ScalpMED focuses on tackling the root causes of thinning hair or hair loss. The brand offers multiple hair care formulations, including hair regrowth systems, shampoo, conditioner, and supplements.
ScalpMED also offers helpful resources like a blog that shares tips, insights, and updates on
hair care. Its topical products may support the natural growth of hair and also improve hair quality.
This exclusive ScalpMED review provides an objective evaluation of the ScalpMED brand, its product lineup, ingredient profiles, and usage protocols. It also assesses the brand's claims as per available research, considers cost and accessibility, and compares ScalpMED with other similar hair regrowth brands.
ScalpMED is a U.S.-based company that offers hair regrowth and scalp care products, particularly helpful for those experiencing hair thinning or pattern hair loss. The brand primarily operates within the non-prescription market, offering formulations that do not require a doctor's consultation before use.
Central to ScalpMED's identity is its patented technology. The brand holds multiple patents, with six patents in the United States and 5 internationally, which cover its proprietary topical carrier formula called NutriSol®. The formula may enhance the delivery and stability of minoxidil, the only FDA-approved topical ingredient recognized for supporting hair regrowth.
The ScalpMED brand provides tailored product regimens for men and women, recognizing differences in patterns of hair thinning and specific user needs. These regimens include topical applications of minoxidil combined with NutriSol®, designed for twice-daily use. ScalpMED also offers complementary items, such as Grow My Hair supplements, thickening shampoo, daily thickening conditioner, and hair spray.
ScalpMED also prioritizes consumer education by providing resources on the causes of hair loss, expected outcomes, and maintenance recommendations. Customer engagement is encouraged through programs like rewards, referrals, and affiliate marketing.
While minoxidil itself is FDA-approved, ScalpMED clarifies that the brand and its overall product line are not directly endorsed by the FDA. Such transparency is typical for non-prescription hair care brands.
The ScalpMED Patented Hair Regrowth System for Men aims to tackle androgenetic alopecia (male pattern hair loss). Central to the ScalpMED Hair Regrowth System is minoxidil, an FDA-approved topical ingredient clinically proven to promote hair regrowth. As a vasodilator, minoxidil may improve blood flow to the follicles, which may help extend the anagen stage, which is the growth phase of the hair cycle, and potentially boost follicle size.
ScalpMED's Patented Hair Regrowth System for Men features a 5% minoxidil solution. It also utilizes a proprietary NutriSol® carrier technology to increase the absorption and retention of minoxidil in the scalp. The Hair Regrowth System also includes an optional thickening shampoo with/without the Grow My Hair nutritional supplement. It utilizes patented ingredients, such as Vitadil®-5A and PhytoComplex®, which could help accelerate hair growth and minimize thinning.
The ScalpMED Patented Hair Regrowth System for Women is a topical package developed to combat hair thinning and loss in women. The system integrates ingredients with patented delivery technology to support natural hair regrowth, reduce further thinning, and improve hair texture.
The Hair Regrowth System for Women contains Nutrisol-RM. The formula includes ingredients such as purified water, glycerin, retinol (a form of vitamin A), biotin, panthenol (vitamin B5), etc. Retinol aids in scalp cell renewal, while biotin and panthenol support keratin production, a protein that makes up hair strands.
Patented Hair Regrowth System for Women also features Vitadil-5A, which contains minoxidil to support hair regrowth. Minoxidil functions by widening blood vessels near the follicles, enhancing blood flow, and nutrient delivery. The process may help extend the anagen (growth) phase of the hair cycle. Alcohol and propylene glycol are also added to Vitadil-5A to enhance minoxidil's absorption into the scalp.
The Hair Regrowth System for Women also includes PhytoComplex, a blend of plant-based antioxidants and anti-inflammatory agents that could support scalp health. The system also includes a free “Thicken My Hair” organic shampoo, designed to cleanse the scalp gently while supporting thicker-looking hair.
