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Is your hair parting like the Red Sea? A few extra chunks of hair blocking the tub drain lately? Nobody wants to look for the best hair growth products, but you've come to the right place to finally address those few extra millimeters of forehead you've been seeing of late. Do these things actually work, though, or is Big Hair just looking for a way to sell you snake oil?
“The efficacy of hair growth products depends on the active ingredients and the underlying cause of hair loss,” Dr. Daniel Gould, a board-certified Beverly Hills plastic surgeon, says. “I advise patients to be wary of exaggerated marketing claims and to consult with a qualified physician to determine the best evidence-based treatment plan.”
That's not to say that a bunch of hair growth products don't work, because, well, we've tried them—and many of them can seriously help your hair loss efforts. From serums to sprays to supplements, these hair growth products will (hopefully) help you sprout some new strands rather than going full George Costanza.
The Best Hair Growth Products, According to GQ
- Best Hair Growth Product Overall: Hims Topical Minoxidil Serum, $15
- Best Shampoo for Thinning Hair: R+Co Dallas Shampoo, $38
- Best Styling Product for Thinning Hair: Keeps Thickening Pomade, $27
- Best LED Mask for Hair Growth: Currentbody LED Hair Growth Helmet, $859
- Best Hair Growth Supplement: Nutrafol Hair Growth Nutraceutical, $88
- Best Hair Growth Serum: Kérastase Sérum Extentioniste, $62
- Best Hair Loss Product for Receding Hairlines: Ro 3-in-1 Topical Spray, $36
Best Hair Growth Product Overall: Hims Topical Minoxidil Serum
Hims is probably the most well-known name in hair growth products, and for good reason: This stuff works. Since its founding in 2017, the brand has greatly expanded its hair loss treatments, ranging from topicals to supplements, each of which takes advantage of clinically backed products to get your hairline to stop receding and, with any luck, start growing thicker, fuller hair. GQ's own Adam Hurly has subjected his dome to many of Hims' products, leaving his testing with the impression that the topical minoxidil serum might be one of the best offerings. The OTC serum utilizes minoxidil, a popular vasodilator, which means it can “extend the growth phase of hair follicles and improve density in some patients,” Gould says.
That means you're likely to be left with a fuller head of hair if you were worried about thinning, but know this: Minoxidil won't help with stopping a receding hairline, though it can help give the appearance that you have more hair, because your current strands will be thicker and fuller. Our tester Hurly says he prefers this form of minoxidil from Hims because “it’s much easier for [him] to apply and incorporate into [his] regimen than the foam” while interfering less with his normal hair styling.
Best Shampoo for Thinning Hair: R+Co Dallas Shampoo
Hair loss products range the gamut from oral medications to topicals, but of all the options out there, dermatologists agree that shampoos are probably the least effective for helping stop hair loss. "Shampoos are tough," Dr. Saami Khalifian, a double-board certified dermatologist and founder of SOM Aesthetics founder, says. “Their brief contact time limits efficacy, though some with ketoconazole can reduce inflammation if you have dandruff. For serious loss, serums and prescriptions pack the punch; shampoos are supporting players.”
However, for a regular shampoo that can help thicken hair, we're big fans of R+Co’s Dallas. The combination of vitamin B+, saw palmetto, and coconut oil all help to hydrate and thicken the hair, while working to block dihydrotestosterone, or DHT, which is a naturally occurring hormone that can cause hair loss. As Khalifian emphasizes, this shampoo won't help you grow new hair, but we do find that hair feels more luscious and thick with regular lathers.
Best Styling Product for Thinning Hair: Keeps Thickening Pomade
Just because you have fewer strands of hair doesn't mean you don't want to style it. In GQ contributor Timothy Beck Werth's testing of pomades for thinning hair, he found that Keeps' is the best one with biotin, which may help with hair growth if you're deficient. The brand, known for its hair loss products, packed its Thickening Pomade with biotin, caffeine, DHT-blocking saw palmetto, and green tea to nourish the hair and scalp while providing a natural matte finish with medium hold. Werth found that the pomade helped to build volume in the hair to create the appearance of a thicker mane, while being lightweight enough to not weigh down the style or feel greasy during the day.
Best LED Mask for Hair Growth: Currentbody LED Hair Growth Helmet
LED face masks work. Seriously, whether it's for fading hyperpigmentation, reducing acne, or smoothening out fine lines, LED masks are proven to be effective. But what about the scalp? Currentbody, one of the brands we love for its LED face masks, also makes a helmet that's packed with LED lights, supposedly to help those suffering from hair loss.
“Low-level laser therapy (LLLT), such as red light therapy, has also shown promise in stimulating follicular activity and improving hair thickness,” Gould says. To use, just throw the helmet on for 10 minutes a day and let the spectrum of red light infiltrate the scalp to stimulate hair growth. Users have reported thicker hair, greater scalp coverage, and new growth with regular use, and it's way cheaper than a trip to Turkey. Even if you doubt the efficacy of LED masks for, well, anything, know this: There's literally no harm in trying one (other than on your wallet).
