Get the most effective prescription strength hair loss treatment, formulated by the world’s leading robotic hair restoration surgeons at Barber Surgeons Guild™, delivered to you.
We believe there are great benefits in both Pharmaceuticals as well as Vitamins and Minerals when it comes to the good fight against hair thinning. We created Blends® to be the most comprehensive treatment against hair loss by combining the most effective medicines with the most important supplements.
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Choose a 90 day supply of Blends® topical, capsules, or both. Why 90 days? It takes this long for results, so stick with it!
Upon checking out, answer some quick questions about your medical history and securely upload photos for our clinicians to review, and to verify your identity
A Blends® Clinician will review your requested order to ensure it is safe and effective. If for any reason your order isn’t approved, your charge will be reversed. Upon approval, your order will process and you can track status and chat with your clinician by logging into your Blends® account
Your Blends® order will ship directly to you. Use as directed and you can expect to see results in as early as 3 months
While it may seem like there’s no change in your hair at first, the medications are working. It is important to stay consistent with your treatment to allow for results to soon follow. Sometimes there is initial shedding, which is perfectly normal and allows for stronger new hairs to take their place.
Visible results are typically noticed by this time. The hair should be thicker, healthier, and grow faster. Keep it up, it only gets better from here!
Maximum effect is noticed during this period. Hair loss will now be greatly reduced, and the thinning you had should be much improved.
While your results are typically fully realized by this time, it’s very important to continue your treatment to maintain your results. Some people will want more results than can't be obtained by medications alone. In these cases, we encourage you to meet virtually or in-person with one of our clinicians to discuss additional therapies that you may benefit from.
Blends® has you covered (literally 🙂) whether you prefer capsules or topicals… for very best results, try both together.
Select your sex assigned at birth to view your options below
Unlock the full potential of hair rejuvenation. This synergistic combination delivers the best possible results.
Get a 90 day supply:
Starting at: $190
A highly effective, preservative and alcohol free Rx-strength hydrating gel that easily massages into the scalp with active ingredients such as: Minoxidil, Dutasteride, Latanoprost, Ketoconazole, & Tretinoin.
Get a 90 day supply:
Starting at: $125
Growth Topical:
Minoxidil
7.5%
Tretinoin
0.0125%
Growth PRO Topical:
Minoxidil
7.5%
Tretinoin
0.0125%
Latanoprost
0.003%
Dutasteride
0.1%
Ketoconazole
2%
Hair Blends are compounded products which are only available if prescribed by a healthcare provider. Our providers will review your medical history and evaluate your condition to ensure the product(s) requested represent your best treatment plan. You will not be charged if you are not prescribed. You will be able to securely chat with your assigned provider via your Blends® login.
Growth PRO Topical:
Ideal for treating mild to moderate hair loss
Ideal to help prevent future hair loss
Growth PRO Topical:
Ideal for treating moderate to significant hair loss
Ideal for anyone looking to achieve maximum results
Minoxidil 7.5%
Prescription strength minoxidil increases blood flow to the metabolically active hair follicles to promote hair growth
Tretinoin 0.0125%
Helps active ingredients access the hair follicles by increasing scalp permeability
Dutasteride 0.1%
Promotes hair growth by lowering DHT, a common culprit of female pattern androgenetic alopecia **
Latanoprost 0.003%
In the same class as the eyelash growth medication Latisse®, it increase the rate of hair growth
Ketoconazole 2%
Improves scalp health and promotes hair growth
Apply to clean/dry scalp once daily in areas of hair thinning
Patients often notice improvement within 3-6 months, with significant improvement in 6-12 months
After 12 months continue to use to help prevent future hair loss
Combine with Hair Blends Capsules for best results
Avoid if allergic to any ingredients
Pregnant or breastfeeding women should not be in contact with product
Must be taken with adequate birth control and stopped immediately if becoming pregnant
Keep away from pets and children
** Boersma, I. H., Oranje, A. P., Grimalt, R., Iorizzo, M., Piraccini, B. M., & Verdonschot, E. H. (2014). The effectiveness of finasteride and dutasteride used for 3 years in women with androgenetic alopecia. Indian Journal of Dermatology, Venereology and Leprology, 80(6), 521-525. https://doi.org/10.4103/0378-6323.144162
Rx-strength vegetarian capsules with active ingredients such as: Minoxidil, Finasteride, & Dutasteride, along with a comprehensive blend of vitamins & nutrients, eliminating the need for additional hair supplements.
