Keeps

Keeps Review: Does It Works, Side Effects, Cost

By Lydia Noyes

HighYa Staff

Updated on: Jan 3, 2020

Medically Reviewed by Anthony Dugarte, M.D., C.S.C.S

Hair loss is a touchy subject for many people, but it’s hardly a unique experience. More than half of men age 40-49 experience moderate to extensive hair loss.

Finding treatments to slow down or even reverse this process is a high priority for many, but knowing where to look isn’t easy.

Keeps is a health care company that specifies in treatments for male pattern hair loss. This brand offers generic versions of popular, FDA-approved treatments.

All Keeps products arrive as a 90-day supply through an automatic subscription to ensure you always have some on hand. The company claims that you can save between $70-$100 per year with a Keeps subscription instead of the shopping with the competition.

In this review, we’ll share our analysis on whether Keeps products work as described and are worth the subscription plan.

How Does Keeps Work?

Signing up for Keeps products requires you to fill out a brief survey about your history of hair loss. You’ll share how recently you started noticing it, where the loss is most prevalent, and whether you have already done anything to address it.

You can also specify whether any lifestyle choices, recent life events, or other health conditions may be affecting your hair.

At the end of the questionnaire, you need to submit three photos of your hair, including the top of your head, your crown, and your hairline.

After you complete registration, you have the option to request an online consultation with a Keeps-affiliated doctor. This consultation is free the first time and $5 after, and will be performed by a physician licensed in your state and will include a personalized treatment plan with a prescription for finasteride if needed.

It’s possible to opt-out of this consultation and order the company’s over-the-counter treatments without an expert recommendation. Alternatively, you can submit a prescription to the site from your doctor to request a finasteride treatment.

Keeps Treatment Options

The products available from Keeps include the following:

1mg Finasteride (Generic Propecia)

This prescription pill blocks DHT production, a hormone linked to male pattern baldness. It’s an FDA-approved treatment for slowing down receding hairlines and improving hair regrowth rates along the hairline, crown, and vertex.

• Use: Take a pill by mouth once a day, preferably at the same time each day.
• Price: $25/month

Note: Finasteride is only available for purchase once you submit a prescription to the Keeps pharmacy.

5% Minoxidil Solution (Generic Rogaine)

This topical treatment works to slow down hair loss and promote hair regrowth, especially at the crown of your head. Most users can expect results within 3-4 months.

• Use: Use a dropper to apply directly to your scalp twice a day.
• Price: $10/month

5% Minoxidil Foam (Generic Rogaine Foam)

As with regular Rogaine, this topical treatment slows down hair loss and promotes hair regrowth at the crown of your head. The foam application method might make it easier for some people to use than the standard solution with an eye drop.

• Use: Apply a capful twice a day to your scalp, massaging into place with your fingers.
• Price: $15/month

2% Ketoconazole Shampoo (Generic Ketoconazole Shampoo)

This prescription shampoo is used to treat dandruff and other forms of itchiness and flaking. Most users will experience results in 2-3 weeks.

• Use: Apply to scalp and let sit for 10-15 minutes before washing it off.
• Price: $10/month

According to Keeps, it’s possible to use any of their hair loss treatments alongside your normal hair products. If you are using minoxidil, you need to apply the product to dry hair and then let it dry on your scalp before applying other products as normal.

The company suggests that you use each product for the long-term, as stopping the treatment may reverse any hair loss you are experiencing.

Keeps' Active Ingredients: Do They Work?

Let’s look at the facts behind the active ingredients in Keeps hair loss treatments.

Finasteride

Finasteride blocks 5-α reductasem, preventing the conversion of testosterone to dihydrotestosterone (DHT). This hormone is considered essential for body hair growth, but too much can be detrimental to head hair growth because it triggers the hair follicles to miniaturize.

According to a 2005 double-blind study with 80 male patients, the participants who took 1mg of finasteride daily (the same amount offered by Keeps) experienced hair regrowth results that were superior to patients taking a placebo.

5% Minoxidil

Topical minoxidil is considered an effective hair growth treatment for most male and female hair loss. Though it’s not known how the compound works, it seems to work by enlarging your hair follicles and keeping them in the growing phase longer.

A 2005 study found that treatment with minoxidil led to statistically significant improvements in hair regrowth after 16 weeks, compared to a placebo. This treatment is considered best for hereditary hair loss at the back of the head, and it’s not recommended for a receding hairline.

In 2009, 5% minoxidil was demonstrated to be superior to 1% in Japanese men with male pattern baldness.

2% Ketoconazole

Traditionally used to treat fungal infections, ketoconazole is effective against specific types of dandruff.

Though this compound isn’t often associated with hair loss treatments, a pilot study from 2011 with 15 participants found that ketoconazole shampoo may be effective for improving hair regrowth.

Finasteride vs. 5% Minoxidil

When comparing Finasteride 1mg and minoxidil 5%, both had similar efficacies.

Key Takeaways: There is strong clinical evidence in trials with human subjects that the active ingredients in Keeps treatments will lead to statistically significant improvements for many types of male pattern hair loss.

Side Effects

There are some side effects associated with the active ingredients in Keeps hair loss products.

