Frequently Asked Questions
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How long does it take Happy Head to work?
With daily application of one of our topical solutions, the results are typically seen as early as 3 months, and up to 6 months of use.
In a clinical trial study of 45 male patients, Hajheydari et al. (2009) compared oral Finasteride (the pill) 1mg vs Topical Finasteride 1% for a total of 6 months. Both the Oral Finasteride 1mg and the Topical Finasteride 1% showed statistically significant increase in total and terminal hair count after 4 months.
Why do patients choose the topical Happy Head formula?
Many patients are tired of taking a pill and then also applying over-the-counter minoxidil to their hair. Happy Head allows you to combine both steps into one, as its proprietary compounded formula combines prescription grade Finasteride and 8% Minoxidil. This means that there is one less step in your hair care routine. Also, you will probably see better results since the Minoxidil is 8% as opposed to OTC Minoxidil, which is only 5%.
Additionally, some patients have had side effects on Oral Finasteride (the pill) and want to try an alternative by using Topical Finasteride. In a clinical trial study of 45 male patients, Hajheydari et al. (2009) compared oral Finasteride (the pill) 1mg vs Topical Finasteride 1% for a total of 6 months. Both the oral Finasteride 1mg and the Topical Finasteride 1% showed statistically significant increase in total and terminal hair count after 4 months.
Do I need a doctor’s consultation before I begin Happy Head?
Yes and here’s how it works.
Once those steps are completed, you will be assigned to a licensed physician in your state. You will have a consultation with your physician before starting the prescription strength Topical Finasteride. Your physician will determine if you are eligible for Happy Head, which is based upon medical history, current degree of hair loss, allergies etc.
Can women use Happy Head?
Yes. We do have special, customized formulas for women. For women under 50, our standard formula consists of the following active ingredients: Spironolactone 0.1%, Minoxidil 6%, and Retinoic Acid 0.01%. For women over 50, our standard formula consists of the following active ingredients: Finasteride 0.1%, Minoxidil 6%, and Retinoic Acid 0.01%. Your doctor will help determine which formula is right for you, depending upon your age and medical hair loss history.
How is Happy Head shipped?
We provide free express shipping via USPS First Class. Billing and shipping is defaulted to every 25 days to ensure you receive your medications on time, which can be changed by reaching out to [email protected] or calling 844-962-4247.
How does my subscription work?
By default, we bill every 25 days to ensure the payment goes through and provide ample time for your medication to be compounded, shipped, and delivered. Your first order includes the initial telehealth visit with a board-certified dermatologist who will evaluate and prescribe the medication. You have the option to change your subscription frequency by contacting us, or you can always change your order renewal date on your My Account page.
How do I cancel my subscription?
To cancel your subscription, please contact customer service at [email protected], or call or text (844) 962-4247 between 9am – 5pm PST, Monday through Friday.
What are the ingredients for the Happy Head formula?
Happy Head is a topical formula that comes in a liquid solution (not a gel), and each bottle is 60 mL, which lasts about a month. Our products are compounded monthly, so it is made fresh when you order it. This means that your bottle has not been sitting on the shelf for months. Our most popular topical solution consists of the following active ingredients: 0.3% Finasteride, 8% Minoxidil, 0.001% Retinoic Acid, and 1% Hydrocortisone. Happy Head offers a variety of products, and it’s important to note that all active ingredients are customizable.
Can I customize Happy Head by removing ingredients?
Yes. Happy Head is a CUSTOMIZED topical hair loss solution manufactured monthly just for you. This means that if you don’t want an ingredient in there, you can customize it. For example, if you are allergic to Minoxidil, you can request it to be taken out. If you are allergic to the Finasteride ingredient, you can remove it from the formula. You can request such changes during the checkout process. Although it is customizable, best results are seen when all of the ingredients are included in the formula, and our standard formula is the most common one written by our physicians, more than 95% of the time. It is typically recommended not to change the formula unless you are allergic to one of the active ingredients (Finasteride 0.3%, Minoxidil 8%, 0.1% Retinoic Acid and Hydrocortisone1%).
Why is Happy Head a liquid & not a spray or gel?
