Happy Head vs Fleava

If you’ve just started your hair loss journey, you’ll know it’s a very personal experience. I’ve been there myself, trying to navigate the trial and improvement of different treatments, so have seen firsthand that what might work for one scalp won’t necessarily work for someone else’s. 

Two of the best-known platforms making waves in the hair regrowth sector right now are Happy Head and Fleava.

Both of these providers promise to help you regrow a full, healthy head of hair. However, they adopt different approaches to do this, especially in terms of product ingredients and scientific backing.

That’s why I decided to break down their key features in detail. After all, don’t you deserve to make a choice based on real-life experience and what’s best for your own hair? 

Bottom Line Up Front 

If you’ve struggled with scalp irritation and/or had no joy with OTC (over-the-counter) products (believe me, I speak from experience), then Happy Head is your best choice. It offers a science-backed, prescription-strength solution that can be tailored to your specific hair loss needs. My own scalp was certainly much happier after making the switch.

Fleava, on the other hand, might be a better fit if you’re someone who prefers a more gentle approach that doesn’t rely on prescription ingredients. Both platforms have their strengths, and while I tend to favor fast results (hence my love of Happy Head), I’d say that the right pick for you will come down to your hair loss pattern, scalp sensitivity, and personal preferences.

At a Glance

Happy Head

This telehealth platform is renowned for offering prescription-strength, dermatologist-led hair loss treatments for men and women.

I feel it stands out because its solutions are fully customizable. They usually combine FDA-approved ingredients like minoxidil, finasteride, and dutasteride to provide a solution tailored to your specific hair loss patterns, sensitivities, and preferences.

Each formula is prepared by a board-certified dermatologist. Shipping on products is free and covered by a six-month guarantee. You can also book free follow-up appointments if you need to make any changes to treatments, just as I did to make sure my treatment wasn’t irritating my scalp. 

Fleava

This platform markets itself as a one-stop shop for more natural, non-hormonal hair growth treatments. Main ingredients include copper peptides, botanical extracts, and vitamins.

Its flagship ‘Advanced Hair Regrowth Formula’ (more on this later) claims to work in 2- 6 months without the shedding associated with more mainstream hair growth treatments like minoxidil or finasteride.

Fleava products are prescription-free, and many of the listings claim that they improve overall scalp health. While browsing through the main page, I even saw that it states Fleava offers hair regrowth ‘without the side effects’ presumably as non-prescription, natural ingredients are more gentle on the scalp.

Product Offerings

Happy Head

As I said, Happy Head’s main MO is its personalized prescription-grade treatments. 

Chief amongst these are its topical solutions. Active ingredients can include minoxidil (8%), finasteride (0.3%), dutasteride, spironolactone, latanoprost, retinoic acid, and hydrocortisone.

The formula can be altered to suit your scalp’s needs. For instance, my dermatologist arranged for it to have an aqueous base as my scalp is sensitive and I wanted to avoid irritation.

Happy Head also offers a range of oral treatments. These include standardized treatments like Minoxidil capsules. The platform also sells its own ‘SuperCapsules’, which contain a combination of finasteride, minoxidil, and vitamin D3.

There are also a small number of non-prescription supplements, like a thickening shampoo and conditioner. These contain natural ingredients like argan oil, biotin, collagen, keratin, and saw palmetto.

I’m pleased to say that Happy Head also offers free shipping for products in the USA. 

Fleava

As this platform takes a more natural approach to hair regrowth, from what I could see, its products contain non-prescription ingredients.

For example, the above-mentioned ‘Advanced Hair Regrowth Formula’ contains copper peptides, ginseng extract, biotin, and skullcap extract.

The platform also offers a ‘Hair Defense’ range whose bottles contain ‘natural DHT blockers’. Ingredients include biotin and saw palmetto extract, as well as more exotic components like horsetail and stinging nettle leaf extract.

Fleava places a heavy emphasis on promoting scalp health, so it also sells oral supplements for a ‘Hair Nutrition Boost’ containing multiple vitamins and minerals, as well as keratin and herbal extracts.

Of all the telehealth platforms I’ve reviewed, this one shines when it comes to shampoos and conditioners. There’s a whole range containing copper peptide, aloe vera juice, and palmitoyl tetrapeptide-7 (often used in eyelash serums).

Shipping for all products is free worldwide. The platform also offers a 90-day money-back guarantee if you see no results.

Ingredient Deep Dive

If you’ve been following my comparison of Happy Head and Fleava products, hopefully you’ll agree with me that the two platforms use some very different sets of ingredients. 

