{"id":605712318770,"title":"Happy Head Review: Can a Serum Reverse Hair Loss?","created_at":"2023-06-19T23:12:07-04:00","body_html":"\u003cscript type=\"application\/ld+json\"\u003e\/\/ \u003c![CDATA[\n{\n \"@context\": \"https:\/\/schema.org\",\n \"@type\": \"Article\",\n \"headline\": \"Happy Head Review: Can a Serum Reverse Hair Loss?\",\n \"keywords\": \"happy head, happy head review, happy head reviews\",\n \"description\": \"Our research team analyzes the ingredients in Happy Head to give our take on whether it's likely to stop or reverse hair loss or if it's a waste of money. We feature real customer reviews including before-and-after images, and discuss potential side effects.\",\n \"url\": \"https:\/\/illuminatelabs.org\/blogs\/health\/happy-head-review\",\n\"author\": {\n \"@type\": \"Person\",\n \"name\": \"Calloway Cook\",\n \"url\": \"https:\/\/illuminatelabs.org\/pages\/calloway-cook\",\n \"sameAs\": \"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/calloway-cook\/\",\n \"jobTitle\": \"President\",\n \"knowsAbout\": \"entrepreneurship, dietary supplements, herbal supplements, eCommerce, medical research\",\n \"alumniOf\": {\n \"@type\": \"EducationalOrganization\",\n \"name\": \"S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University\"\n },\n \"memberOf\": {\n \"@type\": \"Organization\",\n \"name\": \"Illuminate Labs\"\n }\n},\n\"editor\": {\n \"@type\": \"Person\",\n \"name\": \"Beth Lertzman\",\n \"honorificSuffix\": \"M.D.\",\n \"url\": \"https:\/\/illuminatelabs.org\/pages\/beth-lertzman\",\n \"sameAs\": [\n \"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/beth-lertzman-md-856619118\/\",\n \"https:\/\/health.usnews.com\/doctors\/beth-lertzman-517042\"\n ],\n \"jobTitle\": \"Dermatology Reviewer\",\n \"knowsAbout\": \"skincare, collagen, cosmetics, surgery, wrinkles, ingredients, formulation, clinical trials, clinical research\",\n \"alumniOf\": {\n \"@type\": \"EducationalOrganization\",\n \"name\": [\n \"University of Delaware\",\n \"Drexel University College of Medicine\",\n \"University of Rochester\"\n ]\n },\n \"memberOf\": {\n \"@type\": \"Organization\",\n \"name\": \"Illuminate Labs\"\n }\n },\n\"image\": {\n\"@type\": \"ImageObject\",\n\"url\": \"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0047\/1524\/9737\/files\/Happy_Head_Thumbnail.png?v=1687230829\",\n\"width\": \"3067\",\n\"height\": \"3067\"\n},\n\"citation\": [\n\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC9297965\/\",\n\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC4314881\/\",\n\"https:\/\/illuminatelabs.org\/blogs\/health\/scalpmed-review\",\n\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/26380504\/\",\n\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/32441159\/\",\n\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/3771854\/\",\n\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/26380503\/\",\n\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/22409453\/\",\n\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC6609098\/\"\n],\n\"mentions\": [{\n \"@type\": \"Organization\",\n \"name\": \"FDA\"\n },\n {\n \"@type\": \"Thing\",\n \"name\": \"finasteride\"\n },\n {\n \"@type\": \"Thing\",\n \"name\": \"minoxidil\"\n },\n {\n \"@type\": \"Thing\",\n \"name\": \"hydrocortisone\"\n },\n {\n \"@type\": \"Thing\",\n \"name\": \"retinoic acid\"\n },\n {\n \"@type\": \"Thing\",\n \"name\": \"erectile dysfunction\"\n },\n {\n \"@type\": \"Person\",\n \"name\": \"Dr. Ben Behnam\"\n },\n {\n \"@type\": \"Brand\",\n \"name\": \"Good Morning America\"\n }\n],\n\"datePublished\": \"2023-06-19\",\n\"copyrightHolder\": {\n \"@type\": \"Organization\",\n \"name\": \"Illuminate Labs\"\n},\n\"publisher\": {\n \"@type\": \"Organization\",\n \"name\": \"Illuminate Labs\",\n \"url\": \"https:\/\/illuminatelabs.org\/\",\n \"description\": \"Illuminate Labs is the most transparent supplement company in the U.S., and is a leading publisher of research-based health information.\",\n \"knowsAbout\": \"supplements, science, nutrition, exercise, health, medication, pharmaceutical, wellness, diet, weight loss, medical research\",\n \"publishingPrinciples\": \"https:\/\/illuminatelabs.org\/pages\/editorial-guidelines\",\n \"memberOf\": [\n {\n \"@type\": \"Organization\",\n \"name\": \"U.S. Chamber of Commerce\",\n \"url\": \"https:\/\/www.uschamber.com\/\"\n },\n {\n \"@type\": \"Organization\",\n \"name\": \"Certified B Corp\",\n \"url\": \"https:\/\/www.bcorporation.net\/en-us\/\"\n },\n {\n \"@type\": \"Organization\",\n \"name\": \"Natural Products Association\",\n \"url\": \"https:\/\/www.npanational.org\/\"\n }\n ],\n \"logo\": {\n \"@type\": \"ImageObject\",\n \"url\": \"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0047\/1524\/9737\/files\/Illuminate_Labs_Favicon_48x48_7595c3cc-e27b-47b8-a4fe-edcc7ed9b29a.png?v=1666502785\", \n \"width\": 48,\n \"height\": 48\n},\n \"foundingDate\": \"2019-01-30\",\n \"sameAs\": [\n \"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/illuminatelabs\",\n \"https:\/\/twitter.com\/illuminatelabs\",\n \"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/company\/illuminate-labs-supplements\",\n \"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/channel\/UCpgSJAsIPb-fZ25djtTxBEA\"\n ]\n }\n}\n\/\/ ]]\u003e\u003c\/script\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0047\/1524\/9737\/files\/Happy_Head_Review_Article_Header_Image_Optimized.png?v=1687230575\" alt=\"\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"dc\"\u003eH\u003c\/span\u003eappy Head is a hair growth product that uses FDA-approved medications topically. The brand claims they can help customers “Grow Your Hair Back Now,” and that their proprietary formulas are “stronger \u0026amp; customized to your needs.”\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eBut is topical hair growth medication as effective as oral hair growth medication? What drugs does Happy Head actually use? Are there any risks associated with this type of treatment? And how do real users rate and describe the effects of Happy Head?\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eIn this article we’ll answer all of these questions and more as we analyze clinical trials on the drugs used by Happy Head to give our take on whether they’re likely to be effective, or if they’re a waste of money. