The best hair growth products of 2024, according to dermatologists

Cost: $28.98 for a set of 2 | Product type: Topical solution | Key ingredient: 5% minoxidil | Best for: Male pattern baldness

Men's health from the inside out is Hims' focus and this includes hair issues such as thinning and loss. Its Hair Regrowth Treatment topical solution contains 5% minoxidil, which is one of only a few FDA-approved hair regrowth treatments. Additionally, minoxidil has been clinically proven to regrow thick, healthy hair in a matter of months.

What sets Hims apart from the more old school Rogaine brand is its all-encompassing approach to men's health. Hims' on-staff health care providers can help you address hair loss, mental health concerns, erectile dysfunction, skin care and more, including prescribing medication when needed. We also appreciate that insurance providers often reimburse Hims' services. And for those who are underinsured, Hims is a great affordable option.

Cost: $15 | Product type: Topical solution | Key Ingredient: 2% Minoxidil | Best for: Female pattern baldness, shedding and thinning

Hers is the sister company of Hims and offers many of the same great services; from hair regrowth to mental health to weight loss and more. It also has on-staff physicians who can provide prescriptions when needed. You may have noticed that the Men's Minoxidil solution is 5%, while the Hers Women’s Minoxidil is a 2% topical solution. This is due to the genetic difference in female and male skin. A 2% minoxidil solution is the highest dose approved by the FDA for women. 

From my firsthand experience, the 2% solution was slightly irritating, so I cannot imagine how irritating the 5% solution would have been on my scalp. That said, this stuff works, and well! Within about four weeks, I noticed new growth at my temples and overall thickening. The good news is that you can also get minoxidil in oral form, but you will need to get a prescription — a Hers provider can help with that as well.

If you are experiencing hair loss and thinning and want to take an aggressive approach, Hers offers consultations with health care providers who can help you find the best path forward and with the best regime, whether that be topical or oral. 

You can get an even better deal today on Amazon for Prime Day — grab a set of two for just $23.

Cost: $12 | Product type: Oil | Key Ingredients: Rosemary, mint, biotin | Best for: Promoting density and hair regrowth 

Do not let the low price fool you; this stuff is magical hair growth goodness without irritation. Mielle Organics Rosemary Mint Scalp & Hair Strengthening Oil is not only a viral phenomenon but also a favorite among Yahoo staffers, including myself. I truly love and use this hair oil and recommend it to all who ask me what they should use to help with hair loss and thinning.

First and foremost, it's formulated with all-natural ingredients yet is still highly effective, so I never have to worry about sending family and friends down a path riddled with side effects and wasted time and money. Second, rosemary oil is a hair-growth powerhouse that has been clinically proven in multiple studies to work as well as minoxidil. In fact, one major study found that rosemary oil not only worked as well as minoxidil at promoting hair growth, the participants in both the minoxidil control group and the rosemary control group experienced the same amount of hair growth. The study also found that participants in the rosemary group stuck with the treatment longer than the minoxidil group. I, for one, can also attest to that — I use the oil a few times a week for upkeep.

The oil works by creating an all-over healthy scalp environment for hair growth, starting with nourishing the scalp, hair follicles, and hair shaft root to tip while also reducing inflammation and increasing vasodilation, which is a fancy word for opening blood vessels and promoting blood flow and circulation. Vasodilation has also been proven to help promote hair growth.

To see results, it's super important to stick with it for at least a few months, applying it at least every other day. This is the case for all hair growth products; hair can only grow so fast. To learn more about hair oils, read our roundup of the best hair oils.

Pro tip: For those with fine hair, rub one to two drops between your fingertips and massage straight into the scalp for at least a minute. This will minimize excess oil transfer from your palms to your hair and leave your hair with extra volume. While some feel the rosemary and mint scent is a little too strong, I love it!

Cost: $49 | Product type: Shampoo + conditioner | Key ingredients: KeraFactor's 7 Polypeptides Peptide Complex | Best for: All hair types experiencing thinning and loss

What sets KeraFactor apart from every product on this list is that it is available exclusively at dermatologist offices across the country, so to say it's recommended by dermatologists is an understatement! You can, however, also get this non-medicated, safe-for-sensitive skin shampoo and conditioner combo directly through KeraFactor's website. (The hair growth serum also won high marks!)

KeraFactor's proprietary Peptide Complex really delivered results thanks to the seven polypeptides. The patent-pending shampoo and conditioner combo formula helps to “turn on” weak or resting hair follicles, improve scalp circulation, and fortify your scalp and follicles with nutrients that help produce thicker, longer, healthier-looking hair. And did it ever!  