Get a 90 day supply:
Starting at: $85
Growth Capsules:
Minoxidil
0.25 mg
Vitamin and Supplement Blend *
Growth PRO Capsules:
Minoxidil
0.25 mg
Dutasteride
0.65 mg
Vitamin and Supplement Blend *
* Each capsule contains the following vitamins and supplements:
* Biotin, Vitamin D (2,000 IU D3), Folate, Vitamin B5, Vitamin B6, Vitamin C, Zinc, Selenium, Methionine
Hair Blends are compounded products which are only available if prescribed by a healthcare provider. Our providers will review your medical history and evaluate your condition to ensure the product(s) requested represent your best treatment plan. You will not be charged if you are not prescribed. You will be able to securely chat with your assigned provider via your Blends® login.
Growth Capsules:
Ideal for treating mild to moderate hair loss
Ideal to help prevent future hair loss
Growth PRO Capsules:
Ideal for treating moderate to significant hair loss
Ideal for anyone looking to achieve maximum results
Minoxidil 0.25 mg
Oral minoxidil increases blood flow to the metabolically active hair follicles to promote hair growth
Dutasteride 0.65 mg
Promotes hair growth by lowering DHT, a common culprit of female pattern androgenetic alopecia *
Biotin 300 mcg
Biotin aka Vitamin B7 is essential for keratin production
Vitamin C 20 mg
Vitamin C prevents dandruff and aids in collagen production
Vitamin D 2,000 IU
Vitamin D stimulates hair growth and even in sunny climates, deficiency is common. The 2,000 IU of Vitamin D3 represents a complete daily dose
Folate 400 mcg
Folate aka Vitamin B9 - Folate is essential for cell growth, specifically it is essential for DNA synthesis
Vitamin B5 3 mg
Essential for strengthening hair. With low B5 levels hairs will begin to shed
Vitamin B6 1 mg
Aka Pyridoxine directly blocks androgen protein receptors on the hair follicles, as well provides energy that is essential for growth
Zinc 5 mg
Zinc is essential for healthy hair growth. Low zinc levels result in hair loss
Selenium 20 mcg
Selenium is an antioxidant that helps with hair growth
Methionine 10 mg
Methionine, an essential amino acid, has been shown to prolong the hair growth phase
Take one capsule by mouth once daily
Patients often notice improvement within 3-6 months, with significant improvement in 6-12 months
After 12 months continue to use to help prevent future hair loss
Combine with Hair Blends Topical for best results
Avoid if allergic to any ingredients
Must be taken with adequate birth control and stopped immediately if becoming pregnant
Pregnant or breastfeeding women should not be in contact with product
Keep away from pets and children
** Boersma, I. H., Oranje, A. P., Grimalt, R., Iorizzo, M., Piraccini, B. M., & Verdonschot, E. H. (2014). The effectiveness of finasteride and dutasteride used for 3 years in women with androgenetic alopecia. Indian Journal of Dermatology, Venereology and Leprology, 80(6), 521-525. https://doi.org/10.4103/0378-6323.144162
Unlock the full potential of hair rejuvenation. This synergistic combination delivers the best possible results.
Get a 90 day supply:
Starting at: $190
A highly effective, preservative and alcohol free Rx-strength hydrating gel that easily massages into the scalp with active ingredients such as: Minoxidil, Dutasteride, Latanoprost, Ketoconazole, & Tretinoin.
Get a 90 day supply:
Starting at: $125
Growth Topical:
Minoxidil
7.5%
Tretinoin
0.0125%
Growth PRO Topical:
Minoxidil
7.5%
Tretinoin
0.0125%
Latanoprost
0.003%
Dutasteride
0.1%
Ketoconazole
2%
Hair Blends are compounded products which are only available if prescribed by a healthcare provider. Our providers will review your medical history and evaluate your condition to ensure the product(s) requested represent your best treatment plan. You will not be charged if you are not prescribed. You will be able to securely chat with your assigned provider via your Blends® login.