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eWe’ll discuss side effects, share our opinion on the pros and cons of topical hair growth treatments to oral hair growth treatments, and feature unsponsored customer reviews of the brand.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eIngredient Analysis\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0047\/1524\/9737\/files\/Happy_Head_Ingredients_Optimized.png?v=1687230596\" alt=\"Happy Head ingredients\" style=\"display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eThe active ingredients in Happy Head are shown above, from a statement published on the “FAQ” page on the brand’s website.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eHappy Head is custom-formulated, meaning these ingredients are subject to change, but the brand indicates that these are the most commonly-used.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eFinasteride\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e is an FDA-approved hair loss medication that’s available both orally and topically. A 2022 \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC9297965\/\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eclinical trial\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e analyzed the effectiveness of topical finasteride and concluded that it \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003e“significantly improves hair count compared to placebo.”\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eThe above-linked trial used a finasteride concentration of 2%, while the concentration in Happy Head’s most popular formulation is only 0.3%.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eA \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC4314881\/\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eclinical trial\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e published in the \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eIndian Dermatology Online Journal\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e found that topical finasteride was effective for hair loss when used in combination with topical minoxidil.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eMinoxidil\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e is an FDA-approved hair loss treatment that was \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003eclinically shown to increase hair count in men by 11%\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e at a lower concentration as in Happy Head, as we documented in our \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/illuminatelabs.org\/blogs\/health\/scalpmed-review\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eScalp Med reviews\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e article.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eA \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/26380504\/\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003emeta-study\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e published in the \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eSkinmed\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e journal analyzed data from a number of clinical trials on topical minoxidil, and the study authors concluded that it’s effective for promoting hair growth.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eHydrocortisone\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e is included at a concentration of 1%. This is a type of corticosteroid medication, and corticosteroids were shown in a 2022 \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/32441159\/\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eclinical trial\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e to be effective for reducing and reversing hair loss associated with alopecia areata, which causes patchy hair loss and is less common than the dominant, hormone-driven hair loss pattern.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eRetinoic acid\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e, when combined with minoxidil, was shown to regrow hair in 66% of subjects studied in a \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/3771854\/\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eclinical trial\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e published in the \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eJournal of the American Academy of Dermatology\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eOverall, we consider Happy Head to be one of the most potent and likely effective hair growth formulations that we’ve reviewed on Illuminate Health. All of its active ingredients have research backing.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eOur only concern is that the inactive ingredients are not clearly published on the brand’s website. \u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003ePerhaps this formulation contains no inactive ingredients, and the above-listed ingredients are the only ingredients in the final product, but many cosmetic products contain ingredients like fragrance that may be questionable from a health perspective.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eWe hope that in the future, Happy Head clarifies this on their website. We would consider strongly recommending this product line if the inactive ingredients were clearly published.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eBut are topical hair growth products really safer than oral medication? We’ll discuss in the next section.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eHair Loss Meds and Sexual Side Effects\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eThe FDA-approved hair loss medications sold by Happy Head can, in rare cases, cause long-term sexual side effects like erectile dysfunction (ED).\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eA 2015 \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/26380503\/\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003emedical review\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e on oral finasteride and topical minoxidil use for hair loss documented that 7% of patients experienced reduced ejaculation, 4% experienced reduced sex drive and 3% experienced ED as side effects.