Best Hair Growth Supplement: Nutrafol Hair Growth Nutraceutical
Can popping a pill suddenly help you grow a fresh head of hair? If Nutrafol is the brand you're popping, then most likely yes. Backed by millions of dollars of peer-reviewed studies, Nutrafol might be the best brand in the market for hair growth supplements, as supported by numerous dermatologists, scholars, grooming editors, and our own Adam Hurly. Hair loss can be caused by many different factors—stress, genetics, vitamin deficiencies—and Nutrafol addresses each of those with the ingredients it packs into its supplements. For example, saw palmetto, curcumin, and turmeric extracts are DHT blockers; ashwagandha and resveratrol help relieve stress; and a cocktail of key vitamins and minerals help to make up for any shortages in your diet. Hurly is a huge fan of this product, not just for its effects on his hair, but because he feels it's also like a hair multivitamin, able to replace a full pillbox of tablets with just one supplement.
Best Hair Growth Serum: Kérastase Sérum Extentioniste
Aside from genetics, stress, and vitamin deficiencies, hair loss can be caused by simply neglecting to take care of your hair: shampooing too often, heat damage, excessive hair dyeing. This serum from haircare brand Kérastase can help to reverse some of the damage you've done to your hair so that it can grow back fuller and thicker. The ingredients in this product—creatine, ceramides, taurine—all help to nourish and maintain the scalp, which is important for promoting hair growth. Plus, the existing strands will get hydrated so that it sticks around for longer by boosting its resilience. If you think your hair loss is caused by your own doing, this serum can help you get your hair back where it should be.
Best Hair Loss Product for Receding Hairlines: Ro 3-in-1 Topical Spray
When it comes to hair loss prescriptions, two main ingredients get all the buzz: minoxidil and finasteride. For the latter, you'll need a prescription, but oral finasteride works by stopping the conversion of testosterone into DHT. Basically, DHT will accumulate around hair follicles, which will shrivel them up to prevent hair growth. However, in rare cases, oral finasteride users experience decreased libidos or erectile dysfunction, which can cause some potential users to hesitate using anything with finasteride. (Studies show that 2.1% to 3.8% of users experience sexual adverse effects when taking finasteride.)
For a topical way to take advantage of finasteride with fewer reported side effects, Ro's 3-in-1 spray is great, especially for those with receding hairlines. This one combines finasteride, minoxidil, and tretinoin, with the latter being a booster of cell turnover to increase the effectiveness of minoxidil. Our tester, Hurly, regularly keeps this spray in his rotation, recommending users to use this spray this at night to avoid interfering with their regular hair styling.
Hair Growth Products FAQ
Do hair growth products actually work?
Not all hair growth products will help sprout more hair, and one product might be effective for one person while being totally useless for another.
“The key is understanding what actually stimulates hair growth versus what just makes your scalp tingle and feel ‘active, ’” Khalifian says. “Products with clinically backed ingredients like minoxidil, peptides, exosomes, and growth factors can be effective, especially when paired with the right treatment plan. If a product claims to ‘cure baldness’ or ‘regrow hair overnight,’ that’s when you know it’s snake oil. Hair restoration takes time, science, and consistency.”
Make sure to do your own research into the hair growth product you want to use, and be especially sure to be aware of the ingredients in the product you're interested in.
What are common ingredients in hair growth products?
The two big ingredients in hair growth products are minoxidil and finasteride. Minoxidil, the generic of Rogaine, is “a topical vasodilator that can extend the growth phase of hair follicles and improve density in some patients,” Gould says. Finasteride, the generic of Propecia, is an oral inhibitor of DHT, “a hormone linked to androgenic hair loss, [which] has strong evidence for preventing further hair loss and even regrowing hair in some cases.”
How do hair growth serums, supplements, and shampoos differ?
With so many options for hair growth products, it can be hard to figure out which may be best for you, but each delivery method has its own benefits.
“Serums can target hormonal issues or scalp health, supplements can help in cases of true deficiency, and shampoos and serums may have active topicals to stimulate scalp health or increase scalp turnover,” Gould says.
When should someone expect to see results when using a hair growth product?
“Hair growth is not instant,” Khalifian says. “It takes 3 to 6 months to start seeing changes, and full results can take up to a year. Hair grows in cycles, so patience and consistency are key.”
What causes hair thinning?
“Hair loss is driven by several key factors,” Khalifian says. “Genetics play the biggest role, with androgenetic alopecia (male or female pattern hair loss) being the most common cause. Hormones, particularly DHT, can shrink hair follicles over time, leading to gradual thinning. Chronic stress can trigger telogen effluvium, a condition where more hairs enter the shedding phase. Nutritional deficiencies, such as low iron, vitamin D, or protein, can also slow hair growth.”
Meet the Experts
- Dr. Daniel Gould, a board-certified Beverly Hills plastic surgeon
- Dr. Saami Khalifian, a double-board certified dermatologist and founder of SOM Aesthetics founder