Happy Head is a telemedicine provider of dermatologist-prescribed customized hair medicine and treatments. Pulse 2.0 interviewed Happy Head co-founder Dr. Ben Behnam to learn more.
Dr. Ben Behnam Background
Dr. Ben Behnam with co-founder and twin brother Dr. Sean Behnam
Dr. Behnam is a board-certified dermatologist with over 20 years of experience in the industry. Dr. Behnam said: “I’ve worked with dermatology and hair restoration specialists since 2008. I co-founded Happy Head in early 2020 alongside my brother Dr. Sean Behnam to provide patients custom topical finasteride solutions for hair loss.”
Formation Of Happy Head
Q: How did the idea for Happy Head come together?
Dr. Ben Behnam: “The process of getting proper treatment was always complex. The best hair loss treatments are prescription-only, which means you need to find a doctor who understands the subject and signs off on the prescription. You next have a visit with that doctor, get your diagnosis, wait for your prescription to be filled, and then go get your medicine.
We saw an opportunity for Happy Head based on a model that no one else was really using at the time — online prescription hair growth medications formulated by dermatologists and shipped to your door. Here’s how it works: People take our quick online questionnaire and send in pictures of their hair loss. Then they’re assigned to a board-certified dermatologist, licensed in their state. They consult with their Happy Head physician before starting the prescription-strength topical or oral medications. Their physician will determine if they’re eligible for Happy Head based on their medical history, the current degree of hair loss, age, sex, allergies, etc. After review, patients get diagnosed and given a personalized prescription hair growth solution. We then formulate their customized topical treatments and oral medications for hair loss. So our business model makes hair loss treatment much more accessible to the average person. Plus, you don’t need to make an appointment or head to a pharmacy. We’ve treated many patients, men and women, and given them an easy way to overcome their fear of seeking treatment and the taboo around hair loss.”
Challenges Faced
Q: What challenges have you faced in building the company? Dr. Behnam acknowledged:
Dr. Ben Behnam: “The biggest challenge has probably been a lack of awareness around topical finasteride and minoxidil treatments. There’s a learning curve and also a lack of awareness around ingredients like spironolactone, which is more commonly used to treat female pattern hair loss. Oral treatments are more commonly known and accepted, but topical treatments? Not so much. Topical application of hair growth products reduces the chance of potential sexual side effects. Still, our results speak for themselves, and awareness is certainly growing.”
Core Products
Q: What are Happy Head’s core products and features? Dr. Behnam explained:
Dr. Ben Behnam: “Happy Head provides one-of-a-kind solutions such as our 3-in-1 SuperCapsule™and custom topicals for men and women. Our proprietary formula is a combination of finasteride and minoxidil, which are well-known drugs that help to treat hair loss and thinning. The combination of the most powerful ingredients than you’ll find anywhere else, make our medications more effective. Our SuperCapsule™, which combines finasteride, dutasteride, or spironolactone, with minoxidil and essential vitamin D3, to help improve hair growth and health. We also recommend combining our oral and topical solutions for maximum effectiveness.”
Evolution Of Happy Head
Q: How has Happy Head evolved since launching?
Dr. Ben Behnam: “Our company is relatively new, so things are always changing from the upgrades we make to our site and over all customers experience and to packaging updates, social engagement, and the creation of our education content. We’ve also increased our efforts in creating innovative hair loss solutions for women. I would also say that our company has evolved concerning holistic health and the need to take different medical factors into account beyond just a basic prescription for a topical medication. Nevertheless, we’re always on top of the latest studies, the newest and most innovative ingredients, and tools to help promote hair growth for our customers.”
Significant Milestones
Q: What have been some of Happy Head’s most significant milestones? Dr. Behnam cited:
Dr. Ben Behnam: “Early this year, we launched our SuperCapsules, which are the first and only daily hair growth capsules incorporating finasteride, minoxidil, and vitamin D3 together in one medication. The idea was to bring the strongest FDA-approved medications and an essential vitamin for hair loss into one capsule. We have options for both men and women.”
Customer Success Stories
Q: Upon asking Dr. Behnam about customer success stories, he replied:
Dr. Ben Behnam: “You can find many of these on our website and our social media channels, complete with photos and videos. We do have several patients who send us monthly updates of their hair growth success, and really love their results. For women, we’re seeing a shift in our patient base as more women learn about our topical and oral solutions for thinning and hair loss.”
Lynn (Happy Head Customer): “I’ve shared my hair story with many people, and those closest to me have witnessed the results firsthand, and they were all very impressed. With all the verbiage in today’s marketing, it’s sometimes difficult to vet genuine products, but Happy Head is the real deal.”
Total Addressable Market
Q: What total addressable market (TAM) size is Happy Head pursuing? Dr. Behnam assessed:
Dr. Ben Behnam: “Hair loss affects both men and women, leading to personal, social, and work-related stressors. 85% of men lose a significant amount of hair by age 50, while 50% of women experience hair loss and thinning by age 50 (AHLA, AAD). The global TAM for hair loss products is $25 billion today and expected to grow to $32B by 2028. Additionally, the demand for telemedicine has grown 38X since pre-pandemic, with 35%+ of Americans receiving telemedicine treatments in 2021. At Happy Head, our goal is to bring hair growth solutions to anyone who needs it across the United States.”
Differentiation From The Competition
Q: What differentiates Happy Head from its competition? Dr. Behnam affirmed:
Dr. Ben Behnam: “The introduction of a topical treatment for hair loss is a significant differentiator. One of the typical concerns for individuals struggling with hair loss is that oral finasteride and minoxidil can have sexual side effects. Patients have a lot of concerns, understandably, and sometimes the cost may be higher than the benefits. But topical finasteride is different. It does have fewer side effects because it’s not going through the digestive system, but instead being absorbed through the skin at the site where hair loss occurs.”
Future Company Goals
Q: What are some of Happy Head’s future company goals? Dr. Behnam pointed out:
Dr. Ben Behnam: “We want to continue to grow awareness of female hair loss and the treatments for it. We also want to grow this understanding and trend towards a more holistic approach to health, and I think one of the most obvious examples is the fact we include vitamin D in our oral medications. Hair loss is rarely due to only one thing. There are a lot of factors, and we need to address as many as possible. As the research and understanding of hair loss and treatments grows, so will our base of products and services. We also want to help people feel more comfortable in admitting and treating female hair loss. It is a common condition and a treatable one.”
Additional Thoughts
Q: Any other topics you would like to discuss? Dr. Behnam concluded:
Dr. Ben Behnam: “I think it’s worthwhile to discuss the fact that new treatments are constantly arising for hair loss. In particular, we’re seeing a lot more women’s solutions as the conversation around it is more transparent. Spironolactone, for example, is a new drug that is showing more success in treating female than male hair loss. I would encourage people to continue to be open-minded about new treatments while pursuing the journey toward an answer to hair loss. Some treatments may be more effective for one person than for another, and it’s important that everyone has options they can rely on. At Happy Head, we provide personalized treatment plans and custom medications all with dermatologist guidance.”
