Last updated on January 15th, 2021 at 01:26 am
Medically reviewed by: Dr. Kim Langdon M.D.
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 | |||
| 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 |
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.
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 |
Finasteride
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
Breast Cancer
Other Side Effects
Minoxidil
How exactly does Minoxidil work for hair loss prevention?
Do studies show that Minoxidil works for hair loss?
What are the *potential* side effects of Minoxidil?
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
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
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.
More Men's Hair Loss Reviews
Roman vs Rogaine: Which Has the Best Topical Hair Loss Treatment?
Roman vs Lemonaid Health: Comparing the Best Cloud Pharmacies
Rogaine vs Minoxidil: What’s the Difference Between Branded and Generic?
Rogaine vs Keeps: Comparing Hair Loss Prevention Treatments for Men
Review: Roman Hair Loss and ED Treatments for Men
Review: OnMen.ca for Men’s Hair Loss & ED Meds Online
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 |
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.