Our in-house tester raved about the product and said of all the products she tested over the past six months, this one not only made her hair feel and look thicker after just two weeks, but she also noticed growth both at the scalp and her hair overall length: "I love how the shampoo lathers and feels when I'm working it into my scalp. I'm also incredibly impressed by how soft my hair feels once dry. I've never encountered a 2-in-1 shampoo and conditioner that cleanses my hair and leaves it soft without buildup. My hair feels fuller, clean and reinvigorated. I see actual growth and my hair is noticeably thicker. A total winner in my book!"

Cost: $35 | Product Type: Shampoo, conditioner, topical foam | Key ingredients: Caffeine, mentha leaf oil, peppermint mint, niacinamide | Best for: All hair types and genders 

Nioxin has been around for decades, and for good reason: It really works. In fact, A-list celebrities like Alyssa Milano sing its praises, and so do we. While there are four Nioxin system kits to choose from depending on your level of hair thinning and the condition of your hair, the No. 2 System Kit is the most popular as it treats progressed thinning for people with normal, un-processed or color-treated hair. The kit includes an antioxidant-rich three-hit combo in the form of shampoo, conditioner and a topical leave-in foam to ensure you're getting the most effective treatment in one easy-to-use kit. 

The complete system is fortified with proven ingredients that promote both scalp and hair health, creating the optimal environment for hair to return to its former glory. The key ingredients include caffeine, stimulating hair follicles and increasing blood flow to promote hair growth. Mentha leaf, coupled with peppermint, regulates oil production and product buildup on the scalp that can clog and stifle hair follicles. Last is niacinamide, which promotes overall scalp health and leaves your scalp and hair healthy and thriving. By using all three products at least three times a week, you will be well on your way to thicker, healthier hair in 30 to 60 days.

Cost: $70 | Product type: Supplements | Best for: Men | Key ingredients: Saw palmetto, biotin, vitamins A, C, D; ashwagandha exomes, Irish moss peptides, pea sprout extract 

While minoxidil is considered a gold standard in hair growth products, it's not for everyone. A safer yet still effective option is Nutrafol's all-natural approach to hair regrowth: supplements and a topical serum. The supplements work from the inside out to promote cell turnover and healthy cell production, while the serum nourishes the scalp and hair follicles to create an optimal environment for hair regrowth. The ingredients in both products are all-natural yet proven effective for improving hair density and growth, including some ingredients like the hard-to-pronounce ashwagandha exosomes, Irish moss peptides, pea sprout extract, biotin, and the real star here for men: Saw palmetto, which in addition to being effective for hair growth, has also been found in clinical studies to be beneficial for men's prostate and urinary tract health. 

Take advantage of Prime Day discounts and score $18 off the usual price — Nutrafol Men supplements are just $70 today, or $67.50 if you subscribe to monthly deliveries.

Cost: $70 | Product type: Supplement | Key Ingredients: Ashwagandha, collagen peptides, maca, saw palmetto, antioxidants, horsetail | Best for: Women

Nutrafol are natural, physician-formulated supplements that promote hair growth and overall wellness. The products use a blend of vitamins, minerals, botanicals and antioxidants to tackle the six root causes of hair loss: hormones, stress, lifestyle, metabolism, nutrition and aging. There's also a mix of DHT blockers, including curcumin, saw palmetto, resveratrol and horsetail to help reduce thinning and hair loss. Other science-backed ingredients, such as ashwagandha, marine collagen peptides and keratin, are included as a way to strengthen hair follicles and encourage growth.

We especially love that the company has made research a priority. In a clinical trial, women taking Nutrafol supplements had longer, thicker hair after six months and improvements in overall hair growth, volume and color. Many of the participants reported improvements in other aspects of their well-being, including stress levels, anxiety, sleep quality and skin health.

Get $18 off the typical list price today for Prime Day and grab your first month's supply for just $70 (or even less if you subscribe to monthly deliveries).

Cost: $600 (money back guarantee) | Product type: Laser cap | Best for: Reversing thinning and growth from the hairline to the crown 

The iRestore Essential Laser Hair Growth System employs an FDA-approved treatment for hair growth: low‐level light therapy. The laser cap promotes blood flow and new cell growth by stimulating mitochondria and promoting protein synthesis. Low‐level light therapy has been found in clinical studies to help encourage hair growth over time with regular use — every other day for six months. In an iRestore independent lab study, there was an average hair count boost of 43.2% over four months in all of its participants — which is likely why the company offers a full money-back guarantee.

Light therapy is ideal for those who prefer non‐invasive hair growth options and want to avoid the ongoing expense of hair growth products; the laser cap requires a one-time purchase only. All you need to do is wear the laser cap for 25-minute intervals every other day. You can use it with other hair growth treatments, and the best part is the company will give you your money back if you don't notice results within six months.