Strut Health vs. Keeps (2025): Which Hair Loss Treatment is Better?
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Bottom Line Up Front: The choice between Strut Health and Keeps hinges on your treatment philosophy: standardized, proven solutions or customized, compounded formulas.
- Keeps offers FDA-approved, single-ingredient treatments (finasteride and minoxidil) at an affordable price. It’s best for those starting their hair loss journey who want a straightforward, proven approach.
- Strut Health provides customized, compounded formulas that combine multiple active ingredients (e.g., finasteride + minoxidil + retinoid in one solution). It’s best for those who have tried standard treatments without full success and want a more tailored, potent solution.
This comparison will help you determine which service aligns with your needs, budget, and goals.
Keeps vs. Strut Health: At a Glance
| Feature | Keeps | Strut Health |
|---|---|---|
| Core Philosophy | Accessibility to proven, FDA-approved single treatments. | Customization through compounded, multi-ingredient formulas. |
| Product Type | Branded and generic single drugs (finasteride, minoxidil). | Custom-compounded creams, gels, solutions, and oral meds. |
| Key Offerings | Oral Finasteride, Topical Minoxidil, Foam, Shampoo. | Custom topical solutions (Fin+Minox), Oral Finasteride+, Tretinoin formulas. |
| Personalization | Limited. Mainly dosage strength. | High. Ability to customize ingredient types and strengths. |
| Consultation | Online quiz reviewed by a healthcare professional. | Detailed online quiz reviewed by a doctor. |
| Best For | First-time users, budget-conscious individuals, those who prefer simplicity. | Those seeking advanced combinations, who haven’t had full success with standard treatments. |
The User Journey: Two Paths to Treatment
The experience from start to finish differs in its approach to personalization. This timeline illustrates the key steps for both services.
Deep Dive: Treatment Formulas & Approach
This is where the fundamental difference between the two services becomes clear.
Keeps: The Standardized Approach
Keeps focuses on delivering the two most proven, FDA-approved treatments for hereditary hair loss:
- Finasteride (Oral): A prescription pill that reduces DHT, the hormone that shrinks hair follicles.
- Minoxidil (Topical): A liquid or foam applied to the scalp that stimulates hair growth.
You can get these separately or as a combination plan. The strength is personalized, but the ingredients are standardized. The goal is effectiveness through simplicity and proven science.
Strut Health: The Customized Approach
Strut Health operates as a specialized telehealth compounding pharmacy. Their focus is on creating custom formulas that blend multiple active ingredients:
- Custom Topical Solutions: Their signature product is a single solution that can combine finasteride, minoxidil, and other ingredients like retinoids (which may enhance minoxidil absorption) or corticosteroids (for inflammation).
- Oral Finasteride+: They offer oral finasteride that can be compounded with other vitamins like biotin.
The goal is to create a potent, tailored treatment that addresses multiple factors at once, which can be especially useful for stubborn cases.
Cost Comparison: Affordable Standard vs. Premium Custom
The pricing difference reflects their core philosophies. Keeps aims for affordability, while Strut charges a premium for customization.
Value Verdict: Keeps is the clear winner on affordability, offering proven treatments at a accessible price point. Strut Health is 2-3x more expensive, but you are paying for the customization and combination of ingredients not available elsewhere.
Final Recommendation: Who Should Choose Which?
Choose Keeps if:
- You are new to hair loss treatment and want to start with the most proven, FDA-approved options.
- Cost is a significant factor and you are looking for the most affordable legitimate treatment.
- You prefer a simple, straightforward regimen with well-understood products.
- You don’t need advanced customization.
Choose Strut Health if:
- You have already tried standard finasteride and minoxidil separately with limited results.
- You want the convenience of a single, combined topical solution instead of multiple products.
- You are looking for a more potent formula enhanced with other ingredients (like a retinoid).
- You are willing to pay a significant premium for a customized, potentially more effective treatment.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q: Which one is more effective?
A: There are no head-to-head studies. Keeps offers treatments with decades of clinical proof. Strut’s formulas are based on clinical principles but lack the same volume of direct long-term studies. For a first-time user, Keeps’ offerings are effectively proven. For someone plateauing on standard treatment, a Strut formula could be more effective.
Q: Can I use my insurance?
A: It’s highly unlikely for either service. Keeps does not accept insurance but offers affordable generics. Strut’s compounded medications are almost never covered by insurance.
Q: Which service has a better doctor consultation?
A: Strut Health typically has a more detailed review process due to the nature of prescribing compounded medications. However, both provide adequate oversight for safe prescribing.
Q: Can I switch from Keeps to Strut?
A: Yes. Many people start with Keeps and later move to Strut if they seek a more customized approach or want to combine treatments into a single solution.
The Bottom Line
Your choice depends on your stage in the hair loss journey and your budget:
- For Beginners & Budget-Conscious Users: Keeps is the better and more logical choice. It provides effective, proven treatments at a fair price.
- For Advanced Users Needing More: Strut Health is the better option. It offers a path forward for those who haven’t achieved their desired results with standard treatments and are willing to invest in a customized solution.
