DHT is the most significant cause of hair loss. In the majority of cases, if you want to stop hair loss, you need to reduce scalp DHT.
The most effective methods for reducing scalp DHT and the effect of DHT on follicles are RU58841 (however this is not known to be safe), ketoconazole (in small doses this is safe – such as a low dose in a shampoo), Propecia (although this is taken orally and has side effects), CB 03 01 (this has not been wideley tested), Spironolactone (there is some debate as to whether this is effective) and natural DHT blockers like saw palmetto and pygeum (these are not thought to be very strong or very effective when used on the scalp).
So perhaps the best bet, for now, is low dose topical ketoconazole, which is the active ingredient found in several anti-hair-loss shampoos, as you’ll see below).
Lipogaine Big 3 Premium Hair Loss Prevention shampoo for Men and Women Best shampoo for male hair loss
Around $25 for 8oz
In my view this is now the best shampoo for male hair loss, due to inclusion of the ingredient ketoconazole, as well as several other key ingredients. And it’s also a lot cheaper than the other crazily expensive anti-hair loss shampoos. However, if you want the most powerful ketoconazole shampoo, I recommend Nizoral, which has 2% ketoconazole. Overall, I’d go for Lipogaine. But you might consider using Nizoral twice a week as well for the higher concentration keotconazole.
When I previously reviewed this shampoo it wasn’t great. However, Lipogaine have recently changed their formula and this is now a far better shampoo, with loads of anti-hair loss ingredients. However, when I bought a bottle in the UK a few years back it didn’t contain any of these great new ingredients. Providing you use the link below you should get the much better new version. This is actually a really good shampoo — perhaps the best anti-hair loss shampoo of all. What’s more it’s much cheaper than some of the other shampoos on this page.
- Contains castor oil, which is a rich source of ricinoleic acid, which is a natural plant extract that increases scalp PGE2: PGE2 is found in greater amounts in scalps healthy scalps and much less so in balding scalps
- Contain caffeine, which reduces scalp DHT. DHT is the hormone that cause smale pattern hair loss.
- Contains nettle, which is also believed to reduce scalp DHT.
- Contains saw palmetto, which may reduce DHT in the scalp
- Rosemary has been shown to have some pretty good results reversing alopecia areata
- Green tea contains the polyphenol EGCG. EGCG can bind with andrgoen receoptors in the scalp, reducing the number of receptors available for DHT to bind to, helping prevent hair loss caused by DHT.
- Contains beta sitosterol, a plant sterol that reduces DHT.
- Contains niacin, which may help increase blood circulation in the scalp
- Contains soy isoflavones, which are also thought to decrease DHT.
Ultrax Labs Hair Surge for male pattern hair loss
Around $28 for 16oz
- Contain ketoconazole: Hair Surge is one of the few hair loss shampoos that contains the powerful DHT blocker ketoconazole.
- Contains caffeine, which has been shown to reduce DHT when applied to the scalp
- Contain menthol: menthol helps reduce inflamamtion. Scalp inflammation strongly is linked to hair loss
- Niacin may help increase scalp blood circulation, which has also been shown to increase hair growth
- Saw palmetto has been shown to have positive effects on hair growth when applied to the scalp. Saw palmetto is a natural DHT inhibitor.
Wick & Ström Premium Hair Loss Shampoo with Ketoconazole
for male pattern hair lossAround $16 for 12oz
- Contains ketoconazole, which kills the fungi that causes dandruff and other scalp conditions and is thought to promote hair growth by inhibiting DHT
- Contains saw palmetto, which may reduce DHT in the scalp
- Contains aloe vera, which contains many vitamins and minerals and enzymes that may benefit hair growth
- Contains niacin, which may help increase blood circulation in the scalp
- Contains biotin, which may aid in the production of cells in the scalp
Read next
Whats the best shampoo for hair loss? 
Hair Restore MD Hair Loss DHT Blocker Shampoo
for male pattern hair lossAround $19 for 8.5oz
This is a great shampoo with loads of active anti-hair loss ingredients. I must say, if it contained ketoconazole this would probably be my number one hair loss shampoo.
- Contains Nettle, saw palmetto, caffeine, beta sitosterol, Amla fruit extract and soy isoflavones: a combination of natural DHT blockers
- Contains Panax Ginseng Root Extract, Arginine, Safflower and Niacinamide: ingredients that may help increase blood circulation in the scalp
- Contains green tea, which is a source of EGCG: EGCG may bind to androgen receptors in the follicles, preventing DHT from binding to them and reducing the negative impact of DHT on the hair
- This shampoo contains so many active ingredients you’ll have to read my full write up to see them all and how they work.
Pura D’or Organic Argan Oil Anti Hair Loss Shampoo Around $28 for 16oz
- Contains a proprietary blend of DHT blocker ingredients
- Contains tea tree oil, which may help keep scalp pores clear
- Contains nettle extract, saw palmetto, pygeum extract, pumpkin seed oil and green tea extract, which are all thought to block DHT
- Contains biotin, rosemary oil, vitamin E and B-vitamin complex, which are thought to benefit hair health
- Contains he shou wu (fo-ti), which is thought to benefit hair growth
- Contains niacin, which may help increase blood circulation in the scalp
- Contains zinc, which is thought to help kill the fungus that causes dandruff
Ingredients
HairGenesis Anti DHT Shampoo Around $30 for 7.5oz
Key ingredients: Saw Palmetto, L-Carnitine, Beta-Sitosterol, R-Thioctic Acid, Borage Oil,
Evening Primrose Oil, Prunus Africana Bark Extract, Japanese Green Tea, Biotin.The good: This is the first anti-DHT shampoo I’ve seen that has decent levels of saw palmetto in it. Borage oil and Evening Primrose oil also major benefits. Green tea should contain anti-oxidants.