Growth PRO Topical:
Ideal for treating mild to moderate hair loss
Ideal to help prevent future hair loss
Ideal for anyone looking for an effective formulation without a DHT Blocker
Growth PRO Topical:
Ideal for treating moderate to significant hair loss
Ideal for anyone looking to achieve maximum results
Ideal for anyone who has had side effects from a Finasteride based topical but still wants the benefits of a topical DHT Blocker. (Dutasteride is not only more effective than Finasteride, it does not affect the blood DHT levels as Finasteride does.)
Minoxidil 7.5%
Prescription strength minoxidil increases blood flow to the metabolically active hair follicles to promote hair growth
Tretinoin 0.0125%
Helps active ingredients access the hair follicles by increasing scalp permeability
Dutasteride 0.1%
More effective DHT inhibitor than Finasteride, with the additional benefit of not readily absorbing into the bloodstream due to its larger molecular size
Topical Dutasteride does not lower blood DHT levels* in comparison to Topical Finasteride which lowers blood DHT levels by 35%.**
Latanoprost 0.003%
In the same class as the eyelash growth medication Latisse®, it increase the rate of hair growth
Ketoconazole 2%
Improves scalp health and promotes hair growth
Avoid if allergic to any ingredients
Patients often notice improvement within 3-6 months, with significant improvement in 6-12 months
After 12 months continue to use to help prevent future hair loss
Combine with Hair Blends Capsules for best results
Avoid if allergic to any ingredients
Pregnant or breastfeeding women should not be in contact with product
Keep away from pets and children
** Boersma, I. H., Oranje, A. P., Grimalt, R., Iorizzo, M., Piraccini, B. M., & Verdonschot, E. H. (2014). The effectiveness of finasteride and dutasteride used for 3 years in women with androgenetic alopecia. Indian Journal of Dermatology, Venereology and Leprology, 80(6), 521-525.
** Piraccini BM, Blume-Peytavi U, Scarci F, Jansat JM, Falqués M, Otero R, Tamarit ML, Galván J, Tebbs V, Massana E; Topical Finasteride Study Group. Efficacy and safety of topical finasteride spray solution for male androgenetic alopecia: a phase III, randomized, controlled clinical trial. J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol. 2022 Feb;36(2):286-294. doi: 10.1111/jdv.17738. Epub 2021 Oct 25. Erratum in: J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol. 2023 Feb;37(2):452. PMID: 34634163; PMCID: PMC9297965.
Rx-strength vegetarian capsules with active ingredients such as: Minoxidil, Finasteride, & Dutasteride, along with a comprehensive blend of vitamins & nutrients, eliminating the need for additional hair supplements.
Get a 90 day supply:
Starting at: $85
Growth Capsules:
Minoxidil
1 mg
Vitamin and Supplement Blend *
Growth PLUS Capsules:
Minoxidil
1 mg
Finasteride
0.2 mg
Vitamin and Supplement Blend *
Growth PRO Capsules:
Minoxidil
1 mg
Dutasteride
0.65 mg
Vitamin and Supplement Blend *
* Each capsule and chew contain the following vitamins and supplements:
* Biotin, Vitamin D (2,000 IU D3), Folate, Vitamin B5, Vitamin B6, Vitamin C, Zinc, Selenium, Methionine
Hair Blends are compounded products which are only available if prescribed by a healthcare provider. Our providers will review your medical history and evaluate your condition to ensure the product(s) requested represent your best treatment plan. You will not be charged if you are not prescribed. You will be able to securely chat with your assigned provider via your Blends® login.
