Keranique vs Nioxin: Which Is Better for Hair Growth?

If you have thin or thinning hair, it’s easy to feel jealous of those with heads of full, luscious locks. Our hair goals often include being able to do hair flips that would make Beyoncé jealous (just us?).

So, if you’re experiencing hair loss, you’ve probably researched all kinds of hair care products to stop hair shedding and promote regrowth, including popular options like Keranique and Nioxin.

Keranique and Nioxin are well-known brands for addressing hair loss in women. Both are available online or over the counter at drugstores and supermarkets.

We have a good idea of the questions that brought you here: Which is better for hair growth?

What is Nioxin? Does Nioxin contain minoxidil? And what are the Keranique ingredients?

We’ll answer all these questions below and cover everything you need to know about Keranique versus Nioxin that will save you from sifting through hundreds of Keranique and Nioxin hair regrowth treatment reviews.

Let’s start with Keranique. A popular hair regrowth brand, Keranique is known for its treatments aimed at promoting  regrowth for all hair types. The brand has several products, including shampoo, conditioner, hair treatment spray, regrowth treatment, and a brush.

But the most critical question you’re probably wondering is: Does Keranique work?

Keranique products contain several ingredients often linked with hair health and hair growth, though the strength of evidence supporting each ingredient’s effectiveness varies. The three main Keranique ingredients touted for helping reduce hair loss are niacinamide (a derivative of niacin), biotin, and minoxidil.

Niacinamide and biotin are included for their potential benefits, although the evidence supporting their effects on hair growth when applied topically is limited.

Niacinamide is thought to be beneficial as an antioxidant, helping to protect against oxidative stress (often caused by  factors like smoking, UV rays, and pollution) which can damage cells, including those in the hair follicle. It might also prevent hair follicles from prematurely leaving the anagen (growth) phase and entering the catagen (or transitional) phase of the hair growth cycle.

A small pilot study published in the Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology found that niacin derivatives, applied topically, may appear to improve hair fullness in women with female pattern hair loss.. (Full disclosure: This study received funding from the skincare company Niadyne, which may present a conflict of interest.)

Keranique shampoos and other products from the brand also contain biotin, an important B vitamin. One study looked at women complaining of hair loss and found that about one-third were  deficient in biotin. While biotin supplements can promote hair growth in individuals with deficiency, there is limited evidence to suggest that topical biotin, such as that found in shampoos, conditioners, and other hair care products, will have an effect on hair growth. Currently, the benefits of topical application remain largely anecdotal.

The real star ingredient, however, is minoxidil (also known by the brand name Rogaine®). Topical minoxidil is a clinically proven, FDA-approved treatment for hair loss and is commercially available as a liquid solution or foam.

Topical minoxidil is considered one of the best hair loss treatments for women. Minoxidil is also available in oral form (which is FDA approved to treat high blood pressure) and can be prescribed off-label to treat hair loss. Studies suggest that it is just as effective as topical minoxidil for female pattern hair loss (androgenetic alopecia) and may be more convenient and preferable for some women. 

Think of minoxidil as fertilizer for your hair. While the exact specifics around how this medication works isn’t entirely clear, it’s thought to reduce hair thinning and promote hair growth by moving the hair follicle into the growth phase and extending the duration that it remains in that phase. It’s also a vasodilator, meaning it  widens blood vessels allowing increased blood flow and delivering more oxygen and nutrients to the scalp and hair follicles.

With these ingredients, Keranique products may help improve hair health and promote regrowth — provided they’re used as recommended.

Nioxin is another popular line of products aimed at addressing hair loss. The brand’s system kits typically include shampoo, conditioner, and scalp health and hair treatments.

Similarly to Keranique, Nioxin hair products contain several ingredients linked to hair health, such as niacinamide, folic acid, and biotin, as well as minoxidil in specific treatments designed for hair regrowth.

Many of Nioxin’s products are designed to match the needs of a particular hair type. For example, system kits are available to treat natural, bleached, or color-treated hair, with products formulated specifically for light thinning and more advanced hair thinning.

Nioxin also offers a range of hair styling products, some of which are formulated to produce the appearance of thicker hair.

Does Nioxin work, though? Not all of Nioxin’s products contain the same ingredients, so you’ll want to make sure you choose the right one for you. The active ingredient in Nioxin Hair Regrowth Treatment for Women is 2% minoxidil, a concentration that’s been proven to be effective in treating female pattern hair loss in women with minimal side effects.

So, how do Nioxin versus Keranique stack up? Keep reading for insight.

At first glance, there don’t seem to be many differences when comparing Keranique versus Nioxin.

However, knowing a few key distinctions about each brand can help you figure out which hair  kit or products may best suit your needs.

• Nioxin offers a larger range of hair care products. Nioxin makes shampoo, conditioner, and other hair care products to suit every hair type. It also offers a hair growth supplement and other products to promote optimal hair health and improve the appearance of thinning hair. In contrast, Keranique’s range of products is slightly smaller, with a greater focus on its hair regrowth system.

