Hair Revive
A minoxidil-based topical with tretinoin, fluocinolone, biotin and vitamin E, but no finasteride or dutasteride.
Active ingredients: Minoxidil + Tretinoin + Fluocinolone + Biotin + Vitamin E
$85 per month
No membership fee · No clinician fee · Free shipping
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Compounded, not FDA-approved. Minoxidil is the primary established ingredient; the incremental benefit of biotin and vitamin E in this exact formula is not well established.
What it does
Minoxidil is the main established hair-growth ingredient. Tretinoin changes skin turnover. Fluocinolone reduces inflammation. Biotin and vitamin E are supportive ingredients with less direct evidence for added regrowth in this exact formula.
What's in it
Minoxidil
- What it is
- Hair-growth medication / vasodilator.
- Hormone?
- Not a hormone.
- Why it's here
- Helps keep follicles in the growth phase.
Tretinoin
- What it is
- Prescription retinoid derived from vitamin A.
- Hormone?
- Not a hormone.
- Why it's here
- Changes skin-cell turnover and may affect topical penetration.
- What to know
- It can cause redness, peeling, dryness, burning and sensitivity.
Fluocinolone
- What it is
- Topical corticosteroid.
- Hormone?
- It is a steroid medication, but not a sex hormone.
- Why it's here
- It reduces scalp inflammation and can also cause local steroid side effects with inappropriate or prolonged use.
Biotin
- What it is
- Vitamin B7.
- Hormone?
- Not a hormone.
- Why it's here
- True biotin deficiency can cause hair loss, but deficiency is uncommon and routine extra biotin has limited evidence for regrowth in people without deficiency.
Vitamin E
- What it is
- Vitamin/antioxidant.
- Hormone?
- Not a hormone.
- Why it's here
- Its added hair-growth benefit in this exact compounded formula is not well established.
Why choose this one?
Why choose this one
For someone who wants a multi-ingredient topical built around minoxidil while avoiding DHT-blocking medications.
Why choose another option?
If DHT is a major treatment target, a finasteride- or dutasteride-containing option addresses that mechanism and Hair Revive does not.
Compare your options
Minoxidil vs DHT blockers
| Minoxidil | DHT blockers (finasteride, dutasteride) | |
|---|---|---|
| How it works | Supports the growth phase of the hair cycle | Lowers DHT, the hormone that shrinks follicles in pattern hair loss |
| Who it's for | Men & women | Mainly men |
| Hormone? | No | No, but acts on a hormone pathway |
| What to know | Must be continued; early shedding; oral forms can cause unwanted body hair | Sexual side effects in a small minority; pregnancy restrictions |
| Used together? | Often, because they work through different pathways | Often, because they work through different pathways |
Topical vs oral hair treatment
| Topical | Oral | |
|---|---|---|
| How it's used | Applied to the scalp, usually daily | Taken by mouth, usually daily |
| Whole-body exposure | Lower, though some is absorbed | Higher |
| Evidence context | In a 2024 trial in men, 5% topical minoxidil improved hair density at 24 weeks | In the same trial, 5 mg oral minoxidil also improved density and was not superior to topical |
| Common tradeoffs | Scalp irritation, residue, daily application | Unwanted body or facial hair with oral minoxidil; less often lightheadedness or fluid retention |
| Who may prefer it | People who want to limit whole-body effects | People who find daily application hard to keep up |
| Price at Avono | From $75 per month | From $59 per month |
Benefits and evidence
Evidence for Minoxidil, not for this exact formula
Topical minoxidil 5% vs 2%
- What the study found
- 45% more regrowth
- Who was studied
- 393 men with androgenetic alopecia
- What it means
- In a 48-week trial, 5% topical minoxidil produced 45% more hair regrowth than 2% topical minoxidil.
- Important context
- Compared two strengths of topical minoxidil. It does not apply to oral minoxidil. Topical minoxidil 5% versus 2% and placebo · 5% and 2% topical solutions · 48 weeks
- Source
- A randomized clinical trial of 5% topical minoxidil versus 2% topical minoxidil and placebo in the treatment of androgenetic alopecia in men Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, 2002, PMID 12196747
Common side effects
Burning, itching, redness, dryness or peeling. Fluocinolone can cause local corticosteroid side effects with inappropriate or prolonged use.
What may help
General measures that may help with scalp irritation and early changes:
- Apply to a dry scalp, use only the amount prescribed and wash your hands afterwards.
- A gentle, fragrance-free shampoo can reduce dryness and itching.
- Let the formula dry before it touches pillows or others.
- Temporary shedding in the first one to two months of minoxidil treatment can happen as hair cycles reset. In one trial it affected 16% of men using topical minoxidil. It usually settles.
Stop and contact your clinician if irritation is severe or spreading. Do not change strength or frequency on your own.
Important safety information
Pregnancy and fertility. Minoxidil and tretinoin are usually avoided during pregnancy. Tell your clinician if you are pregnant, planning a pregnancy or breastfeeding.
Contains a topical corticosteroid and tretinoin. Use only as prescribed. Compounded, not FDA-approved.
This is a compounded medication. Compounded medications are prepared by licensed pharmacies and are not FDA-approved.
Prescription treatments require evaluation by a licensed clinician and are not appropriate for everyone. Some ingredients are not appropriate during pregnancy or for people who may become pregnant. Compounded formulas are not FDA-approved. Not available in all states.
When to contact your clinician
Tell your clinician about skin thinning, persistent redness, acne-like bumps or color changes where the formula is applied, which can happen with topical corticosteroids used for a long time.
Stop and contact your clinician for severe redness, blistering, swelling or a spreading rash, dizziness or a fast heartbeat after applying, or unexpected hair growth away from the scalp.
Questions people ask
Does this contain finasteride?
No. Hair Revive does not contain finasteride or dutasteride. Raven Solution does contain finasteride.
Why is a steroid like fluocinolone included?
Fluocinolone is a corticosteroid that reduces inflammation. Topical corticosteroids can cause skin thinning, folliculitis or pigment changes with inappropriate or prolonged use, so use only as prescribed.
Why is tretinoin included?
Tretinoin is a prescription retinoid that changes skin-cell turnover and may influence how well other topical ingredients penetrate. It also adds irritation potential.
Does biotin actually regrow hair?
True biotin deficiency can cause hair loss, but deficiency is uncommon, and evidence that extra biotin improves hair in otherwise healthy people is limited.
Why am I shedding more at first?
Minoxidil can push resting hairs out as new growth starts, so some people shed more in the first one to two months. In one trial this happened in 16% of men using topical minoxidil and 9% using oral minoxidil. It is usually temporary. Tell your clinician if shedding continues beyond a few months.
How long before I see results?
Hair grows slowly, so changes usually take months. In the finasteride trials and the 48-week topical minoxidil trial, results were measured over the better part of a year or longer. Your clinician can tell you when a review makes sense.
Discuss Hair Revive with a licensed clinician
Your clinician reviews your health history and decides whether this option, or another, is appropriate.
$85 per month
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Hair Revive $85 per month