Keeps Review 2024: Does This Hair Loss Treatment Work?

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Hair loss subscription service Keeps admits “there’s no magic cure for baldness,” but the FDA-approved product line for men promises that its treatment plan can help prevent hair loss. Hair loss in men, or male pattern baldness, is often due to hormones and genetics and can cause a receding hairline or hair thinning on the crown. While Keeps doesn’t claim to reverse this, its product line of eight different treatments could help you keep the hair you already have.

So does Keeps actually work? We tested the product line for ourselves to get a sense of how well it works, what benefits it may offer and who Keeps could ultimately be best for. Here is our honest Keeps hair treatment review.

This content is meant to be informative, but should not be taken as medical advice. It is not intended for use as diagnosis, prevention or treatment of health problems. Always speak with your doctor before starting any new supplement or exercise regimen.

Keeps At A Glance

• Free consultation to determine your treatment plan
• Ongoing support from a licensed medical provider
• Customers can track progress of hair regrowth
• Most products require a prescription to purchase
• Delivered every three, six or 12 months

How Does Keeps Work?

Keeps offers two different ways to use its service depending on your needs. Those familiar with hair loss medications can choose one of several plans that include finasteride and minoxidil, finasteride only or minoxidil only. Finasteride may block a male hormone that contributes to hair loss, while minoxidil could promote new hair growth. Once you’ve selected your plan, your choice will be verified by a doctor, and you’ll be asked to take a short quiz to make sure it’s right for you.

Alternatively, men seeking out hair loss treatment for the very first time can take a free online consultation quiz about their hair loss, lifestyle and medical history. You’ll also need to submit photos of your hair loss. Similar to the first option, a doctor will then review your results and photos to determine which treatment plan to prescribe. Some products, like Thickening Shampoo and Conditioner, can be purchased over the counter and don’t require a prescription.

That being said, most Keeps products do require a prescription, but the doctor who reviews your information can provide one. You’ll also need to upload a driver’s license or government-issued ID for your prescription to go through. Once your prescription is all set, you’ll be able to select how often you want shipments. As a subscription service, Keeps delivers every three, six or 12 months. Your subscription will also come with the option of doing telehealth visits with a doctor.

Keeps pros:

• Initial consultation is free
• Treatments are FDA-approved
• Personalized treatment plan
• Less expensive than other services
• Some products available over-the-counter

Keeps cons:

• Topical medications can cause potential side effects
• Most products can’t be bought as a one-time purchase

Keeps Claims

While Keeps doesn’t promise to reverse male pattern hair loss, it claims its product line can help men keep the hair they already have, or help promote new hair growth. For example, its two-in-one topical treatment Topical Finasteride and Minoxidil Gel promises to “stimulate hair regrowth and reduce hair loss.” Keeps Thickening Shampoo, on the other hand, notes it can “make thinning hair look thicker” and was formulated by Keeps’ expert advisors.

In addition, Keeps claims its products are half the cost of competitors. By selling directly to the consumer, the brand notes its cost of treatments and provider consultations are as “affordable as possible.” According to the Keeps website, treatments cost half what you would pay at the pharmacy. Our Keeps review for hair loss will dive into whether or not these claims hold up.

Keeps Products

Keeps currently sells eight different products. Here’s what to expect from each.

Keeps Topical Finasteride & Minoxidil

• Type: Gel
• Ingredients: Finasteride and minoxidil
• Prescription needed: Yes
• Price: $60 per month for a three-month supply

As one of Keeps’ main products, Keeps Topical Finasteride & Minoxidil blends two hair loss treatments into one gel application. This topical solution is meant to be applied once daily, and the brand promises results within four to six months of consistent use. Both ingredients are common topical hair-growth ingredients; according to randomized studies, the combination of both may provide more powerful results. To apply, part dry hair into rows to pinpoint any areas with thinning hair. Then, apply three pumps of the gel into your palm and massage it into areas of your scalp affected by hair loss. For maximum results, Keeps suggests waiting two to four hours before wetting your hair, covering your head or lying down.