Growth Capsules:
Ideal for treating mild to moderate hair loss
Ideal to help prevent future hair loss
Ideal for anyone looking for an effective formulation without a DHT Blocker
Growth PLUS Capsules:
Ideal for treating moderate to significant hair loss
Ideal for anyone looking for low dose oral Finasteride for its 50% less side effect risk and similar effect on lowering DHT
Growth PRO Capsules:
Ideal for treating moderate to significant hair loss
Ideal for anyone looking to achieve maximum results
Ideal for anyone who wants a stronger alternative to oral Finasteride
Minoxidil 1 mg
Oral minoxidil increases blood flow to the metabolically active hair follicles to promote hair growth
Finasteride 0.2 mg
Inhibits DHT, a common culprit of male pattern androgenetic alopecia
Inhibits DHT, a co0.2 mg inhibits nearly the same level of DHT (70%) as the 1mg Propecia® dose withmmon culprit of male pattern androgenetic alopecia
50% less side effect risk with 0.2mg vs 1mg Propecia® dose*, with similar 70% reduction in DHT *
Dutasteride 0.65 mg
Similar in mechanism of action to Finasteride but stronger, lowering DHT levels by 90%** making it the best option for treating significant hair loss
Biotin 300 mcg
Biotin aka Vitamin B7 is essential for keratin production
Vitamin C 20 mg
Vitamin C prevents dandruff and aids in collagen production
Vitamin D 2,000 IU
Vitamin D stimulates hair growth and even in sunny climates, deficiency is common. The 2,000 IU of Vitamin D3 represents a complete daily dose
Folate 400 mcg
Folate aka Vitamin B9 - Folate is essential for cell growth, specifically it is essential for DNA synthesis
Vitamin B5 3 mg
Essential for strengthening hair. With low B5 levels hairs will begin to shed
Vitamin B6 1 mg
Aka Pyridoxine directly blocks androgen protein receptors on the hair follicles, as well provides energy that is essential for growth
Zinc 5 mg
Zinc is essential for healthy hair growth. Low zinc levels result in hair loss
Selenium 20 mcg
Selenium is an antioxidant that helps with hair growth
Methionine 10 mg
Methionine, an essential amino acid, has been shown to prolong the hair growth phase
Take one capsule by mouth once daily
Patients often notice improvement within 3-6 months, with significant improvement in 6-12 months
After 12 months continue to use to help prevent future hair loss
Combine with Hair Blends Topical for best results
Avoid if allergic to any ingredients
Pregnant or breastfeeding women should not be in contact with product
Keep away from pets and children
** Fertig, R. M, Gamret, A. C, Darwin, E., & Gaudi, S. (2017). Sexual side effects of 5-α-reductase inhibitors finasteride and dutasteride: A comprehensive review. Dermatology Online Journal, 23(11). http://dx.doi.org/10.5070/D32311037240 Retrieved from https://escholarship.org/uc/item/24k8q743
** Drake L, Hordinsky M, Fiedler V, Swinehart J, Unger WP, Cotterill PC, Thiboutot DM, Lowe N, Jacobson C, Whiting D, Stieglitz S, Kraus SJ, Griffin EI, Weiss D, Carrington P, Gencheff C, Cole GW, Pariser DM, Epstein ES, Tanaka W, Dallob A, Vandormael K, Geissler L, Waldstreicher J. The effects of finasteride on scalp skin and serum androgen levels in men with androgenetic alopecia. J Am Acad Dermatol. 1999 Oct;41(4):550-4. PMID: 10495374.
Propylene Glycol (Antifreeze) is for your car, not your scalp. Blends® topicals are preservative and Propylene Glycol (PG) free, and maintain their freshness by being made to order in small batches vs relying on harsh chemicals.
Hydrating not drying. Many hair topicals include alcohols which often dry out the scalp and lead to irritation and flaking. Instead of harsh alcohols, Blends® uses a scalp nourishing gel base.
RX strength. Prescription treatments can’t be bought over the counter.
Cruelty Free Capsules. Blends® premium vegetarian capsules are not made from animal based gelatin. All vitamins and minerals are sourced from vegetarian origin. Blends® never tests on animals.
Blends® personalized solutions are clinically proven to stop hair loss and ensure your hair is as healthy as possible. And our dedicated team of providers, pharmacists, and care specialists are here to support you along the way. No waiting rooms, no pharmacy checkout lines. Get provider attention, diagnoses, and discreet treatment delivery, all on your schedule, from the comfort and privacy of your home.
As a physician-founded company specializing in restoring hair, our patients always come first. We attribute our success to patient satisfaction and are confident that you will achieve real results with our treatments! Get access to the custom formulations that were originally only available by appointment from our physical locations.
With years of innovating treatments for restoring hair, our physician formulated compounds take an individualized approach to meet your specific and unique needs. In line with our ethos of approaching medical therapies in the context of hair style, our stylist approved formulas will not leave the sticky or greasy residues commonly seen with other medicated products.
