Here's why this page exists: a grade means nothing if you don't know how it was assigned. So here's exactly how we do it — no black box.
The A–D evidence tiers
Every intervention on this site carries one of four grades. It reflects the strength of the evidence, not how popular, expensive, or heavily-marketed the treatment is.
| Tier | What it means | Example type |
|---|---|---|
| A | FDA-approved and/or backed by strong, replicated randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and meta-analyses. | Topical minoxidil, oral finasteride |
| B | Solid RCT evidence, but fewer/smaller trials, off-label use, or shorter follow-up. | Low-dose oral minoxidil, PRP, LLLT |
| C | Preliminary: small, single-site, or short human studies. Promising but unproven. | Certain botanical extracts with human data |
| D | Mechanistic, in-vitro, animal, or observational only — a plausible idea without human hair-loss proof. | Most "DHT-blocking" supplements |
A grade can change. When new trial data lands, the tier moves — and the "Last updated" date tells you when we last looked.
Where our facts come from
We prioritize, in this order:
- Systematic reviews and meta-analyses (the top of the evidence pyramid).
- Randomized controlled trials, especially larger and replicated ones.
- ClinicalTrials.gov registrations for anything experimental or in the pipeline.
- Peer-reviewed observational and mechanistic studies, clearly labeled as lower-tier.
We link primary sources directly. If a claim only traces back to a press release, a forum, or a manufacturer, we say so and grade accordingly. Marketing is not evidence.
What we are — and the limits of that
RunawayHair is written by Drasko, who brings 20+ years of professional analytical rigor and first-hand experience living with androgenetic alopecia. He is not a medical professional, and nothing here is a substitute for a qualified clinician. This is an evidence-aggregation and lived-experience resource — we read the research and show our work; we do not diagnose or prescribe. See the full medical disclaimer.
A named medical reviewer is not yet part of our process. When one is added, we'll disclose their name, credential, and the date of review on each reviewed page. We'd rather tell you it's missing than imply a credential we don't have.
First-hand experience, labeled as such
Some pages include a "my experience" section — Drasko's own regimen, photos, and results. This is genuine lived experience (a real E-E-A-T signal), but it's an anecdote of one, always labeled, and never presented as evidence that something works for you. One person's result is a story, not a study.
Conflict-of-interest & commercial disclosure
- If a page contains an affiliate or sponsored link, it's clearly labeled at the point of the link.
- Commercial relationships never change a treatment's evidence grade. The tier is set by the studies, full stop.
- We don't take payment to review, rank, or promote any specific product or clinic.
Freshness & corrections
- Every page shows a visible "Last updated" date. Pipeline/experimental pages are reviewed on a rolling basis as trials report.
- Found an error? Tell us via the contact page. We fix mistakes publicly and note material corrections at the bottom of the affected page.
That's the standard. If we ever fall short of it, hold us to it.