My TOP 3 tips for fighting androgenic alopecia (hormonal hair loss, baldness, thinning)
22th January 2026

My TOP 3 tips for fighting androgenic alopecia (hormonal hair loss, baldness, thinning)

Hair loss is a recurring topic in my clinical practice. Every month, new "miracle products" emerge on social media, touted as the solution , yet few deliver on their promises when compared to scientific data and real-life consumer experiences.

 

I am Julie Pernet , a Doctor of Pharmacy and certified trichologist specializing in hair problems. After thoroughly studying the most popular anti-hair loss protocols, analyzing published clinical data, examining active ingredients, and comparing user feedback with scientific evidence, I am sharing my expert ranking of the 3 solutions that, in my opinion, are truly worth considering : effective, practical, and based on science.

 

 

What I always tell the people with androgenic alopecia that I support

 

Before examining the products, it is essential to understand some simple but crucial biological basics:

  1. Hair is made up of nothing but dead keratin cells , but its health depends entirely on what happens at the follicle level , a few millimeters below the surface of the scalp.

  2. To slow down hair loss and stimulate significant regrowth , it is necessary to nourish and protect the hair bulb , by targeting the deep biological causes (inflammation, oxidative stress, microbiome imbalances, hormonal factors, etc.).

  3. No shampoo or oil alone can penetrate deeply enough to alter these processes; biologically active and scientifically validated formulations are required.

 

 

1) Androgenic alopecia: lthe most promising natural solution

 

This protocol from the MakeMyMask brand is my number 1 recommendation because it does not just mask the symptoms: it acts on the key biological mechanisms associated with hormonal hair loss (follicle strength, scalp microbiome, inflammation, growth phases).

Unlike solutions focused on a single mechanism, this protocol, consisting of four complementary products , targets DHT, the hormone responsible for androgenic alopecia, as well as the three hair growth factors. It does not contain Minoxidil, thus avoiding the rebound effect associated with this medication upon discontinuation.

 

1) The Active Anti-Hair Loss Scrub

This scrub exfoliates the scalp to free the hair bulbs of impurities and thus improve the penetration of anti-hair loss active ingredients.

 

2) The Anti-Hair Loss Shampoo with pH5

This shampoo contains patented plant exosomes that help combat hair loss while promoting growth. Its physiological pH of 5 helps rebalance the scalp microbiome, as an imbalanced microbiome can contribute to hair loss.

 

3) The Tricho-Boost Anti-Hair Loss Serum

This serum has been tested against Minoxidil and has shown superior results on all three hair growth markers. Its patented, unique active complex directly targets the hair follicle to act at the source of hair loss, without dispersing.

 

4) The DHT Blocker

This dietary supplement targets DHT, the hormone responsible for hormonal hair loss (androgenic alopecia, baldness, hair miniaturization). It has the highest concentration on the market, as it contains 300 mg of Saw Palmetto, which is 35% fatty acids (the molecules that inhibit DHT). 

 

Key features :

  • A comprehensive approach to combat all factors of hair loss
  • Effective, clinically proven and sensory-enhancing formulations
  • Respect for the scalp microbiome, a key element in hair loss
  • Made in France, over 97% natural and pharmaceutical grade


 

2) Androgenic alopecia: la leading medical solution

 

Often prescribed by dermatologists, the American brand Foligain combines Minoxidil —a medication with robust evidence of efficacy against androgenetic alopecia—with complementary active ingredients such as Trioxidil , designed to strengthen microcirculation and the follicular environment. This solution is intended for patients seeking a clinically well-validated topical treatment.

 

 

Why this choice is relevant :

  • M inoxidil is widely studied and recognized to prolong the hair growth phase and reduce hair loss when used regularly.

  • The topical format allows for targeted application with a side effect profile generally limited to local irritation.

 

💡 Be aware of the rebound effect when stopping Minoxidil, which can lead to significant hair loss of the hair "gained" during treatment. Minoxidil also has other side effects such as scalp irritation , or even facial hair growth in some cases.


Le Finasteride is also a widely prescribed medication for its DHT-blocking action, taken orally. However, it can cause sexual side effects (decreased libido, erectile dysfunction), but also psychological (depression, anxiety), and more rarely symptoms persisting after stopping (post-finasteride syndrome), because it acts in a way hormonal and systemic on DHT.
It's an effective treatment but not trivial, which requires a prescription and medical follow-up.

 

👉 Medical recommendation : Topical 5% Minoxidil + Oral Finasteride (but beware of side effects)

 

 

3) Androgenic alopecia: lan English solution developed by a doctor and trichologist

 

Advanced Trichology is a British brand created by a trichologist that offers an interesting, drug-free approach . Their products often combine peptides, antioxidants, and microcirculation-stimulating agents to support the scalp environment.

What I appreciate about this brand :

  • Scientifically thought-out formulations designed by a medical trichologist to promote a scalp environment conducive to hair regrowth.

