Keeps Review

Keeps Hair Loss Treatment Works: Our Review

Launched in January 2018, Keeps is a subscription-based platform that diagnoses and treats hair loss. But does Keeps work and how do Keeps’ prices compare to similar hair loss treatment services like Hims? We’re happy to report that Keeps is a practical and affordable option for men experiencing hair loss or balding. Read our review to find out why we recommend it.

What is Keeps?

Perhaps the best way to understand Keeps is to think of it as a combination between an online doctor and a pharmacy – a one-stop hair loss shop where you can consult a doctor, find a treatment that suits your hair needs, and have it delivered to your door.

One of the first things you see on the Keeps homepage is a bold statement: “Keeps is the easiest and most affordable way to keep your hair.” And in most cases, the service lives up to those promises. All the patient needs to do before an online doctor provides them with a customized treatment plan is answer some questions and upload a few photos. If the doctor judges the patient suitable for treatment, they supply them with a tailor-made hair-loss treatment plan within the same day.

And thanks to the subscription model Keeps employs, the patient’s treatment plan is automatically renewed every 3 months, ensuring they will always have enough medication on hand to get the best results. Keeps is undeniably a convenient way to treat hair loss. 

But is it also affordable, as its website states?

Keeps claims to be cheaper than competing services like Hims because it ships treatments quarterly, allowing patients to save between $70-$100 a year depending on which products they need to be compared to other subscription-style competitors providing the same treatments. In most cases, Keeps is indeed less expensive than Hims.

At this point, Keeps is living up to every part of that bold claim and seems to be “the easiest and most affordable way to keep your hair.”

Does Keeps Work?

Yes. Keeps works because it uses the same approved prescription formulas that other companies offer, but with better service and at a better price. Keeps’ process is simple. The patient is first asked to complete a questionnaire and submit photos of their hair loss for the Keeps team to review if the patient is a good candidate for their type of treatment. 

Since hair loss is a medical condition, Keeps has a qualified and licensed medical practitioner review their patients’ information and symptoms before making a diagnosis and providing a prescription.

The patient’s first consultation with a medical doctor is free, with every visit after that costing just $5. Of all the hair loss services we have reviewed, this is the cheapest consultation fee by far, compared to an average cost on most other platforms of around $25.

After receiving a treatment plan, the patient has their prescription filled by the in-house pharmacy. This is a 3-step process. For the first step, they are asked to choose a hair loss treatment plan, with 3 different treatment plans to choose from:

1. Best for overall hair loss

2. Best for receding hairlines

3. Best for thinning hair on the crown

The patient chooses the plan most suitable to their case based on the advice of the doctor. 

The second step is where the patient agrees to take out a 3-month subscription that will supply them with the needed treatment. The subscription renews automatically, ensuring they have a constant supply of medication.

In the third and final step, the patient is given the tools to track their hair growth and progress. They are also given the option to alter or cancel their plan. 4-6 weeks after the patient begins treatment, Keeps contacts them via a secure portal to ensure that everything is going smoothly. If there is an issue, their support team will help resolve the matter. Does Keeps work? YES!

What Treatments Are Available at Keeps

There are two FDA-approved prescription medications that are used to treat male pattern balding: Finasteride and Minoxidil. Both of these medications are widely used, with the effects and side effects of both well understood. In the vast majority of cases, the doctors at Keeps will prescribe either one or a combination of the two.

Finasteride

A generic version of the branded drug Propecia®, Finasteride is a DHT blocker that has been approved by the FDA to treat male pattern baldness. Due to how long it has been on the market and how popular it has proven, there have been countless clinical trials highlighting its efficacy and its side effects. Studies have shown Finasteride to be more effective than natural DHT blockers like saw palmetto or rosemary oil. 

Only available via prescription, Finasteride is most effective when taken daily. This treatment works by blocking the production and release of a hormone called DHT, known to cause male pattern baldness. Regular use of Finasteride has been clinically proven to prevent hairlines receding and boosting the regrowth of hair.

Known side-effects of Finasteride:

• impotence,
• loss of interest in sex,
• trouble having an orgasm,
• abnormal ejaculation,
• swelling in your hands or feet,
• swelling or tenderness in your breasts,
• dizziness,
• weakness,
• feeling like you might pass out,
• headache,
• runny nose, or
• skin rash.

Make sure you learn how to reduce side effects of Finasteride before starting treatment. 

Minoxidil

Keeps’ doctors may also prescribe Minoxidil, a generic version of Rogaine®. Like Finasteride, which it may be prescribed in conjunction with, Minoxidil is an FDA-approved treatment for hair loss that has been on the market for a long time. Keeps offers this treatment in 2 topical forms – as a solution with a dropper and as foam in an aerosol can. Keeps is currently the only telemedicine provider offering the foam version.

Known side-effects of Minoxidil:

• dizziness,
• drowsiness,
• tiredness,
• temporary edema (swelling)
• nausea,
• vomiting,
• breast pain or tenderness, and
• changes in the color, length, or thickness of hair on the body

For overall hair thinning, Keeps’ doctors often prescribe a combination of Finasteride and Minoxidil to be taken daily to reduce hair loss and stimulate the regrowth of hair.

Patients suffering from a receding hairline are usually given a prescription of 1mg tablets of Finasteride to be taken daily as a treatment to slow down balding in the hairline, crown and vertex.

Those who are experiencing hair loss at the crown of the head are commonly treated with Minoxidil (5%) as either a solution or foam.

Ketoconazole shampoo

This prescription shampoo is used to treat dry scalps and is often used in conjunction with the above-mentioned treatments (dry scalp is a common side-effect of Minoxidil).

How Much Does Keeps Cost?

• Finasteride (generic Propecia) - $25/month 
• Minoxidil Solution - $10/month
• Minoxidil Foam - $15/month
• Ketoconazole Shampoo - $10/month

Benefits of Keeps for Hair Loss

Provides access to convenient and affordable hair loss treatments to those who have medical insurance and those who don’tPatients can save up to 50% when purchasing treatments through Keeps rather than the local pharmacySaves time compared to in-person doctor visitsIt saves the embarrassment that some men experience when consulting a medical practitioner in personIt can be accessed via any web browser

In What States Is Keeps Available?

Keeps hair loss aims to offer its services to as many Americans as possible. However, this is not always possible since each state has different legal requirements and laws regarding treatments. Since hair loss falls under the banner of Health/Medication, lawmakers and watchdogs are particularly strict on any infringement of state rules.

While there is no list on the website showing in which states Keeps operates, this link will take you to a page where you can enter your state and find out if Keeps can operate in it.

So is Keeps Worth it? Our Verdict

Does Keeps actually work? Yes - Keeps Hair uses the same powerful ingredients prescribed & recommended by doctors everywhere. It’s clear that the modern version of telemedicine is here to stay and may forever change the way patients interact with healthcare specialists. What sets Keeps apart from most of the players in this field is that it does one thing, and it does it well. Perhaps the future of online healthcare lies in platforms like Keeps, with each specializing in a specific area. If you want reviews of the service, they are available on the Keeps website.

As the online hair loss specialists who can also provide effective treatments that are prescribed by qualified healthcare professionals at 50% of the average price, we have to recommend Keeps. “Keeps is the easiest and most affordable way to keep your hair.”