The right ones to choose will depend on your hair loss pattern and your preferences. Still, I found that common offerings from each provider include:

Happy Head

Minoxidil

This medication is one of the most popular types used to treat hair loss. Technically, it’s a ‘vasodilator’ in that it increases blood flow to the hair follicles in the scalp, which can stimulate growth. It’s the first hair loss treatment I ever tried, and I found it very effective, if a little unkind to my skin. 

Happy Head’s topical finasteride and minoxidil solution contains a minoxidil concentration of 8%, which is much higher than the 5% offered by other hair regrowth providers.

Retinoic Acid

This ingredient can also be found in Happy Head’s topical solutions. It enhances the absorption of minoxidil and is good for promoting overall scalp health. 

Finasteride & Dutasteride

Both of these drugs work by blocking DHT, the hormone responsible for male and female pattern baldness. I’d say that dutasteride is arguably more effective than finasteride ,but they can also be used in combination. Happy Head offers both as part of topical and oral solutions.

Spironolactone

This ‘anti-androgen’ is FDA-approved for treating certain conditions like high blood pressure. I’ll admit that officially, the FDA has never endorsed it for treating hair loss, but in practic,e platforms like Happy Head have discovered that it’s especially effective at reducing the symptoms of female hormonal hair loss. Obviously I can’t speak from experience on this one, so I encourage you to research spironolactone for yourself. 

Hydrocortisone

While this ingredient doesn’t stimulate hair growth in itself, it can reduce irritation and inflammation. I used one of my follow-up appointments with Happy Head (see below) to have the dermatologist add a little more of this to my formula to make the topical solution even kinder to my scalp.

I want to clarify that this list of Happy Head ingredients is provisional, as its appointed dermatologists are free to tailor formulas to clients’ needs. This includes being able to tailor the concentrations of certain ingredients. For instance, if the 8% minoxidil topical solution causes scalp irritation, this can be reduced or even substituted with another ingredient altogether. 

The platform also uses some natural ingredients in its supplements, such as its shampoo and conditioner. These include keratin, collagen, saw palmetto, and ashwagandha, which I found very soothing on my scalp.

Fleava

I have a Doctor in the family, and she always tells me: There’s a word for ‘alternative medicine’ that works. It’s called ‘medicine!’

Of course, I’m not saying Fleava’s range of botanical and peptide-based product ingredients are ineffective. And just because a prescription treatment worked for me, it doesn’t mean a non-one won’t better suit your needs.

Still, it’s best to make an informed decision by understanding them fully before you sign up. 

Common components include:

Copper Peptides (GHK-Cu)

This ingredient is used throughout Fleava’s product range, including its signature ‘Advanced Copper Peptide Hair Regrowth Formula’. The product page claims that the copper peptides ‘reactivate dormant follicles’, promoting hair growth; however, I couldn’t find much independent, verifiable scientific research to back these claims up. I did find some data confirming that copper peptides can assist with wound healing and tissue repair, but that doesn’t necessarily make them suitable for hair regrowth.

Ginseng Extract

The roots of this herb have been used for centuries as an anti-inflammatory. Taking ginseng regularly can improve circulation, which in turn may improve scalp health. 

Saw Palmetto

This plant extract can inhibit 5-alpha reductase, the enzyme that converts testosterone to DHT. This means it can stimulate hair regrowth, which is no doubt why Fleava includes it in its range of shampoos. I’ve used this in other products and found it gave my hair a lovely sheen, so can’t recommend it enough.

Green Tea Extract

Green tea is an antioxidant and offers various health benefits. It’s found in a number of natural hair loss treatments, including Fleava’s “Hair Defense” capsules. This is likely because it contains the polyphenol epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), which can act as a natural DHT blocker. However, this hasn’t been proven in widespread clinical trials. 

Other natural ingredients

Fleava also includes a number of other natural ingredients in products like its “DHT Blocker” capsules, like stinging nettle leaf extract and pygeum bark extract. 

Like green tea extract, I couldn’t find any significant evidence that these have a major effect on DHT, which would make them suitable for treating hair loss. 

Even in the case of those that are proven to have a positive effect on hair regrowth, most independent reviews I found claim that the effect is very mild compared to prescription medications like minoxidil and finasteride. 

This said, I feel the evidence supports the fact that natural ingredients are ideal for promoting overall scalp health. If you do have a sensitive scalp or prefer to avoid hormonal/pharmaceutical treatments, I’d say Fleava products can be a good choice. 

Customization and Personalization

Happy Head

Happy Head’s main selling point is the fact that users are offered extremely personalized treatments.

Upon signing up, you’re asked to complete a detailed questionnaire. Once this is done, you then have a consultation with a qualified dermatologist.

As this medical professional specializes in skin and hair complaints, they can tailor the treatment formula to your needs. This means, for instance, that the topical solution received by a woman affected by hormonal hair loss could be very different to the one for a man suffering from male pattern baldness. The questionnaire and your conversation with the dermatologist helps them to decide what formula is a good fit for you. In my case, for instance, as I’d had a bad experience with standard minoxidil, the dermatologist used a different base to reduce irritation. 

