Founded by identical twins Dr. Ben Behnam and Dr. Sean Behnam, Happy Head is a brand of online dermatologist-prescribed hair growth products for men and women.
Leveraging their extensive expertise in hair loss, Drs. Ben and Sean Behnam, renowned pioneers in the field and authors in prestigious journals like the Journal of American Academy of Dermatology and Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, have formulated the Happy Head products.
These prescription-grade, personalized solutions cater to individuals experiencing hair loss, with the option to choose from plans that include topical medications, oral medications, or a combination of both.
But is Happy Head right for you? To help you decide, below we’ll discuss everything you need to know about the Happy Head products, including formulation details, clinical studies, side effects, and more.
We’ll also share some Happy Head reviews from TrustPilot so that you can get an idea of what customers really think of these products.
What Are The Happy Head Products?
Happy Head offers two types of custom products: topical solutions that are applied directly to the scalp and oral capsules.
The topical solutions contain FDA-approved prescription ingredients that are customized specifically for you based on your age, sex, and medical history. Those ingredients include finasteride, minoxidil, dutasteride, latanoprost, and spironolactone.
As for the oral medications, many of the same ingredients are used, including finasteride, minoxidil, dutasteride, and spironolactone. Some of the oral capsules also include vitamin D3.
What Are The Happy Head Ingredients?
According to the brand, the most popular Happy Head topical solution consists of the following active ingredients: 0.3% Finasteride, 8% Minoxidil, 0.001% Retinoic Acid, and 1% Hydrocortisone. It’s important to note that all active ingredients are customizable. Below we’ll take a closer look at these key ingredients.
Finasteride
Finasteride is a 5-alpha reductase (5AR) inhibitor. 5-alpha reductase is an enzyme that exists in the skin, liver, and prostate. It transforms some of the testosterone your body generates into dihydrotestosterone (DHT), which influences prostate growth, acne, facial hair growth, and male pattern baldness.
By inhibiting the 5-alpha reductase enzyme, 5AR inhibitors reduce the production of DHT in your body, thereby reducing hair loss.
There are many clinical studies demonstrating the efficacy of topical Finasteride for male pattern hair loss.
For example, in a clinical trial study of 45 male patients, Hajheydari et al. (2009) compared oral Finasteride 1 mg vs topical Finasteride 1% for a total of 6 months.
Both the oral Finasteride 1 mg and the topical Finasteride 1% showed a statistically significant increase in total and terminal hair count after 4 months. The authors concluded that “the therapeutic effects of both Finasteride gel and Finasteride tablet were relatively similar to each other”.
Minoxidil
Minoxidil is a well-known ingredient for hair regrowth, often recognized as the active component in Rogaine. It functions as a vasodilator (it widens the blood vessels, allowing for increased blood flow and circulation throughout the body).
As a vasodilator, it may assist in hair loss treatment by enlarging hair follicles and extending the growth phase of hair. This prolonged growth phase can result in enhanced hair coverage on the scalp.
Numerous studies have shown that applying topical minoxidil is effective in stimulating hair growth, especially in addressing male and female pattern hair loss.
According to a publication in the journal Drug Design, Development and Therapy, minoxidil is known to enhance hair growth and reduce hair loss by affecting the follicular cells.
A study published in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology examined the effects of 5% and 2% topical minoxidil solutions on female pattern hair loss through a randomized, placebo-controlled trial involving 381 women over 48 weeks.
The study found that 5% topical minoxidil demonstrated superior results compared to placebo in promoting hair growth, as evidenced by changes in nonvellus hair count and evaluations by patients and investigators.
Similarly, application of 2% topical minoxidil also showed improvements over placebo in nonvellus hair counts and investigator assessments at week 48, with both concentrations being well tolerated and without systemic adverse effects.
Retinoic Acid
Retinoic acid, a derivative of vitamin A, has shown promising results in clinical studies when used in combination with minoxidil for promoting hair growth.
