Alex Goldberg

Hims vs Roman vs Keeps: Do Hair Loss Subscriptions Work?

Last updated on November 7th, 2020 at 09:13 pm

Medically reviewed by: Dr. Kim Langdon M.D.

If you’re male and over 25, you’ve likely seen a ton of ads for hair loss subscription products lately. There’s a war raging between the likes of Hims (aka ForHims.com), Roman (aka getroman.com), and Keeps (keeps.com), all fighting to be your trusted hair loss prevention supplier. While these companies (and their heated, VC-fueled rivalry) are new, the products they promote to maintain your glorious man-mane have been around for a long time. So, do they work? Can they really help you keep a full head of hair into your late 50’s and 60’s like George Clooney? Yes. Kind of. It depends who you ask. Let’s get to the bottom of the hair loss treatment efficacy question once and for all.

But first, a primer on men's hair loss treatments.

While the idea of scrambling to secure every last fiber to one’s scalp may seem funny, I assure you hair loss is no laughing matter to most grown men. With two-thirds of American males experiencing “appreciable hair loss” by age 35, and 85% noticing full-blown “thinning” by age 50, it’s an extremely pervasive source of insecurity and stress. As a result, Hims, Keeps, and Roman are vying for their share of a massive market. Here’s an overview of what these three brands offer when it comes to hair loss treatment, and how exactly they work to keep your precious locks flowing. If you’re already familiar with what Roman, Hims, and Keeps have to offer, skip to the end for our take on if they actually work.

Hims vs Roman vs Keeps: Hair Loss Treatment Comparison

After a brief online consultation and sometimes a phone or video consultation with a licensed doctor, Hims, Roman, and Keeps will recommend a personal hair loss treatment plan. All three typically offer the same general remedy: a 1mg daily finasteride regiment or Minoxidil — the generic version of Rogaine — which is a topical treatment. Finally, Hims also recommends a daily biotin vitamin (in gummy bear form) for good measure, but this is more to guard against diet deficiencies, rather than inevitable hereditary balding. Here’s a quick price comparison and more details on how each treatment works to stem hair loss:

Hims vs Roman vs Keeps: Comparing The Best Hair Loss Treatments for Men

Visit Hims

Visit Roman

Visit Keeps

Hims vs Roman vs Keeps
Doctor Consultation	Free	Free	Free
Finasteride (Generic Propecia®)	$28.50 per month	First month free, if approved. $13.34 per month for first 3 months, then $20 thereafter.	Get 50% off your first order, then: $25 per month
	$85.50 for 3 months	$40 for 3 months, then $60 thereafter.	$50 for first 3 months, then $75 thereafter
5% Minoxidil (Generic Rogaine®)	$15 per month	$10.67 per month for the first 3 months, then $12 thereafter.	$10 per month
Biotin (Vitamin B7)	$16 per month	–	–
Website	Visit Hims	Visit Roman	Visit Keeps

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Hims, Roman and Keeps Finasteride + Minoxidil Bundle Pricing

If you are only interested in the FDA approved medications proven to help most men combat balding, then the medicines offered by For Hims, Roman and Keeps that you want are Finasteride and Minoxidil. The prices these companies offer are usually at a substantial discount from what you’ll pay in your local pharmacy. The two medicines are $34.50 per month from Hims, and $35.00 per month from Roman and Keeps – a pretty tight pricing range! Another factor to consider is the special deals that these startups will give you for signing up. You can often find special discounts on the bundled prices for your first order — including an exclusive 50% off your first order of Keeps, just for Fin vs Fin readers — and we’ve listed these savings below.

Hims vs Roman vs Keeps: Best Hair Loss Bundle For Men

Bundled Pricing Comparison
Finasteride Price Alone	$22 per month	$20.00 per month	$25.00 per month
Minoxidil Price Alone	$15.00 per month	$16.00 per month	$10.00 per month
Finasteride and Minoxidil Bundle Price	Not Available* – there is a complete hair kit bundle that’s $44 a month	$35.00 per month	$35.00 per month
Introductory Offer	$44 for 3 month (first month free)	$70 for 3 months	$35 for 3 months
Refund Policy	90 day money back guarantee	No refunds	No refunds
Website	Visit Hims	Visit Roman	Visit Keeps

Finasteride

Sometimes referred to as “fin” in online forums or more commonly by the brand names it’s been sold under previously (“Propecia” or “Proscar”), finasteride for hair loss is typically prescribed in a 1mg pill taken daily. Originally designed to treat enlarged prostates, finasteride is only available by prescription and is the core ingredient of the hair loss prevention cocktail recommended by all three of the new subscription services: Hims, Roman, and Keeps.