The bad: Contains Sodium Laureth Sulphate.
Ingredients
DS Labratories Revita Anti-DHT Hair Loss Shampoo Around $25 for 6oz
Key ingredients: Caffeine, Ketoconazole (anti-fungal), Apple Seed Extract, Rooibos Leaf, Apple Polyphenol (Procyanidin B-1), Carnitine HCl, MSM
The good: SLS free. Quality ingredients. Apple polyphenols may increase circulation. Roibios may inhibit DHT.
The bad: Probably least effective against DHT. Very expensive.
Ingredients
Groganics DHT Blocker Shampoo Around $9 for 8oz
Key ingredients: Saw palmetto, Nettle Leaf, peppermint oil, menthol.
The good: Saw palmetto and nettle may inhibit DHT. Peppermint and menthol may reduce scalp inflammation.
The bad: Main base ingredient is ammonium laurl sulphate.
Ingredients
Nioxin Cleanser Anti-DHT Shampoos Around $17 for 10.5oz
Key ingredients: Co-enzyme A, Pantothenic Acid (Vitamin B5), Pyridoxine (Vitamin B6), Cyanocobalamin, Biotin, Folic Acid, Niacin, Thiamine HC1, Ubiquinone (Co-enzyme Q10), Yarrow plant, Cammomile, Camellia sinensis, Pomelo, Horsetail, lots of other plant extracts including saw palmetto.
The good: Lots of B vitamins and lots of plant extracts that may contain beneficial chemicals.
The bad: Negligible amounts of saw palmetto — unlikely to have much (if any) impact on DHT. Contains sodium laureth sulphate.
Ingredients
Nisim Hair Loss Shampoo Around $14 for 8oz
Key ingredients: Blend of plant extracts including Ginseng. B vitamins Inositol, Panthenol and Biotin. Amino acids Cystine, Cysteine and Methionine.
The good: A good mix of B vitamins and amino acids
The bad: Contains sodium laureth sulphate, sodium laurl sulphate, preservatives and artificial colours. None of it’s ingredients are known to inhibit DHT as far as I know.
Revivogen Anti DHT Shampoo Around $24 for 12.5oz
Key ingredients: Aloe Vera, Jojoba Oil, Panthenol, Ascorbic Acid, Linolenic Acid, Zinc Sulfate, Linoleic Acid, Azelaic Acid, Vitamin B6, Niacin, Saw Palmetto, Menthol.
The good: Azelaic acid and saw palmetto are probably the best natural DHT inhibitors available. Lots of beneficial ingredients in this shampoo.
The bad: Lot’s of rubbish too. Also the levels of azelaic acid and saw palmetto are probably less than 5% and so won’t do much to inhibit DHT.
Ingredients
RegenePure Doctor Recommended Anti Hair Loss Shampoo Around $28 for 16oz
- Contains niacin, which may help increase blood circulation in the scalp
- Contains ketoconazole, which kills common scalp fungi and may also reduce scalp DHT
- Contains saw palmetto, which may reduce DHT in the scalp
- Contains linolenic acid, which may inhibit DHT locally
- Contains emu oil, which is an anti-inflammatory. DHT is thought to cause inflammation in the scalp, leading to hair loss
- Contains jojoba oil, which may increase hair growth
- Contains salicylic acid, which helps clear sebum and dead skin cells from the scalp
- Contains zinc, which helps reduce fungal infections in the scalp
Ingredients
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Around $25 for 8oz
- Contains saw palmetto, which may reduce DHT in the scalp
- Contains emu oil, which may help reduce DHT and has other properties that are beneficial for hair growth
- Contains niacin, which may help increase blood circulation in the scalp
- Contains biotin, which may aid in the production of cells in the scalp
- Contains vitamin B5, which may protect the hair from damage
Ingredients
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The Verdict
It’s debatable as to whether saw palmetto is effective at inhibiting scalp DHT topically. It’s also debatable as to whether these shampoos will carry the saw palmetto and other active ingredients into the scalp and papillas. That said, if you’re massaging a shampoo into your scalp every day, it’s worth massaging quality ingredients that may also help reduce scalp DHT levels and even feed the hair.
A lot of the shampoos I’ve looked at claim that they contain ingredients that block DHT, but the volume of active ingredients is so low they’re unlikely to do anything. It’s better to go for a shampoo with less ingredients, but higher levels of the important active ingredients. For that reason my top anti-DHT shampoo is the HairGenesis. Although it contains some less desirable ingredients it has the highest concentration of saw palmetto (of the shampoos I’ve reviewed).
Have I missed anything?
If you’ve found an anti-DHT shampoo that you’d like me to take a look at let me know in the comments. If you have any other questions or comments about DHT blocker shampoo use the comments form below.
