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Keeps and Hims are telehealth companies offering products to help minimize hair loss. While these services have similar products and services, Hims also offers products for erectile dysfunction, mental health, and general health.
This article explores Keeps and Hims in more detail and discusses these companies’ similarities and differences.
Please note that the writer of this article has not tried these products. All information presented is purely research-based and correct at the time of publication.
Medical News Today follows a strict product selection and vetting process. Learn more here.
Keeps is a telehealth company that offers medications, shampoos, and conditioners to address hair loss. The company states that it offers Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved products at a lower cost than most pharmacies.
Keeps also offers telehealth appointments with licensed practitioners in the states where customers live.
The following are some advantages and disadvantages of using this service:
Pros
- offers some of the most affordable hair loss treatments, according to the company
- offers inexpensive consultations with healthcare professionals
- offers a range of prescription and FDA-approved treatments on a subscription model
Cons
- unlike Hims, does not offer any treatments for other health conditions
- does not offer free shipping
- no option for customers to choose which healthcare professional they would like to contact
To get started with Keeps, a person must contact a doctor through the website. This healthcare professional will speak with the individual and discuss different treatment methods before prescribing a treatment plan.
After 30 days, the healthcare professional will contact the individual again to adjust the treatment plan if necessary.
A healthcare professional may prescribe or recommend the following products:
Finasteride (generic Propecia)
Keeps offers finasteride starting at $25 per month.
Learn more about finasteride here.
Finasteride has FDA approval for the treatment of benign prostate hyperplasia and male pattern hair loss. It works by reducing the amount of
The company recommends this treatment for people who are experiencing receding hairline. Keeps states that people may experience more hair growth after 3–4 months of use.
Finasteride is a prescription treatment. A person will need to connect with a healthcare professional on the Keeps website to order these tablets.
Minoxidil (generic Rogaine)
Keeps offers minoxidil solutions and minoxidil foam starting at $11 per month.
Learn more about minoxidil here.
Minoxidil is a suitable treatment for hair loss in males and females. While it has FDA approval only for male pattern hair loss, healthcare professionals
This treatment works by increasing the phase in which hair grows and increasing the thickness of the hair shaft.
Keeps recommends this product for people with thinning hair at the crown of their head. People may notice more hair growth after 3–4 months of use.
Minoxidil is available without a prescription.
2% Ketoconazole (generic Nizoral) shampoo
Keeps offers 2% ketoconazole shampoo for $10 per month.
Learn more about ketoconazole shampoo here.
Ketoconazole is an
Keeps recommends using this shampoo 2–3 times per week, letting it sit on the hair for 5 minutes before rinsing thoroughly. The company says people can expect to see results after 2–3 weeks of use.
As this shampoo is available only with a prescription, a person will have to connect with a healthcare professional on the Keeps website.
Hims specializes in men’s health and offers several treatments for hair loss, erectile dysfunction, mental health, and general health.
The company states that people can contact healthcare professionals through its website via phone, video, or chat, for free.
People may wish to consider the following pros and cons of this service before choosing Hims:
Pros
- offers a free initial consultation
- provides treatment for several other conditions in addition to hair loss
- offers consultations with licensed healthcare professionals
- offers free shipping
Cons
- does not provide clear pricing information for its prescription products
- does not state how much consultations cost after the free initial consultation
- offers many products only with a subscription — does not provide the option to purchase them individually
To get started with Hims, a person must fill out a questionnaire detailing their symptoms. The company will match each person with a healthcare professional in their state who will prescribe treatment if necessary.
The company states that any further consultations are free so long as the healthcare professional has issued a prescription.
Hims offers the following prescription hair loss treatments:
Oral finasteride
Hims does not state how much its oral finasteride costs.
The company recommends this treatment for people who have a receding hairline or overall thinning.
Finasteride is also available in hair packs alongside minoxidil treatments. Hims states that this medication is more effective when a person uses it alongside minoxidil.
Finasteride is available only via prescription. A person will need to contact a healthcare professional on the Hims website to order these tablets.
Minoxidil
Hims offers minoxidil solution or minoxidil foam starting at $30 per month or as a one-off purchase starting at $15. The one-off purchase includes a 1-month supply of this product.
The company recommends this product to people with male pattern hair loss. It states that people should apply minoxidil to their scalp twice daily.
People can choose to subscribe — receiving deliveries once per month or once every 3 months — or to purchase minoxidil only as they need it. Subscription costs may be lower than the cost of one-off purchases.
Another consideration when choosing between these services is their online reviews and reputation.
Keeps
Keeps hold accreditation with the Better Business Bureau (BBB). The organization gives the company an A+ grade. Customers on this platform give Keeps an average of 2.18 out of 5 stars.
On Trustpilot, customers give the company an average of 2.4 out of 5 stars.