How does finasteride work for hair loss prevention?

Finasteride works by blocking DHT (dihydrotestosterone), a hormone derived from testosterone that is known to shrink hair follicles and cause male pattern baldness (androgenetic alopecia).

While some patients have reported experiencing partial regrowth for a brief period immediately after starting treatment, finasteride is generally intended to maintain one’s current head of hair, not promote regrowth after it’s already fallen out.

Hair follicles begin shrinking again the minute you stop taking finasteride, which is why patients often report hair loss immediately after stopping. The key takeaway is that continued use of finasteride is required to maintain results.

Do studies show that Finasteride works for hair loss?

In one clinical study from 1998 involving ~1500 balding men over two years, 1 mg/d of finasteride slowed the progression of hair loss and increased hair growth in the balding vertex (i.e. the crown area most commonly associated with male pattern hair loss). Meanwhile, the control group experienced progressive hair loss. Efficacy was evaluated by scalp hair counts, patient and investigator assessments, and review of photographs by an expert panel.

A similar study from 1999 demonstrated an equally significant increase in the hair count in the frontal scalp of finasteride-treated patients (i.e. the hair line neat the forehead region, not just below the crown).

What are the potential side effects of finasteride?

Loss of Libido and Sexual Dysfunction

There is a fair amount of research on finasteride and sexually adverse effects including loss of libido, erectile dysfunction, and reduced sperm count/motility. While incredibly terrifying — especially for men looking to keep their hair in the first place to prolong a healthy sex life — studies has shown that these adverse effects occur at low rates between 2.1% to 3.8%. Among sexual side effects: erectile dysfunction (ED) is the most common, followed by ejaculatory dysfunction, then the loss of libido. All of that said, the only causal relation between finasteride and sexual adverse effects is decreased ejaculatory volume because of predominant action of DHT on prostate. Men trying to conceive may want to take a hiatus from finasteride as a result.

Breast Cancer

There have also been studies linking high doses of daily finasteride (5mg+/day) to increased risk of breast cancer. Doctors (including those at Hims, Roman, and Keeps) typically don’t prescribe more than 1mg/day, so this is less concerning if you stick to the standard dose. Just remember that when it comes to finasteride, taking more than prescribed does NOT increase its effectiveness for hair loss prevention.

Other Side Effects

While the debate over finasteride’s long term effects rages on, sexually adverse side effects after long-term use remains rare. There is a relatively high incidence of sexual dysfunction in the general population overall, and it has yet to be determined whether finasteride has any true causal relationship. Also, little data is available concerning the medical and psychological work-up of these patients to exclude other potential causative factors.

Now that you have a sense of finasteride and what it has to offer, let’s turn the spotlight on Minoxidil, the popular topical treatment that Hims, Keeps, and Roman typically recommend for men.

Minoxidil

Minoxidil is the active ingredient in Rogaine and many other topical treatments that can be purchased sans prescription. Unlike finasteride which is only prescribed to men, Minoxidil can be used to promote hair growth for women as well. A major shortcoming of Minoxidil, however, is that most need to use it for 4+ months before seeing any benefit, and then continuously henceforth to maintain growth. Speaking of Rogaine, you can get branded Rogaine from Amazon here – and with Amazon’s Subscribe and Save it’s actually a decent price.

How exactly does Minoxidil work for hair loss prevention?

Belonging to a class of drugs called vasodilators, Minoxidil is widely used as a way to promote hair growth. While the exact mechanism of action remains unclear, many believe that it increases blood flow to hair follicles, increasing follicular size and hair shaft diameter in the region where applied.

Do studies show that Minoxidil works for hair loss?

One study that led to Minoxidil’s FDA approval in 1987, 40% of men exhibited moderate to dense hair growth in the vertex of their scalp. Another of almost 1000 men showed that 62% reported a reduction in hair loss after using it.

Apparently higher concentrations lead to better results. That’s according to at least one study that found that 5% Minoxidil treatment stimulated more hair growth than did a 2% solution among men with androgenetic alopecia (male pattern baldness).

Like finasteride, regular use is required to see results indefinitely. One study found that cessation of topical Minoxidil treatment resulted in reduction of hair weight and number count after 28 weeks, with levels similar to placebo group.

What are the potential side effects of Minoxidil?