The ScalpMED® Essentials Hair Care Kit is a three-step formulation that may help you achieve thicker, fuller, and healthier hair. It includes a thickening shampoo (Thicken My Hair), a thickening conditioner (Repair My Hair), and a styling spray (Cortex Enlarger).
The Thicken My Hair shampoo may help gently cleanse your scalp and hair without removing moisture. Harsh chemicals like sulfates and parabens are excluded from this formula to avoid irritation or damage. Instead, the shampoo is enriched with organic plant extracts, vitamins, and minerals that could nourish the scalp naturally and reduce scalp buildup.
Essentials Hair Care Kit features a thickening conditioner called Repair My Hair. It contains antioxidants and vitamins like biotin and vitamin E, which may help smooth the hair's outer cuticle layer, thereby reducing breakage, tangling, and dryness while locking in moisture. It could also encourage hair growth cycles by supporting follicular cell metabolism.
The Cortex Enlarger (Thickening Styling Spray) may help boost hair volume by coating hair fibers, which could help increase their diameter without leaving a sticky or crunchy feel. The volumizing effect may be particularly helpful for thinning hair caused by miniaturized follicles producing finer, weaker hairs.
Grow My Hair by ScalpMED may support hair growth by tackling nutritional deficiencies that may contribute to thinning. At the core of its formula is PhytoComplex, a proprietary mix of plant extracts and essential nutrients that could help nourish the scalp from within and promote healthier, fuller hair.
The Grow My Hair formula aims to suppress dihydrotestosterone (DHT) production, a hormone linked to male pattern baldness. Beta-sitosterol and saw palmetto extract are included in PhytoComplex to act as natural inhibitors of the 5-alpha reductase enzyme that helps convert testosterone into DHT. Decreased DHT levels may help protect hair follicles from shrinking and support more voluminous hair.
Grow My Hair (Hair Growth Supplement) For Men also features biotin (vitamin B7), which could support keratin production and strengthen hair strands. Zinc and selenium may aid in cellular repair and optimize immune function within the scalp to minimize scalp infections. Ingredients like horsetail and bamboo (rich in silica), green tea (high in EGCG), and turmeric (with anti-inflammatory curcumin) may help support a healthy hair growth cycle.
ScalpMED's Grow My Hair For Women is a daily supplement formulated to support hair growth in women by addressing internal causes of thinning hair. The supplement features a proprietary PhytoComplex blend, which includes beta-sitosterol, saw palmetto, green tea Extract, turmeric extract, Horsetail Extract, and Bamboo Extract. These ingredients could help support hair strength, follicle function, and regrowth.
As per the official site, one capsule of Grow My Hair For Women contains 5mg of niacin, 900 mcg of biotin, 50 mcg of selenium, and 5.1mg of riboflavin. These nutrients may help support the biological pathways involved in hair growth and follicle strength.
Green tea and turmeric extracts add anti-inflammatory and antioxidant benefits that further improve scalp health. Horsetail and bamboo extracts are rich in silica and may support collagen production and reinforce hair structure.
ScalpMED's Thicken My Hair shampoo utilizes organic ingredients instead of harsh irritants or chemicals to combat hair thinning. The shampoo uses Phyto-Pūr®, a mix of organic, plant-based cleansers and nutrients. These ingredients may work gently to cleanse the scalp and hair without removing natural oils or causing irritation.
The nutrients in Thicken My Hair shampoo could penetrate each hair shaft to strengthen it from within. Such effects might help thicken your hair strands and restore their shine and volume.
The pricing of Thicken My Hair (Daily Cleanser Thickening Shampoo) depends on the quantity purchased. For example, one bottle of Thicken My Hair shampoo costs $23.95, while two and three-bottle packs cost $45.50 and $63.20.
The Repair My Hair Daily Thickening Conditioner may help nourish and strengthen both the scalp and hair strands by delivering essential plant extracts, amino acids, vitamins, and minerals required for hair growth and maintenance.
ScalpMED's Repair My Hair Conditioner contains threonine and tyrosine amino acids, which could support protein synthesis and pigmentation. Threonine is essential for collagen formation and tissue repair, which may support scalp care needs. Tyrosine could help synthesize melanin, a pigment that gives hair its color.