Keeps Finasteride

• Type: Pill
• Ingredients: Finasteride
• Prescription needed: Yes
• Price: $26.67 per month for a three-month supply

If topical hair loss treatments aren’t for you, Keeps offers a once-daily oral hair loss pill that contains one milligram of finasteride, a medication used to combat male pattern baldness. For best results, Keeps recommends taking the finasteride dose at the same time each day. Similar to the gel above, it’s designed to work within four to six months of consistent use. Keeps Finasteride pill promises to treat hair thinning and receding hairline, while also promoting hair regrowth.

Keeps Minoxidil Foam

• Type: Foam
• Ingredients: Minoxidil
• Prescription needed: No
• Price: $16.67 per month for a three-month supply

Keeps Minoxidil Foam contains just five percent minoxidil, so it doesn’t require a prescription. As one of several over-the-counter hair loss treatments offered by Keeps, this foam claims it can increase hair growth by up to 35 percent. It’s designed to be applied topically twice daily. To use, disperse half a capful of foam onto your fingers and apply to any areas of your scalp affected by hair loss. Then, gently massage into your scalp and repeat a second time that same day.

Keeps Minoxidil Solution

• Type: Liquid dropper
• Ingredients: Minoxidil
• Prescription needed: No
• Price: $11 per month for a three-month supply

As an alternative to Keeps Minoxidil Foam, Keeps also offers a topical Minoxidil Solution that comes in the form of liquid drops. Similar to the foam, it claims to increase hair growth by up to 35 percent and requires twice-daily application. To use, fill the dropper to the one-milliliter mark and apply the full dose to various areas along the crown of your scalp, particularly any thinning or receding areas. Then, repeat again later that same day for maximum results.

If you have sensitive skin—or a sensitive nose—you may want to exercise caution before using Keeps Minoxidil solution. “It’s labeled as unscented, but it still has a strong, almost burning alcohol smell,” our product tester Joe noted. “It’s a similar smell to rubbing alcohol.” While Joe experienced some redness and itching along his scalp and forehead line from the minoxidil (which is a common side effect we’ll dive more into below), he says the product was easy to use and worthwhile at $11 per month if it works for you and helps promote hair growth.

Keeps Ketoconazole Shampoo

• Type: Shampoo
• Ingredients: Ketoconazole
• Prescription needed: Yes
• Price: $11 per month for a three-month supply

Ketoconazole is an antifungal medication that can treat common scalp issues like dandruff, flaking or scaling. If you have an itchy scalp, you can use Keeps to get a prescription for its Keeps Ketoconazole Shampoo, which promises to reduce scalp inflammation. While the bottle itself may be small at just four fluid ounces, the brand notes you don’t need much. Just a small teaspoon-sized amount of shampoo should be enough to deliver results when used every two to three days. However, be sure to let the shampoo soak in for five minutes before rinsing.

Keeps Thickening Shampoo

• Type: Shampoo
• Ingredients: Biotin and saw palmetto
• Prescription Needed: No
• Price: $24 for a one-time purchase

You can also purchase Keeps Thickening Shampoo over the counter, which is formulated with biotin and saw palmetto. If you have a biotin deficiency, preliminary research shows biotin supplementation may help promote hair growth, but research is still limited in this area. Saw palmetto, meanwhile, is being studied as an ingredient that helps prevent testosterone from converting to the hormone DHT, which can cause hair loss. This shampoo is meant to be used two to three times per week and requires a nickel-sized amount. 

Related Post: The Best Shampoos for Hair Growth

“I thought the Thickening Shampoo smelled really good, almost like a candy cane,” our product tester Joe says, who calls the scent “minty and refreshing.” Overall, Joe’s hair felt very clean after washing it with the shampoo, and he said it lathered well. One bonus he noted: You don’t need a lot of product to get a thick lather, so one bottle should last a long time. 

