There’s much less stigma surrounding male hair loss treatments than there used to be. As a result, more companies are cropping up to take advantage of this growing market. Sons is one such company, selling hair loss products online to help men tackle male pattern baldness.
So how does Sons measure up against other hair loss product retailers, and what are the pros and cons of buying hair loss treatments online versus visiting an in-person trichologist? Let’s take a look and find out:
Sons is an online-only hair loss treatment retailer that aims to help men understand their health and make them more proactive in tackling their problems. They’re currently rated 4.1 on Trustpilot.
According to their site, they offer wellbeing treatments for men with:
“Less stigma, clearer information, more convenience, better results.”
It’s true that Sons offers very convenient treatments for male hair loss. But there are a few question marks around the clarity of information and whether they offer better results than other retailers and clinics.
As of November 2024, Sons offers nine different products to help with men’s hair loss. While some of these have conclusive evidence as hair loss treatments, not all are as clear-cut. Let’s take a look at each of the products and whether they really help with hair loss.
Despite claiming it offers clear information, Sons doesn’t actually reveal which active ingredients are used in its combination spray. However, since one is said to block dihydrotestosterone (DHT) and the other stimulates scalp blood flow, it’s likely that these ingredients are topical Finasteride and Minoxidil respectively.
Does it work?
Evidence suggests that both topical Finasteride and topical Minoxidil are effective for improving symptoms of male pattern baldness [1]. It’s also generally safe to combine Minoxidil and Finasteride, so this is a good treatment option for those in the early stages of hair loss.
As with the combination spray, Sons doesn’t mention the specific ingredient included in its oral tablet treatment. They do say it’s a DHT blocker, suggesting this is probably Finasteride.
Finasteride is the most recommended hair loss drug by hair transplant surgeons worldwide [2]. Almost 70% always or often recommend it to their patients. There’s a small chance of adverse effects which deters some men from using it, but there are ways to reduce the risk of Finasteride side effects.
Assuming the active ingredient is Finasteride, yes — Finasteride is a proven, effective, and licensed treatment for male pattern baldness [3-5].
As with many Sons products, the active ingredient in Sons isn’t mentioned. And it may not be obvious how an oral capsule differs from an oral tablet.
However, they do reveal that their capsules deliver blood flow and nutrients to the scalp, and that “the active ingredient is converted to the sulfotransferase enzyme”. While this description isn’t exactly accurate, Minoxidil is converted into its active form, Minoxidil sulphate, by the sulfotransferase enzyme. So it’s likely the oral capsule contains oral Minoxidil.
Oral Minoxidil can increase hair growth when taken regularly over several months [6]. While the risk is still low, there’s a heightened risk of side effects with oral Minoxidil versus Minoxidil foam or spray, such as dizziness, swelling in the legs and ankles, headaches, and mild blood pressure changes [6].
Minoxidil spray is often the first-line treatment for male pattern baldness. With simple topical application, it’s easy for men to incorporate this into their daily haircare routine. Sons recommends spraying ten pumps of Minoxidil on your thinning areas twice a day.
While Minoxidil spray can treat hair loss, Minoxidil foam is also effective and may in fact be preferable [7]. Minoxidil foam delivers a greater amount of the active drug compared with other types of topical Minoxidil, with one study showing foam could increase uptake by five times within two hours of application [8]. Foams aren’t available from Sons, but many clinics can offer this formulation.
While it’s generally deemed less effective than Finasteride, Minoxidil spray can improve symptoms of mild to moderate hair loss in men.
Sons’s hair growth complex is a supplement that contains nine vitamins and minerals that claim to help with hair growth. These include:
While each of these ingredients has promising benefits for hair health when consumed from food sources, there’s no evidence that vitamin supplements can help with hair growth.
The only exception is if you have a clinical nutritional deficiency or inadequacy that’s causing your hair loss. This is pretty rare in Western countries, though if you’re concerned you should speak to your GP.
