Products for hair loss have come a long way in the past decade or so. Chemicals like minoxidil and finasteride have been proven to regrow hair and are now widely available. Let's take a look at three current products for hair loss: Propecia, Scalp med, and Provillus.

Propecia--You need a prescription to order Propecia, which contains the chemical finasteride. In a 5-year study of men with mild to moderate hair loss, 48% of those treated with Propecia experienced some regrowth of hair, and a further 42% had no further loss.

Propecia is strictly for men. According to the Propecia website: "Women who are or may potentially be pregnant must not use Propecia and should not handle crushed or broken Propecia tablets because the active ingredient may cause abnormalities of a male baby's sex organs."

There are also unfortunate side effects associated with Propecia. A percentage of men have suffered from erectile dysfunction, impotence, and depression. Many of these men claim the sexual side effects are irreversible.

Provillus--Provillus is one of the bestselling products for hair loss. No prescription is required. The active ingredient in Provillus is minoxodil, which has been clinically proven to slow or stop hair loss and promote hair growth. Minoxidil is safe for women. In fact, Provillus sells a women's version of their product which is also very popular.

Minoxidil has no sexual side effects and is perfectly safe to use. The only side effects are itchy scalp and dandruff. Provillus contains moisturizers to counteract the dryness. In addition to the topical solution (which contains the minoxdili), Provillus comes with a dietary supplement full of vitamins, minerals, and herbs that encourage healthy hair growth.

Scalp Med--Like Provillus, Scalp Med does not require a prescription. In fact, Scalp Med is very similar to Provillus in many respects. It also contains minoxidil plus moisturizers to combat the itchiness. It also provides additional vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients. And there's a Scalp Med for women.

The big difference is price. Scalp Med is $350 for a 6-month supply, while Provillus is only $199 for a 6-month supply. I can't see any possible reason for Scalp Med to be that much more expensive.

In conclusion, all of the above products for hair loss should work to some degree. The possible irreversible sexual side effects of Propecia is a stumbling block for many potential users, however. And getting a prescription can be a nuisance.

Provillus is a much better value than Scalp Med. The cost of Provillus works out to a little over a $1 a day. I think most men who suffer from male pattern baldness would gladly pay that to have some hair back. Combine the value of Provillus with its safety and effectiveness, and I think it's fair to say Provillus is one of the best products for hair loss available today.