I'm 21 and still have my hair, although to my knowledge most men in my
family have bigger or smaller bald spots.  I want to know how
effective in hair growth are Hair Factors from Twinlab.  Are there any
side effects?  Can I use it to expect longer/thicker hair?

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Clarification of Question by insaner-ga on 27 Feb 2004 10:30 PST

I'm not losing hair yet.  I have heard that people with perfectly fine
hair use this product to induce hair growth.  I just want to know it
this really works to speed up hair growth and if it is safe to use. 
Obviously it will not prevent genetic predisposition to hair loss, but
that is not occuring yet.

This is a vitamin and mineral supplement. If your hair loss is due to
a vitamin or mineral deficiency (which is highly unlikely unless you
are malnourished), this product might help.

However, if (as is usually the case) your hair is thinning because of
male pattern baldness, vitamins and minerals won't stop the hair loss.

Based on my research and personal experience, the only two
non-surgical products clinically proven to stop hair loss resulting
from male-pattern baldness (an inherited condition in which excess
testosterone produces an overabundance of DHT [dihydro-testosterone]
which in turn causes genetically predisposed scalp follicles to
prematurely and interminably enter a telogenic, or "resting," phase)
are topical minoxidil solution (available OTC as "Rogaine") and
finasteride (available by prescription as Propecia or Proscar).  Both
have side effects and both have widely varying efficacy.  I know many
young men who use topical minoxidil starting in their 20's as a
preventative.  I would not place a lot of credence in herbs, vitamins,
or massage as non-surgical treatments for male pattern baldness.  If
you are really worried about it, talk to your doctor about 5% topical
minoxidil solution as a preventative.  Remember, though, that once you
begin a regimen of either minoxidil or finasteride, you must stay on
it for the rest of your life or the effects reverse themselves over
time and you lose all the hair you have retained with the drugs.  So,
you either keep taking the drugs, have surgery, wear a toupee, pray
for a genetic cure that turns off the DHT receptors in the follicles,
or just shave your head and go the Bruce Willis route.

This article might interest you:

http://www.hair-news.com/hair-grow-faster.shtml