several important ways:

• True dosing flexibility
• Ingredient-level customization
• Access to escalation pathways
• Formulations designed for long-term use
• Ongoing physician involvement

Where many brands promise personalization but deliver rigid protocols, Ulo was built to support informed medical decision-making over time.

Final Remarks

Hims offers a broad, accessible entry point into hair loss treatment, with clinically proven medications and tested delivery methods. For many men, these products may slow or stabilize androgenic alopecia, particularly when well tolerated. 

However, beneath the convenience and branding, we find consistent limitations: rigid dosing, limited escalation pathways, high-concentration formulations with unclear long-term safety margins, and a lack of meaningful personalization once side effects or plateaus emerge. These issues are not unique to Hims, but they underscore broader problems in telehealth hair loss care.