Keeps Review: Does This Hair Loss Treatment Actually Work?

From genetics and hormonal changes to poor diet and stress, hair loss can be triggered by a variety of factors. Luckily, there is a wide range of products designed to help regrow hair, including those sold by Keeps.

Keeps offers hair loss treatments containing clinically-proven ingredients on a recurring 3-month subscription.

We explore how this service works, along with the benefits and side effects of their treatments, to help you decide whether Keeps is the right company to help you.

What Is Keeps?

Keeps is an online subscription service that offers a range of hair products designed to treat androgenetic alopecia, which is also known as male pattern hair loss. 

Based in the US, Keeps’ products contain Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved ingredients such as finasteride and minoxidil foam, both of which help combat the symptoms of hair loss and promote hair growth.

⭐ Rating	3.7
✅ Manufacturer	Thirty Madison
🧰️ Who is it best for?	Men suffering from hair loss
🍎 Key ingredients	Minoxidil, finasteride, ketoconazole
📱 Where to buy?	keeps.com
💰 Price	$22–130 for 3 months

Keeps Product Range

From receding hairlines to dandruff, Keeps offers a range of hair loss treatments that can be added to your routine for specific symptoms of male pattern baldness.

Starting from $22 for the first 3 months, licensed doctors will prescribe Keeps products, and each one has different applications, from treating thinning hair to soothing an irritated scalp. Here are the main products included in Keeps’ hair loss product line:

• Finasteride – Treats receding hairlines
• Minoxidil solution – Stimulates regrowth at the crown
• Minoxidil foam – Tackles hair thinning across the whole scalp
• Ketoconazole shampoo – Prevents dandruff and relieves dry, flaky scalps
• Thickening shampoo, conditioner, and pomade – All are designed to make thinning hair look thicker

Recommended article: Picking the Best Hair Products of 2023 for Every Hair Type

Who Is Keeps Best for?

Keeps is designed specifically for treating male pattern baldness and its symptoms, which include a receding hairline or thinning hair on the front and top of the head.

As an online telehealth service, the Keeps platform is also ideal for those who may struggle to attend an in-person doctor’s appointment due to their health, busy schedule, or location.

However, pregnant women should avoid handling the finasteride pill as it can be absorbed through the skin and may cause birth defects.

How Does Keeps Work?

Before prescribing a hair loss product, Keeps provides all customers with an initial consultation. This happens in the form of a short online questionnaire, which quizzes you on your lifestyle, medical history, and hair fall. 

Along with a photo of your hair, a licensed doctor will review your responses within 24 hours and create a bespoke hair loss treatment plan for your unique needs.

After being approved, you’ll then receive a shipment of their specially selected products straight to your front door every 3 months.

Once you receive your personalized Keeps products, you’ll be able to keep in touch with your doctor through a smartphone app, which gives you the chance to ask questions and track your growth progress.

The great news is that this whole process happens from the comfort of your own home, making Keeps an ideal hair loss solution for those who struggle to attend an in-person doctor’s appointment.

Recommended article: Hair Loss: What Causes It and How to Stop It for Good

How to Use Keeps Products

Consistent use of Keeps’ products is crucial if you’re hoping to combat hair loss for good, which is why they offer a rolling 3-month subscription. Each of their products has different instructions when it comes to usage.

For instance, 1ml of minoxidil solution should be applied to the scalp twice per day using the product’s handy dropper. The hair should be dry before using, and you should avoid getting it wet for at least 4 hours after application. 

Massage the scalp gently with foam minoxidil in areas with thinning hair twice per day. The ketoconazole shampoo can be used on wet hair up to 3 times per week and should be left to sit on the scalp for 5 minutes before rinsing.

How long does it take for Keeps to work? 

Waiting for hair to regrow can be frustrating, but applying Keeps’ products consistently and regularly will ensure that they get the chance to work their magic.

The length of time it takes can vary from person to person, but the minoxidil solution should begin to work after 3–4 months. Similarly, Keeps recommends that customers use their foam for at least 4–6 months to start seeing results.

One bottle of ketoconazole thickening shampoo provides a 90-day supply, though the manufacturer suggests that your scalp condition should improve within 3 weeks.

Benefits of Keeps Products

What’s unique about Keeps’ products compared with other hair care brands is that they contain FDA-approved ingredients, which are highly effective for regrowth, no matter your hair type. Here’s a breakdown of the benefits that you can expect from each of their products:

Topical finasteride and minoxidil

As a two-in-one hair loss treatment, finasteride and minoxidil gel from Keeps stimulates hair regrowth and reduces hair fall. Finasteride blocks the production of dihydrotestosterone (DHT), a male sex hormone that causes hair loss by shrinking follicles and shortening the hair growth cycle.

At the same time, minoxidil boosts blood flow to these follicles, helping to tackle male pattern baldness by promoting new growth.

Finasteride pills

By taking just one pill per day, Keeps’ finasteride stimulates the hair growth process in several ways. For instance, it works to inhibit 5-alpha reductase, an enzyme that creates DHT in the body. 

Studies show that finasteride may, therefore, increase hair count at the front of the scalp for those with an alopecia-related receding hairline. Another review of finasteride clinical trials found that patients taking the medication saw a significant increase in total hair count compared to the placebo after 24–48 weeks.

