It is hard to even count the number of hair loss products available to the American public. The industry has grown almost as large as the weight loss business, and the market is flooded with nearly every sort of hair loss product you can imagine. My personal favourite (not for effectiveness) has to be the "hair in a can" solution, in which you more or less spray paint your head and the remaining hair tom make it appear to be fuller. Of course this never fools anyone, and it is amazing these sorts of hair loss products still exist.

Wigs, transplants and sprays aside, there are hair loss products available which can help you actually regrow lost hair. These come in two varieties: pharmaceutical and natural. The two most common pharmaceutical products are Propecia and Minoxidil, the former being a pill and the latter more often in ointment form which is applied directly to the scalp. Propecia has a good success rate, but also a rather high rate of side effect occurrence. The side effects of this hair loss product most commonly have negative impacts on sexual health; affecting the prostate, sex drive and fertility. Many men find themselves suffering from erectile dysfunction, loss of sex drive and infertility even after discontinuing use. The product can quite easily cause birth defects as well because of its effect on hormones, and even though it is not meant to be taken by women they are urged to avoid all contact with the drug.

Minoxidil is an interesting case, as the drug was not originally intended for hair loss. The substance was designed to treat high blood pressure and was an oral tablet. Though it was moderately successful for this purpose, researchers noticed an unusual side effect; bald men started regrowing their hair. The researchers immediately recognised the marketing potential for a hair loss product was far greater than another blood pressure medication and rapidly shifted the focus of their study. When they were finished, Minoxidil was a topical ointment rather than capsule and ready to be mass produced. It is still very much available today, but like Propecia has many negative side effects. As you would suspect because of the drug's original intent, low blood pressure can occur from its use. You may also experience the same sexual side effects associated with Propecia, and in addition to this side effects involving the skin occur regularly.

The final option in hair loss products is to use a natural supplement rather than a synthetically produced pharmaceutical. Though some side effects have been known to occur from herbal supplements they are rare and generally mild. The natural supplements are much cheaper, but still surprisingly effective in combating hair loss and stimulating regrowth. These come in both supplement form and topical ointment, and you would be wise to look into natural hair loss products before trying their pharmaceutical counterparts.