People who have left positive reviews state that the hair loss products are of high quality and helped address hair thinning. Many users say they noticed hair regrowth and increased thickness after using the products.
However, negative reviews state that customers could not return products and that the customer service team may not be helpful when processing complaints.
Hims
Hims also holds accreditation with the BBB, with the platform giving the company an A+ grade. However, customers give Hims an average rating of 1.1 out of 5 stars.
Customers on Trustpilot give the company an average of 4.3 out of 5 stars.
People who left positive reviews say that the company responds promptly to customers’ requests and that the products are effective.
However, negative reviews report shipping delays and difficulties canceling subscriptions.
The following table provides an at-a-glance comparison of these two services:
| Keeps | Hims | |
|---|---|---|
| BBB grade | A+ | A+ |
| Trustpilot score | 2.4/5 stars | 4.3/5 stars |
| Products | • finasteride • minoxidil • ketoconazole shampoo • shampoo, conditioner, and pomade | • finasteride • minoxidil • biotin gummies • shampoo and conditioner • erectile dysfunction treatment • premature ejaculation treatment • therapy • primary care |
| Price | from $10 | from $15 |
| Online consultation | free initial consultation, then $5 per visit | free initial consultation |
| Accepts insurance | no | no |
| Shipping | $5 per shipment | free |
Several other telehealth services offer hair loss treatments. Some companies may also offer medication or products for other health concerns.
The following table compares Keeps and Hims to some of these competitors:
| Products | Online consultation | Accepts insurance | Shipping | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Keeps | • finasteride • minoxidil • ketoconazole shampoo • shampoo • conditioner • pomade | • free initial consultation • $5 per consultation | no | $5 per shipment |
| Hims | • finasteride • minoxidil • biotin gummies • shampoo and conditioner • erectile dysfunction treatment • premature ejaculation treatment • therapy • primary care | free initial consultation | no | free |
| Roman | • finasteride • minoxidil • erectile dysfunction treatment • premature ejaculation treatment • testosterone support • genital herpes treatment | free initial consultation | no | free |
| Lemonaid | • finasteride • anxiety treatment • depression treatment • erectile dysfunction treatment • birth control • insomnia treatment • genital herpes treatment | $25 per visit | no | free |
| Musely | • The Hair Pill • The Hair Solution • dark spot treatments • pro-aging support • rosacea treatment | $20 per visit | no | free |
Read our reviews here:
All the products that Keeps and Hims offer have potential side effects. People should contact a healthcare professional if they experience any of these effects.
Minoxidil
Minoxidil can cause
- increase in hair loss
- skin irritation, such as redness and burning
- scaling or irritation of the scalp
- allergic contact dermatitis
People should discuss taking minoxidil with a healthcare professional if they also take baby aspirin or cyclosporine. Minoxidil can interact with these drugs, changing the way they work and increasing the risks of side effects.
Finasteride
Finasteride can cause the following side effects:
- loss of libido
- erectile dysfunction
- decrease in ejaculatory volume
- gynecomastia (enlarged breasts in men)
People who are pregnant should avoid finasteride, as some animal studies have reported abnormal external male genitalia.
Additionally, people who take finasteride cannot give blood until 6 months after the date they stop taking this medication.
Ketoconazole
Topical ketoconazole may cause
- stinging sensations on the skin
- itchiness
- dry skin
People who use ketoconazole shampoo may also experience dry hair and scalp or oily scalp.
Rarer side effects include:
- changes in hair texture
- alopecia
- angioedema
- contact dermatitis
- eye irritation
- headache
- impetigo
- pyogenic granuloma
People should contact a healthcare professional if they are concerned about any hair loss or hair thinning.
Additionally, a person should contact a doctor if they experience:
- bald patches
- sudden hair loss
- itching
- burning sensation
Healthcare professionals can help determine the cause of hair loss and recommend a treatment plan.
Here we answer some common questions about these companies.
Do I need a prescription to use Keeps and Hims?
A person will need a valid and current prescription to purchase prescription products, such as finasteride, from Keeps and Hims.
Both companies offer online consultations with healthcare professionals who can write a prescription if necessary.
Do Keeps and Hims take insurance?
Keeps and Hims do not take insurance for hair loss treatments.
Is Keeps or Hims less expensive?
Keeps offers products beginning at a slightly lower price point than Hims, but people may find Hims less expensive.
Keeps charges a flat shipping fee, whereas Hims offers free shipping. Additionally, Hims offers free consultations if a person receives a prescription, whereas Keeps charges $5 per online visit.
Keeps and Hims are telehealth companies that offer hair loss treatments and online consultations with healthcare professionals.
People may want to consider several factors when choosing between these services, such as prices, shipping information, and any fees that each company charges.