Style

Do shampoos for retaining (and thickening) hair actually work?

Thickening, yes. Retaining, no. Over-the-counter thickening shampoos and topical postshower lotions can indeed change the cosmetic texture of your hair, making it appear fuller. So if your hairline is creeping upward à la Jude Law, at least you'll be able to add some density.

In a study of 100 men with male-pattern baldness, 94 percent of those who slathered their scalps with lotions containing the chemical adenosine after showering experienced an increase in strand thickness. Two products that include adenosine are Shiseido's Adenogen ($66, sca.shiseido.com) and Lab Series Root Power Hair Tonic ($40, labseriesformen.com). But if you really want to stem the outward tide, use one of two FDA-approved medications: Rogaine or the more effective oral medication Propecia. Some over-the-counter shampoos also contain finasteride (the active ingredient in Propecia), but just as rubbing aspirin onto your scalp won't cure a headache, massaging finasteride onto your dome won't anchor your hairline. If all else fails, grab a pair of clippers and consider following the lead of Michael Jordan and Bruce Willis. When it comes to hair, none is sometimes better than some.

Robert M. Bernstein, M.D. Dr. Bernstein is a clinical professor of dermatology at Columbia University's College of Physicians and Surgeons, and the founder of the Bernstein Medical Center for Hair Restoration, in New York.

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