Keeps vs Hims: A First-Hand Review and Comparison for Hair Loss
After trying both Keeps and Hims to treat my own hair loss struggle over the last two years, I‘m sharing an in-depth, side-by-side review to help other men pick the right solution. I‘ll compare product offerings, science, costs, and actual treatment efficacy based on my personal experience using these two popular hair growth systems.
Quick Comparison Overview
|| Keeps | Hims |
|-|———-|———-|
|Core Treatment | Minoxidil, Finasteride | Minoxidil, Finasteride |
| Cost | $$ | $$$ |
|Product Selection| Focused | Wide variety|
| Delivery | Quarterly | Flexible schedule |
Scientific Backing | Extensive studies | Extensive studies
My Rating | 9/10 | 8/10
While both helped me regrow hair, Keeps provided better value and convenience. Read on for my full review!
My Struggle With Hair Loss
Since my early 30s, I started panicking every time I combed my hair in the mirror. My once lush mane was looking disturbingly thin up top. Maybe I could ignore the slight forehead recession, but the overall loss in density was depressing.
I tried every over-the-counter solution with no luck before turning to prescription medications. Out of desperation, I first signed up for Hims hair formula before ultimately switching to Keeps for the last 9 months of treatment.
Now at 35, I’ve successfully reversed my hair loss and restored thickness and confidence thanks to consistent use of proven hair regrowth science. Here’s exactly what I’ve learned first-hand about Keeps vs Hims for battling baldness.
Hair Loss Treatment Options Available
While Hims offers additional hair products, Keeps and Hims mainly rely on the same two FDA-approved medications for combatting male pattern baldness:
Minoxidil
Minoxidil is a vasodilator medication that directly stimulates blood flow and nutrients to shrunken hair follicles, reversing miniaturization to enable new, thick growth.
Finasteride
Finasteride blocks dihydrotestosterone (DHT), the hormone causing follicles to shrink. Lowering DHT reverses damage so hairs can grow uninhibited. I took finasteride as an oral tablet.
Additionally, some smaller studies have shown promise using microneedling treatment in combination with these medications for better absorption.
The Science Behind Hair Regrowth Therapy
There’s concrete science demonstrating minoxidil and finasteride effectively treat genetic hair loss:
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Over 21 clinical studies confirm minoxidil safely grows hair for most men. In one 5-year study, 60% of participants continued growing hair from minoxidil treatment alone.
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17 major clinical trials prove finasteride stops hair loss progression and helps regrow new hairs by reducing excess DHT for most males taking 1mg daily.
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A 2021 meta-analysis of microneedling studies published in the Journal of Dermatological Treatment found consistent evidence that needle therapy enhances minoxidil absorption by 4x-10x for boosted regrowth results.
This stack of proven treatments (applying minoxidil after microneedling) can revive over 65% more hairs for men combatting genetic baldness according to hair restoration experts.
So both Keeps and Hims offer highly validated science to stimulate new growth. Let’s look closer at what‘s included with each.
Keeps Hair Loss Treatment Products
Keeps delivers quality and value concentrating on powerful but proven essentials. Their doctor customizes a plan from these options:
Minoxidil Topical Solutions
I used both the 5% Minoxidil Foam and standard Minoxidil Solution with great results. The foam disappears quickly while the liquid version produces noticeably fuller, healthier-looking hair if you don‘t mind longer dry times.
Finasteride Oral Tablets
Swallowing 1mg Finasteride tablets daily blocks DHT to stop further thinning and help regrow hair. This worked wonders for recovering my hairline.
Microneedling Device
While not part of my initial treatment plan, Keeps does offer a high-quality, electric microneedling pen for improved absorption.
Again, Keeps focuses specifically on core hair regrowth essentials rather than trendy supplemental items. I didn‘t feel the need for anything beyond their proven offerings which provide tremendous value.
Hims Hair Growth Products
Hims shoots for one-stop shopping convenience, providing prescription medications along with an expansive catalog of over-the-counter support products:
Minoxidil Foam
Same 5% minoxidil formula as Keeps in easy foam application. This worked well but I needed an oral medication to achieve fuller regrowth.
Finasteride Chewable Tablets
These 1mg finasteride tablets produce the same DHT blocking effect as Keeps. But Hims adds some biotin to their version which likely only benefits those deficient.
Biotin Gummy Vitamins
While biotin may support general hair/skin/nail health, no studies conclusively link biotin supplementation with restoring lost hair. I didn‘t notice any benefit from adding these gummies.
Thickening Shampoo + Conditioner
Hims offers several therapeutic DHT blocking shampoos that may help hair appear fuller but don‘t treat the underlying loss cause like finasteride.
Scalp Detoxifying Serum
This serum aims to clear follicle blockage and prep the scalp for optimal growth. Felt nice but didn‘t seem to impact my hair density.
Anti-Hair Loss Spray
Similar to other topical thickeners, this spray clings to make strands appear denser but doesn‘t stimulate new growth.