  • Suitable for those who want a more targeted and effective approach without necessarily starting drug treatment.


 

How I evaluated these hormonal hair loss solutions

 

To create this ranking, I looked at:

✔ The published or available clinical evidence (revisions, instrumental measurements)
✔ The mechanisms of action biological (effect on the follicle, inflammation, growth)
✔ The ease of integration into a routine (to encourage consumer acceptance of the product)
✔ The user feedback compared to objective scientific data

 

 

Practical advice from a trichologist to combat hormonal hair loss:

 

  • Start with a trichological/dermatological diagnosisbecause hair loss can have multiple origins (androgenetic atrophy, telogen effluvium, deficiencies, stress)
  • Combining local care and internal support (nutrition, stress management, microbiome control)
  • Set realistic expectations : results on regrowth are gradual (minimum 6 months to see significant results)

 

And most importantly: a diagnosis is essential for targeted treatment! If you have any doubts, take my online diagnostic to determine the cause of your hair loss.

Blog

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Hair mesotherapy: price, sessions and at-home alternatives Price, number of sessions, legal framework, expected results: what you need to know before hair mesotherapy, and the at-home alternative for those who do not have access to a clinic.
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Androgenetic alopecia: the 4 mechanisms of hormonal hair loss The hormonal drop depends not on one mechanism but on four: conversion to DHT, silent inflammation, follicle obstruction, and the skin barrier. Treating just one allows the other three to do their work.
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Why choose a pH5 shampoo for your scalp? The scalp has a natural pH between 4,5 and 5,5. The further a shampoo deviates from this, the more the hair fiber swells, the more the cuticles lift, and the weaker the skin barrier becomes. pH is the most crucial factor in a shampoo—and the only one no one advertises.
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Stress and hair loss: what is the real link? Stress does cause hair loss, but with a two- to three-month delay: the follicles enter a resting phase before being shed. The hair loss is diffuse, reversible, and lasts three to six months. By the time it starts, the triggering event is often already behind you.
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Hydration vs. nutrition: which should you choose for your hair? Hydration delivers water to the hair fiber, while nutrition provides the lipids that retain it. The two are linked: without a surface lipid film, the applied water is lost within a few hours. This is why so many hydrating masks fail to provide lasting results.
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Trichology: a science at the service of your hair Trichology studies the scalp and hair as a single organ. It allows us to trace a symptom back to its cause: flaking can indicate three different conditions, and hair loss can be reactive or hormonal. This distinction determines the entire treatment plan.  
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Why is our hair oilier in summer? Summer is the real exception to the rule: the heat actually increases the activity of the sebaceous glands and makes sebum more fluid. Add to that perspiration, salt, and sun residue. The solution isn't to space out shampoos, but to wash with a pH 5 product as often as necessary.
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Protecting your hair in summer: why and how? Salt dehydrates the hair fiber by drawing water outwards, chlorine dissolves its lipid film, and UV rays oxidize keratin. Two simple, free steps prevent most of the damage: wet your hair with fresh water before swimming, and rinse it immediately afterward.
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Head spa: what happens during a session and how much does it cost? The head spa combines scalp examination, exfoliation, prolonged massage, and application under gentle heat, lasting thirty to sixty minutes. Expect to pay €50 to €120 per session. Its most tangible benefit is diagnosis: seeing a scalp you can't observe yourself.
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Reverse shampoo: what does it consist of and who is it for?   Reverse shampooing involves applying conditioner before shampooing rather than after. This method is ideal for fine hair that quickly becomes weighed down, and whose lengths lose all volume with a regular conditioner. On dry or porous hair, however, it deprives the hair fiber of the care it needs.  
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Understanding and treating seasonal hair loss Seasonal hair loss is a physiological telogen effluvium: it is diffuse, lasts six to ten weeks, and resolves on its own. It never develops into androgenic alopecia—but it can be a sign of it. A thinning area is not seasonal.
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Dry dandruff vs. oily dandruff: how to tell them apart? Oily dandruff results from an excess of sebum that feeds the Malassezia yeast: yellowish, sticky flakes and a shiny scalp. Dry dandruff stems from a weakened skin barrier: fine, white flakes and a tight, uncomfortable scalp. Two conditions, two different routines.
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Brushing your hair: an age-old practice, provided you do it correctly. Brushing your hair detangles, distributes sebum along the lengths, and stimulates the scalp. However, you should always start at the ends, never force dry, tangled hair, and forget the "one hundred strokes" rule—a 19th-century invention with no basis in fact.
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Hair spa: what does it consist of and does it work? The hair spa combines exfoliation, massage, and application under gentle heat—three steps that have a real effect on the scalp. The session resets the scalp and allows for observation by a practitioner; the weekly at-home routine maintains the results between appointments.  