Being a topical treatment, the most common side effect of minoxidil is minor skin irritation at or near the application site. This is typically not caused by the minoxidil itself, but rather as a result of minoxidil products containing propylene glycol, and alcohol.

There is a long list of other potential side effects (acne, facial swelling / hair growth, dizziness, headache, etc.), but they are exceedingly rare. Minoxidil is seen as one of the safest hair loss treatments on the market today.

What does a Hims, Roman or Keeps package look like?

Ok so you don’t really want to scream out to your neighbors that you are getting anti-balding meds in the mail… so what does it look like to get one of these packages? And what does the medicine inside look like, does it seem like something you can trust?

The good news is that Hims, Keeps for Men and Ro have thought about the quality and appearance of their deliveries, and they all send their medicines in discrete packages. It’s really unlikely that anyone who sees one will think of it as anything other than any other ordinary thing that you bought online and have delivered. Below are a few pictures of the different packs and bottles that you’ll get if you order from these companies:

We’s also got some unboxing videos of both Hims and Keep’s products. The basic TLDR is that they are well branded – so they’ve got that quality feel that you want when you are taking a medicine. Plus, they are packaged in a way that they shouldn’t get damaged. Check out the videos below.

Keeps Unboxing Video

Hims Unboxing Video

Hims vs Roman vs Keeps: The Verdict

While there are many small differences between the male hair loss products and subscriptions offered by Hims, Roman, and Keeps, let’s just focus on finasteride and Minoxidil for now, and assume no difference in potency. Just different packaging, slightly different price tags, and potentially different user experiences. Does a hair loss subscription to Hims vs. Roman vs. Keeps save you enough hair to justify $20-$40/month?

(drumroll, please…)

Yes. And here’s why.

History: Roman, Keeps, and Hims aren’t selling anything new. They have merely repackaged the same meds that have been helping men maintain their hairlines for decades. A few studies I linked to earlier attempted to quantify how Finasteride and have helped stave off male pattern baldness (androgenetic alopecia). Admittedly direct impact is murky and hotly debated, but there’s a rapidly growing community of male users in support.

Personal Anecdote: My own experience taking Propecia (Finasteride) for the last ten years seems worth mentioning. I’m convinced it’s helped me keep most of my hair. I have more or less the same amount today as when I first started treatment in high school. And on occasions when I’ve paused my prescription, I’ve noticed thinning almost immediately. When Hims first launched in 2017, I signed up and was sold on the experience. No more trips to the pharmacy. No more calls to the doctor. All for the same price as I had been paying. When I discovered both Roman and Keeps, I signed up for free trials to test them out as well. Today I remain a loyal Roman customer, mostly because it’s the cheapest of the three when you buy in bulk. I only use finasteride though, none of the other treatments. Why not? I’ve tried Minoxidil as well, but quickly realized I’m part of the 60% of men who don’t see results.

What others say: Ok, so my story is just one experience. But if you scan the deeper recesses of the interwebs, there’s a wealth of user feedback on these products from real men with real hair loss problems. While their tone varies, most reviews corroborate my own positive experience, and the general consensus seems to be pretty pro hair loss subscriptions. Here are a few cherry-picked responses:

Source: Reddit

Quick caveats before you dive in

While there seems to be consensus that finasteride and minoxidil work as hair loss prevention supplements, they unfortunately don’t help regrow hair if you’re already bald. (Sorry bro.) They also both stop working the moment you pause treatment, so if you’re unable to follow a strict daily routine, you are unlikely to see results. In the case of minoxidil, you likely won’t notice results for the first 6 months of diligent application. There have been cases of adverse sexual effects linked to steady finasteride use, but they typically occur in 2-3% of users, and no causal relationship has been established. In the clinical study reviews that we’ve seen, the typical side effect ranges falls within or below the 2-3% number we just mentioned.

These are some basic facts to help you adjust your expectations. I hope this post helps you compare roman vs. hims vs. keeps! To help you further decide if they offer solutions that could work for you, you might just have to give each a shot.

Keeps review

No review of Keeps is complete without mentioning that they are the only online hair loss player to offer both foam and regular liquid Minoxidil. So if you like the foam option, they are a great choice. Keeps is for men, not women, and their medicines have been shown to work for the majority of men losing their hair. And unlike Hims and Roman, they are 100% focused on combating male pattern baldness – on ED meds or anti-depression meds here. So if you are trying to decide between Hims or Keeps, the foaming Minoxidil may be a good reason to look at the latter.