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eThis suggests that topical hair loss products, like those sold by Happy Head, may be safer since less of the active drug ingredient may be systemically absorbed.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eA 2012 \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/22409453\/\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003emedical review\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e suggests that the topical use of minoxidil only carries the risk of minor side effects such as irritation of the skin at the site where the solution is applied.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eA 2019 \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC6609098\/\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003emedical review\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e examined data on topical finasteride use, and the study authors concluded that its use “may be a promising treatment with a less severe side effect profile compared to systemic therapy.”\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eWe have not come across any medical studies suggesting that topical use of these drugs causes sexual side effects.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eThe early research on these compounds is definitely promising, and brands like Happy Head may provide a risk profile that’s a lot more favorable to the average hair loss patient than an oral drug that may cause sexual side effects.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eBut how do real users rate and describe the effects of Happy Head? We’ll review in the next section.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eReal Users Review Happy Head\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eA YouTube creator named Milton Chizer has a video reviewing Happy Head that includes before-and-after images:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ciframe width=\"560\" height=\"315\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/97kew9fRGH0\" title=\"YouTube video player\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" allowfullscreen=\"\"\u003e\u003c\/iframe\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eDr. Ben Behnam, who’s a board-certified dermatologist, has a video showing results from Happy Head treatment on a real patient:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ciframe width=\"560\" height=\"315\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/dZiBae8tbhU\" title=\"YouTube video player\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" allowfullscreen=\"\"\u003e\u003c\/iframe\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eDo Natural Hair Loss Treatments Work?\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eA Good Morning America segment discusses some natural hair loss treatments and their potential effectiveness with a doctor correspondent:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e\u003ciframe width=\"560\" height=\"315\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/C-aZYYjIjzk\" title=\"YouTube video player\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" allowfullscreen=\"\"\u003e\u003c\/iframe\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cb\u003ePros and Cons of Happy Head\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eHere are the pros and cons of Happy Head in our opinion:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"\u003e\u003cb\u003ePros:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eUses FDA-approved hair loss meds\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eFounded by doctors\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eHighly potent formulations\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eShould support hair growth\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eMay have reduced risk compared to oral medications\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eSome impressive customer before-and-after images\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eCons:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eBrand fails to clearly publish inactive ingredients\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eProprietary formulations don’t appear clinically tested\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eExpensive\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eMay cause scalp irritation\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch2 style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eConclusion\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eHappy Head uses FDA-approved medications for hair loss, and we believe based on the active ingredients the brand uses that this product line is highly likely to support hair growth.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eThe fact that these medications are used topically rather than orally suggests there may be a significantly reduced risk of side effects, which is important given that oral hair loss meds can cause sexual side effects in some men.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eThis brand is founded by board-certified dermatologists, which is always a good sign about the quality of a health brand.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eOur only complaint about Happy Head is that we couldn’t find any inactive ingredient information on the brand’s website. Most topical cosmetic products and drugs contain inactive ingredients, and patients deserve to have access to this information to make an informed purchase decision.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eMost of the customer reviews we came across while researching Happy Head were favorable.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","blog_id":49281925193,"author":"Calloway Cook","user_id":26601750601,"published_at":"2023-06-19T23:19:32-04:00","updated_at":"2023-06-19T23:19:32-04:00","summary_html":"We analyze the ingredients in Happy Head to give our take on whether it's likely to stop or reverse hair loss or if it's a waste of money. We feature real customer reviews including before-and-after images, and discuss potential side effects.","template_suffix":"","handle":"happy-head-review","tags":""}

