HairClub Reviews: Are These Hair Loss Experts Legit?

Hair Growth and Hair Loss | HairClub Intro | HairClub Products | Regrowth Solutions | Replacements Solutions | Restoration Solutions

Hair loss can be one of the most frustrating experiences you can go through, and it’s a very common experience for both men and women alike. One day you’re running a comb through luscious locks, the next day you notice more and more clumps in the shower. It can be a rough experience to say the least.

Thankfully, HairClub offers a lifeline when it comes to restoring hair. They’ve helped thousands of people address their hair concerns.

HairClub offers consultations and customized treatment options with the goal of regaining healthier hair through regrowth, replacement, and restoration.

But, are these treatments and hair restoration methods effective? This honest review seeks to address everything you need to know.

Hair Growth and Hair Loss

For many, hair is a source of confidence. As silly as it may sound, having a “good hair day” is actually a self-esteem booster. Simply put, when we look good we feel good.

But apart from being a source of confidence, hair also has a biological role. Hair helps keep us warm by preserving heat — it also helps protect the sensitive skin on our heads.

Hair is made up of three parts: the shaft, the root, and the follicle. The hair shaft is the part we style and comb, it’s what we see. The root is at the base of the hair shaft.

The follicle is where the hair actually grows. Under normal conditions, new hair is formed when new cells interact with a fibrous protein called keratin.

Hair Loss Is Common for Both Men and Women

Common male or female pattern baldness, medically referred to as androgenetic alopecia, is responsible for more than 95% of hair loss in men, affecting roughly two-thirds by age 35. For many men — about 25% — this hair loss process begins in their early 20s. But, hair loss isn’t unique to men only. About 50% of women will experience noticeable hair loss at some point in their lives. 

Though hair loss is often due to genetics, there can be other causes. For example:

• Anagen effluvium, associated with chemotherapy
• Alopecia areata, an automimmune disorder
• Nutritional deficiency
• Telogen effluviumm, thinning of the hair due to stress

A Quick Look at HairClub

HairClub has been in business for over 40 years. It was founded in 1976 by Sy Sperling. It’s headquartered in Boca Raton, Florida, and has over 120 locations across the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico.

They feature hundreds of in-market, licensed cosmetologists and hair loss experts to provide custom hair solutions, one-on-one guidance, and professional consultation and advice.

In terms of hair solutions, HairClub has hundreds of combinations for those with thinning hair and hair loss, this includes men, women, and even children. HairClub for Kids provides non-surgical hair replacement services — for free — to children ages 6 to 17 who suffer from hair loss.

HairClub Pros

• They offer both surgical and non-surgical options for nearly everyone on the hair loss spectrum.
• Treatments are available to men, women, and even children.
• Wide range of solutions, products, and interventions.
• They’ve been in the business for over 40 years.

HairClub Cons

• 120 locations isn’t a lot when you’re talking nation-wide.
• Hair loss solutions can be very expensive (though they do offer third-party financing options).
• Not very upfront with their pricing — we feel it takes too much digging to find any information about it.

The HairClub Solutions

HairClub provides numerous options to help people reach their hair goals — they know hair loss solutions aren’t one-size-fits-all.

HairClub offers topical treatments, both surgical and non-surgical hair replacement, styling, and more.

Their hair loss interventions and solutions fall into three categories: regrowth, replacement, and restoration.

Regrowth Solutions

HairClub’s hair regrowth solutions are non-surgical options. We found this approach to be the best for those at the beginning of the hair thinning process.

Regrowth products vary quite widely, from hair care products under $20 to laser treatments costing upwards of $3,500.

In short, these solutions are meant to help regrow your own natural hair. It involves two primary methods:

• EXT Extreme Hair Therapy 
• Laser Hair Therapy

EXT Extreme Hair Therapy

HairClub’s EXT Extreme Hair Therapy is a comprehensive program that involves both at-home hair solution products and in-center visits.

The in-center visits can include soothing scalp massages and treatments, deep conditioning treatments, and salon services.

> How we got started

It all started with a consultation at a HairClub center with an Image Consultant. The consultation was free and came with a 10-point hair health checkup. The consultant used micro-magnification to examine the health of the scalp. The whole process was done in less than an hour.

Afterward, we were provided a detailed report of our hair health and were presented with the potential treatment and customized solutions options.

> EXT Hair Therapy Products

The HairClub’s EXT at-home products we were given included:

• Shampoo – Specially formulated to help remove excess sebum and debris from the scalp, creating an optimal scalp environment for hair growth. 
• Conditioner – Specialty conditioners fortified with proteins to help strengthen and support healthy hair.
• Scalp cleanser – An enzyme cleanser used to purify the scalp, eliminating excess oils. This was surprisingly refreshing to use.