Minoxidil foam

Minoxidil is the best type of treatment for large areas of thinning hair across the whole head. Applying the foam to the crown twice per day has been shown to promote thicker and longer hair growth for men with androgenetic alopecia.

Use this version if you usually experience irritation and redness from other forms of minoxidil, as this one is much more gentle. Unlike the liquid product, the foam doesn’t contain propylene glycol, a water-soluble alcohol that may cause an allergic reaction when used by men with sensitive or particularly dry scalps. 

Minoxidil solution

5% minoxidil slows down hair loss and boosts growth by pushing the follicles prematurely into the growth phase of the cycle. This is beneficial for those with hair thinning at the crown or in other small, specific areas across the head, as it can easily be applied with a dropper. 

Ketoconazole shampoo

Commonly referred to under the brand name Nizoral, ketoconazole helps treat flaky and itchy skin on the scalp that develops as a result of dandruff.  

 Although studies show that it may help alopecia-related hair loss, Keeps doesn’t market the product as a treatment to increase hair growth. This is because it is only approved by the FDA as an antifungal medication to treat Malassezia, a yeast that causes dandruff. 

Recommended article: Best Supplement for Hair Growth: 8 Products to Boost Your Hair

Side Effects of Keeps Products

Like any hair regrowth product, there are some side effects you should be aware of before purchasing and using Keeps. 

For example, minoxidil side effects aren’t common, but you may experience skin irritation, burning on the scalp, face swelling, and excessive hair growth. Hair shedding is a more common symptom that you may initially encounter. 

As a drug that inhibits male sex hormones like DHT, finasteride may trigger sexual side effects, including:

• Breast tissue development
• Reduced sex drive
• Erectile dysfunction
• Lower semen volume

If you do experience any severe irritation or allergic reaction when using any Keeps products, stop using them immediately and consult your doctor.

How Much Does Keeps Cost?

Before making a purchase, your initial consultation with a Keeps doctor is completely free, and you’ll be able to contact them at no extra charge for one year afterward.

As a subscription-based service, you can choose from delivery every 3, 6, or 12 months and easily add or remove products from your plan. Below is a breakdown of what you can expect to pay for each Keeps product.

Keeps product	3 months (first time)	3 months (regular price)
Topical finasteride and minoxidil	$86.66	$130
Finasteride	$53.34	$80
Minoxidil foam	$33.33	$50
Minoxidil solution	$21.99	$33
Ketoconazole shampoo	–	$33
Thickening shampoo	–	$21.99
Thickening conditioner	–	$21.99
Thickening pomade	–	$24.99

Keeps vs. Alternatives

How We Evaluated Keeps

When it comes to products for hair loss, we test them against 4 key factors to help you decide what really works. Keep reading below to find out how Keeps scores in terms of quality, effectiveness, price, and brand reputation.

Quality 4/5

According to reviews on Keeps’ website, customers are satisfied with the quality of their hair loss products. 

The company only uses FDA-approved ingredients, which have been shown in clinical trials to be some of the most effective in reversing hair fall and promoting regrowth.

Effectiveness 4/5

There is a wealth of evidence to suggest that treatments containing minoxidil and finasteride help treat hair loss, and Keeps products are no exception.

Despite their effectiveness, Keeps products only cater to men and cannot treat other forms of hair loss in women. It also takes a few months to notice visible results, and hair loss can return once a person stops using the treatments.

Price 3.5/5

Keeps’ treatments are fairly affordable for the quality of their products and the service that they provide.

They offer a range of subscriptions to suit every budget, starting from as little as $22 for 3 months if you choose the minoxidil solution only. 

A free professional hair consultation comes with every purchase as a great bonus, and they often run promotions that allow customers to purchase products in cost-effective bundles.

We knocked 3 points from this factor as Keeps products are not covered by health insurance companies, as they are considered to be cosmetic products. 

You are also paying for the convenience of home delivery, meaning that you may be able to source the same medications at a lower price from a pharmacy.

Brand reputation 3.5/5

To understand the brand reputation of Keeps, we reviewed their online reviews and customer satisfaction. With an average 4.7 out of 5 stars on the company’s website, Keeps generally has a good reputation with its customer base.

User reviews for Keeps products

Positive reviews point to the convenience of the subscription service, the free consultation, and strong confidence in the company.

However, Keeps only received 1.1 out of 5 stars on the Better Business Bureau website and a 1.8 rating on Trustpilot. 

Many of the negative reviews highlight their poor service after customers have encountered difficulties trying to cancel their subscriptions.

A Word From Our RD

FAQs

Conclusion

Using a subscription-based service such as Keeps is helpful for ensuring consistency with your treatments, which is vital for keeping hair loss at bay. 

Although all of the ingredients in their medications are FDA-approved, they are only effective in treating male androgenetic alopecia and will not work for women or men with other forms of hair loss.

Remember that you may experience an initial increase in hair shedding when using products containing minoxidil. Once this has passed, with regular application, you should start to see thicker and faster hair growth.

Speak to your doctor if you are concerned about any other side effects that you are experiencing.