Many liquid hair topicals come with medicine droppers that cause the product to drip down the scalp and make a mess. Blends® topicals use a scalp nourishing gel base that stays where it is applied.
With topical sprays and foams, much of the products ends up in the hair and not the scalp. Similarly, liquid topicals, even when applied to the scalp, end up dripping and wicking into the hairs.
This not only decreases the amount of product in contact with the scalp, it often leaves undesirable effects on the hair making it sticky and/or greasy. Not with Blends®. Blends® topicals are designed for maximum scalp contact directly where applied.
We love science. Nerd out with us below for a deep dive into the data.
Topicals with the exact same ingredients will have variable efficacy based on how they are prepared. This is analogous to raw ingredients used by a master chef to make a fine recipe, vs pureeing all the ingredients in a blender. While the ingredients are the same, the outcome is very different. Blends® topicals have very sophisticated and proprietary recipes, known as our master formulation records, that make our topicals so special. Simply mixing all ingredients together would not nearly yield the same results. In order to have a variety of ingredients, all with very different solubilities, dissolving properly into our gel base takes a lot of science, and very specialized laboratory equipment. Moral of the story here is that the way the ingredients are prepared is just as important as the ingredients themselves.
Blends® uses very low dose (0.0125%) Tretinoin that helps the active ingredients gain access to the deeper layers of the skin to the level of the hair follicles. Without this key ingredient, topical products do not have as much access to the hair follicles.
Blends® topicals use Minoxidil at 7.5% concentration. Beyond this concentration, the dose response is insignificant, meaning higher doses will not lead to a significant effect. We find the 7.5% concentration to be the most optimal dose for minoxidil when used topically.
Most topicals out there use Finasteride. Instead, Blends® uses Finasteride’s stronger and larger molecular weight relative, Dutasteride, in its topicals. As a stronger ingredient affecting two instead of one version of the 5-alpha-reductase enzyme, Dutasteride will lower the local scalp DHT levels beyond that of Finasteride. As a larger molecular weight DHT blocker, it does not experience the same transdermal absorption as Finasteride, so the DHT lower effect is maintained on the local level and not in the bloodstream. A study showed that there was no statistically significant difference in blood DHT level before and after topical Dutasteride, even in the presence of microneedling.* Another study showed that topical Finasteride spray lowers blood DHT levels by as much as 35%.** Our choice to use Dutasteride in our topicals over Finasteride was to minimize the risk of side effects in people who are sensitive to lowering the blood DHT level, as well as to use in combination with an oral DHT blocker in Blends® capsules for anyone who wants to not only decrease the local DHT level as best as possible but also decrease the systemic load of DHT, which of course leads to less DHT making its way to the scalp. This muti-faceted approach is analogous to decreasing traffic in an area by decrease the total amount of cars everywhere, plus, diverting away as best as possible the local traffic that still makes its way to the area. It should be noted that women who are pregnant, breastfeeding, or planning to become pregnant should not be taking Finasteride or Dutasteride as they can cause birth defects in a male fetus. Pre-menopausal women taking these medications should use proper birth control, and stop taking them immediately if beckoning pregnant. While the risk with topical Dutasteride is lower than that of topical Finasteride (due to the lack of significant impact on blood DHT levels vs a 35% lowering with Finasteride), to be extra safe, the same recommendations apply around pregnancy and need for birth control.
* Nada, Essameldin Abdelaziz et al. “Topical dutasteride with microneedling in treatment of male androgenetic alopecia.” Southern Medical Journal 22 (2018): 387-400
** Piraccini, B M et al. “Efficacy and safety of topical finasteride spray solution for male androgenetic alopecia: a phase III, randomized, controlled clinical trial.” Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology : JEADV vol. 36,2 (2022): 286-294. doi:10.1111/jdv.17738
Latanoprost is a medication commonly used in eye drops for the treatment of elevated eye pressure. An interesting side effect of patients using these eyedrops is that their eyelashes tend to grow longer. This same effect is also seen in the related medication bimatoprost, which is similarly used as an eyedrop for the same indication. Bimatoprost is also sold and marketed for eyelash growth under the brand name Latisse®. A study showed that topical Latanoprost significantly increased hair density (terminal and vellus hairs) at 24 weeks compared with baseline and the placebo-treated area*.