Happy Head is a liquid that comes with a calibrated dropper. You can line up the dropper directly onto your scalp and apply the solution for an easy, mess-free application. Dr. Benham chose a liquid due to the problems with both spray and gel solutions for hair growth. In spray formulations, the hair traps the mist and prevents the actual medication from reaching the scalp, thus limiting the result significantly. Also, sprays limit how much you will apply on the scalp.
What is topical Finasteride 0.3% & why it is better than 0.1%?
Topical Finasteride (applied twice daily onto your scalp) is a modern method that procures efficient hair loss treatment with possible lower systemic adverse occurrences, according to clinical studies.
Happy Head uses the stronger version of Finasteride concentration (Finasteride 0.3%) because clinical pharmacokinetic study of Topical Finasteride by Caserini et al. in 2015 showed that only the 0.25% Finasteride produced the similar scalp DHT reduction as the oral Finasteride 1mg. In other words, Finasteride 0.1% concentration did not achieve the same level of efficacy in lowering scalp DHT as Finasteride 0.25%, confirming the idea that higher concentration of Finasteride is better than lower concentration. In addition, Topical Finasteride may be a safer alternative to oral Finasteride. The only difference is that Topical Finasteride is not ingested and only applied topically to the scalp.
What are the advantages to switch from OTC Minoxidil to Happy Head?
Topical over-the-counter (OTC) Minoxidil is either 2% for females or 5% for males. Our Minoxidil is 6% for females and 8% for males, a higher dosage than the over-the-counter (OTC) versions. In addition, OTC Minoxidil can be irritating.
Happy Head has a special base solution fortified with Aloe Vera and other calming ingredients to reduce the irritation from Minoxidil.
Our Minoxidil is also combined with Retinoic Acid, which has been shown in clinical studies to increase efficacy on Minoxidil.
Finally, our Minoxidil is fortified with Finasteride, giving you a combination that is far stronger and effective than OTC Minoxidil alone by itself.
Can I use my local pharmacy?
Happy Head’s pharmacy will custom compound your solution, and there is no need to visit your local pharmacy.
Does Finasteride affect PSA levels?
Yes. Topical Finasteride works just like oral Finasteride and it can affect PSA level. PSA is a protein produced by the prostate gland and is used to screen for prostate cancer. If you are planning to get a PSA test done with your physician, please discuss with your healthcare provider that you are using Finasteride, as Finasteride has been shown to affect PSA lab results.
In what instances can I not use the formula?
You should not use Topical Finasteride if you or your partner is planning to get pregnant, is pregnant or breastfeeding. Finasteride is a category X and should be avoided by pregnant patients and their partners.
Is topical Finasteride indicated for female use?
Yes, Women over the age of 50 may use Topical Finasteride.
Women under the age of 50 will not be prescribed Finasteride due to the possibility of creating birth defects. We offer Topical Spironolactone for women of childbearing age.
What are the side effects from Topical Finasteride?
Clinical studies demonstrate that Topical Finasteride has clinically proven, evidence-based, scientific data to show its efficacy in growing hair and that it may have a lower side effect profile compared to oral Finasteride.
There are many side effects associated with ORAL Finasteride, especially sexual side effects.
There have been many clinical studies on TOPICAL Finasteride. Majority of those studies showed no sexual side effects for patients using Topical Finasteride, sometimes at higher concentration than our formula. Specifically, out of the 7 clinical studies reported above, only one study showed one event with sexual side effects (testicular pain). This is 1 out of 268 subjects in all of the studies, which equates to a rate of 0.37%. In contrast, oral Finasteride is associated with sexual side effects in 1.8% to 3.8% of patients, which means that in the above 268 subjects, there should have been about 5 to 10 subjects experiencing some form of sexual side effects. However, this was not the case. With that said, it is recommended to titrate up the use of Topical Finasteride in order to avoid shocking the system and our physicians will go over that with you.
Please remember that any side effect that may occur on oral Finasteride can possibly occur with Topical Finasteride, but according to clinical studies, the side effects may be lower.
