The average man will lose anywhere from about 50 to 100 hairs every day. Most of the time, we sweep them off of our keyboards and our clothing without a second thought. But when we start to notice gaps or spots on our heads, we damn sure start to notice.

More accurately, we become obsessed. We check our hairlines in the mirror after every shower, both at home and at the gym. We may even start taking pictures on our phones to chart the regression.

Eventually, most men will face a choice:

     A. Start using Rogaine
     B. Get a hair transplant

You might have heard different things about each of those options, or you may have met guys who swear by one or the other.

Here are the straight facts and the pros and cons of each.

Which One Works Better?

This is really the bottom line, isn’t it? Which one makes the bigger difference?

One thing you should know about Rogaine is that the use case is pretty much limited to restoring hair on the top of the head or crown area. It says so right on the box. It’s not really a suitable solution for men dealing with a receding hairline on their brows.

On the other hand, if you visit a hair transplant clinic for a consultation, they can show you exactly how and where they can add hair.

Which is More Expensive?

This is a tough one, because there are a lot of factors involved.

A box of Rogaine is certainly less expensive than a FUE hair transplant procedure. But you need to keep in mind that one is a one-time cost and the other is a recurring cost. You’re going to have to keep topping up your Rogaine supply every single month. It will stop working if you stop taking it.

On the other hand, FUE hair transplants are designed to last for life, so it’s literally a one-time cost.

Which One Has Fewer Side Effects?

Rogaine’s side effects are fairly rare, but they can be nasty for the people affected. They could range from skin irritation to heart issues. There have also been some reported instances of it causing erectile difficulties or other performance issues.

Hair transplants have none of those risks. At the same time, modern treatments also don’t have the potential pain or scarring that previous generations may have experienced.

The Verdict

Which one will work better for you? If you’re looking for a permanent and effective solution to hair loss, there is really no better option than a FUE hair transplant performed by an experienced professional.

Rogaine could be an option if you don’t want to go with a full-blown procedure. But you need to keep in mind that it doesn’t really work for men with receding hairlines and it focuses mainly on the crown of the head.

You also need to be committed enough to keep up your daily routine, and expect to keep buying it every single month.