The Keeps for Men reviews that we’ve read have generally be very, very positive, and you can read our full Keeps Review. Click below to get 50% off for your first order — an exclusive discount we’ve negotiated for Fin vs Fin readers (that you won’t find elsewhere):

Does Keeps Work? Is it legit?

So, if you are wondering if Keeps is legit, the research we highlight above shows that the generic medicines Keeps uses do actually work for most, otherwise healthy men experiencing male patter baldness. Finasteride and Minoxidil are well researched – and the name brand equivalents are much more expensive. These are FDA approved hair loss medicines that work for the majority of men; in fact, studies have shown that if used together in the dosage recommended by Keeps, 94% of men see results. Click on the link above to get an special discount for your first month if you want to try Keeps now!

Roman

If you’re a seasoned finasteride user looking for convenience and lowest price, go with Roman. Like their competitor Keeps, Roman is for men. They take customer discretion seriously, always sending meds in nondescript envelopes. Plus they offer steep discounts for buying in bulk. Click the image below to get your first month free:

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Hims

If you’ve just started to notice your hair thinning and don’t know where to start, I’d recommend Hims. With beautiful branding, a great user experience, and full cabinet of treatments available topical, chewable, and swallowable forms, it’s the perfect way to ease into hair loss treatment. Hims (or for hims, as some on the internet call them) is for men, although they do have a “sister” brand called Hers. Read our full Hims review, or click the image below to get your first month of treatment free.

Hims Hair Loss Ingredients: What’s inside?

What’s in Him’s hair loss products? The active ingredients in their two FDA approved medicines are Finasteride and Minoxidil. The Biotin gummies contain, well, Biotin, and the shampoo has a variety of DHT blocking ingredients like Salicylic Acid.

Breaking down hims shampoo’s ingredients, it contains:

Purified Water, Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate, Cocoamidopropyl Betaine, Trideceth Sulfate, Methyl Paraben, Sodium Benzoate, Glycerin, Salicylic Acid, Stimulating Growth Complex (Cocoamide MEA, Lavender Oil, Peppermint Oil, Tea Tree Oil, Citric Acid, Nettle Extract, Hops Extract, Grapefruit Extract, Biotin, Folic Acid, Yeast Brewer’s Extract, Yeast Extract, Vitamin B12, Vitamin B5, Vitamin B6, Vitamin B1, Rosemary Oil, Cedarwood Oil), Sodium Chloride, Lecithin, Polyquaternium-7, Phenoxyethanol, Water & Saccharomyces / Zinc Ferment & Saccharomyces / Copper Ferment & Saccharomyces / Magnesium Ferment & Saccharomyces/Iron Ferment & Saccharomyces / Silicon Ferment, Blue #1

One fun thought on hair loss treatments: if you’re hesitant to get started, there’s nothing wrong with embracing your baldness. You’ll be in good company 🙂

Keeps vs Hims

We’ve been asked a lot about the differences between two of the major online hair loss providers, Keeps and Hims. Since we’ve reviewed (and tried) all of the companies we talk about in this review, we’ll lay out the difference between these two major players. You can see the Keeps for men review and Hims unboxing videos above, but the primary differences that you’ll find between the two companies are:

Price – Hims is $44 per month for the “complete hair kit;” if you want to get fin and liquid minoxidil from Keeps, it’s only $35 per month.
Introductory offer – Keeps’ subscription is $35 for the first three months if you use our special code (click here); Hims is $44 for the same time amount of time.
Focus on hair loss vs. general telemedicine – Keeps for men is 100% focused on male pattern baldness; Hims has a variety of telemedicine offerings, from ED to skincare.
Biotin and other supplements – Hims has supplements beyond the FDA approved drugs: biotin gummies (which are yummy!) and a special shampoo. If you review the medical research, neither has the same level of scientific backing as the FDA approved meds, but you can only get them from Hims.
Types of minoxidil available – This is kind of a big deal if you like foaming minoxidil – of the three brands we review, Hims, Keeps and Roman, Keeps is the only one to offer foaming minoxidil.

So, which do we recommend since both Him and Keeps are pretty legit? Well, we do love the introductory offer from Keeps – click here to get 50% off your first order (which is 3 months worth, by the way – pretty good deal!) That said, if you’re brand new to hair loss meds and want to try them risk-free, we recommend Hims who offers a 90 day money back guarantee.

How do you get a refill from Hims, Roman or Keeps?

