Adegen Review: Does It Really Work for Hair Loss?

So, you’ve noticed the early stages of male pattern baldness, and now you’re searching for solutions. Hair loss can be a tricky problem to solve,  and with so many products on the market, it’s hard to know what actually works. One name that might have caught your attention is Adegen, a brand that claims to target the root cause of hair loss. 

The brand markets itself as a more natural alternative to traditional hair loss medications, but it’s difficult to know if it truly delivers on its promises. Here, we’ll take a closer look at Adegen, its ingredients, and whether it’s a worthwhile investment for those looking to regrow their hair. We’ll also include an Adegen hair review from a dermatologist.

Adegen is a line of hair loss products including shampoos, topical serums, brushes, and scalp rollers. Their topical products contain the letters “ARB” which stands for Androgen Receptor Blocker." 

This refers to a proprietary blend of fatty acids that are said to inhibit dihydrotestosterone (DHT) from binding to androgen receptors on hair follicles without reducing DHT in the body. The company claims that “this restores blood flow to the hair follicle, allowing hair to regrow naturally — without the unwanted side effects of finasteride or other so-called ‘DHT blockers.’” While this is good in theory, there’s not much science to back up these claims.

The company's founder claims to have found that the “true” reason hair follicles stop producing hair is because of a lack of blood flow (it’s generally understood that blood flow is one of several factors that can cause hair loss). 

The company claims that because the scalp is a protective barrier, getting ARB to the hair follicle can be challenging — however, they said their hair regrowth system exfoliates the scalp, increasing blood flow and preventing DHT from binding to androgen receptors in the hair follicle.

How Does Adegen Work?

The brand advises using its three-step system. Here’s how it works:

Step 1: Exfoliate. Use the ARB shampoo and the scalp brush to wash your hair and exfoliate the scalp.

Step 2: Micro-Abrasion: Using a derma-roller, gently roll the 10x roller over the scalp in the areas where you see thinning.

Step 3: Topical Application: Use the enclosed dropper to apply the solution directly to the scalp.

Here’s the thing — Adegen sounds promising. Its topical solution contains minoxidil,which is an FDA-approved hair loss treatment (the generic version of Rogaine^®), biotin, retinol, and caffeine. 

Research shows that minoxidil can show a “remarkable” increase in hair growth and decrease in hair loss, and the American Academy of Dermatology Association recommends minoxidil for treating hair loss. 

Some research suggests that tretinoin (a prescription-strength retinol) increases the absorption of minoxidil, and caffeine may stimulate blood flow to hair follicles, but more research is needed there. There is also some evidence that adenosine can increase hair thickness.

But minoxidil is available over-the-counter from other brands (including us) for as little as $15 to $30 per month. A one-month supply of Adegen’s Complete Regrowth System, which contains one shampoo, the topical solution, two scalp brushes, and a derma-roller, retails for $199.95.

There are no peer-reviewed clinical trials examining the effectiveness of Adegen or its proprietary ARB solution, so it’s hard to know how it compares to other hair loss treatments.

There are also some dubious claims made on the Adegen website, including calling hair loss a disease “just like cardiovascular disease.” Research does not support this claim.

Despite minoxidil being the active ingredient in Adegen’s topical solution, the brand also says, “Unfortunately, minoxidil doesn’t help with what’s causing the restriction of blood flow that is actually at the cause of hair loss, but it does have synergistic benefits with the other non-API [active pharmaceutical ingredients] ingredients in the ARB Topical Solution formula.”  

Again, research does not support this, and there is evidence that minoxidil on its own is effective.

Below, you’ll find reviews of Adegen products from one of our medical reviewers, board-certified dermatologist Knox Beasley, MD.

1. Product: ARB Shampoo and SM Brush

• Efficacy: ★

• Side Effects: ★★★★

• Ease Of Use: ★★★★

“The zinc in the shampoo can help with flaking and dandruff, but the other ingredients have minimal data supporting the idea that they would help with hair loss in a shampoo formulation,” Dr. Beasley says. “The brush may help remove thicker flaking on a scalp but is unlikely to benefit hair growth.”

2. Product: 10X Roller

• Efficacy: ★★★

• Side Effects: ★★★

• Ease Of Use: ★★★★

“There are many different opinions on the best depths for a derma roller, and data suggests that combining it with a topical hair loss medication like minoxidil may increase its efficacy. However, the depth of the 10x roller is not listed on the website, and until that is published, I would not recommend it to my patients,” he says.

3. ARB Topical Solution

• Efficacy: ★★★

• Side Effects: ★★★★

• Ease Of Use: ★★★★

“The Adegen 5 looks to contain 5% minoxidil, which is an effective and well-known hair loss medication. There isn’t much information available about the Adegen 15 other than it is three times the strength,” Dr. Beasley says.  “Minoxidil is only available above 5% with a prescription, so this may be a bit misleading. It also notes that there is a natural complex that blocks DHT; however, I cannot find any further information on this on the website. While 5% minoxidil is a proven hair loss treatment, the lack of information on these products is concerning, and I would not recommend any of these products to a patient of mine.”

