We're brand-neutral. We don't make or sell hair products, and nobody can pay to be ranked higher. This page shows how our scores work so you can check our reasoning.
What we score
We score non-prescription products (shampoos, serums, oils, supplements) and give each a score out of 100 for a specific concern. For example, a shampoo can score well for "hair fall with dandruff" and poorly for "dry, chemically treated hair". There is no single "best shampoo" for everyone.
We don't score prescription medicines such as finasteride or oral minoxidil. For those we explain the evidence, the side effects and the cost, and tell you to discuss them with a dermatologist.
The score
| Part | Weight | What we look at |
|---|---|---|
| Evidence for the concern | 40 | Do the active ingredients have human studies for this problem, at this strength? Lab-only or animal-only evidence scores low. |
| Formula fit | 25 | Strength of the actives, whether the base suits the scalp type, known irritants, fragrance load, and whether the label states percentages. |
| Safety | 15 | Known allergens, ingredients that need caution in pregnancy, irritation reports, regulatory warnings. |
| Value | 10 | Price per ml or per month of use, compared with products of similar quality. |
| Honest labelling | 10 | Are the claims supported? Penalties for "cure", "100% regrowth" or unspecified "clinically proven" claims. |
Evidence levels we use:
- Strong: several good human trials (for example, minoxidil for pattern hair loss).
- Moderate: at least one decent human trial, or consistent smaller studies (for example, ketoconazole shampoo as an add-on).
- Early: small, short or manufacturer-funded studies only (for example, many peptide serums).
- Unproven: traditional use or lab data only.
Example evidence levels to be confirmed by the reviewer before launch.
Exact scoring rules (draft v0.1)
So anyone can check our numbers, these are the rules we apply to every product:
| Part | Rule |
|---|---|
| Evidence (40) | By the best-supported active for the concern: minoxidil 36 · ketoconazole 26 · other anti-dandruff actives 16 · peptide blends (redensyl, procapil, anagain, capixyl, baicapil) 14 · coconut oil (breakage) or rosemary oil 12 · other herbs, onion, proteins 8 |
| Formula fit (25) | Start at 22; −4 sulphates; −3 added fragrance; −3 if key actives have no stated percentage; −3 if the full ingredient list isn't published; −5 if the product must be diluted before use |
| Safety (15) | Start at 15; −3 added fragrance; −2 essential oils; −4 if undiluted use could irritate |
| Value (10) | Price per 100 ml within its category: cheapest third 10, middle third 7, most expensive third 4 |
| Honest labelling (10) | Numeric claim with a stated test method 8 · claim based on users' self-reports 5 · numeric or "clinically proven" claim with no basis given 2 · no numeric claim 8 |
Every product's breakdown is recorded with its source page and the date checked. These rules are a draft for review by our medical reviewers.
Where our data comes from
- Ingredient lists and strengths from the pack or the brand's site, photographed with the date.
- Prices from major Indian pharmacies and marketplaces, rechecked at least monthly.
- Research from peer-reviewed journals and dermatology guidelines.
- Later: your own results, if you choose to share them anonymously.
How we make money
We tell you up front:
- Affiliate links. When you buy a non-prescription product through some of our links, the shop may pay us a small commission. The score is calculated before we know whether a product has an affiliate link. Products with no affiliate link are ranked the same way.
- Doctor consultations. We may partner with registered dermatologists or teleconsultation services and receive a referral fee. This does not change what we say about any medicine.
- From Phase 2: clinic listings. We will say clearly on every listing whether a clinic pays us, and paid status will never change a clinic's ranking.
We don't take payment to review, rank or mention a product, and we don't run pharma ads.
Disagree with a score?
Brands and readers can send evidence to scores@hairloss99.com. If it changes a score, we log the change at the bottom of that product's page.
Discussion
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