> Minoxidil-containing regrowth treatment

HairClub’s Regrowth Treatment contains FDA-approved minoxidil, in 2% and 5% concentrations. In effect, minoxidil acts as a dihydrotestosterone (DHT) blocking agent — the main reason for pattern baldness. DHT has been proven to reduce the amount of DHT on the scalp and slow the progression of hair loss.

> Hair revitalizing supplements

To help support healthy hair growth, we were also presented with HairClub’s  Hair Revitalizing Complex. It features herbal ingredients like nettle and saw palmetto and a blend of B-complex vitamins (B6, B12, D3, and biotin). Biotin deficiencies have been shown to cause the loss of hair.

Here’s what one customer had to say about their HairClub Regrowth experience so far:

“So far I haven’t experienced any serious side effects from minoxidil. Everything seems to be going great so far. My hair seems to react well to the shampoo and conditioner you guys gave. No complaints so far. Really excited to see results in the near future.”

— Trenton, 5/5 stars on Trustpilot

Laser Therapy

HairClub’s Regrowth solutions also involve Low-Level Laser (light) Therapy (LLLT), which uses FDA-cleared and clinically studied laser devices to help hair restoration and treat androgenetic alopecia.

In effect, LLLT devices (LaserComb, LaserBand, Capillus) deliver safe, low-level laser light to help increase microcirculation at the scalp, delivering more blood supply and helping activate cell activity at the follicles.

While the efficacy of LLLT is documented, it is among the pricier treatments. For example, the HairClub Laser Band prices range from $549 to $799.

Replacement Solutions

HairClub’s replacement solutions are non-surgical interventions that help fashion new hair to thinning areas of the scalp, or areas that have no hair at all. This approach is completely personal and depends on your hair goals and stage of hair loss.

• Xtrands
• Xtrands+
• Extensions

Replacement solutions, both Xtrands and extensions, require monthly service subscriptions. Typically, these start at around $289/month — which includes styling.

Xtrands & Xtrands+

Xtrands offers a great solution for those who are in the early stages of balding. It is essentially a volumizing solution that seeks to add density and fullness to thinning areas of the scalp — all without surgery. This is done by adding strands of hair to the hair roots that already exist on the scalp.

> Here’s how the process worked:

• A HairClub stylist examined the hair (to match color and shade).
• The hair is then sectioned in the thinning areas and potential host hairs are identified.
• Using a special application wand, the stylist knotted strands onto the base of the existing hair — then styled.

The whole process was painless and took around two hours, but it varies from person to person.

> How long does Xtrands last?

It lasted around 4 weeks for us (maintaining desired volume/thickness).

Xtrands+ is more advanced and is used for those with a greater progression of hair loss. It does still use strands of hair to knot into existing hair, but takes things a step further with full natural/synthetic hair pieces that are attached with medical-grade adhesive.

> Does Xtrands+ require special maintenance?

Yes, but not too often. Visiting your local HairClub stylist every 4 to 8 weeks is recommended to keep it maintained.

Here’s what one satisfied customer had to say about Xtrands:

I had originally thought a transplant was my only option and then i found out about Xtrands plus. My hair looks so natural and I get compliments all the time. My stylist Melissa is a hair miracle worker. I am forever grateful to Hair Club Vancouver and Melissa for giving me my life back.

— Danny, 5/5 stars on Trustpilot

Restoration Solutions

HairClub’s restoration solutions involve surgical interventions to help grow and restore your natural hair and hairline in thinning areas. Interventions include BioGraft, Follicular Unit Transplantation, and Follicular Unit Extraction. The latter is considered the least invasive of the three.

Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE)

FUE is a minimally invasive, outpatient option for surgical hair restoration that offers long-lasting results.

One follicle is extracted from a donor at a time and transplanted to the balding and thinning areas of the scalp.

This procedure is ideal for those who are still in the early stages of hair loss. The procedure itself can last for many hours and costs, on average, around $8,995.

This customer seems pleased with HairClub’s restoration solution:

“I have been a member for many years and have enjoyed the services of HCM. They offer a fool proof technique for hair restoration with excellent styling that duplicates your natural hair type. Throughout the years I have received many compliments and envy from those who have ‘hair challenges’.”

— Greg, 5/5 stars on Trustpilot

Conclusion

So, are these hair loss experts legit? The simple answer: Yes.

We found the Regrowth solutions to be the least invasive and best option for those at the beginning of the hair loss journey.

HairClub combines top-quality hair loss solutions with decades of expertise. Their regrowth, replacement, and restoration solutions are proven to work.

But, they’re also pricey. So, if you have the money (and the time) HairClub’s could be what you’re looking for when it comes to hair loss solutions.

References and Sources:

HairClub

Men’s Hair Loss / Introduction | American Hair Loss

Hair Loss Solutions for Kids | HairClub

A randomized clinical trial of 5% topical minoxidil versus 2% topical minoxidil and placebo in the treatment of androgenetic alopecia in men | NIH

Biotin – Consumer | NIH

Low-level light therapy using a helmet-type device for the treatment of androgenetic alopecia | NIH