•  Minoxidil is included in the Keranique Regrowth System, whereas Nioxin offers it as a separate product that can be used as a standalone product or in conjunction with one of  Nioxin’s system kits.

• Keranique offers a 120-day money-back guarantee. If you are not fully satisfied within 120 days of purchasing the Keranique Hair Regrowth System, you can return it for a full refund.

Keranique and Nioxin are just two potential options for addressing female hair loss. Both brands offer a selection of haircare and hair regrowth products containing science backed ingredients.

However, there are other treatment options available for  female hair loss, often at a lower cost than the Nioxin or Keranique product lines.

Using Minoxidil Only

You don’t have to spend hundreds of dollars on brand-name kits or products containing this proven hair growth treatment, especially if you like your current hair care products.

Instead, you can treat hair thinning or hair loss using minoxidil along with your regular products.

Although they are both clinically proven to promote hair regrowth, research suggests that topical minoxidil  5% solution is more effective than the 2% solution.  The trade-off is a higher risk of side effects such as irritation or itching. We offer 5% minoxidil foam for women, to be applied once daily, or 2% minoxidil drops in a liquid solution to be applied to the scalp twice a day. They’ve been found to be equally effective and the 5% foam is not associated with any increased risk of side effects relative to the 2% drops. Both forms are FDA approved to treat female pattern hair loss. Or, if you don’t want to use a topical treatment, you may want to consider oral minoxidil, which is available as a prescription treatment.

Another possible option is a combined  topical finasteride and minoxidil spray developed for use in postmenopausal women with female pattern hair loss. 

Our guide on finasteride for women has more details.

Try Other Hair Boosting Products

If you’ve noticed your hair is thinner, it doesn’t necessarily indicate hair loss. Still, fine hair can get some oomph with regular use of volumizing shampoo and conditioner. Our guide to thicker hair shares other techniques to give both your locks and your confidence a boost.

Use the Right Ingredients

When it comes to over-the-counter hair growth products, it’s always more important to look for active ingredients than to compare brand names. The ingredients in your hair care products can make a difference in your hair health.

Some ingredients like sulfates and parabens, may strip hair of natural oils or cause irritation, potentially affecting hair health. Next time you’re out buying shampoo for hair loss, take a few seconds to look at the back of the bottle for sulfate- or paraben-free products.f Formaldehyde, often found in hair smoothing treatments, rather than shampoos, can also be damaging. On the other hand, there are some potentially beneficial ingredients like zinc pyrithione or ketoconazole which are often included in dandruff shampoos. While dandruff doesn’t directly cause hair loss, it is often associated with an itchy scalp. Repeated scratching and inflammation can lead to hair loss. If you have dandruff, keeping it under control with a dandruff shampoo containing such ingredients is a good idea.

Change Your Hair Care Habits

Using the right hair care products is just one part of getting healthy hair. You can also reduce hair damage, prevent breakage, and promote stronger hair by heeding these hair care habits:

• Use shampoo on just the roots, and avoid over-washing the middle-to-end sections of your hair

• Don’t skip conditioner

• Avoid rubbing your hair with a towel, as doing so can cause breakage

• Avoid brushing your hair when it's wet, as it’s at its most fragile

• Try to use heat styling tools as infrequently as possible

• Avoid wearing tight hairstyles 

• Avoid coloring, perming, or relaxing hair

Keep scrolling for a rundown of supplements that might help your hair game.

Take Hair Growth Supplements

Various vitamins and minerals — like biotin, iron, and Vitamin D — are important in keeping your hair healthy. 

Make sure to eat a balanced diet that provides your body with the macronutrients and micronutrients it needs for optimal hair growth. Hair shedding can also occur as a result of crash dieting or nutritional deficiencies.

If you’re looking to support your hair health, consider our biotin gummies, which also contain folic acid and niacin.

Although not physically harmful, hair loss can definitely bring a great deal of anxiety and stress — not to mention a blow to your self-confidence.

Keranique and Nioxin are two popular hair care brands that offer products that aim to address hair thinning and hair loss. But which is better, Nioxin or Keranique?

Here’s what to keep in mind:

• Keranique has several products, such as shampoo, conditioner, styling spray, and hair regrowth treatment offered together as part of a hair regrowth system kit  The star ingredient in Keranique’s Hair Regrowth System is minoxidil, a clinically proven and effective treatment for hair loss.

• Nioxin makes shampoo, conditioner and scalp treatments. Their kits are more focused on scalp care and improving the look of thinning hair. They do have a regrowth treatment containing minoxidil, but it’s offered as a standalone product rather than as part of their kits. 

• When it comes to Keranique versus Nioxin, both are fairly popular and well-reviewed. Nioxin offers more products, while minoxidil is a key ingredient in all Keranique products.

• There are other options to help address hair loss. including using minoxidil alone, checking hair product ingredients, using a volumizing shampoo and conditioner, and taking hair growth supplements.

Talking to a healthcare provider can help you figure out the root cause of your hair loss and find the right hair loss treatments.

You can also browse our wide selection of haircare products for women in the journey to reach your hair goals.