* Blume-Peytavi, Ulrike et al. “A randomized double-blind placebo-controlled pilot study to assess the efficacy of a 24-week topical treatment by latanoprost 0.1% on hair growth and pigmentation in healthy volunteers with androgenetic alopecia.” Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology vol. 66,5 (2012): 794-800. doi:10.1016/j.jaad.2011.05.026
Ketoconazole is an ingredient found in many popular shampoos that help to treat dandruff, as well as help with hair loss. It is not exactly clear how this medication helps combat hairloss, but it is believed that it may decrease a microbial driven inflammatory reaction that causes hair thinning. A study found that 2% Ketoconazole shampoo increases hair density and proportion of anagen (growth phase) follicles, similar to that of minoxidil.* We find that adding 2% Ketoconalze to Blends® topical products yields even better results than using this ingredient in a shampoo that is quickly washed away.
* Piérard-Franchimont, C et al. “Ketoconazole shampoo: effect of long-term use in androgenic alopecia.” Dermatology (Basel, Switzerland) vol. 196,4 (1998): 474-7. doi:10.1159/000017954
Most often, Finasteride, when taken orally, is made at the 1mg dose. The reason for this is because the longstanding medication Propecia® uses this dose. We now understand that there is a dose response to oral finasteride that plateaus after 0.2mg*. What this means in excess of 0.2mg per day of Finasteride, there does not appear to be any significant further decrease in the blood DHT level. The chart below highlights this effect. As you can see, with 0.2mg the blood DHT levels are lowered around 70%, and increasing the dosage further, even up to 5mg, representing a 25x increase in dosage, does not have much impact on lower the DHT levels any more. The advantage of the lower dose is that it has less side effect risks than the 1mg dose. In fact, a study found that the incidence of decreased libido in men taking 0.2mg Finasteride was half that of 1mg**. For this reason we find that there is no reason to increase the oral Finasteride dose beyond 0.2mg. The option for 0.2mg Finasteride is currently only available for men, as female pattern hair loss tends to respond much better to Dutasteride than Finasteride.
* Drake, L et al. “The effects of finasteride on scalp skin and serum androgen levels in men with androgenetic alopecia.” Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology vol. 41,4 (1999): 550-4.
** Fertig, Raymond M et al. “Sexual side effects of 5-α-reductase inhibitors finasteride and dutasteride: A comprehensive review.” Dermatology online journal vol. 23,11 13030/qt24k8q743. 11 Nov. 2017
Finasteride dosages (mg)
In cases where lowering the DHT level beyond what finasteride is capable of is indicated, we use Dutasteride instead of increasing the Finasteride dose beyond 0.2mg. At and above 0.2mg, Finasteride does not lower blood DHT levels much above 70%.* A study showed that Dutasteride lowers DHT level as much as 90%.** This is well beyond the capabilities of Finasteride which maxes out around 70%. Oral Dutasteride is ideal for men who want to try something stronger than Finasteride. A study showed that oral Dutasteride both increases hair count and increases hair thickness significantly more than Finasteride***. While Dutasteride will have greater risk of sexual side effects in men over 0.2mg Finasteride, the vast majority of men will not have these side effects and tolerate it very well. In fact, a study showed similar rates of sexual side effects (around 2-3%) in men taking Dutasteride as men taking Finasteride. For this reason, we prefer the use of oral Dutasteride over oral Finasteride for men who want a stronger option than 0.2mg oral Finasteride. Another use of oral Dutasteride is for women. Female pattern hair loss tends to respond better to Dutasteride than Finasteride. A study found that an increase in hair thickness was seen more with women taking Dutasteride than Finasteride.**** The same study also found that Dutasteride performed statistically significantly better than finasteride in the age category below 50 years at the central and vertex sites of the scalp. Another study found no reports of sexual side effects in women taking Dutasteride for hair loss.***** It should be noted that women who are pregnant, breastfeeding, or planning to become pregnant should not be taking Finasteride or Dutasteride as it can cause birth defects in a male fetus. Pre-menopausal women taking these medications should use proper birth control, and stop taking them immediately if becoming pregnant.
