Evidence-based hair loss treatment protocols, personalized for you.
Get a personalized, research-backed hair loss protocol in 60 seconds. Free, open-source, no signup.
HairStack is an open-source protocol generator for male androgenetic alopecia (pattern hair loss). Answer a few questions → get a treatment protocol backed by clinical studies → print your daily routine.
No marketing. No affiliate links. No tracking. Just research.
- 🔬 Most hair loss content online is product shilling or Reddit anecdotes — we provide curated clinical evidence
- 😰 Finasteride fear makes men avoid treatment entirely — we present the data honestly so you can make informed decisions
- 💰 Hair loss clinics charge hundreds for advice that should be free — this is that advice, open-sourced
- 🌍 Men in developing countries lack access to trichologists — a guided protocol fills the gap
| Tier | Approach | Efficacy | Risk | Monthly Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zero Risk | Minoxidil + microneedling + natural DHT blockers | Moderate | Zero systemic risk | ₹1,300 / $45 |
| Optimal ⭐ | + Topical finasteride + Redensyl stem cell serum | High | Low (2.8% side effects vs 3.3% placebo — Phase III) | ₹1,750 / $55 |
| Aggressive | + Oral minoxidil + PRP injections | Very High | Moderate (requires BP monitoring) | ₹5,000 / $150 |
| Gold Standard | Oral finasteride + topical minoxidil (reference) | Maximum | Moderate (~5% side effects vs ~3% placebo — meta-analysis) | ₹800 / $30 |
Efficacy labels are qualitative estimates based on component study data — not direct head-to-head clinical comparisons. Individual results vary significantly.
Every treatment is scored on a 5-point evidence scale based on study quality and replication.
| Treatment | Mechanism | Evidence | Category |
|---|---|---|---|
| Topical Minoxidil 5% | Vasodilation, prolongs anagen | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ FDA-approved | Growth stimulation |
| Microneedling (1.0mm roller / 0.5mm pen) | 4× minoxidil absorption + growth factors | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Multiple RCTs | Absorption booster |
| Topical Finasteride 0.1% | 70% scalp DHT reduction, minimal systemic | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Phase III RCT | DHT blocker |
| Oral Finasteride 1mg | 70% systemic DHT reduction | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ FDA-approved | DHT blocker |
| Redensyl 3% | Hair follicle stem cell activation | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Strong emerging | Stem cell activator |
| Saw Palmetto 320mg | Natural 5α-reductase inhibition (~30%) | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Meta-analysis (502pts) | Natural DHT blocker |
| Pumpkin Seed Oil 400mg | Phytosterol-based anti-androgen | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ RCT (40% count increase) | Natural DHT blocker |
| Ketoconazole 2% shampoo | Scalp anti-androgen + anti-inflammatory | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Well-studied adjunct | Scalp health |
| PRP (Platelet Rich Plasma) | Concentrated growth factors from own blood | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Multiple RCTs | Growth stimulation |
| Rosemary Oil | Microcirculation + mild DHT inhibition | ⭐⭐⭐ 1 RCT (matched minox 2%) | Growth stimulation |
See full treatment database for all 18 treatments with mechanisms, side effects, and citations.
- Select your Norwood stage — visual top-down head diagrams for each stage
- Enter your details — age, family history (father + grandfather), duration of loss
- Choose risk priority — Zero Risk, Optimal, Aggressive, or Gold Standard
- Pick your country — India (branded products + ₹ pricing) or US/UK/Other
- Get your protocol — personalized assessment, treatment cards, daily routine, timeline, safety monitoring, prognosis, shopping list, and PubMed citations
| Section | What It Does |
|---|---|
| 🩺 Consultation | Personalized assessment paragraph based on ALL your inputs |
| 💊 Treatments | Evidence-rated cards with application instructions |
| 📋 Daily Routine | Morning/evening/weekly schedule with timing |
| 📈 Timeline | 5-milestone roadmap with shedding phase warning |
| 🛡️ Safety Monitoring | Finasteride stop-triggers (if applicable) |
| 🔮 Prognosis | "Without treatment" projection vs "With protocol" |
| ✅ Day 1 Checklist | Actionable first steps to start treatment properly |
| 📸 Photo Protocol | How to take consistent monthly progress photos |
| Protocol-specific pitfalls that silently kill results | |
| 🛒 Shopping List | Region-specific products with prices |
| 📚 Key Evidence | Direct PubMed links for every treatment |
- Vanilla HTML + CSS + JS — zero dependencies, instant load
- GitHub Pages — free hosting, auto-deploy from
app/directory - JSON data files — easy to update and contribute to
- Native Print —
window.print()for PDF/print export (zero dependencies) - No backend — your data stays on your device
We welcome contributions! See CONTRIBUTING.md for guidelines.
Easy ways to contribute:
- 🌍 Add product recommendations for your country (PR to
data/products-{country}.json) - 📊 Submit new treatment evidence (with PubMed/DOI citations)
- 🐛 Report bugs or suggest improvements
- 🌐 Help translate to other languages
HairStack is an evidence library, not medical advice. Every recommendation links to published clinical studies. Always consult a board-certified dermatologist before starting any treatment. See DISCLAIMER.md.
MIT License — free to use, modify, and distribute. See LICENSE.
Built with research, not marketing budgets.