Repair My Hair (Daily Thickening Conditioner) also features vitamin D, which could positively influence hair follicle cycling. Vitamin D receptors in hair follicles could support the transition between the growth (anagen) phase and the rest or telogen phase of the hair cycle.
The makers state that Repair My Hair Conditioner is cruelty-free and does not contain harsh chemical agents like sulfates and parabens. Avoidance of these irritants might help maintain scalp moisture and lower the risk of scalp inflammation or irritation.
Detox My Scalp aims to remove scalp buildup that may accumulate on and around your hair follicles and hair shafts over time. The buildup includes excess oils, cholesterol, and environmental residues that may coat your scalp and clog hair follicles. Reduced buildup may help minimize the risk of concerns like inflammation around hair follicles and slow hair growth.
ScalpMED's Detox My Scalp features a Panthenol-DX Follicle Detoxifier, which could help break down and remove accumulated scalp residue effectively. Panthenol (derived from vitamin B5) may help moisturize the scalp while reducing irritation. By clearing out clogged follicles, Detox My Scalp could help improve blood flow and allow hair follicles to operate more efficiently, which supports the natural growth phases of hair.
ScalpMED's Cortex Enlarger (Thickening Hair Spray) aims to make your hair appear much fuller and voluminous. It could increase the volume of the cortex in hair strands, which may help improve hair density, strength, texture, and color.
Cortex Enlarger contains ingredients like provitamin B5 and panthenol, which may penetrate the hair shaft and improve the structure and resilience of the hair fibers. Panthenol, a derivative of vitamin B5, may help bind moisture and create a smooth, thickened surface on hair strands.
The Cortex Enlarger spray is formulated to be lightweight and invisible once applied, which might help you avoid the sticky or heavy feeling common in many volumizing products. The makers suggest simply spraying the Cortex Enlarger on dry hair in the morning and styling as usual.
ScalpMED utilizes an exclusive patented technology, especially the NutriSol® carrier formula. The NutriSol® formula may help your scalp and hair strands absorb ingredients like minoxidil more effectively, resulting in faster and better hair growth outcomes. The brand holds 11 patents worldwide, six of which are registered in the U.S.
ScalpMed's focus on NutriSol® delivery may help minimize evaporation and reduce how much minoxidil is lost through your system. That means more of the ingredients stay on your scalp, which is typically conducive to supporting hair regrowth.
ScalpMED takes a broader approach by focusing on the health of your scalp and the strength of your existing hair strands. It recognizes that hair growth requires a clean, well-nourished scalp foundation.
Therefore, ScalpMED offers formulations like thickening shampoos (Thicken My Hair), conditioners (Repair My Hair), hair spray (Cortex Enlarger), and nutritional supplements (Grow My Hair). These offerings may help gently remove scalp buildup, support follicle health, and improve scalp health. ScalpMED's approach to supporting scalp health might help you experience improvements in hair texture, strength, and volume.
ScalpMED is committed to keeping consumers informed and supported throughout their hair regrowth journey. On ScalpMED's official blog, you'll find helpful articles covering topics like hair thinning, common myths, and tips to improve hair health. They also offer a visual before-and-after gallery, detailed FAQs, and results from consumer studies.
The ScalpMED brand also provides prompt connectivity to its customer support team in case of any queries or assistance. You can reach out to the support team of ScalpMED via live chat, email, or phone for quick and personalized assistance. The brand also offers a user-friendly order tracking tool so that you can stay updated on your shipment status.
Beyond support, ScalpMED encourages customer engagement through its Rewards & Referral Program. The program may allow you to earn points, redeem discounts, and share benefits with friends, all of which may add extra value to your purchase.
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The formulations from ScalpMED have a notably higher price than similar formulations from hair regrowth brands like Hims and Rogaine. For example, one bottle of ScalpMED's Detox My Scalp formulation costs $36.95 as part of a one-time purchase, with no options for subscription purchases. In contrast, one bottle of Hims' Dandruff Detox Shampoo is available at a monthly subscription price of $18.