* Drake, L et al. “The effects of finasteride on scalp skin and serum androgen levels in men with androgenetic alopecia.” Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology vol. 41,4 (1999): 550-4.
** Olsen, Elise A et al. “The importance of dual 5alpha-reductase inhibition in the treatment of male pattern hair loss: results of a randomized placebo-controlled study of dutasteride versus finasteride.” Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology vol. 55,6 (2006): 1014-23. doi:10.1016/j.jaad.2006.05.007
** Olsen, Elise A et al. “The importance of dual 5alpha-reductase inhibition in the treatment of male pattern hair loss: results of a randomized placebo-controlled study of dutasteride versus finasteride.” Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology vol. 55,6 (2006): 1014-23. doi:10.1016/j.jaad.2006.05.007
*** Gubelin Harcha, Walter et al. “A randomized, active- and placebo-controlled study of the efficacy and safety of different doses of dutasteride versus placebo and finasteride in the treatment of male subjects with androgenetic alopecia.” Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology vol. 70,3 (2014): 489-498.e3. doi:10.1016/j.jaad.2013.10.049
**** Boersma, Ids H et al. “The effectiveness of finasteride and dutasteride used for 3 years in women with androgenetic alopecia.” Indian journal of dermatology, venereology and leprology vol. 80,6 (2014): 521-5. doi:10.4103/0378-6323.144162
***** Seale, Lauren R et al. “Side Effects Related to 5 α-Reductase Inhibitor Treatment of Hair Loss in Women: A Review.” Journal of drugs in dermatology : JDD vol. 15,4 (2016): 414-9.
Low Dose Oral Minoxidil (LDOM) for the treatment of hair loss represents an off-label usage of the medication, which is normally used in oral form, at much higher dosages, for the treatment of hypertension. Interestingly, oral Minoxidil has very minimal blood pressure lowering effect for people who do not have hypertension.* LDOM has been shown to be highly effective in the treatment of both male pattern and female pattern hair loss. A study showed that 1mg of daily LDOM had similar efficacy to 5% topical Minoxidil.** LDOM is also well tolerated with only 1.7% of patients discontinuing treatment owing to adverse effects.*** The most frequent adverse effect is hypertrichosis, or thickening body hair. At lower doses, this is less common. A dose of 0.25mg has been shown to be effective for women and has the least risk of this adverse effect. For this reason we use the 0.25mg dose for the treatment of female pattern hair loss. For male pattern hair loss, a higher dose is needed, so we use 1mg. While male pattern hair loss does seem to respond even better to higher doses, the rate of adverse effects increase with higher doses, so we find that the 1mg dose is ideal, especially in combination with the other active ingredients in Blends® capsules. In addition, LDOM can be combined with topical Minoxidil to get a compounded effect, while minimizing the risk of adverse effects. Similar to Finasteride and Dutasteride, oral Minoxidil should be avoided in women who are pregnant, breastfeeding, or planning to become pregnant should not be taking Finasteride or Dutasteride as it can cause birth defects in a male fetus. Pre-menopausal women taking these medications should use proper birth control, and stop taking them immediately if becoming pregnant.
* Heymann, Warren R. “Coming full circle (almost): Low dose oral minoxidil for alopecia.” Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology vol. 84,3 (2021): 613-614. doi:10.1016/j.jaad.2020.12.053
** Ramos PM, Sinclair RD, Kasprzak M, Miot HA. Minoxidil 1 mg oral versus minoxidil 5% topical solution for the treatment of female-pattern hair loss:A randomized clinical trial. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2020;82:252–3
*** Vañó-Galván, Sergio et al. “Safety of low-dose oral minoxidil for hair loss: A multicenter study of 1404 patients.” Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology vol. 84,6 (2021): 1644-1651. doi:10.1016/j.jaad.2021.02.054
Blends® capsules include all the beneficial hair vitamins and minerals, replacing the need for taking additional pills. Each Blends capsule contains Biotin, Vitamin C, Vitamin D, Folate, Vitamin B5, Vitamin B6, Zinc, Selenium, and Methionine. We carefully formulated our capsules to be a comprehensive treatment that replaces both traditional medications and hair supplements, in one convenience capsule, just once per day.
