Keeps Review 2022: Does It Work for Hair Loss?
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If you are dealing with hair loss, you may be wondering how you can treat it at home. You can get over-the-counter products like minoxidil (Rogaine) at your local drugstore, but there are online subscription services that can help you save time and money.
“Let’s look at Keeps and see how they compare to other services.”
Keeps is one of several online services that allow you to get FDA-approved treatments to minimize hair loss from the comfort of your home.
Daily supplies are shipped to you at a significant discount. If you need help, you will have access to a team of physicians and trained care specialists.
People with hair loss are looking for a convenient solution. The company connects you with a doctor who will prescribe the best products for you to receive at your door every 3 months.
The doctor will check in with you 30 days after using the products. It is ideal for anyone looking for a more convenient option than in-person doctor visits.
Pros
- The subscription model helps people stay consistent with their treatment.
- People prefer going through Keeps to getting products from local stores.
- “You don’t need to go to in-person appointments to get your treatments.”
- “Even if you don’t have insurance, the initial consultation is free.”
Cons
- “In states where there isn’t a doctor available, Keeps may add steps, as you will need a prescription from a different doctor to get finasteride.”
- The Keeps model may not catch hair loss caused by an underlying medical condition.
- “You don’t have the power to choose a doctor.”
- In-person doctor visits are not available through Keeps.
- “You can’t cancel or return orders once they’ve been processed. If you want to cancel, you need to do it before your order is processed.”
Learn more about the Keeps services and business at their support page.
Keeps sells three different products for hair loss: finasteride, minoxidil, and ketoconazole. They all have different applications and slightly different uses.
Finasteride from Keeps
Finasteride is a 1-milligram pill that’s taken daily and is only available with a prescription. It’s the generic version of Propecia. It contains the same amount of active ingredient as Propecia and finasteride from Hims, another competitor.
The FDA has approved finasteride for male pattern baldness. The active ingredient works to prevent a receding hairline, and it can lower hair loss on the crown of your head.
Minoxidil from Keeps
Keeps sells minoxidil as a solution that you apply to your scalp with a dropper or as a foam that you apply with your hands. Both contain 5 percent of the active ingredient, which is the same dosage as competitors like Hims, Rogaine, Target Hair Regrowth Treatment, and Walgreens Hair Regrowth Treatment.
Minoxidil is the generic version of Rogaine. You don’t need a prescription to use it.
The FDA has approved minoxidil for male and female pattern baldness. It works best on the crown of the head.
Ketoconazole from Keeps
Keeps sells shampoo with 2 percent topical ketoconazole, which is a generic version of Nizoral. Ketoconazole is an antifungal medication that can be used off-label for hair loss.
Nizoral is sold over the counter at most local pharmacies.
How finasteride works
Finasteride blocks dihydrotestosterone (DHT), a hormone that causes male pattern baldness. Taking finasteride slows down hair loss. In some people, it can even stop hair loss.
It takes up to 3 months to see the effects of using it daily. The effects can be reversed within a year if you stop taking it daily.
How minoxidil works
Minoxidil works directly on your hair follicles to slow down hair loss and help regrow the hair at the crown of your head. Specifically, it has been shown to increase follicle size and the number of follicles. It also increases blood flow to follicles to encourage growth.
It can take up to 4 months for the minoxidil solution to work. If you stop using minoxidil, your hair will fall out within 3 months.
How ketoconazole works
Only
You can start with both.
- You can choose your plan if you know what you want. You will take a short online quiz to make sure you pick the right plan.
- “If you don’t know which product you want, you can fill out a questionnaire that will ask about your hair loss, lifestyle, and medical history. It will ask you for photos of your hair loss. A doctor will review your pictures and questionnaires and suggest a treatment plan.”
“You need to provide a copy of your driver’s license or other government-issued ID for either method. The doctor knows who you are before issuing a prescription, so the ID is necessary.”
A doctor will review your information in 24 hours. You need to call the doctor before you get a prescription. The doctor can prescribe a treatment after just looking at your information.
Unless you cancel, Keeps will send you products every 3 months.
You can message a doctor through Keeps if you have questions or experience side effects. If you prefer, you can speak with one of their doctors over the phone, but Keeps will need to set up the call.
Your initial consultation with a doctor is free. You can message the doctor for a year after that first visit.
Keeps also recommends an annual telehealth consultation, which costs $5.
Keeps is a subscription model, and you pay for 3 months at a time. As of June 2022, your options are:
- Finasteride and minoxidil foam: $78 for the first 3 months, then $120 every 3 months
- Finasteride and minoxidil solution: $68.25 for the first 3 months, then $105 every 3 months
- Finasteride only: $75 every 3 months
- Minoxidil foam only: $45 every 3 months
- Minoxidil solution only: $30 every 3 months
Any treatment plan can be added to with ketconazole. It costs $30 for 3 months.
Keeps also offers a conditioner and a shirring wash.
