Strut Health Review: Personalized Compounding for Hair Regrowth

Strut Health operates in the space between mass-market telehealth (Hims, Keeps) and ultra-premium compounding (Happy Head). They're a physician-owned platform that specializes in custom formulations—particularly dutasteride, the "nuclear option" for DHT suppression.

If finasteride hasn't delivered results after 12+ months, Strut's dutasteride protocols offer a scientifically defensible next step.

What Makes Strut Different

Dutasteride Focus: While most platforms offer finasteride (which inhibits Type II 5-alpha reductase), Strut heavily promotes dutasteride—which inhibits both Type I and Type II enzymes. This results in ~95% DHT suppression vs finasteride's ~70%.

Available Formulations:

Oral Dutasteride: 0.5mg capsules, taken daily
Topical Dutasteride: Custom concentration gels for localized DHT blocking with reduced systemic exposure
Custom Topical Blends: Dutasteride + minoxidil + tretinoin combinations

Dutasteride vs. Finasteride: The Difference

Finasteride (Type II inhibitor only):

Reduces DHT by ~70%
Gold standard with 30+ years of safety data
86% of users maintain or improve hair at 10 years

Dutasteride (Type I + Type II inhibitor):

Reduces DHT by ~95%
More potent but less long-term data
FDA-approved for prostate, off-label for hair loss
Some studies show ~10-15% more hair regrowth than finasteride

The Risk-Benefit Trade-Off: Dutasteride's greater potency comes with theoretical increased risk of side effects (more DHT suppression = more potential hormonal disruption). However, clinical studies show similar side effect rates to finasteride. The main drawback: longer half-life (5 weeks vs 6 hours) means sides take longer to resolve if you stop.

Pricing Breakdown

Topical Finasteride: ~$50-60/month
Topical Dutasteride: ~$60-70/month
Custom Blends: $70-90/month depending on formula

More expensive than Keeps, cheaper than Happy Head. Mid-tier pricing for specialized formulations.

Who Should Choose Strut

Ideal Candidates:

Finasteride non-responders after 12-18 months of consistent use
Men with aggressive hair loss (Norwood 5-6) needing maximum DHT suppression
Those seeking dutasteride who can't find local providers
Users interested in topical dutasteride to minimize systemic exposure

Skip Strut If:

You haven't tried finasteride yet (start with the gold standard first)
You're responding well to standard treatments
You're risk-averse about using off-label medications

Strut vs. Happy Head

Both offer custom compounding. Happy Head focuses on high-concentration minoxidil with absorption enhancers. Strut focuses on dutasteride formulations. Choose Happy Head if you want stronger growth stimulus. Choose Strut if you want stronger DHT suppression.

Explore Strut's Custom Formulas

Free physician consultation. Access to dutasteride and custom topical blends not available on mainstream platforms.

Get Started with Strut

The Bottom Line

Strut Health is for men who've already tried the basics and need to escalate. If finasteride delivered results, stick with it—don't fix what isn't broken. But if you're 18 months in with minimal improvement, dutasteride's 95% DHT suppression offers a scientifically sound next step.

This isn't a first-line treatment. It's the second line—for men who need more firepower.