Spotting a wider part under bathroom lighting is a moment you don’t forget. For me it started around age 19, with temples creeping back and strands that used to feel dense turning fine and sparse.
After 20-plus years of figuring out what helps, I’ve built my hair regrowth routine around five products: a supplement, a vitamin, a prescription tablet, an over-the-counter foam and a targeted anti-fungal shampoo. Here’s what each one does, how they work together, and the questions I get asked most.
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The Short Version
TL;DR
- The lineup: Nutrafol and biotin feed hair from the inside, the Hims finasteride and minoxidil pill works on DHT and the follicle, Rogaine 5% minoxidil foam wakes up follicles, and Nizoral 1% ketoconazole shampoo keeps the scalp fresh.
- Why five: Thinning can come from genetics, hormones, stress and scalp health, so each product covers a different angle.
- Timing: Hair grows in cycles, so give any routine a few months of steady use before judging it, and take photos in the same lighting to track progress.
- Check in first: A board certified dermatologist can pinpoint your type of hair loss, and the Hims pill is a prescription from a Hims licensed provider via their site.
Why Hair Thins, and Why Dormant Doesn’t Mean Gone
Here’s the news I wish someone had handed me at 19: a follicle that has stopped producing hair isn’t necessarily done. Hair moves through a growth stage (anagen), a short transition stage (catagen) and a resting stage (telogen) before it sheds, and resting follicles are often just waiting for the right nudge.
The most common cause of thinning is androgenetic alopecia, the name for male and female pattern hair loss, which comes from genetics and hormones. Stress, nutrition and scalp health can join in too. If your part has been quietly widening month after month, spotting fine, wispy baby hairs (called vellus hairs) is a happy sign that your follicles are still active.
Nutrafol and Biotin: Feeding Hair From the Inside
Hair grows from what your follicles are fed, which is where supplements come in. My supplement pick is Nutrafol, because it pairs botanicals like ashwagandha and saw palmetto with nutrients in one formula, so it works on hair from several angles at once.
I was actually an in-house test subject when Nutrafol first launched in NYC. After a few months my hair felt stronger, thicker and shinier, with a visible fullness and a glow I hadn’t seen in years. Shampooing became a full-on moment because I could feel the extra thickness and density. Next level!
Here are the star ingredients in the Nutrafol formula:
- Ashwagandha: A calming botanical, and one of the stars of the stress-support side of the formula.
- Saw palmetto: A plant extract that shows up in hair formulas again and again, and a signature part of Nutrafol’s botanical blend.
- Curcumin: The golden antioxidant from turmeric, a bright addition to a hair routine.
- Hydrolyzed marine collagen: A protein-rich ingredient that adds a nutrient boost to the blend.
Read Healthline’s full review of Nutrafol’s key ingredients and how it supports healthy hair growth from within.
Nutrafol
Hair Growth Supplement
Key Advantage: A botanical-and-nutrient formula made to support the look of thicker, fuller, healthier-looking hair.
Biotin is the affordable, easy-to-find sidekick, and it was one of the first things I added to my hair care routine. It’s a B vitamin, and I keep taking it as a steady nutritional foundation for strong-feeling hair shafts.
Here’s what’s in each softgel:
- Biotin (10,000 mcg): The B vitamin that’s a classic in hair routines, in a generous once-daily amount.
- Rapid release softgel: A liquid softgel format that’s simple to take with a meal.
- Clean-label basics: Free of gluten, wheat, milk, yeast, fish and sugar.
Read Healthline’s full review on how biotin may support stronger, healthier hair.
Nature’s Bounty Biotin 10,000 mcg Softgels
One softgel a day, taken with a meal, for a simple vitamin foundation.
Finasteride and Minoxidil Together: My Heavy Hitter
If I had to crown one MVP, it’s the finasteride and minoxidil duo. Finasteride is a once-daily prescription that works on DHT, the hormone linked to follicle shrinking in pattern hair loss, by blocking the enzyme that turns testosterone into DHT.
Before I started, my hair loss was around a level 5. After a few months I noticed lots of tiny baby hairs that didn’t just sprout, they grew in size, and new ones popped up just in front of those, like my hairline was stepping forward instead of back. A hairline on the move in the right direction? I’ll take it.
These days I take them together in one pill: Hims’ Finasteride & Minoxidil + Supplement Blend Pill, a once-daily prescription made for hair regrowth. I was always curious what swallowing minoxidil would do compared with using it topically, and I’ve had great results. Finasteride helps stop hair loss and minoxidil helps regrow hair, and since they work in different parts of the body, they make a true dream team.
Here’s what’s inside each daily pill:
- Finasteride (1.2 mg): The hair-loss stopper, working on DHT.
- Minoxidil (3 mg): The regrowth booster, there to help hair grow back.
- Biotin, vitamin B12, vitamin C, resveratrol and zinc: A supplement blend that supports your hair day in, day out.
Hair Hybrids are compounded prescription products, so a licensed provider has to prescribe them and can help you decide what’s right for you. Curious how the two ingredients perform together? Hims has a finasteride and minoxidil results page worth a look.
Read Healthline’s full review on how finasteride helps prevent and reverse male and female pattern hair loss.