Keeps Thickening Conditioner

• Type: Conditioner
• Ingredients: Biotin and saw palmetto
• Prescription Needed: No
• Price: $24 for a one-time purchase

As the counterpart to Keeps Thickening Shampoo, Keeps Thickening Conditioner contains the same ingredients of biotin and saw palmetto. The conditioning treatment promises thicker, fuller hair and can be used alongside prescription hair loss treatment plans. This conditioner is meant to be used two to three times per week and should sit in your hair for three minutes before being rinsed out. The Keeps Thickening Shampoo and Conditioner can also be purchased as a set for $48.

Related Post: The Best Conditioners for Men

Keeps Thickening Pomade

• Type: Pomade
• Ingredients: Biotin, caffeine, green tea and saw palmetto
• Prescription Needed: No
• Price: $27 for a one-time purchase

Keeps currently sells just one styling product, its Thickening Pomade. Similar to the Thickening Shampoo and Conditioner, the pomade contains biotin and saw palmetto, as well as caffeine and green tea. Research shows caffeine may have growth-promoting effects on hair follicles, while green tea may be effective in increasing hair growth. Keeps Thickening Pomade provides a medium hold and matte finish, and can be used daily to style dry or damp hair. Keeps recommends warming up the pomade between your palms before using it.

Keeps Cost

Keeps claims it aims to provide affordability and accessibility for the average consumer with men’s hair growth products costing around half of what competitors or pharmacies charge. Finasteride, for example, costs $25 per month through Keeps, but the brand says it can cost up to $65 when purchased elsewhere. This is hard to fact check; as a prescription drug, its price will vary widely based on your individual plan. But a look at GoodRX's website shows that the company offers a coupon which brings the medication's cost down to $23.20 for a 30-day supply—lower than Keeps' cost.

However, depending on your plan and the availability of such coupons, Keeps costs may be lower than many other services, and you’ll also save an estimated $100 per visit on a provider consultation, which is free with Keeps during your first visit and $5 per visit afterwards.

Your final out-of-pocket price will also depend on what products you’re prescribed. For example, Minoxidil foam alone will cost $33.33 from Keeps for the first three months ($11.11 per month), then $50 every three months (the first order is discounted). Some products are pricier, such as the finasteride and minoxidil foam, which costs $86.66 for the first three months, then $130 every three months. Longer subscription plans (such as a 12-month supply) may bring down the cost depending on the promotion at the time of your purchase.

Who Should Use Keeps

Dermatologist Anna Chacon, MD, says Keeps might be a good fit for “men who are in the early stages of hair loss or those who want to prevent it." If you’re just noticing hair loss, or your hair has become thinner than usual, you might benefit from treatment options such as Keeps to help reduce further hair thinning or hair loss.

Keeps can also be a good fit for men seeking out the convenience of prescription hair loss treatments who don’t have access to a doctor who specializes in hair loss, since waits to see specialists can often span months if not longer. The product line also tends to be more affordable than many competitors, making it a great choice for budget-conscious shoppers.

Who Should Not Use Keeps

Keeps may be helpful in reducing hair loss, but it still might not be for everyone. “It may not be effective for men with complete baldness or non-pattern hair loss,” Chacon explains. This includes hair loss caused by health conditions, rather than hormones or genetics. “It is also not suitable for women or anyone allergic to the ingredients in the products,” she adds.

Finasteride and minoxidil products can come with a number of side effects we’ll dive into shortly, so if you’re particularly sensitive to medications, or you have sensitive skin, you may want to be cautious about using Keeps. Alternatively, if a subscription service isn’t right for you, Keeps may not be the best fit for your needs; however, you have the option to purchase Keeps Thickening Shampoo, Conditioner or Pomade as a one-time purchase.

What Customers Are Saying About Keeps

There are more than 6,000 verified Keeps hair reviews on the Keeps website, and more than 5,000 customers have given 5/5-star ratings. “My hair has improved greatly since I started using Keeps,” one user writes. “It’s thicker, my hairline is better and my scalp is far less visible than it was.”

While negative reviews are minimal, complaints note no improvement in hair growth or thickness, and a few customers report being charged after canceling their subscription. Still, the overwhelming majority of verified Keeps hair product reviews describe visible progress and thicker hair after just a few months of treatment. Plus, there are several before and after photos customers have posted that can help give you a feel of what results they’ve experienced.