Happy Head Review: Can a Serum Reverse Hair Loss?

Happy Head Review: Can a Serum Reverse Hair Loss?


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Read our Editorial Guidelines to learn more about what makes our site the premier resource for online health information.

Happy Head is a hair growth product that uses FDA-approved medications topically. The brand claims they can help customers “Grow Your Hair Back Now,” and that their proprietary formulas are “stronger & customized to your needs.”

But is topical hair growth medication as effective as oral hair growth medication? What drugs does Happy Head actually use? Are there any risks associated with this type of treatment? And how do real users rate and describe the effects of Happy Head?

In this article we’ll answer all of these questions and more as we analyze clinical trials on the drugs used by Happy Head to give our take on whether they’re likely to be effective, or if they’re a waste of money. 

We’ll discuss side effects, share our opinion on the pros and cons of topical hair growth treatments to oral hair growth treatments, and feature unsponsored customer reviews of the brand.

Ingredient Analysis

Happy Head ingredients

The active ingredients in Happy Head are shown above, from a statement published on the “FAQ” page on the brand’s website.

Happy Head is custom-formulated, meaning these ingredients are subject to change, but the brand indicates that these are the most commonly-used.

Finasteride is an FDA-approved hair loss medication that’s available both orally and topically. A 2022 clinical trial analyzed the effectiveness of topical finasteride and concluded that it “significantly improves hair count compared to placebo.”

The above-linked trial used a finasteride concentration of 2%, while the concentration in Happy Head’s most popular formulation is only 0.3%.

A clinical trial published in the Indian Dermatology Online Journal found that topical finasteride was effective for hair loss when used in combination with topical minoxidil.

Minoxidil is an FDA-approved hair loss treatment that was clinically shown to increase hair count in men by 11% at a lower concentration as in Happy Head, as we documented in our Scalp Med reviews article.