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Hair problems: how to choose the right brush   A poorly chosen brush breaks the hair fiber and irritates the scalp. Boar bristles to smooth and distribute sebum, nylon to detangle, wood for softness: the material matters, but on a sensitive scalp, it's the rounded tips that really make the difference.
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Scalp care: why treat the roots rather than the lengths Visible hair is a keratinized structure: it protects itself, but it doesn't repair itself. Everything that determines its quality happens in the follicle, at the level of the scalp. This is the principle of scalp care—exfoliate the roots, wash at pH 5, and reserve rich treatments for the lengths.
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Dry shampoo: good or bad for the scalp? Dry shampoo isn't inherently good or bad: it absorbs surface oil without ever removing it. Used occasionally, it's perfectly adequate. Used instead of washing, it builds up powder and sebum on an already oily scalp, eventually causing irritation and dandruff.  
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Why do we lose our hair in autumn? Autumn hair loss is a physiological and well-documented phenomenon: the proportion of hairs in the resting phase peaks in July, and shedding occurs one to two months later. It lasts six to ten weeks and resolves on its own. The goal is not to prevent it, but to prepare for the subsequent regrowth.  
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Scalp Psoriasis: Symptoms, Causes and Treatments Scalp psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory disease linked to an immune system dysfunction: the epidermis renews itself in three to seven days instead of twenty-eight, forming thick, well-defined plaques. It cannot be cured but can be managed, provided it is correctly diagnosed.
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Focus on mustard vegetable oil   Mustard oil heats up because the allyl isothiocyanate it contains activates nerve fibers in the skin—this is the gold standard model used in research to induce neurogenic inflammation. The vasodilation is real, but it stems from irritation, and no studies have evaluated its effect on hair growth.
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How to space out your shampoos? Spacing out your shampoos doesn't retrain the scalp: sebum production is hormonal, not behavioral. What truly allows you to space out washes is a healthy scalp—exfoliated, cleansed at pH 5, and not irritated. Comfort comes from the state of your scalp, never from waiting.  
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Focus on Castor vegetable oil   Castor oil does not promote hair growth: a systematic review of 22 studies found no solid evidence of an effect on growth, only weak data on shine. It remains an excellent conditioning agent, provided one is aware of the risk of matting.
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Brahmi powder: Focus on this powder with multiple virtues The name Brahmi encompasses two distinct plants, Bacopa monnieri and Centella asiatica. Both are well-studied—for memory and skin health—but no clinical data evaluates their effect on hair growth. An interesting traditional powder, but not an anti-hair loss agent.
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Scalp Dermatitis vs. Psoriasis: How to Recognize Them? Seborrheic dermatitis and scalp psoriasis look similar but have nothing in common: one is caused by a yeast, the other by an immune system disorder. Yellowish scales and blurred edges on one side, well-defined silvery plaques on the other. Recognizing them is essential for choosing effective treatments.
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Hair and sun: what really damages it, and how to repair it The "straw-like" effect at the end of summer isn't simply dryness; it's oxidation. UV rays attack keratin, degrade melanin, and transform sebum into peroxides that irritate the scalp. Exfoliating, washing with a pH-5 product containing antioxidants, and nourishing the lengths corrects all three issues simultaneously.
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Hair loss after an infection: why it happens, and how long it lasts A significant drop in hair loss two months after an infection or high fever is not the onset of baldness. It's telogen effluvium: the follicles have been put on pause, not destroyed. The hair loss resolves on its own within three to six months, and a suitable treatment plan accelerates the regrowth process.
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Saw Palmetto and Hair Loss: Myth or Reality? Saw palmetto effectively inhibits 5-alpha-reductase and reduces the production of DHT, which is responsible for androgenic alopecia. Studies place it below finasteride, but at 320 mg of standardized extract and in synergy with the right cofactors, it is the best-documented natural active ingredient against hormonal hair loss.
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DHT Blocker: Which is the best DHT blocker on the market according to science? Not all DHT blockers are created equal. It's not the milligrams of saw palmetto that are effective, but the fatty acids in the standardized extract. Our formula delivers 96 mg of active fatty acids from 300 mg of concentrated extract, combined with probiotics and cofactors that ensure absorption and effectiveness.
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Dandruff or scalp psoriasis: how to tell the difference? Dandruff and scalp psoriasis are easily confused, but they are fundamentally different. Dandruff is diffuse, fine, and linked to excessively rapid skin cell turnover. Psoriasis forms thick, well-defined plaques covered with silvery scales and is caused by a chronic immune disorder.
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DHT Blocker: the natural solution against hormonal hair loss Hormonal hair loss is caused by DHT, produced by the 5-alpha-reductase enzyme. A DHT blocker inhibits this enzyme and limits follicle miniaturization. The first effects appear between 45 and 90 days, and it is consistency, combined with a complete treatment protocol, that makes the results lasting.