Finasteride, for instance, is known to have an impact on male sex drive. In the finasteride study mentioned previously, 25% of the participants experienced decreased libido or erectile dysfunction. Pain in the testicles and skin irritation are also possible side effects.

Most people find that the side effects of Finasteride disappear after several weeks of taking the treatment, but in rare cases, they persist, even after they stopped the treatment altogether.

In regards to minoxidil, some people might experience burning, stinging, or redness at the treatment site after using it. In rare cases, the medication can be absorbed through the skin and cause problems like dizziness, unwanted hair growth, an irregular heartbeat, and even difficulty breathing.

Likewise, some people experience stinging, swelling, and other irritation on their skin from using ketoconazole, though severe or unsafe reactions are rare.

Overall, these side effects tend to resolve once you stop the treatment.

How Much Does It Cost?

All Keeps products are available for purchase for the company website for US men over 18. Not all State permit product sales, so you can check here if your state is an option.

Note: Minoxidil is an over-the-counter medication, so Keeps can ship it to all 50 states.

Your Keeps order will be billed and shipped as a three-monthly supply with a $3 shipping cost. You can change your cancel your Keeps subscription by submitting a request through your online account, at help@keeps.com, or by calling the company directly at (833) 745-3377.

It’s best to cancel at least 24 hours before your next refill date to ensure the order isn’t shipped out anyways.

Comparing Keeps to Other Generic Hair Loss Product Prices

Keeps claims to save you time and money securing hair loss treatment products compared to picking them up at your local pharmacy. In this chart, we compared the price of each treatment to the equivalent generic options available at nationwide pharmacies.

As this chart shows, the cost of generic hair loss treatments varies based on your pharmacy. Keeps offered the lowest price for its 2% ketoconazole shampoo, but you pay more per month for both of the company’s options for generic Rogaine.

However, this price difference will be negated if you’re paying the full shipping price for Walgreens, Walmart, or Rite Aid rather than picking up the product in-store. That’s something to consider if you value the convenience of Keeps’s subscription plan and hassle-free delivery.

If you are interested in using a product with finasteride, keep in mind that each pharmacy, including Keeps, requires you to submit a prescription first.

Some people may find that their health insurance covers the full cost of their appointment and prescription, while others will pay more out of pocket than if they went directly with keeps. Just remember that Keeps won’t accept any health insurance, so you are responsible for paying the full prescription cost regardless of your plan.

Key Takeaways: Buying hair loss treatment products from Keeps might save you time and money if you factor in the shipping costs and subscription convenience, but the cheapest option for most products is to pick up equivalent generic versions at your local pharmacy.

Keeps Customer Reviews

More than 25 HighYa reviews have rated Keeps, giving the product an average of 4.1 stars. Consumers Advocate has another 14 reviews, averaging 4.5 stars, and there are over 1,000 on the Keeps website, averaging 4.7. Here’s a summary of some of their main takeaways.

Effective Hair Loss Treatment

A number of Keeps reviewers raved that these hair loss treatments really worked. Some wrote that they had tried numerous other over the counter products with the same active ingredients with minimal success, but that they noticed improvements within weeks of switching to Keeps.

Many noted that they had more hair growing in places where they were previously balding and that friends and family noticed the difference enough to comment on it. The most successful users seemed to be using multiple Keeps products together each day.

Good Customer Service

Keeps earned points from reviewers for excellent customer service. Many noted that the website was easy to navigate and that the customer service was quick to answer any product questions or send out refunds for returns or subscription cancellations.

Several reviewers noted that they loved the auto-ship program because it kept them accountable for taking their treatment daily and removed the stress and hassle of going to the pharmacy regularly.

More Affordable Than the Competition

Several Keeps reviewers praised the brand for offering cheaper products than the competition, especially when factoring in the convenience of the auto-ship program.

Note: Our research showed that many pharmacies offer equivalent products to Keeps for a slightly lower cost per month, not factoring in shipping costs.

Occasional Order/Delivery Problems

Not all users were in love with this service. Some reported that their Keeps orders never arrived or that their deliveries continued even after they had canceled the subscription. Others received the wrong products and found it a hassle to get the company to send what they needed instead.

Not Worth the Cost

A minority of Keeps reviewers wrote that they didn’t experience results from the products that were worth the cost. Some thought they got better results from traditional Rogaine, while others didn’t notice any difference in their appearance after several months of use.

Key Takeaways: Keeps users seem to be happy overall with the company’s products and subscription program. Some ran into problems with billing or didn’t experience significant results, but most reported that Keeps treatments led to real hair regrowth at an affordable rate.

Bottom Line: Is Keeps Worth It?

Keeps claims to give subscribers easy access to effective hair loss treatments at a lower cost than the competition. There’s real evidence to back up the effectiveness of the product’s active ingredients for anyone experiencing male pattern hair loss.

While finasteride and minoxidil seem to have similar efficacy, considering the potential side effects can help guide your decision.

Our research found that many national pharmacies can beat Keep’s per-month prices for equivalent products, but that the prices become more equal when you factor in shipping costs. If the convenience of an auto-ship program appeals to you, then Keeps is a brand worth considering.

When it comes to treating male pattern hair loss, it’s essential to keep in mind that most treatments have limitations. There’s little you can do to replace hair follicles that have already died, and most treatments are designed to target hair loss only on specific parts of the head.