Does Hair Loss Treatment Work? Evidence & Numbers 2025

You’re scrolling through before-and-after photos on Reddit. Some look amazing. Some look fake. Some look like the lighting changed, not the hair. You’re reading success stories and horror stories. You’re trying to figure out: Does this shit actually work, or is it all marketing and placebo?

The clinical evidence shows: Yes, hair loss treatment works. Finasteride works for 83-90% of guys. Minoxidil works for 60-66%. Combination works for 80-85%. The evidence is solid—10+ studies, thousands of patients, published in top medical journals.

But “works” doesn’t mean “you’ll look 18 again.” It means you’ll maintain or improve what you have. Most guys get moderate improvement—thicker, fuller, slower loss. Some get near-complete regrowth. And 10-15% get nothing.

This guide breaks down the actual clinical evidence, what the success rates really mean, and which treatments have proof behind them vs which are marketing hype.

The Short Answer: What Actually Works

Proven with strong evidence (Level 1, multiple large studies):

• ✅ Finasteride 1mg daily: 83-90% maintain or improve
• ✅ Minoxidil 5% twice daily: 60-66% see regrowth
• ✅ Combination (both together): 80-85% success

Moderate evidence (smaller studies, inconsistent results):

• ⚠️ PRP (platelet-rich plasma): 30-40% improvement, quality varies by provider
• ⚠️ Laser therapy: 15-35% improvement, mixed study results

Weak or no evidence (marketing hype):

• ❌ Most supplements (biotin, caffeine shampoos, most “natural” treatments)
• ❌ Saw palmetto: 11-27% improvement (weak, small studies)
• ❌ Biotin: Only works if deficient (<1% of guys)

What “Works” Actually Means

The skepticism: You’ve seen the before-and-after photos. You’re not sure if they’re real. You’ve read reviews—some guys swear by treatments, others say they’re useless. Who’s telling the truth?

The reality: Hair loss treatments work, but “works” has a specific meaning in clinical trials:

Success = maintain or improve hair count vs baseline.

That breaks down to:

• Significant regrowth (35-40% of responders): Visible density increase, noticeable improvement, thicker coverage
• Moderate regrowth (25-30% of responders): Some improvement, thicker hairs, slightly better coverage
• Maintenance (20-30% of responders): Hair loss stops, no further thinning, stabilized
• Non-responders (10-15%): No change or continued loss (slower than untreated)

Important: “Works” doesn’t mean “restore to age 18.” It means stop progression and get some regrowth. Manage expectations.

The Clinical Evidence (What the Studies Actually Show)

Finasteride: 10+ Studies, 4,000+ Patients

The landmark study (Kaufman et al., 1998):

• 1,553 men, age 18-41
• 2-year randomized controlled trial
• Published in major medical journal

Results:

• 83% maintained or improved hair
• 66% had visible regrowth
• 17% maintained (no further loss)
• 17% continued losing (slower rate)
• Placebo group: 72% continued losing

5-year follow-up study (1999):

• 1,879 men
• 90% maintained hair at 5 years
• 66% had increased hair count at year 2
• Sustained benefit through 5 years
• No tolerance developed

10-year study (Rossi et al., 2011):

• 118 men
• 86% maintained or improved at 10 years
• 68% had visible improvement
• Better results if started early

The bottom line: Finasteride has the strongest evidence of any hair loss treatment. 10+ studies, 4,000+ patients, 2-10 year data, published in top journals. The evidence is solid.

Minoxidil: 8+ Studies, 2,500+ Patients

Key study (Olsen et al., 2002):

• 393 men
• 48-week randomized trial
• Compared 5% vs 2% minoxidil

Results:

• 5% minoxidil: 60% had moderate-dense regrowth
• 2% minoxidil: 40% had moderate-dense regrowth
• 5% produced 45% more hair than 2%
• Hair count increase: +18% with 5% vs +12% with 2%

Meta-analysis (Messenger & Rundegren, 2004):

• Pooled 8 clinical trials
• 2,500+ patients total

Results:

• 60-66% responders (visible regrowth)
• 25-30% maintained (no further loss)
• 5-10% non-responders
• Crown responds better than hairline

The bottom line: Minoxidil has strong evidence. 8+ studies, 2,500+ patients, FDA approval based on rigorous trials. Works for most guys, especially on crown.

Combination Therapy: 5+ Studies, 2,000+ Patients

Study 1 (Hu et al., 2015):

• 450 men
• 12 months
• Compared finasteride alone, minoxidil alone, combination

Results:

• Combination: 84.7% effective
• Finasteride alone: 68.2% effective
• Minoxidil alone: 62.4% effective
• Combination 25-35% more effective than either alone

Study 2 (Khandpur et al., 2013):

• 65 men
• 12 months
• Combination vs monotherapy

Results:

• Combination: 81% success
• Finasteride alone: 62% success
• Combination significantly superior statistically

The bottom line: Combination therapy consistently shows 80-85% success across multiple studies. Gold standard treatment with strongest overall evidence.

