Does Nioxin Work for Hair Loss?

Many hair loss products promise to give you a head full of hair, but it can be hard to decipher which ones are actually worth your money. Nioxin® is a brand you may have encountered while searching for hair loss treatments — but does Nioxin work?

The company’s hair products — including Nioxin shampoo, cleanser, conditioner, and hair loss “system kits” — are formulated specifically for thinning hair. Most make bold claims about their ability to reduce hair fall, prevent breakage, and increase thickness.

The brand also offers science-based hair loss medication.

Below, we’ll look into Nioxin’s offerings for hair loss and thicker hair, discuss which products might not be worth the hype, and go over other treatment options to consider.

Nioxin was founded in 1987 by Eva Graham. The company sells hair care formulations and scalp treatment products.

Graham was motivated to start Nioxin when she experienced hair loss after giving birth. She partnered with biologists, chemists, pharmacologists, and hairdressers to create hair loss products with herbs and botanicals.

Throughout the ‘90s and 2000s, Nioxin’s products became popular non-drug alternatives for promoting fuller hair. In 2008, the brand was acquired by the consumer giant Procter & Gamble, joining other hair care brands such as Head & Shoulders and Wella.

Nioxin’s range of hair care products is extensive, with more than 50 hair loss shampoos, leave-in conditioners, scalp treatments, and oral supplements.

• Nioxin hair care products. These include shampoos, conditioners, leave-in treatments, hair growth vitamins, and other products designed to keep your hair in optimal shape and stimulate healthy growth.

• Nioxin system kits. These contain multiple products to prevent hair thinning, strengthen weakened strands, stop breakage, and remove dirt, oil buildup, and other residues.

• Nioxin hair styling products. These include gels, hairsprays, and mousse formulated to boost hair volume and give hair a thicker, fuller appearance.

• Nioxin hair growth medications. These contain minoxidil in 5% form for men and 2% for women. Minoxidil is the active ingredient in Rogaine®, a well-known medication for stimulating hair growth.

Our article on Nioxin versus Rogaine goes over the differences between the two.

Are Nioxin hair loss products effective for conditions like male pattern baldness? Some work, and some don’t.

Before we break down the effectiveness of the products, we’d like to point out that brand names aren’t that important for growing hair and maintaining a healthy scalp. Active ingredients are what really matter.

Nioxin Hair Care and Hair Loss Products

Nioxin’s shampoo, conditioner, and leave-in treatments form the core of its hair system kits. The brand recommends using all three products together to promote thicker, denser-looking hair.

Nioxin hair care products contain a few key ingredients:

• Saw palmetto

• Peppermint oil

• Vitamin B5

• Niacinamide

These ingredients are linked to improvements in hair growth. For example, one study involving 50 males with androgenetic alopecia showed that saw palmetto increased average hair count over 24 weeks.

Saw palmetto is a berry extract that may reduce local dihydrotestosterone (DHT) levels. Your body produces DHT as a byproduct of testosterone.

DHT plays a vital role in the development of male features, like genitals and facial hair. It’s one of several hormones that make males, well…male. However, over time, DHT can cause hair follicles to spend less time producing new hairs, leading to thinner, shorter follicles.

Learn more about how saw palmetto works and the most recent research on its potential hair benefits in our guide to saw palmetto and hair loss.

A study involving 60 participants with female pattern hair loss showed that topical niacin — which can come in the form of niacinamide — significantly increased hair fullness over six months. But we don’t know the dosage amount or frequency used.

Some Nioxin hair care products may relieve an itchy scalp. While an irritated or dry scalp doesn’t directly cause hair loss, itching your scalp may damage strands and contribute to brittle hair. Our blog discusses the connection between itchy scalp and hair loss.

Nioxin’s hair care products might improve the look and feel of your hair, but they aren’t the be-all and end-all for fixing male pattern baldness.

Also, on a side note, some of Nioxin’s products contain ingredients like sulfates, which can affect the amount of protein in your hair follicles.

Nioxin also sells several hair styling products specially formulated for people with thinning or fine hair. These products can help you style your hair while adding volume.

Now, if you want products that’ll help grow your hair, these shouldn’t be your go-to. Nioxin recommends using its minoxidil treatment (we’ll get to this next) and system kits first for hair loss. The styling products are just a volumizing bonus.

Nioxin Hair Medications

Nioxin is a medicated hair regrowth treatment containing minoxidil, a hair growth stimulator for men and women. Minoxidil works by shortening the telogen phase of the hair growth cycle (when hairs shed), which, in turn, lengthens the anagen (growth) phase.