ScalpMED's Shampoo and Conditioner Kit offers a two-step system to help nourish your hair and scalp, costing $47.40. In contrast, Rogaine offers a single formulation called Hair Thickening 2 in 1 Shampoo + Conditioner, which costs $14.97.
The ScalpMED's pricing structure may put a heavy burden on long-term users. The Hair Regrowth System kits from ScalpMED (covering anywhere from a two to six-month supply) start at a price range of $114.95 and may range up to $279.95. The premium pricing of such offerings from ScalpMED makes it one of the more expensive over-the-counter options for tackling hair loss.
The primary offerings from ScalpMED contain Vitadil®, a minoxidil 5% solution to support hair growth and minimize hair loss. However, minoxidil use may trigger unwanted reactions, including scalp irritation, itching, redness, dryness, or flaking. You might also observe a temporary increase in shedding during the first few weeks of use. There's also a potential risk of the product spreading during application and causing facial hair growth in unintended areas.
Beyond minoxidil, ScalpMED formulations include other ingredients that may cause sensitivities. Additives like propylene glycol, alcohol, and some preservatives are known irritants that might trigger side effects like rashes, swelling, or severe itching.
More serious side effects (while less common) should not be ignored. Overapplication or prolonged use of ScalpMED's formulations on damaged skin may increase absorption of ingredients into the bloodstream, potentially leading to symptoms like dizziness, rapid heartbeat, or swelling in the extremities.
Hims is an online telehealth platform that offers online consultations with licensed healthcare providers and formulations targeting hair loss, particularly catering to the haircare needs of men. The haircare offerings of Hims include oral finasteride (which requires a prescription), topical minoxidil 5%, and a combo that contains both topical finasteride and minoxidil serum.
Beyond medications, Hims also sells supportive hair health formulations, such as biotin gummies, thickening shampoos and conditioners, DHT-blocking shampoos, and a non-prescription kit. Hims operates on a subscription model that allows customers to consult licensed healthcare providers online and receive their products monthly with free and discreet shipping. Pricing typically ranges from approximately $15 to $20 per month for topical minoxidil and $22 to $30 per month for oral finasteride.
Meanwhile, ScalpMED caters to the hair care needs of both men and women, providing designated “Hair Regrowth Systems” for distinct haircare needs. ScalpMED's core offering is a patented two-step system consisting of NutriSol® (a pretreatment formula) and Vitadil®, a minoxidil 5% solution to enhance absorption and effectiveness. The brand also offers t, thickening sprays, DHT-blocking shampoos, strengthening conditioners, and nutritional hair supplements.
Unlike Hims, ScalpMED does not require a prescription, allowing customers to purchase their products over the counter. Pricing for the ScalpMED hair regrowth system is generally higher than Hims, with a 2-month supply kit of the Patented Hair Regrowth System for Men costing $114.95. Products like ScalpMED's Thicken My Hair shampoo cost $23.95 for one bottle, while one bottle of Cortex Enlarger (Thickening Hair Spray) costs $37.50.
In terms of specific differences, Hims requires a prescription for finasteride (oral or topical), whereas ScalpMED's entire range is available without a prescription. Hims combines FDA-approved medications (like minoxidil and topical finasteride) with supportive supplements and shampoos in a customizable package. Meanwhile, ScalpMED uses a proprietary carrier system designed to improve minoxidil penetration, complemented by nutritional supplements and scalp care products.
Rogaine and ScalpMED are two brands in the hair regrowth market, each with distinct approaches and offerings. The offerings from Rogaine are centered primarily on minoxidil (an FDA-approved topical ingredient clinically proven to regrow hair), offering both 2% and 5% minoxidil solutions and foams for men and women.
Meanwhile, the offerings from ScalpMED contain minoxidil through its patented Vitadil® formula combined with Nutrisol®, a delivery system designed to enhance absorption and keep minoxidil active in the scalp for longer. Beyond its core offerings, ScalpMED also provides other topical formulations, such as thickening shampoos/conditioners, hair sprays, nutritional supplements, and scalp detox products.
