Happy Head is an online treatment provider that uses FDA-approved active ingredients in its oral and topical hair growth products.
One of their most effective products is a custom topical treatment made especially for individuals assigned female at birth.
Learn more about the safety and efficacy of Happy Head’s topical treatment, including who it may work best for, side effects, and alternative solutions. In addition, we’ve included a quick video about the most effective treatments for female hair loss featuring one of our experts, Dr. Jonathan Rick, a board-certified dermatologist.
Happy Head for Women | |
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What Does Happy Head Offer?
Happy Head’s most popular treatment for females is Topical Spironolactone & Minoxidil. It’s a custom-compounded, FDA-approved prescription medication that they personalize based on your age, lifestyle, and medical history. You don’t have to take any pills, and as a result there are generally fewer side effects.
That’s because applying active ingredients directly to the site of thinning (i.e. your scalp) means less chemicals get into your bloodstream and circle around your entire body.
While Happy Head’s doctors may prescribe other treatments to women like minoxidil or common OTC products, their custom topical solution is the strongest if you’re looking for the highest chance of regrowth.
Active Ingredients
Happy Head focuses on four main ingredients for their custom topical solution, including spironolactone, finasteride, minoxidil, and retinoic acid.
Learn a bit more about the ingredients in Happy Head’s formula, as well as which ones are clinically-backed for female hair loss.
Spironolactone
Spironolactone works by blocking the action of androgens, which are male hormones that can contribute to hair loss in women. Androgens can bind to receptors in the hair follicles and cause them to shrink and produce thinner hair.
Spironolactone blocks these androgen receptors, preventing them from binding to the follicles and causing hair loss.
One study concluded that spironolactone shows promise as an effective treatment for female pattern hair loss (FPHL). The data suggests that 74.3% of patients who received spironolactone reported either stabilization or improvement of their condition.
According to another study, a combination of spironolactone and minoxidil has shown significant benefits, including reduced shedding, increased hair growth, and thicker hair. Happy Head also incorporates this combination therapy of spironolactone and minoxidil for the treatment of female pattern hair loss.
Finasteride
Finasteride is a medication that is primarily used to treat male pattern baldness. It works by inhibiting the production of dihydrotestosterone (DHT), a male hormone that is responsible for shrinking hair follicles.
By reducing the amount of DHT in the body, finasteride can help to slow down or even reverse hair loss. Finasteride is often used in combination with Minoxidil, as the two treatments work in different ways to promote hair growth.
Minoxidil
Minoxidil is a topical medication that is applied directly to the scalp to help promote hair growth.
Happy Head’s prescription-strength Minoxidil is an effective, high-dose product at 6%. This is a higher concentration than most over-the-counter medications like Rogaine™, which only offer a 5% solution. Minoxidil works by increasing blood flow to the hair follicles and extending the growth phase of the hair cycle. It can be used on its own or in combination with other hair loss treatments.
Retinoic Acid
Retinoic acid is a form of vitamin A that can help to improve and densify hair growth when combined with Minoxidil. It works by increasing the absorption of Minoxidil into the scalp, which can enhance its effectiveness. Retinoic acid can also help to stimulate the production of new hair follicles, leading to thicker and fuller hair growth.
Does Happy Head Work for All Ages?
The hair loss treatments Happy Head offers women also differ by age: <50 vs 50+. That’s because hormones change as we get older, and our bodies need different ingredients to effectively maintain follicle health.
For women under 50
Happy Head’s standard formula contains the following active ingredients:
- – Spironolactone 0.1%
- – Minoxidil 6%
- – Retinoic Acid 0.01%
- – Hydrocortisone 1.0%
Finasteride is not recommended for women who are pregnant or planning to become pregnant due to the risk of birth defects. Therefore, Happy Head does not prescribe Finasteride to women of childbearing age. Instead, Topical Spironolactone is considered a safer option for treating hair loss in women.
For women over 50
Happy Head’s formulas for women 50+ will typically include:
- – Finasteride 0.1%
- – Minoxidil 6%
- – Retinoic Acid 0.01%
- – Hydrocortisone 1.0%
Happy Head’s treatment plans are designed to be highly personalized to meet the unique needs of each patient. This means that before beginning treatment, you’ll undergo a thorough evaluation by one of Happy Head’s experienced doctors to determine the underlying causes of your hair loss and create a customized treatment plan.
One of the key ways Happy Head ensures that each client receives the most effective treatment possible is by customizing both the ingredients and dosage.
Happy Head’s female patients generally can expect hair growth and noticeable results within 3 to 6 months. That’s a long time to diligently apply and wait, but for many it’s a small price to pay if it works to stop their hair loss.
How to Apply Happy Head
The topical solution for Happy Head is not only tailor-made to your needs, it’s also dead simple to use. Each bottle comes with a dropper that makes it easy to place the formula right on your scalp with precision and without mess. You fill the dropper to 0.5 ml level, twice for a total of 1.0 ml, then apply it directly to your scalp and rub it in for a minute or two.
Most of their doctors will recommend starting once a day for the first week and working up to 2x daily – once in the morning and once in the evening.