A meta-study published in the Skinmed journal analyzed data from a number of clinical trials on topical minoxidil, and the study authors concluded that it’s effective for promoting hair growth.

Hydrocortisone is included at a concentration of 1%. This is a type of corticosteroid medication, and corticosteroids were shown in a 2022 clinical trial to be effective for reducing and reversing hair loss associated with alopecia areata, which causes patchy hair loss and is less common than the dominant, hormone-driven hair loss pattern.

Retinoic acid, when combined with minoxidil, was shown to regrow hair in 66% of subjects studied in a clinical trial published in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology.

Overall, we consider Happy Head to be one of the most potent and likely effective hair growth formulations that we’ve reviewed on Illuminate Health. All of its active ingredients have research backing.

Our only concern is that the inactive ingredients are not clearly published on the brand’s website. 

Perhaps this formulation contains no inactive ingredients, and the above-listed ingredients are the only ingredients in the final product, but many cosmetic products contain ingredients like fragrance that may be questionable from a health perspective.

We hope that in the future, Happy Head clarifies this on their website. We would consider strongly recommending this product line if the inactive ingredients were clearly published.

But are topical hair growth products really safer than oral medication? We’ll discuss in the next section.

Hair Loss Meds and Sexual Side Effects

The FDA-approved hair loss medications sold by Happy Head can, in rare cases, cause long-term sexual side effects like erectile dysfunction (ED).

A 2015 medical review on oral finasteride and topical minoxidil use for hair loss documented that 7% of patients experienced reduced ejaculation, 4% experienced reduced sex drive and 3% experienced ED as side effects.

This suggests that topical hair loss products, like those sold by Happy Head, may be safer since less of the active drug ingredient may be systemically absorbed.

A 2012 medical review suggests that the topical use of minoxidil only carries the risk of minor side effects such as irritation of the skin at the site where the solution is applied.

A 2019 medical review examined data on topical finasteride use, and the study authors concluded that its use “may be a promising treatment with a less severe side effect profile compared to systemic therapy.”

We have not come across any medical studies suggesting that topical use of these drugs causes sexual side effects.

The early research on these compounds is definitely promising, and brands like Happy Head may provide a risk profile that’s a lot more favorable to the average hair loss patient than an oral drug that may cause sexual side effects.

But how do real users rate and describe the effects of Happy Head? We’ll review in the next section.

Real Users Review Happy Head

A YouTube creator named Milton Chizer has a video reviewing Happy Head that includes before-and-after images:

Dr. Ben Behnam, who’s a board-certified dermatologist, has a video showing results from Happy Head treatment on a real patient:

Do Natural Hair Loss Treatments Work?

A Good Morning America segment discusses some natural hair loss treatments and their potential effectiveness with a doctor correspondent:

Pros and Cons of Happy Head

Here are the pros and cons of Happy Head in our opinion:

Pros:

  • Uses FDA-approved hair loss meds
  • Founded by doctors
  • Highly potent formulations
  • Should support hair growth
  • May have reduced risk compared to oral medications
  • Some impressive customer before-and-after images

Cons:

  • Brand fails to clearly publish inactive ingredients
  • Proprietary formulations don’t appear clinically tested
  • Expensive
  • May cause scalp irritation
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Conclusion

Happy Head uses FDA-approved medications for hair loss, and we believe based on the active ingredients the brand uses that this product line is highly likely to support hair growth.

The fact that these medications are used topically rather than orally suggests there may be a significantly reduced risk of side effects, which is important given that oral hair loss meds can cause sexual side effects in some men.

This brand is founded by board-certified dermatologists, which is always a good sign about the quality of a health brand.

Our only complaint about Happy Head is that we couldn’t find any inactive ingredient information on the brand’s website. Most topical cosmetic products and drugs contain inactive ingredients, and patients deserve to have access to this information to make an informed purchase decision.

Most of the customer reviews we came across while researching Happy Head were favorable.




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