Male Baldness Subscription Services: Are They Any Good?

What are hair loss prescription services, and are they worth a try?

If you're a man suffering from male pattern baldness, then you'll probably be familiar with the online hair loss subscription craze. In the last couple of years, we’ve seen a dramatic rise of men's wellness subscription brands, and in particular, for hair loss.

Here in the UK, online hair loss subscription brands, Numan, Manual, Freshman, and Sons, are currently leading the way, offering an array of male treatments, with hair loss being at their forefront. If you live in the US, then you'll be more familiar with the brands Hims, Roman, and Keeps.

With the vast majority of men set to experience hair loss, its little wonder this trend has taken off so quickly.

Firstly, what exactly is male pattern baldness?

Male pattern baldness (pattern baldness), or androgenic alopecia, is the most common form of hair loss in both men and women (female pattern baldness), affecting around 65% of men by middle age. Usually, male pattern baldness is caused by the dihydrotestosterone (DHT) hormone when it attacks hair follicles, thus stumping the hair growth. Balding is usually dictated by age and genetics.

So, what is a male baldness subscription service?

Prescription treatments for male pattern baldness, can now be prescribed online and delivered to your door on a regular basis. Getting a prescription for finasteride, for example, can be done virtually, and delivery is mostly within a few days of signing up.

What was once something you'd have to see a doctor about, can now be done online, making it more convenient, less expensive, and private, which is its main appeal. It also makes finasteride more easily accessible.

What treatments come with the subscription plan?

Numan, Manual, Freshman, and Sons offer a wide range of male treatments, but as far as male baldness treatments go, they offer four main products:

Finasteride - The only medically approved oral pill treatment for hair loss.
Minoxidil - The only medically approved topical solution for hair loss.
Shampoo - Not a hair loss treatment.
Basic Vitamins - Not a hair loss treatment

Do the treatments work?

Only two of the four hair loss treatments on offer can work to prevent thinning, and stabilise hair growth - they are finasteride and minoxidil. Finasteride can help stump hair loss, however, it can also come with some harsh side-effects such as erectile dysfunction, impotence, low sex drive, depression, memory loss, and feminisation. Minoxidil can also come with negative side-effects such as headaches, dizziness, and skin rash, but they're far less severe than finasteride.

Shampoos do not treat hair loss, but they can be used to assist treatments. The supplements on offer are no more than basic vitamins, which can be purchased cheaper unbranded, or in a harder working multivitamin hair supplement, that's more effective.

How do men's hair loss subscription services work?

Numan, Freshman, Sons, and Manual work in the same way. You'll first have an online hair loss consultation, and then you'll be given a personalised treatment plan. You then purchase the actual products, which will then be shipped out to your address. It's a very simple process.

Once you've done that, your products will be automatically shipped to you either quarterly, or six-monthly, depending on what service you use.

Are male hair loss subscription services worth doing?

In all honestly, Numan, Freshman, Sons, and Manual are just nicely presented brands that make the whole process a little bit easier. However, these subscription services are not necessarily the cheaper option.

Finasteride can be prescribed at a cheaper rate, both online and offline, and you can purchase minoxidil for as little as £12 per month when you opt for cheaper bands like Kirkland. Having calculated the costs, by sourcing out finasteride and minoxidil on your own, you would be able to go on the exact same hair loss plan for around half the monthly price of these subscription services.

As for the shampoos, well, they're pretty ineffective for treating male pattern baldness, so you would again be better off getting a good shampoo like OGX Biotin & Collagen shampoo, available at all supermarkets, for around £6 a bottle. With 3-4 washes a week, that should last you up to two months.

The supplements that come with the subscription services are really just a gimmick - something to 'compliment' the brands, and add some bulk to the monthly subscription. They basically there to make a little extra money. If you want a proper supplement, then opt for a specialist multivitamin hair supplement like HR23+, which is safe, effective, and works at the root cause of hair loss.