Below, we’ll answer some commonly asked questions about Adegen.

What are the ingredients in Adegen?

The exact ingredients in Adegen vary depending on the product.

Adegen ARB^™ Shampoo+ Ingredients include:

• Purified water

• Purified water sodium laureth sulfate

• Caffeine

• PEG-120 methyl glucose dioleate

• Disodium laureth sulfosuccinate

• Laureth-2

• Sodium lauroyl glutamate

• Panthenol

• Adegen ARB^™ (proprietary linoleic-oleic organic fatty acid complex)

• Zinc PCA

• Menthol

• Sodium chloride

• Phenoxyethanol

• Hydrolyzed wheat protein

• Eucalyptus globulus leaf oil

• PEG-40 hydrogenated castor oil

• Melaleuca alternifolia (tea tree) leaf oil

• Citric acid

• Chlorphenesin

• Niacinamide

• Potassium sorbate

• Sodium benzoate

• Lauric acid/sodium laurate

• Polyquaternium-10

• Sodium glutamate

• Disodium EDTA

• Tocopherol

Adegen ARB^™ Topical Solution

• Water

• Propylene glycol

• Ethanol 

• Adegen ARB^™ (proprietary linoleic-oleic organic fatty acid complex)

• Minoxidil 5%

• Niacin

• Biotin

• Retinol

• Adenosine

• Caffeine

Adegen ARB 15 topical solution is said to be three times the strength — however, it’s not clear what that means, as minoxidil 15% would require a prescription (which Adegen does not offer access to) and is not commonly used.

Who is Adegen for?

Minoxidil is FDA-approved for men and women. However, women who are pregnant or breastfeeding should not use it.

Does Adegen work?

As we mentioned, some of the ingredients in Adegen’s topical solution (mainly minoxidil) have clinical evidence supporting their efficacy. However, as a whole, there’s not much evidence to support Adegen’s effectiveness (though some Adegen reviewers say it works). Here’s how the brand’s founder, John Goss, answered the question on their FAQ page.

“If you are not 100% convinced Adegen is the right solution for you, I highly suggest that you do NOT buy our products and keep doing your research. If you don’t have a strong belief, you will not put forth the required effort to consistently use the products which is necessary to have the best results. I did not start Adegen to try to convince you to buy our products. I started Adegen first and foremost to serve and to provide you with the best and most effective hair loss solution ever created."

Adegen is said to work in as little as ninety days. You can learn more about the expected minoxidil timeline in our guide to how long it takes minoxidil to work.

Does Adegen have side effects?

Most of the ingredients in Adegen are considered safe. The shampoo contains a preservative called phenoxyethanol, which is used in many cosmetic products, but some research indicates that it can have “toxic effects if inhaled, ingested, or skin contact in high doses.”

While topical minoxidil is safe, in rare cases, some people may experience localized side effects like redness and irritation at the application site. Some researchers think this reaction is likely due to propylene glycol, an alcohol in some formulations. Some formulations (like our minoxidil foam) do not contain this ingredient, but Adegen does not have a minoxidil product that’s free of this ingredient.

If you’re looking for proven hair loss medications, two are FDA-approved specifically for treating male pattern baldness (androgenetic alopecia): minoxidil and finasteride. They’re each available in several different form factors, which we’ll outline below.

Minoxidil

As we mentioned, minoxidil (found in Adegen’s topical solution) is a popular FDA-approved hair loss treatment. 

Its topical form is available without a prescription, and its oral form requires a prescription. We offer the following minoxidil products: 

• Minoxidil foam

• Minoxidil solution  

• Oral minoxidil chewables

Finasteride

Finasteride is an oral medication that helps control the levels of dihydrotestosterone (DHT), a hormone believed to contribute to male pattern baldness. It does this by inhibiting the enzyme 5-alpha-reductase, which converts testosterone to DHT. By taking oral finasteride, DHT levels can be reduced by up to 70 percent, which translates to you keeping more of your hair.

We offer access to finasteride (if one of the Hims-affiliated healthcare providers deems it appropriate for your hair loss needs).

Adegen claims that its products protect the hair follicle from DHT without disrupting hormone levels throughout the body. However, research shows topical finasteride does not change systemic levels of DHT or other male hormones.

For even more pronounced results,  you can use minoxidil and finasteride together. Our topical finasteride and minoxidil spray make using both ingredients easy.

Here’s the TL;DR on Adegen for hair loss.

• Adegen's products contain some promising ingredients, like minoxidil, biotin, and caffeine However, there are no peer-reviewed clinical trials confirming its effectiveness, and some claims made by the company lack scientific support.

• Adegen’s Complete Regrowth System costs significantly more than other proven hair loss treatments, such as minoxidil and finasteride, which are available at lower prices from multiple brands.

• The inclusion of minoxidil, an FDA-approved treatment, suggests some potential benefits, but Adegen’s proprietary ARB solution remains unproven, making it difficult to determine whether it offers advantages over established hair loss treatments.

Curious about other hair loss treatment brands? Check out our Regenix review, our Bosley review, and our guide to Hims vs Keeps.