Related Post: The Best Shampoos for Thinning Hair in Men

About Keeps

Keeps is an FDA-approved hair loss treatment line developed in 2018 by longtime friends Steve Gutentag and Demetri Karagas. Unable to find a hair loss solution that worked for their needs, the duo developed the Keeps brand and enlisted the help of experts to develop treatment plans. The goal of Keeps is to offer affordable, accessible hair loss solutions backed by science.

Side Effects of Hair Loss Treatments

Not everyone will experience side effects of hair loss treatments like Keeps, but there are a few potentially moderate-to-serious side effects to be aware of. Chacon says minoxidil can cause itching or skin rash, burning of the scalp, unwanted hair growth elsewhere on the body and initial increased hair loss. Finasteride, meanwhile, may cause decreased libido, erectile dysfunction, ejaculation disorder and potential risk of male breast cancer, she continues.

While minoxidil side effects tend to be more mild, the potential sexual side effects of finasteride are more concerning. Still, it’s important to keep in mind that finasteride sexual side effects aren’t common, but if you have any concerns, be sure to speak to a trusted healthcare provider.

In general, dermatologist David Li, MD, recommends seeing a doctor for men who notice the following: “Men should consult a doctor if they notice sudden or patchy hair loss, as this could be a sign of an underlying health condition,” he says. “Also, if hair loss is accompanied by redness, scaling, pain or rapid progression, medical advice is crucial to rule out other causes of hair loss such as autoimmune or infectious diseases.”

Keeps vs. Hims

Hims is a telehealth service for men’s wellness and care. Unlike Keeps, which is focused specifically on hair loss, Hims also includes treatment options for erectile dysfunction, weight loss and other men’s health needs, in addition to hair loss treatment. Similar to Keeps, it offers finasteride and/or minoxidil products which also include the addition of supplement chews.

The sign-up process for both services is virtually the same: you’ll take a short quiz that gauges your needs, then you’ll be able to complete a consultation with a licensed doctor to determine if a prescription hair loss treatment is right for you. Otherwise, you can purchase over-the-counter products directly from either brand website without needing to meet with a provider.

Hims vs Keeps hair care product prices are quite similar (minoxidil foam, for example, costs $19 with Hims and $17 with Keeps), so ultimately you’ll want to consider your overall needs. If you’re looking for a more robust men’s telehealth service, Hims might be a better choice for you.

Keeps FAQs

Does Keeps actually work?

Containing products such as minoxidil and finasteride, Keeps products are said to be effective for male pattern baldness. However, whether or not Keeps actually works will depend on your cause of hair loss and personal needs. Many Keeps hair treatment reviews report numerous benefits while using the products, meaning Keeps works for a good majority of customers.

Does Keeps have any negative side effects?

Keeps uses minoxidil and finasteride, which may come with a number of potentially moderate-to-serious side effects including skin irritation, contact dermatitis, allergies and general redness. Be sure to speak to a healthcare provider before using Keeps if you have any concerns.

Is Keeps covered by insurance?

Since Keeps treatments are considered to be cosmetic, they’re not covered by most insurance plans. You can always check with your insurance provider if you’re not sure of your benefits.

What is the success rate of Keeps?

On its home page, Keeps claims its FDA-approved treatments are 90 percent effective at treating hair loss.

Is Keeps safe to use long term?

Keeps notes many of its products are safe to use long-term, but again, it’s always a good idea to check with a healthcare provider, such as a dermatologist, if you’re concerned about potential side effects or long-term impact.

The Takeaway: Is Keeps Right for You?

If you’re experiencing hair loss or hair thinning in its early stages, Keeps may be effective at preventing or slowing further hair loss. Still, experts caution that Keeps might not do much for total male baldness or hair thinning caused by medical conditions, so be sure to consider the extent of your hair loss before deciding if Keeps is right for you. For more information on what products are available and how Keeps works, be sure to check our Keeps men’s hair review.

Prices are accurate and items in stock as of publish time.

These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any diseases.