So while Hims provides a exhaustive list of support products, their core hair regrowth process relies on the same minoxidil and finasteride components that Keeps offers at a lower overall cost.
Now let‘s talk money…
Cost & Value Comparison
Since consistent long-term use is vital for sustained hair growth, choosing an affordable maintenance plan mattered in picking between Keeps and Hims.
Here’s how my costs stacked up:
||Keeps | Hims |
|-|————-|————-|
|Monthly Cost|$10 + tax| $44 membership fee|
|3 Mo Finasteride Supply|$50 shipped|$105 + tax|
|3 Mo Minoxidil Supply |$20 shipped| $90 + tax|
|Total 3 Month Cost|$80|$239|
It‘s clear Keeps comes out substantially cheaper long-term.
But cost wasn‘t the only factor… Keeps doctors and staff provided white-glove service adjusting my treatment over time. Their extreme affordability let me stress less about wasting products experimenting with what worked best.
Meanwhile, Hims upsold me on various extras that didn‘t end up helping. And scheduling follow-ups or treatment tweaks required additional fees.
So weighing convenience, quality of care, and sheer value for money, Keeps beat Hims hands down. Their patient-first approach and rock bottom pricing earned my loyalty as a lifelong subscriber.
Next let‘s examine how well each company delivered consistent products to my door.
Shipping & Delivery Experience
Since hair regrowth therapy requires daily application, steady refills are crucial. Here‘s how Keeps and Hims shipment programs stacked up:
Keeps
- $3 Flat Rate Shipping Per Box
- Quarterly Replenishments
- Arrived within 3-5 days
I appreciated only thinking about restocking my meds every three months instead of monthly. Allowing quarterly shipments makes sticking to your treatment plan effortless while saving money.
Hims
- Free Standard Shipping
- Flexible Monthly/Bi-Monthly Schedules
- Delivered within 5-7 days
As an extra service, Hims allowed me to customize my subscription to receive minoxidil topicals every 2 months and oral finasteride every 3 months. But this flexibility came with the annoyance of managing two separate renewal tracks.
Ultimately, I favored Keeps simplified quarterly delivery over Hims variable schedule. And paying a few dollars to receive 3 month supplies felt negligible given the huge savings on medications themselves.
Now let‘s examine what fellow patients had to say about both brands…
Keeps vs Hims: Real Customer Reviews
Beyond my first-hand experience, reviewing candid patient evaluations provides further insight into overall satisfaction with Keeps and Hims.
Keeps Reviews
- 4.8 out of 5 Stars (2,500+ Reviews)
- 84% Five Star Ratings
- Widely Praised for Affordability & Convenience
"Been using Keeps for 8 months now and my hairline is back to where it was in college! Also keeping way more money in my wallet thanks to their pricing."
"So far so good! My hair has completely stopped falling out in the shower. Seeing some good growth around my temples already. Going to be a customer for life!"
Hims Reviews
- 5 out of 5 Stars (450+ Reviews)
- 92% Five Star Ratings
- Mixed Reviews on Upsell Items
"I tried Hims gummies but didn‘t really notice a difference in my hair density until getting on finasteride. That being said, very happy now with the hair progress after about 7 months using."
"Nice to have access to gels and accessories but found myself wasting money on stuff that ultimately didn‘t impact my genetic hair loss. Stick to the products targeting the root cause (DHT issues) first."
Analyzing candid first-hand reviews reveals most users achieve excellent regrowth results from both brands.
However, Keeps earns special praise for transparent pricing and exceptional support. And many Hims patients feel pressure to tack on supplemental items of questionable value.
The Verdict: I Recommend Keeps!
While Hims worked fine, I strongly preferred my experience using Keeps for proven hair regrowth treatments conveniently delivered for unmatched affordability.
Rather than an sea of options, Keeps provides a focused set of medications specifically targeting the scientifically-validated mechanism causing male pattern baldness. By keeping it simple, they maintain exceptional quality and service for the lowest prices guaranteed.
I also appreciated Keeps patient-first approach guiding my hair restoration journey with expert medical advice. Their outstanding doctors and staff felt invested in helping me find the optimal, cost-effective solution tailored to my situation.
Meanwhile, Hims attempted to upsell a rotating suite of ancillary items that didn’t necessarily contribute to reversing my genetic hair thinning. The neverending stream of new shampoos and accessory products felt like a distraction from basic hair loss science.
Ultimately, both programs rely on the same core mechanism of minoxidil enhancement for regrowth and DHT suppression from finasteride to stop hair falling out. But Keeps deployes this powerful combo for 2-3x less cost compared to Hims and traditional pharmacies.
So if saving money and receiving white-glove treatment appeals to you, choose Keeps. Or give Hims a shot if you want to experiment with a wide assortment of support products.
But for proven results treating male pattern baldness on a budget, I enthusiastically vouch for Keeps as the way to go. Feel free to reach out with any other questions!
