Hims offers several products to help prevent and treat hair loss. Some are only available with a prescription. We break these products down for you in our review of Hims hair loss treatments.
Roughly
For people looking for products designed to prevent, slow, or even reverse hair loss, Hims is a telehealth company that offers something of a one-stop shopping experience. Hims provides prescription and over-the-counter products to improve hair and skin health, as well as nutrition, sexual function, and even mental and physical health.
Keep reading to see if Hims is right for you.
Language matters
In this article, we use “male and female” to refer to someone’s sex as determined by their chromosomes, and “men and women” when referring to their gender (unless quoting from sources using nonspecific language).
Sex is determined by chromosomes, and gender is a social construct that can vary between time periods and cultures. Both of these aspects are acknowledged to exist on a spectrum both historically and by modern scientific consensus.
Hims pros and cons
Like every online company, Hims presents customers with both pros and cons associated with the convenient yet somewhat impersonal nature of telehealth services.
Pros
- The company features fast and easy online consultations with a licensed medical professional.
- Hims has subscription services, so you don’t have to worry about running out of minoxidil or finasteride.
- The company offers free shipping.
Cons
- There’s no face-to-face appointment with a healthcare professional to do a physical examination of your scalp.
- There’s a limited variety of products for sale.
- There’s an occasional long wait for a response about products and subscriptions.
Overview of Hims hair loss treatments and products
How to get started with Hims’ hair loss treatment
Before you can buy anything from Hims or get a consultation with a dermatologist, you need to set up a Hims account.
Using Hims’ encrypted data platform, you create a profile and then answer some basic questions about your hair loss status — receding hairline, thinning hair — as well as what other products you’ve tried.
Next, you will answer more health questions regarding your medical history, mental health, erectile dysfunction (ED), and any medications or supplements you currently take.
These questions have less to do with hair loss treatment and more to do with directing you to other products and services from Hims, including ED medications and mental health counseling.
You may also need to submit photos of your hairline. After your information and any questions have been submitted, you will receive a response usually within 24 hours from a medical professional.
If the doctor determines that finasteride is appropriate, you will be given a prescription and the option to order the medication through Hims.
Other hair products are available without a prescription and can be obtained as one-time purchases or as part of a subscription. If you are approved for finasteride, you will receive the medication monthly through a subscription.
Is Hims hair treatment worth it?
Hims, Inc. has an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau (BBB), though the BBB customer reviews amount to 3.86 stars out of 5 based on over 3,600 reviews as of June 2024.
The recent customer reviews are mixed. Most complaints fall in the problems with product/service category, but the complaints predominantly center on subscriptions and services.
Several customers say that they were charged for subscriptions after canceling.
One customer says that they received leaky bottles of medication for hair loss treatment — and the following two replacement products also arrived with a leak.
Overall, Hims, Inc. responds to customer complaints and provides explanations of how the prescription services work.
It can take up to 48 hours to cancel a subscription. If the company receives that notification the day of or the day prior to the next month’s debit on your credit card, you will be charged for one more month.
Our writer spoke to several customer service agents and found them to be warm and helpful.
Hims vs. competitors: A head-to-head comparison
Not sure whether Hims is right for you? There are several other health and wellness companies that offer similar hair loss products and services that may be worth checking out.
| Brand | Hair products | Shipping | Customer service |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hims | • finasteride • minoxidil (foam or solution) • finasteride and minoxidil spray • thickening shampoo • thickening conditioner • biotin gummies | free, direct to consumer | • responsive • good reviews on Trustpilot • poor reviews on BBB per service quality |
| Roman | • finasteride • minoxidil • finasteride and minoxidil | free, direct to consumer | responsive, but reviews skew negative |
| Lemonaid | finasteride only | • free • ships via mail order unless you use insurance • if using insurance, you pick up products at your local pharmacy | • responsive • mixed reviews, but customer service is rated highest of these brands |
| Keeps | • finasteride • minoxidil (foam or solution) • ketoconazole 2% shampoo • hair thickening shampoo, conditioner • styling products | $5, direct to consumer | responsive but has mixed reviews on service quality |
Looking for more in-depth comparisons?
We took a closer look at three of the most popular online services for hair loss and hair thinning: Hims, Roman, and Keeps. We compared prices, customer reviews, ease of service, and privacy polices to see how these companies stacked up against each other. You can read more about our findings below:
Hims vs. Roman 2024: What to Know About These Men’s Health Services
Hims vs. Keeps for Hair Loss in 2024: What’s the Difference?
Pricing and insurance
Hims does not take insurance, so you’re looking at paying all costs out of pocket. Many consider Hims hair loss products to be reasonably priced.
Before you can purchase these products, you will have to participate in a free online consultation. Typically, this can be as easy as filling out an online survey about your type of hair loss, some medical history, and other medications you may be taking, which will then be evaluated by a licensed medical professional.
If your assigned medical professional has any follow-up questions, they will contact you. Additionally, unless required by your state, a video call isn’t required to get started.
Product prices are clearly marked on the website, but it’s important to read the terms of service. Once you sign up for a subscription to their products, Hims will keep sending them and charging you until you formally notify the company that you’re terminating your subscription.
Frequently asked questions about Hims hair products
Oral finasteride and topical minoxidil are FDA approved. But there are potential side effects. Talk with your doctor about possible risks, interactions, or side effects before you try Hims hair products.
According to the website, it can take anywhere from 3–6 months before you can expect to see any results from using the Hims hair treatment products.
For products like oral finasteride, optimal results can take up to a year.
Ordering hair loss products can be a personal and sensitive topic. Hims allows you to find the best prescription for your needs entirely online.
Products will ship to your home so you can get what you need discreetly.
Takeaway
There are many pros and cons to consider before you try products for hair loss from Hims.
On the plus side, Hims can save you the hassle of an in-person doctor’s appointment and a trip to the pharmacy. The online process is straightforward, and products ship directly to you.
Hims also offers FDA-approved hair loss products but so do other retailers like Roman and Keeps.
If you try Hims hair care products, read the labels carefully to learn how to get the most benefits safely and effectively.