According to a publication in the Journal of Korean Medical Science, retinoic acid works synergistically with minoxidil, enhancing more dense hair regrowth than either compound alone.
Specifically, retinoic acid helps improve scalp health, stimulates hair follicles, and may increase the absorption of Minoxidil, leading to better outcomes in hair regrowth and thickness.
Hydrocortisone
Hydrocortisone is a mild corticosteroid that’s included in the Happy Head formula because it helps reduce inflammation and irritation on the scalp by inhibiting the release of inflammatory mediators and immune cells. This is especially helpful for alleviating symptoms such as itching, redness, and discomfort that are commonly associated with scalp conditions like dermatitis, psoriasis, or eczema.
What Are The Benefits of Happy Head?
Overall, the ingredients used in Happy Head products may address multiple factors contributing to hair loss, including hormonal imbalances, follicle miniaturization, scalp inflammation, and poor blood circulation. Thus, benefits of using the Happy Head products may be hair regrowth, improved hair density and thickness.
Where to Buy Happy Head?
Happy Head products are sold exclusively on the brand’s website (happyhead.com).
How Much Are Happy Head Products?
The custom-made topical solution and the Super Capsule both cost $79 USD.
What is The Happy Head Return Policy?
Happy Head offers a 6 month money back guarantee that states, “The 6 Month Money-Back Guarantee is limited to your most recent order. We offer a 6 month guarantee, with a refund on your latest order/treatment. This means that you have 6 months to return your most recent order for a refund if you’re unsatisfied for any reason. This guarantee does not apply to non-prescription products.”
Happy Head Reviews
The brand only displays “Success Stories” on their website, so we went over to TrustPilot.com to read Happy Head reviews.
The brand has earned an average rating of 4.3 out of 5 stars after more than 650 customer reviews.
There are many 5-star reviews for Happy Head from customers who love that it has helped to promote hair growth and thickness. Many of the positive reviews also mention excellent customer service.
For example, one review says, “Previous experiences with Minoxidil (Rogaine) resulted in a severely irritated scalp. Happy Head aqueous solution works!! No irritation! My call with the support line was very satisfactory.”
And another 5-star review says, “I have had a great experience with Happy Head from the beginning. After only 3 months I noticed a big difference in my hair growth and the thickness of my hair. Customer service is exceptional.”
However, there are a handful of negative Happy Head reviews. Many of these reviews mention slow delivery of products, poor experiences with customer service, and some mention that their hair got worse after using Happy Head.
For example, one review says, “I have been using Happy Head for almost 6 months now, and I have less hair now. It has cost me quite a bit of money with absolutely no results!!!”
Another 1-star review says, “Used happy head for 6 months after wanting a different option from oral finasteride topical minoxidil and my hair has gotten considerably worse. The worst it’s ever been. Happy head leaves a weird build up on my scalp and sweats off my scalp all over my face.”
Our Verdict
Overall, we think that Happy Head represents a convenient way to get hair regrowth products with evidence-based, prescription-strength ingredients. While many Happy Head reviews mention positive outcomes from using these products, there are some negative reviews from customers who didn’t see results with these products.
Pros
- Happy Head provides a personalized hair growth formula tailored to each individual’s age, gender, and medical background
- Happy Head ingredients are supported by a substantial amount of research
- An initial consultation conducted by a licensed dermatologist in your state is included in your prescription, allowing for evaluation and prescription of your medication without the need for an in-person visit
- Many positive Happy Head reviews
- 6 month money back guarantee
Cons
- Pricey compared to other hair regrowth treatments
- Some reviews mention that the products didn’t work and/or left hair worse than before starting
References:
- Drug Des Devel Ther. 2019; 13: 2777–2786.
- J Am Acad Dermatol. 2004 Apr;50(4):541-53.
- Indian J Dermatol Venereol Leprol. 2009 Jan-Feb;75(1):47-51.
- J Korean Med Sci. 2007 Apr;22(2):283-9.