In terms of pricing, a two-month supply (one bottle) of Women's Rogaine 5% Minoxidil Unscented Foam costs $33.99, with a four-month supply (two bottles) costing $58.99. Opting for a Rogaine subscription can help save an extra 20% on the purchase price. In contrast, the maintenance kit (two-month supply) of ScalpMED's Hair Regrowth System for Women costs $114.95.
When comparing the refund policies of Rogaine and ScalpMED, differences lie in the return window and the level of formality in the return process. Rogaine offers a relatively short 30-day period for customers to initiate a return by contacting their Consumer Care Center, with the return process handled on a case-by-case basis. In contrast, ScalpMED provides a more extended return window of 120 days from the order receipt date but requires customers to obtain a Credit Return Authorization (CRA) number from customer service before proceeding.
As part of our evaluation of ScalpMED, we closely examined customer feedback, particularly on trusted platforms like the Better Business Bureau (BBB). The consumer reviews present a mixed picture regarding the brand's offerings and business practices.
One positive experience came from a customer who, despite not seeing hair regrowth, gave ScalpMED a five-star rating. His praise centered around the company's professionalism and responsiveness, noting that their support team handled his refund request promptly.
However, the majority of consumer reviews of ScalpMED on BBB are mostly negative. Several users experienced no visible hair growth even after the extended use of ScalpMED products. A customer shared a particularly disheartening experience, stating that not only did his hair not grow back, but the ScalpMED formulations led to scalp irritation and blisters.
Other reviewers on BBB echoed similar frustrations, pointing to what they described as false advertising and a lack of transparency regarding ingredients. Some users felt misled by ScalpMED's marketing, only to discover that the main active ingredient, Minoxidil, was readily available at a much lower cost from other retailers. The cost of shipping, combined with non-refundable return expenses, further fueled complaints about the brand's value for money.
As part of our evaluation of ScalpMED, we closely examined the brand's return and refund policy to understand how it supports customer satisfaction. ScalpMED (through its parent company, Celmatrix Corporation) provides a 120-day refund window from the date of receipt of the order. The extended timeframe is especially reasonable for hair regrowth formulations, where visible results may take several weeks or even months to appear.
To qualify for a refund, buyers must first contact customer service within 120 days of order receipt to obtain a Credit Return Authorization (CRA) number. Once the number is issued, the return package must be postmarked within 10 days. It's important to note that only the product's purchase price is refunded; shipping and handling charges are non-refundable.
ScalpMED's return policy offers flexibility in terms of time but comes with procedural obligations that may require extra attention. Customers should be aware of the detailed steps and conditions involved to ensure a successful refund.
ScalpMED offers multiple non-prescription formulations that may help support hair regrowth and minimize hair fall and thinning. The core offerings from ScalpMED feature a patented NutriSol® delivery technology and FDA-approved minoxidil, which may help tackle hair loss. The brand also provides access to informative blogs around haircare tips, rewards & referral programs, and a visual before-and-after gallery on its website.
That said, results from using ScalpMED's formulations may vary from person to person. Factors like the underlying reason for hair loss, the stage of hair thinning, genetic predisposition, and hair care routine may influence outcomes. Many formulations from ScalpMED have a notably higher price tag than similar formulations from competitive brands like Hims and Rogaine.
It's also important to acknowledge the potential side effects that may be encountered when using some ScalpMED products. The minoxidil content in some ScalpMED offerings may trigger unwanted side effects, such as scalp irritation, dryness, itching, or unwanted hair growth in adjacent skin areas.
For consumers seeking long-term support beyond topical ScalpMED formulations, integrating some lifestyle changes may enhance hair regrowth effects. These lifestyle tips may include consuming a balanced diet rich in iron, zinc, vitamin D, and protein. Other tips may include practicing stress-reduction techniques like yoga, avoiding excessive heat styling or harsh chemical treatments, and performing gentle scalp massages.
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