Andrew Bakst
Co-founder, HairDAO
Articles
26 articles
- Every GLP-1 Weight Loss Drug, Ranked (2026)6 min readTirzepatide and retatrutide lead every GLP-1 weight loss drug on weight lost beyond placebo, with semaglutide, CagriSema, MariTide, mazdutide and amycretin close behind. The "natural GLP-1" supplements at the bottom contain no GLP-1 drug at all. Here is each drug, the trial behind its ranking, and what the side effects change.
- Why Hair Transplants Are Not a Cure: The Body Sets the Organ's Age5 min readA new Harvard preprint found that transplanted hearts take on the biological age of the body they are placed in, and no recipient got younger. Hair follicles follow part of the same rule: moved follicles take on some traits of their new site, the recipient site can override a graft entirely, and the native hair around a transplant keeps thinning because the transplant does not change the scalp.
- MINX Tolerability: Side Effects in Our First 20 Users vs 5 mg Oral Minoxidil4 min readWhat our first 20 MINX 5 mg users reported about side effects, compared head-to-head with the published 5 mg oral minoxidil study and against low-dose oral minoxidil across 1,404 patients. A consumer perception study, not a clinical trial.
- Does BPC-157 Grow Hair? The Evidence, and the Study That Does Not Exist9 min readPubMed indexes 222 BPC-157 papers and not one is about hair. The claim traces to a 2001 experiment that burned mice, and the trial clinics cite for scalp injections cannot be found in any database.
- Does Minoxidil Affect DHT? Every Study, and What They Actually Show6 min readNo human study shows minoxidil lowers DHT, and the lab studies contradict each other. Here is every study on whether minoxidil is a DHT blocker, and why it does not matter.
- Do You Inherit Baldness From Your Mother or Father? The Genetics of Male Pattern Baldness5 min readDoes baldness come from your mother's side, or your mother's father? The maternal-grandfather rule is only half right. We ranked the genes by strength and modeled the split: about 56 percent of your baldness risk traces to your mother and 44 percent to your father.
- Is Your Hair Controlled by a Clock? The Circadian Biology of the Hair Follicle6 min readEvery hair follicle runs its own 24-hour clock, set by your sleep cycle. Here is what that clock actually does, what the genes control, and what the evidence does not support.
- Minoxidil Dose-Response: Why More Hair Eventually Stops but the Side Effects Don't12 min readAcross low-dose oral minoxidil studies, each +1 mg grows about 9 more terminal hairs/cm² but also raises hypertrichosis and cardiac side effects. Then the growth curve bends while the risks keep climbing.
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- Sublingual Minoxidil: The Most Overhyped Product in Hair Care12 min readSublingual minoxidil is sold as the smooth-release, safer alternative to standard oral. The published pharmacokinetics say it is neither: at 5 mg it has the same peak timing as standard oral and roughly 3x the peak of MINX at the same dose. Here are the three PK tests a real prolonged-release oral minoxidil has to pass, and where each route actually lands.
- Copper Peptides for Hair Growth5 min readCopper peptides such as GHK-Cu may improve scalp health, boost follicle signaling, and support hair growth. Learn the science, how to apply serums to a damp scalp for best absorption, potential downsides, and why six months is needed to see real results.
- Postpartum Hair Loss: What to Expect and How to Treat It4 min readPostpartum hair loss peaks at 3–4 months after birth and eases by 6–12 months. Learn timelines, red flags, and safe steps while breastfeeding plus when to treat FPHL.
- Got Game or Game Over?4 min readDo women like bald men? History, culture and a Tinder experiment show hair gets more first glances, but smart grooming and photos help close the gap.
- Finasteride vs Minoxidil: Which Is Right for You?4 min readFinasteride vs Minoxidil: discover which FDA-approved hair loss treatment is right for you. Learn how each works, who can use them, and the safest, most effective doses for men and women.
- Quick Timelines by Treatment1 min readDiscover how long hair loss treatments take to work. Compare minoxidil, finasteride, dutasteride, spironolactone, transplants, and more with our quick treatment timelines chart.
- What Type of Hair Loss Do I Have?5 min readHair falls for many reasons, and the pattern tells the story. Watch the hairline, the crown, and the part. Learn how to spot common patterns in men and women, simple at-home checks, and when to seek treatment. Discover evidence-based solutions for thinning, shedding, and patchy hair loss.
- Why Is Growth Maxi Better Than Rogaine?2 min readDiscover why Budget Growth Maxi and Growth Maxi outperform Rogaine for hair loss treatment. Learn how its advanced multi-pathway formula with Minoxidil, Finasteride, and other clinically backed ingredients promotes stronger, faster hair regrowth.
- Seasonality Effects on Hair Growth2 min readHair shedding often peaks late summer into fall. Learn why seasonality matters, what’s normal, and how to judge treatments over 6–12 months.
- Does 0.005% Finasteride Work?3 min read0.005% topical finasteride showed regrowth in a 16-month study with no serum hormonal shifts. See what to expect, safety notes, and who it’s best for.
- The Truth About Shampoos: Do They Help or Hurt Hair Growth?1 min readNot all shampoos are equal, some promote hair growth, others protect scalp health, and some cause hair loss. Learn the best ingredients to choose.
- How Long Does It Take for Hair Loss Treatments to Work?5 min readMost proven hair-loss treatments show results in 3–6 months and peak by ~12 months. Learn timelines, what to expect each month, and how to track progress.
- Facing the Facts: Why Is My Hair So Thin I Can See My Scalp?4 min readDiscover why your hair is so thin you can see your scalp and explore remedies and prevention tips.
- How to Hide Hair Loss: Best Tips for Men and Women4 min readHow to hide hair loss: men’s & women’s hairstyles, fibers and scalp concealers, color & parting hacks, camera-posing tips, and proven treatments.
- Am I Losing My Hair? How to Tell and What to Do Next3 min readWorried you’re losing your hair? Learn how to spot the first signs of hair loss, the most accurate ways to detect it, and how Anagen’s free trichoscan analysis can help you track progress with clinical accuracy.
- Liothyronine (T3) for Hair Loss6 min readUltra-low-dose topical liothyronine (T3), at ~6.5 ng/mL and 1 mL daily, targets the scalp to promote regrowth. Thyroid hormones control follicle cycling; preclinical and early human data show T3 can prolong anagen, boost metabolism, and raise markers like K15/FGF7, with minimal systemic effects. Useful for men and women with AGA or thyroid-related thinning, and can pair with minoxidil/finasteride. Expect results in 6–12 months; temporary shedding may occur. Not FDA-approved; compounded Rx only.
- Azelaic Acid & Hair Loss: The Anti-DHT Topical Benefitting Hair Regrowth4 min readAzelaic acid is a promising hair loss solution for men and women, offering anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and DHT-blocking benefits that support scalp health and regrowth. Studies show 5% azelaic acid can improve hair density and thickness, especially when combined with minoxidil 5%. Safe and well-tolerated, it’s available in prescription compounded formulas through providers like Anagen.
- What Is a Trichologist? (vs Dermatologist)5 min readLearn what trichologists do, how they differ from dermatologists, who to see first, and what to expect in a visit, plus tips, red flags, and next steps.