Hims
Finasteride & Minoxidil + Supplement Blend Pill
Key Advantage: A once-daily prescription pill that combines finasteride and minoxidil with biotin, vitamin B12, vitamin C, resveratrol and zinc.
Rogaine 5% Minoxidil Foam: The Over-the-Counter Wake-Up Call
If sleepy follicles need an alarm clock, minoxidil is the one I reach for. It’s the best-known over-the-counter hair regrowth ingredient and an FDA-approved topical for hair thinning in men and women, applied right to the scalp.
My pick is Rogaine’s 5% minoxidil foam. It’s the topical in my routine, working alongside the finasteride.
What I love about minoxidil is the energy it brings: it energizes your follicles so hairs can grow in longer, stronger and healthier.
Here’s what makes the formula work:
- Minoxidil 5%: The one active ingredient, and the star of the formula, for hairs that grow in longer, stronger and healthier.
- Foam formula: Easy to apply over larger areas and less likely to drip.
- FDA-approved topical: Approved for hair thinning in men and women, so you can find it over the counter.
Read Healthline’s full review to learn more about how Rogaine works to stimulate hair follicles and promote new hair growth.
Rogaine
5% Minoxidil Topical Foam
Key Advantage: An over-the-counter foam that is easy to apply over larger areas and less likely to drip.
Nizoral 1% Ketoconazole Shampoo: The Scalp Reset
Healthy hair grows from a happy scalp, and scalp health is the step that gets overlooked most. Nizoral Anti-Dandruff Shampoo is how I give my follicles a cleaner, calmer place to grow.
Here’s what’s in the bottle:
- Ketoconazole 1%: The antifungal active ingredient, and the star of this shampoo.
- Antifungal action: Targets Malassezia, the fungus tied to dandruff, itching and flaking.
- Anti-dandruff shampoo format: Lather it up and rinse, and slot it into wash day between your regular shampoos as a scalp-first step.
When I chatted with my board certified dermatologist, she drove home how often scalp health gets left out of hair routines. She suggested adding 1% ketoconazole shampoo alongside finasteride and my oral supplements to cover every angle, from hormones to scalp condition. For an everyday shampoo, my guide to the best shampoo for fine, oily hair is a good place to start.
Read GoodRx’s full review to learn more about how ketoconazole 1% shampoo works to clean the scalp and hair follicles.
Nizoral Ketoconazole 1% Shampoo
A 1% ketoconazole anti-dandruff anti-fungal shampoo for a clean, calm scalp.
Putting the Five Together
Think of this routine as covering every angle: Hims finasteride for DHT, minoxidil for follicle activity, Nutrafol and biotin for nutrients, and ketoconazole 1% shampoo for the scalp. Using a combination of treatments is often the best way to go after thinning from all sides.
A board certified dermatologist can diagnose your type of hair loss and recommend the most effective treatments, including in-office options if you’re curious. A licensed provider can help you choose what’s right for you.
My Take: How I’d Use It
I’d start with a visit to a board certified dermatologist to pin down what’s behind your thinning, then build in layers. Start with one or two steps, such as a supplement and a minoxidil foam, and add more as your routine settles in. Consistency is the secret here, because hair grows slowly and the baby hairs reward patience. Let’s grow.
Who It’s Best For
If you’ve noticed a widening part, receding temples or a ponytail that feels thinner, this lineup is for you. It suits anyone who wants a step-by-step plan that works on hormones, nutrients and scalp health together, whether you’re just noticing changes or have been at it for years.
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What causes hair thinning?
The most common cause of hair thinning is androgenetic alopecia, the name for male and female pattern hair loss. It comes from a mix of genetics and hormones, including DHT, a hormone that can shrink hair follicles over time. Stress, nutrition, hormonal shifts such as pregnancy or menopause, and scalp health can also play a role in thinning and shedding. Because several factors can overlap, a board certified dermatologist can help pinpoint what’s going on with your hair. Once you know the cause, you can build a routine that targets it.
Does Rogaine actually work?
Yes. Rogaine’s active ingredient is minoxidil, an FDA-approved topical treatment for hair thinning. It goes right on the scalp and works best when you use it consistently as directed. Hair grows slowly, so give it a few months before you judge the results. Many people pair it with other steps, such as a supplement or a scalp-friendly shampoo, to cover more angles.
Can women use minoxidil for hair regrowth?
Yes. Minoxidil is FDA-approved for women with hair thinning, and Rogaine makes women’s formulas, including a 5% unscented foam. The foam is easy to apply over larger areas, which suits a widening part. A board certified dermatologist can help you choose the formula and routine that fits you.
How long does it take to regrow hair?
Hair regrowth takes patience because every follicle works on its own cycle of growth, transition and rest. Most routines need a few months of steady use before you notice changes, such as fine baby hairs appearing or shedding calming down. Spotting those tiny new hairs is a great sign that your follicles are active. Photos taken in the same lighting each month make progress much easier to see.
Does stress affect hair growth?
Yes, stress can affect your hair. Significant stress can push more hairs into the resting stage of the growth cycle, which can show up as extra shedding a few months later. That is why I like a supplement with stress-supporting botanicals such as ashwagandha in my routine. Sleep, balanced meals and finding ways to unwind support the whole picture.
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