Happy Head Alternatives for Women
Best Rx Hair Loss Treatments For Women | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Topical formula price | $39 for first month $79/month thereafter | For 3 months supply:
$90 (Auto-Refill) $118 (One-Time) | $35/month |
| Quantity & form | Dropper 2oz (60ml) | Dropper 2oz (60ml) | Spray 2oz (60ml) |
| Customized ingredients? | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ |
| Topical formula ingredients | Spironolactone (0.5%) Minoxidil (6.0%) Retinoic acid (0.01%) Hydrocortisone (1.0%) Spironolactone replaced with Finasteride 0.1% for women over 50 | Spironolactone (0.05%) Minoxidil (6.0%) Dutasteride (0.1%) Tretinoin (0.01%) Ketoconazole (2.0%) | Finasteride (0.3%) Minoxidil (6%) |
| Oral products price | $199/4-month supply $49/month | For 3 months supply:
$84 (Auto-Refill) $108 (One-Time) | $30/month |
| Oral active ingredients | Spironolactone (50 or 100mg) | For women 45+: Minoxidil (1 mg) Dutasteride (0.4 mg) For women <45: Minoxidil (1 mg) Spironolactone (60 mg) | Spironolactone (100mg) |
| Designed for | Women under 50 or over 50 | Pre-menopausal or post-menopausal women | Pre-menopausal or post-menopausal women |
| Free dermatologist consultation? | ✅ | ❌ $20 for valid prescription for one year | ✅ |
| Ongoing doctor's support? | ✅ | 🟡 60 days consultation period | ✅ |
| Free delivery? | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Guarantee? | ✅ 6 months money back guarantee | ✅ 60 days money back guarantee | ❌ |
| Website |
The most popular Rx hair loss products for women online other than Happy Head include Musely and Hers. Below we compare the three head to head to help you decide which is best for you:
Of course, Happy Head isn’t the only option online for women with thinning scalps. Hers is another popular choice that are looking to get topical minoxidil and finasteride mixed together. Similar to Happy Head, they offer virtual access to medical advisors to diagnose, prescribe meds delivered by mail, and provide ongoing care. Hers’ topical treatment contains .3% finasteride and 6% minoxidil – identical to Happy Head’s formulation.
Hers costs less than Happy Head and comes in a spray, rather than as a topical solution. That said, Happy Head is custom-compounded and thus is 100% personalized to your scalp.
Overall Happy Head offers a more premium and customizable hair loss treatment relative to Hers or Musely that costs more but is also likely to yield better results.
The Verdict: Is Happy Head Worth It?
If you are looking to treat hair loss or even thinning hair, Happy Head offers customized solutions. Our medical team appreciates that they offer topical treatments with lower risk. Personally, I would be more skeptical about taking an oral treatment due to the potential side effects. But, with the topical solution and the custom-made ingredients, I feel better about it.
I also like how I can discuss my journey with their dermatologists so in case I do have any side effects, they would know how to treat it.
While I only just started trying the topical solution, I feel like my hair is already thicker! It feels great to start taking a proactive approach that’s worked for so many women instead of just worrying about it. I’ll update this post with more results and before/after pics later.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How Much Does Happy Head Cost?
Happy Head hair loss formulas are available in 60 ml bottles for $79. That’s generally enough to last a month when applied twice a day. However, the consultation with a Happy Head dermatologist is free as well as the general care offered throughout your hair growth journey.
Can Happy Head be used with gray hair?
Happy Head’s topical hair growth solution can be used with gray hair and shouldn’t interfere with any hair color. In very rare cases, the Retinoic Acid in the topical may make your scalp more sensitive to the sun.
How does topical Spironolactone work for hair loss?
Spironolactone works to combat female pattern hair loss by competitively inhibiting the hormone Testosterone from binding to Testosterone receptors. Testosterone is the hormone responsible for hair thinning which prevents Testosterone from converting into DHT. By effectively reducing the levels of DHT, Spironolactone helps to combat female pattern hair loss.
Happy Head offers some of the highest-quality, custom-compounded Spironolactone for women looking to combat hair loss.
Are Happy Head’s products safe for women?
Is Topical Finasteride FDA- Approved?
While there have not been a lot of studies done on the topical version of Finasteride, it is an effective treatment. Topical Finasteride inhibits DHT (one of the main causes of hair loss) formation in the scalp and stops the shrinking of hair follicles. While oral Finasteride for hair loss can expose the body to more exposure to Finasteride, the topical version is not ingested but applied to the scalp making it safer.
Minoxidil, on the other hand, has been FDA-approved for hair loss when used topically.
How long does it take Happy Head to show results?
What is Happy Head?
Happy Head is an online telemedicine provider of dermatologist-prescribed hair medicine and treatment for both men and women. Happy Head offers hair growth treatments that are made with FDA- approved ingredients. It’s best known as a higher-quality topical and offers an excellent topical alternative to the other hair products on the market that are custom-made for you. Each treatment is formulated by their board-certified dermatologists that specialize in hair.
Their topical treatments are formulated on an individual basis and continually reformulated until they meet your hair growth goals. Happy Head offers both topical and oral formula options for women and is super-easy to incorporate into your routine. Their customizable topical treatments include customizable prescription ingredients that are even higher strength than other hair loss treatments out there.
How Does Happy Head Work?
Happy Head topical treatments are customized solutions based on your patient profile as well as your health history and growth goals.
You just fill out a questionnaire and send them a few photos of the areas where you’re experiencing hair loss and their board-certified dermatologists can sort through all the information and formulate the right solution for your hair loss. Then, they send your custom topical treatment to their pharmacies to be compounded. Once the treatment is ready, it’s shipped directly to your door, all in discreet packaging.
And not only that, but after you order your first round of their formula, you will receive their constant medical care throughout the process.
You don’t have to see a dermatologist or go to a pharmacy to pick it up, which is always convenient. And no one has to know that you are getting a hair loss formula as it is shipped quickly and discreetly to your door.
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