Minoxidil has shown to be an effective active ingredient for hair growth products. In a study with about 900 male participants, 62 percent had noticeable hair growth after using the topical medication for 12 months.

Learn more in our guide to applying minoxidil for hair growth.

Are the products sold by Nioxin good for hair? Like any company, Nioxin for hair loss has its benefits and downsides.

We’ll save you some time reviewing countless YouTube and Google reviews by giving you all the pros and cons of using Nioxin.

Here are a few benefits of using Nioxin:

• Nioxin is somewhat effective for hair loss. Based on the active ingredients previously mentioned, Nioxin’s hair care products can help stimulate hair growth — to a degree.

• There’s a wide variety of products. Nioxin can be a one-stop shop for all your hair care needs if you have hair loss or hair thinning problems. From peppermint shampoo to hair gel, the company has a wide selection of products to choose from.

• The products are simple to use. You don’t have to be a rocket scientist to use Nioxin’s products. The brand provides easy-to-follow instructions for its topical minoxidil solution.

These are the potential drawbacks of using Nioxin:

• Results don’t last long. Unfortunately, clinical trials have shown that Nioxin’s hair regrowth treatments don’t last longer than 48 weeks.

• The products are expensive. Depending on your budget for your hair care routine, Nioxin products may put a dent in your wallet. Prices start at $30.

• Once you stop using the products, you can lose new hair. If you stop using Nioxin minoxidil treatment, your hair may start falling out again in three to four months.

While Nioxin has an extensive line of hair care treatments for hair loss and thinning, it’s not the only maker of effective products.

Slick marketing can make it difficult for consumers to see past flashy ads and figure out what products are truly effective. But don’t stress — we’ll help you make the best decision for your hair type and needs.

And if you’re dealing with male pattern baldness (androgenetic alopecia), Nioxin alone won’t be effective enough for treating the condition.

Men with noticeable hair thinning, a receding hairline, or other early signs of hair loss might want to consider the following hair loss treatments.

Finasteride

Finasteride is a medication approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat male androgenetic alopecia.

A study with over 500 Japanese men with male pattern baldness showed that a 10-year daily finasteride treatment was highly effective in improving symptoms.

Finasteride was formerly sold as Propecia® but is now available as a generic medication.

Don’t want to see a dermatologist in person? We offer finasteride online, following a virtual consultation with a licensed healthcare provider who’ll determine if a prescription is appropriate.

Biotin

Biotin (vitamin B7) is an essential nutrient found in some foods and available as a dietary supplement, like our biotin gummies.

When you’re biotin deficient, you can develop thinning hair that progresses to hair loss across your body. In that case, taking biotin could help promote healthy hair growth, but we don’t recommend relying on this supplement as your only treatment.

Other DHT-Blocking Shampoos

Many companies (beyond Nioxin) make shampoos and conditioners that block DHT and prevent hair loss.

These products often contain ketoconazole and saw palmetto to help wash away follicle-clogging sebum and promote healthier hair. If you have issues with dandruff, ketoconazole can be a great dandruff detox shampoo too.

Our thickening shampoo with saw palmetto helps boost volume. Our guide to DHT-blocking shampoos goes into more detail about how these products can help prevent shedding and maintain a healthy head of hair.

If you feel like your hair’s a little flat, try our volumizing shampoo and volumizing conditioner.

Other Minoxidil Treatments

As noted, Nioxin’s hair regrowth treatment contains the medication minoxidil. We also offer minoxidil products with minimal side effects.

If you’re experiencing hair loss or thinning, our topical finasteride & minoxidil spray, minoxidil foam, or liquid minoxidil solution might be the ticket to your best hair ever.

Nioxin’s hair care products and hair regrowth treatments could be worth a try if you’re experiencing mild hair loss and thinning.

Does Nioxin work? It might, but it’s far from the only (or the most promising) option. If you have severe male pattern baldness, it’s better to seek alternative hair loss treatments that have shown to be more effective.

In the end, the choice is yours. Use products that work for you, and keep this in mind:

• Nioxin is a line of hair care products. Its offerings include FDA-approved topical minoxidil solution.

• Other active ingredients in Nioxin products include saw palmetto, peppermint oil, vitamin B5, and niacinamide.

• Some of these have limited research showing improvement in hair growth, but minoxidil is the only Nioxin ingredient proven effective for hair loss treatment.

• Alternatives to Nioxin include finasteride, biotin, DHT-blocking shampoos, and minoxidil treatments from Hims.

Want to learn more about stopping hair loss? See our guide to the best treatments for thinning hair.