It’s actually surprisingly easy to get a refill for your Finasteride prescription from Hims, Roman or Keeps. The cost for a refill prescription is zero; it’s included in your subscription cost. And these companies are going to reach out to you to let you know that your it’s time for an online follow up doctor’s appointment to get a refill.

For example, Hims and Roman are going to email and text you to remind you that it’s time for a telemedicine doctor’s exam, which can usually be completed in a simple online questionnaire for most men.

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Head to Head comparisons

Not everyone is looking at all of the companies we mention in this review, so let’s compare each of these vendors one-on-one against each other, in case that’s more helpful.

What’s better, Hims or Keeps?

Hims offers an online doctor’s visit and prescription meds for a variety of conditions faced by men, including sexual health and alopecia. For hair loss, like Keeps, Hims offers Finasteride and Minoxidil, available for $34.95 a month (for a little more you can get the complete kit with shampoo and biotin gummies). They also offer a 90 day money back guarantee on hair loss meds, which means you can try them risk free.

Keeps is 100% focused on alopecia, and they offer a Fin and Minoxidil bundle for $70 for 3 months ($23.33 per month). They also offer a foam Minoxidil, and we’ve partnered with Keeps to offer an exclusive 50% off discount to get started.

What’s better, Keeps or Roman?

Keeps is focused on keeping men from going bald, with online doctor’s visits and FDA approved medicines. Their 1st doctor’s visit is free, and a Finasteride and Minoxidil bundle is pretty affordable. Keeps for Men also has a foam Minoxidil, which is a big differentiator vs. Roman. Roman offers a variety of doctor consultations and treatment options for men with a variety of conditions, from problems in the bedroom to male pattern baldness. Roman’s first online doctor’s visit is free, as is the first month of treatment. Fin and Minoxidil together are $96, or just $36 a month ($24 a month for the 1st three months, with the introductory offer). Both companies offer 3 month subscriptions.

Hims vs Roman – Which is better?

Roman or Hims – pretty tough comparison; they both provide online doctor visits for a variety of medical conditions impacting men. When comparing For Hims vs Roman, one of the biggest items that jumps out as a difference is the variety of conditions treated. Hims has evolved to offer a number of Primary Care services, while Roman has stayed more focused on the ED/baldness market. This also leads to some pretty major differences in pricing – at Roman, the initial health consultations/doctor visits are free, while the cost varies at Hims based on the particular condition.

Conditions Treated Costs – Hims vs Roman
Sexual Health Conditions Covered	Erectile dysfunction Premature ejaculation Testosterone support Cold sores & herpes	Erectile dysfunction Premature ejaculation Testosterone support Cold sores & herpes
Dermatological/Skin Conditions Covered	Hair Loss Acne Anti-aging Dark spots Eczema Hives Bug bites	Hair Loss Acne Anti-aging Dark spots Eczema Dandruff Hyperhidrosis
Mental Health	Anxiety Depression Individual support Group therapy	None
Other Conditions	Primary Care – $39 per visit Bronchitis Sore throat Hives Allergies Pink eye Ear infection Toenail fungus Migraines	Allergies Weight management/weight loss
Supplements Available	Collagen protein Immunity Sleep Biotin	Heart Health Bone Health Prostate Health
Online consultation cost	Varies	Free
Subscription Frequency	Generally monthly	Usually quarterly
Website	Visit Hims	Visit Roman

For men going bald, Roman’s hair offering has a zero cost (free!) doctor’s visit, and can prescribe FDA approved Finasteride, as well as FDA approved Minoxidil – together $96, or just $36 a month. Roman offers the first month free, which makes it $24 a month for the first three months. With Hims, for $44 a month, you can get a bundle that includes biotin gummies and DHT blocking shampoo, Fin and Minoxidil. Roman’s monthly subscription is slightly cheaper and comes in a three month block, while Hims cost a bit more but is month to month. We tend to recommend Roman if you are committed, due to the lower overall yearly cost.

Alex Goldberg

Alex is a growth marketer, behavioral economics buff, and lover of all things Direct-to-Consumer. He enjoys scaling early-stage companies and working to bring transparency to opaque industries. He is a UC Berkeley grad, an aspiring retired golfer, and an avid soccer fan.

Alex Goldberg

Hims vs Roman vs Keeps: Do Hair Loss Subscriptions Work?

But first, a primer on men's hair loss treatments.

Hims vs Roman vs Keeps: Hair Loss Treatment Comparison