Biotin, or vitamin B7, is an essential hair growth nutrient. Found predominantly in meat, eggs, fish, seeds, and nuts, it’s really important to get plenty of biotin in your diet to establish healthy hair growth.
That said, there’s no evidence that biotin supplements for hair loss will improve symptoms of male pattern baldness in people who have normal biotin levels. So don’t expect miracles from these supplements.
Sons biotin hair growth supplements are unlikely to promote hair growth unless you have a clinical biotin deficiency. If this is the case, speak to your GP about the best way to improve your biotin intake.
Sons shampoo is claimed to improve hair quality. The active ingredient is saw palmetto, a natural DHT blocker.
Sons shampoo also contains caffeine, argan oil, iron and niacinamide. Caffeine, argan oil and niacinamide may also have benefits for your hair when applied topically (topical iron application may have very limited benefits, and only if you have a clinical iron deficiency).
Some evidence suggests shampoos containing saw palmetto may help reduce hair loss [9-10]. In addition, argan hair oil can improve hair shine, reduce flyaways, and protect it from damage, while caffeine shampoos may help boost regrowth if left on the scalp for long periods [11-12]. Niacinamide is a type of vitamin B3 that may help treat alopecia in combination with other ingredients [13].
Like their shampoo, Sons’s strengthening conditioner contains saw palmetto, argan oil, and caffeine. They recommend using it as part of your daily haircare routine after washing with Sons shampoo.
This strengthening conditioner contains several ingredients that may improve hair loss symptoms when applied topically, including saw palmetto and caffeine [9-12]. Argan oil can help make your hair shinier and easier to manage.
The ingredients of Sons beard booster product are unclear, though they say the active ingredient encourages facial hair growth by dilating the blood vessels that feed your beard. Using the beard booster regularly is also said to lengthen the growth phase of the hair growth cycle.
The active ingredient is unclear, so it’s hard to tell if Sons’s beard booster will actually work.
In fact, Sons reports that their beard booster has DHT blocking properties. Unlike scalp hair, DHT is actually necessary for facial hair growth [14]. So it’s best to use this product with caution if it does include a DHT blocker.
If you’re looking for a cost-effective online-only solution to your hair loss, companies like Sons and Manual do offer some effective treatments. Let’s take a look at the pros and cons of buying hair loss treatments from Sons:
While free, discreet delivery is important to many men, there are downsides to a subscription-based plan. For the best prices, you’ll need to commit to several months’ worth of treatment, even if you experience side effects or don’t see the results you want. You’re also required to provide access to your NHS Summary Care record.
Online retailers like Sons provide fast pharmacist-approved access to hair loss treatments. You can get their products delivered to your home in discreet packaging at an affordable rate.
However, there’s a notable lack of important information on their site, particularly related to the specific active ingredients within their products. This makes it difficult to assess whether a product is suitable for you, especially without a proper consultation. In addition, some of the information on the site is unclear and even misleading, with incorrect information related to certain products given. This raises questions about the knowledge and expertise behind the brand.
We recommend that you thoroughly research the products you’re considering before you buy. As well as understanding how exactly each product works, there may be additional unlisted side effects you should be aware of before taking any medications prescribed online. Take a look at our guides for more information:
The best option for tacking hair loss is to consult with a professional trichologist. They can look at all the factors affecting your hair — from physical hair and scalp traits to your genetic and medical background — to diagnose and treat the cause of your hair loss.
The Wimpole Clinic’s trichology team offers in-person consultations to help patients invest in their hair. With hair loss clinic locations across the UK, our team is available to help no matter where you’re based. Book a consultation at your local clinic for a friendly, non-judgemental assessment and a genuinely personalised hair loss treatment plan.
If an in-person consultation isn’t right for you, visit DrHair for a 1-minute online assessment. With no subscription model and low costs, you can get individual hair loss treatments at an affordable price without the commitment.
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