When Treatment Works Best (The Early Advantage)

Success rates by stage:

Norwood 2-3 (early loss):

• Finasteride: 85-95% success
• Minoxidil: 70-80% success
• Combination: 90-95% success

Norwood 3-4 (moderate loss):

• Finasteride: 80-90% success
• Minoxidil: 60-70% success
• Combination: 85-90% success

Norwood 5-7 (advanced loss):

• Finasteride: 60-70% success (maintenance)
• Minoxidil: 40-50% regrowth
• Combination: 60-70% success

Why early matters: Follicles that have been miniaturized for years are harder to revive. Dead follicles can’t regenerate. Start treatment early (Norwood 2-4) for best results.

Why Some Guys Say “It Doesn’t Work”

Reason #1: They quit too early (most common)

• Hair takes 6-12 months to show results
• Most guys quit at 3-4 months (“it’s not working”)
• They miss the peak results that come at 12-18 months
• Clinical trials measure at 12-24 months for a reason

Reason #2: Unrealistic expectations

• They expect full restoration to age 18
• Treatment maintains/improves, doesn’t reverse 10 years of loss
• Some improvement ≠ complete regrowth
• Photos on Reddit show best-case scenarios, not average results

Reason #3: Non-responders (10-15%)

• Genetic resistance (androgen receptor variations)
• Advanced hair loss (dead follicles)
• Wrong diagnosis (not male pattern baldness)

Reason #4: Inconsistent use

• Missing doses regularly
• Using 2% instead of 5% minoxidil
• Once-daily instead of twice-daily
• Inadequate dosing reduces effectiveness 30-70%

Reason #5: They’re comparing to the wrong baseline

• “It’s not working” often means “hair loss slowed but didn’t stop completely”
• Without treatment, they’d be significantly balder
• Maintenance = success, not failure

What About PRP, Laser Therapy, and Supplements?

PRP (Platelet-Rich Plasma): Moderate Evidence

What the studies show:

• Small studies (30-100 patients each)
• 30-40% improvement reported
• High variability between providers and protocols
• No large randomized controlled trials yet

The verdict: May work, but evidence is weaker than finasteride/minoxidil. Quality varies dramatically by provider. Not reliable as monotherapy. Best as adjunct to finasteride/minoxidil.

Laser Therapy (LLLT): Mixed Evidence

What the studies show:

• Small studies with conflicting results
• Some show 15-35% improvement
• Others show no benefit vs sham device
• Mechanism unclear

The verdict: Weak evidence. Some guys may benefit, but results are inconsistent. Expensive ($200-3,000 for devices). Not recommended as first-line treatment.

Supplements: Weak or No Evidence

Biotin: Only works if you’re deficient (<1% of men). No benefit if levels are normal. Marketing hype.

Saw palmetto: Weak evidence showing 11-27% improvement in small studies. Much less effective than finasteride (60-70% improvement).

Caffeine shampoos: No robust clinical evidence. Marketing claims unsupported.

Pumpkin seed oil: 1-2 small studies showing 30-40% improvement. Needs replication. Promising but unproven.

The verdict: Most supplements don’t work. Save your money. Stick with FDA-approved treatments that have proven effectiveness.

Your Next Step (Cut Through the Noise)

If you’re skeptical and want to see if treatment works for you: Start with generic finasteride 1mg daily ($15-50/month). It has the strongest evidence (83-90% success). Give it 12 months minimum. Take photos at baseline, 6 months, 12 months. Compare objectively, not by daily mirror checks.

If you want maximum results and don’t mind the hassle: Start both finasteride + minoxidil 5% foam ($30-80/month). Combination therapy has highest success rates (80-85%). Proven in multiple studies. Gold standard treatment.

If you’re young with early loss (Norwood 2-3): Finasteride alone will likely be enough. Success rates are 85-95% at early stages. Add minoxidil later if you want more regrowth.

If you have advanced loss (Norwood 5-7): Combination therapy from day 1. Success rates drop to 60-70% at advanced stages. You need both treatments working together. Even maintenance at this stage is a win.

If you’re worried about side effects: Start with minoxidil alone for 6 months. 60-66% success rate. Add finasteride later if results aren’t enough. Slower overall progress but addresses your concerns.

Most important: The evidence is clear. Finasteride works for 83-90% of guys. Minoxidil works for 60-66%. Combination works for 80-85%. These aren’t marketing claims—they’re results from 10+ studies with thousands of patients published in top medical journals.

But they only work if you actually use them. Consistently. For 12+ months. Start early. Manage expectations. Take objective photos.

The treatments work. The question is: will you give them a real shot?

---

This guide provides general information about hair loss treatment effectiveness based on clinical trial evidence. Individual results vary. Success rates cited are from published studies but don’t guarantee individual outcomes. “Works” is defined as maintain or improve vs baseline in clinical trials. Consult with providers about treatment options. Last updated: February 2025.