Most importantly, if you find a treatment is ineffective or start to experience any adverse effects, you can arrange a free follow-up consultation with the dermatologist. They can then alter the combination or concentration of ingredients, as happened in my case when they added a little more hydrocortisone to make the formula kinder to my scalp.

Fleava

Despite offering a cocktail of natural and peptide-based ingredients across its products, Fleava’s serum, shampoo, and oral supplements adopt a one-size-fits-all approach.

No prescription is required to purchase any of its products, but then no changes to formulas are available either. In other words, treatments are easy to obtain (anywhere in the world, in fact), but as far as I can se,e you must take or leave them.

As formulas can’t be tailored, I’m left wondering how effective Fleava products would be against complex or stubborn hair loss patterns like hormone-driven hair loss.

On the plus side, as the products contain no prescription ingredients, there’s no risk that you could have an adverse reaction to medications like minoxidi,l like I did.

Pricing and Guarantees

Happy Head

Using customized topical solutions prepared by board-certified dermatologists means that treatments range from $59 – $119, depending on the type and concentration of ingredients, though I found my solution paid for itself by being customizable.

Standardized treatments are also available. For instance, a 3-month supply of oral minoxidil capsules costs $66 ($22 per month).

Happy Head’s “SuperCapsules” range cost $59 per month for the first six months, then $79 per month thereafter.

You can also save money by buying one of the bundles on offer. For instance, Happy Head’s “Hair Growth Gift Set” includes shampoo, conditioner, hair growth supplements, and a $50 off your first topical solution subscription. This costs $98, which represents $112 in savings relative to purchasing products individually.

The above-mentioned six-month guarantee offers a full refund on your last round of treatments if you aren’t satisfied with a product.

Fleava

The platform’s flagship hair growth formula costs $39 for a one-month supply. Further discounts are available if you buy two months’ ($49) or three months’ ($59) supply in advance.

The “DHT Blocker’ capsules are offered with similar discounts, whether you buy one bottle ($49), three bottles ($89) or six bottles ($129). There are 60 capsules to a bottle, which I assume is around two months’ supply.

If you’re looking to pay bottom dollar, Fleava’s “All-in-One” bundle includes its hair growth serum, shampoo, conditioner, an adjustable derma stamp, and a scalp massager. This costs $139 or around 53% savings versus buying all products individually (total $299).

The platform offers a 90-day money-back guarantee if you’re unhappy with results, but you’ll need to provide photos of both before and after you used the product(s), which I find to be unfair, as I couldn’t see where this is explained to you during checkout.

Who should choose Happy Head?

Happy Head is going to be your best option for treating hair loss if you:

• Have previously tried natural and/or standardized hair loss treatments without success.
• Prefer a personalized, prescription-strength hair regrowth solution using science-backed ingredients.
• Want ongoing dermatologist support so you can adjust treatments if necessary. 
• Suffer from particularly stubborn or less common forms of hair loss, e.g., you’re a woman with postpartum, menopausal, or hormone-driven hair loss.

Who should choose Fleava?

Fleava is likely to be the better choice if you:

• Want a gentle, non-hormonal, and natural way to stimulate hair regrowth.
• Have previously suffered side effects, e.g., scalp irritation from prescription hair loss treatments like minoxidil or finasteride.
• You want a simple over-the-counter solution that doesn’t require a prescription.
• Are based outside the USA, so can’t receive Happy Head products. 
• Are certain that you’ll only want your money back if the products prove ineffective.

Final Thoughts

My two cents are that both Happy Head and Fleava offer some robust solutions for stimulating hair regrowth, even though their specific approaches and product ingredients differ.

I like Happy Head for its highly personalized treatment formulas, composed mainly of prescription ingredients. In the case of FDA-approved medications, this gives you the peace of mind of being safe to use. 

Even if an ingredient hasn’t specifically been approved to treat hair loss, Happy Head chooses those with a solid, scientifically backed record in this space. This is what tipped the scales for me when choosing a telehealth platform, as it offers a targeted, medical approach to serious hair regrowth.

Fleava is a very different animal. It’s definitely an appealing alternative for those who are based outside the US, who can’t receive prescribed medical treatments. Having tried out some of its natural ingredients in other products, I’d also say that its range is likely to be very gentle on the skin. 

Fleava claims excellent results in its clinical trials compared to a placebo, though despite doing all the research I reasonably could I found the scientific proof for its individual ingredients’ ability to tackle hair loss is minimal in some cases.

Ultimately, the best choice comes down to your hair loss pattern, sensitivities, and how aggressive you want your treatment to be.