As of June 2022, Keeps has an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau, and customer ratings average 2.32 out of 5 stars. On Trustpilot, Keeps has 11 reviews and an overall rating of 3.2 out of 5 stars.
“People are charged after they try to cancel or have other difficulties with it, and poor customer service is mentioned in most negative reviews. You can’t return or cancel an order once it’s processed.”
Keeps has responded to all reviews. There was no response from Keeps on positive or negative reviews.
Customer service is prompt on other sites. The products themselves are generally positive reviews.
The Keeps website has a number of options for texting, calling, or email their customer service team.
Each medication has its own side effects.
Finasteride side effects
Potential side effects for finasteride include:
- The libido was decreased.
- erectile dysfunction, which may be permanent
- decrease in ejaculate volume
- Breast augmentation.
- Breast pain.
- There is pain in the testicles.
- Depression.
Experts point out that finasteride shouldn’t be used by anyone with a family history of prostate cancer.
There are benefits and side effects of finasteride.
About post-finasteride syndrome
There are a variety of possible serious side effects that have been observed in people taking oral finasteride.
Symptoms may occur while taking finasteride and last after people stop using it. These include changes to sexual function, such as erectile dysfunction and low libido, as well as symptoms of Depression. and anxiety, or physical sensations, like dizziness.
There is more research needed on post-finasteride syndrome. The drug may be equally effective for hair loss treatment and less harmful.
Topical minoxidil side effects
There are potential side effects of minoxidil.
- The growth of facial and body hair is unusual.
- There are a number of conditions that can include It was itching., dryness, or irritation.
There are some serious side effects.
Check in with a doctor
If you experience any of the following, contact your doctor.
- There is chest pain.
- weight gain
- rapid heartbeat
- swelling of the face, hands, feet, or stomach
- Lightheadedness.
“Read about minoxidil’s side effects.”
Topical ketoconazole side effects
There are potential side effects of ketoconazole.
- It can be irritation or dryness.
- Changes in hair texture.
- blisters on your scalp
Serious side effects can be caused by kettconazole. If you have redness, pain, swelling, or tenderness, you should contact your doctor.
All types of treatment can cause an allergic reaction.
Check in with a doctor
If you experience any of the following, you should seek emergency medical attention.
- It was itching.
- There are bees.
- There is a rash.
- Difficult swallowing
- lip or throat swelling
“Keeps has doctors who can prescribe medication for you, but it is important to talk with an independent doctor who knows your medical history before using a subscription service for hair loss. They can help make sure that your hair loss isn’t caused by an underlying issue.”
“If you have a doctor’s prescription, you can get it through Keeps, sometimes for less than what it costs at your local pharmacy. Minoxidil and ketoconazole don’t require a prescription, so keep that in mind.”
It is important to learn what is causing your hair loss, since it may or may not respond to the medications offered by Keeps and may need another type of treatment.
Keeps says that their products are only for male pattern baldness. If this description doesn’t fit you, talk with your doctor about the best treatment for you. Rogaine and Hims/Hers both make treatments specifically for women with hair loss.
| Keeps | Hims | Roman | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Products | ✓ finasteride ✓ minoxidil ✓ ketoconazole shampoo ✓ thickening shampoo and conditioner |
✓ finasteride ✓ minoxidil ✓ thickening shampoo ✓ gummies for thicker-looking hair |
✓ finasteride ✓ minoxidil |
| Prescription needed? | for finasteride only | for finasteride only | for finasteride only |
| Pricing | starting at $10 per month depending on plan | starting at $15 per month depending on plan | starting at $20 per month depending on plan |
| Shipping | free | free | free |
| Doctor consultations | free, then $5 annually | free | free |
| Subscription or one-time purchase? | subscription only | subscription; over-the-counter products can be purchased without a subscription | subscription; over-the-counter products can be purchased without a subscription |
| Subscription frequency | every 3 months | depends on the product | monthly, quarterly, or on-demand |
| Return policy | all sales are final and returns are not accepted | 90-day money-back guarantee | all sales are final and returns are not accepted |
| Cancellation policy | plans can be canceled at any time | plans can be canceled, postponed, or snoozed at any time | plans can be canceled or paused at any time |
Is Keeps legit?
Yes. Keeps is an online service that offers health consultations and hair loss treatment plans for male pattern baldness.
Does Keeps really work?
The Keeps offers have been shown to help with hair loss. The company offers a subscription model because they want to maintain results.
Does insurance cover Keeps hair loss treatments?
“No. Most insurance plans don’t cover minoxidil and finasteride because they are considered to be cosmetic. Keeps is a self-pay service, and insurance can’t be used for products or medical consultations.”
Is Keeps safe?
Yes. Keeps connects you with a healthcare professional who will prescribe hair loss treatment plans. All ingredients are research-backed and are the same ones used in the products your doctor may prescribe after an in-person visit.
“Keeps is one of the more popular hair loss treatments. If you don’t have a primary care physician or another way to access care, the telehealth they provide can be a good option.”
“If you don’t know what you want to do, talk to your doctor.”