Please note that patients may have different sensitivity to the Topical Finasteride, thus results and side effects may vary. Please consult with a physician before starting prescription strength Topical Finasteride.
In the case of Happy Head, you will have a physician consultation in order to determine eligibility for the Topical Finasteride. Eligibility is based upon medical history, current degree of hair loss, allergies etc.
Your physician will also review side effects with you in writing. We encourage our users to read our blog titled “Side Effects of Topical Finasteride: Review of Current Medical Literature.
Can I use Happy Head if Minoxidil irritates my scalp?
Yes. Unlike OTC Minoxidil, Happy Head is made with a special base solution that is designed to soothe the scalp and reduce the irritation of the stronger Minoxidil in the product. In addition, aloe is added to the product to soothe the skin, along with over-the-counter Hydrocortisone to reduce additional irritation. All these innovations result in a gentler formula compared to the over-the-counter Minoxidil version.
However, some patients may still be very sensitive and irritation may still occur. If this happens, we can customize the formula to reduce the Minoxidil concentration from 8% to 6% or even remove the Minoxidil altogether.
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Got questions? We’ve got answers.
Got questions? We’ve got answers.
What is Topical Finasteride?
Topical Finasteride (applied twice daily onto your scalp) is a modern method that procures efficient hair loss treatment with possible lower systemic adverse occurrences, according to clinical studies.
Research shows that when compared to the tablet form of 1mg dosage, 0.25% topical Finasteride exhibit similar remedial effects. Hence, like oral preparation, topical Finasteride for hair loss works to reduce scalp and serum DHT levels, a higher amount of which is found in miniaturized hair follicles. According to clinical studies, topical Finasteride may be a safer alternative to oral Finasteride.
How long does Happy Head take to work?
With daily application of topical Finasteride, the results are typically seen as early as 3 months, and up to 6 months of use.
In a clinical trial study of 45 male patients, Hajheydari et al. (2009) compared oral Finasteride (the pill) 1mg vs topical Finasteride 1% for a total of 6 months. Both the oral Finasteride 1mg and the topical Finasteride 1% showed statistically significant increase in total and terminal hair count after 4 months.
How does my subscription work?
You will be charged $79 monthly, which includes your initial consultation with a board-certified dermatologist who will evaluate and prescribe your custom medication, and a 60ml bottle shipped discreetly to your door monthly.
There are no additional charges for shipping and handling and you may cancel at anytime.
You can delay, or cancel your order anytime from your account page, or by contacting customer service via email [email protected] or phone (844) 962-HAIR.
Are there any side effects?
Clinical studies demonstrate that topical Finasteride has clinically proven, evidence-based, scientific data to show its efficacy in growing hair and that it may have a lower side effect profile compared to oral Finasteride.
There are many side effects associated with oral Finasteride, especially sexual side effects.
There have been many clinical studies on topical Finasteride. Majority of those studies showed no sexual side effects for patient using topical Finasteride, sometimes at higher concentration than our formula. Specifically, out of the 7 clinical studies reported above, only one study showed one event with sexual side effects (testicular pain). This is 1 out of 268 subjects in all of the studies.
In contrast, oral Finasteride is associated with sexual side effects in 1.8% to 3.8% of patients.
One should be aware that side effects may still occur even with topical Finasteride and it is recommended to titrate up the use of topical Finasteride in order to avoid shocking the system and our Doctors will go over that with you.
Please remember that any side effect that may occur on oral Finasteride can possibly occur with topical Finasteride, but according to clinical studies, the side effects may be lower.
Is there a money back guarantee?
Yes. We understand that our products may not be the best fit for everybody. If you are not satisfied with the Product within 6 months, contact [email protected] with the subject line “Guarantee Return Request” and follow the return shipping instructions we provide back to you via email. Be sure to include the order number in the email, along with any pertinent details of your return request. All returned Products must be in their original packaging. In order to receive a refund, the order numbers on the packaging and the Product label must match. After we receive the returned Product, we will issue you a refund for the price you paid for such Product (less any applicable shipping and handling charges as well as other fees). Please note that the guarantee applies only to your most recent order, not the entirety of your subscription.
More questions? Find answers on our FAQ Page.