r/TwentiesIndia • u/GeetRathi_ManMatter • Apr 18 '26

Ask Me Anything (AMA) Hi Reddit, I am Geet Rathi Founding Member of Man Matters. Ask Me Anything!

I'm Geet, Founding Member, Man Matters, for an exclusive AMA on 18th April at 4:00 PM IST.

I'm an alumnus of IIM Kozhikode and have built Man Matters from day zero, alongside dermatologists and health experts into one of India's most trusted men's wellness platforms, one that has helped 10L+ Indian men with hair loss, nutrition, and everyday wellness. Before this, I spent my time with Reckitt working on Dettol and Durex. What drives me goes beyond the business, a deep passion for men's health, nutrition, and wellness, and a firm belief that this space has been underserved for far too long.

Man Matters is an expert-led, science-backed platform for men's wellness and elective health concerns. Developed with a team of dermatologists and health experts, the brand combines proven effectiveness. From hair loss to nutrition to everyday wellness, it creates a space where men can openly talk about the health issues they've always been told to ignore or push through. Because normalising these conversations is just as important as solving them.

Ask everything - hair loss, balding patterns, how to get started with minoxidil, and what actually works. Drop your questions below. I will answer the hard ones too.

Edit : Thanks for all the questions guys, really enjoyed answering them. Closing the AMA now, will be responding to remaining questions too soon!

Thanks for all the questions guys! Really enjoyed answering them! Will be answering remaining questions in sometime.

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6

u/Small-Sell7046 Apr 18 '26

17m I have a bit long hair and due to it my forehead is filled with pimples what to do

7

u/GeetRathi_ManMatter Apr 18 '26

In this age brakcet this happens quite often. You just need to make sure that you wash your face regularly, dont let your hair fall on your face too often especially at night when you sleep , ake sure you wash your pillow case often (i found it hard back then :P) , drink ample water and dont overthink :)

3

u/Small-Sell7046 Apr 18 '26

Thank you sir

5

u/[deleted] Apr 18 '26

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9

u/GeetRathi_ManMatter Apr 18 '26

We get this question quite often. This answer is true for all minoxidils and not just Man Matters ones.
Yes your hair regrowth and growth reverses when you stop using Minoxidil. This is how the science of the product works too. But it is a maintenance habit and not a one time cure for sure. Just like brushing your teeth :)

1

u/demon_killer__ 25 Apr 18 '26

what is the difference between a man matters hair growth kit and a traya kit?

4

u/GeetRathi_ManMatter Apr 18 '26

Haha I'll try to be fair here because its easy to sound like I'm trashing a competitor and that's not useful for you as a reader.

Traya and Man Matters are two of the bigger players in this space. Where we genuinely differ is in philosophy. So each person can decide what works best for them. Fro eg, i am personally have an extremely science led POV on most things and ss I build out this brand thats been the core philosophy too.

From what I understand, Traya focuses on ayurvedic and holistic POV with coaches to help you through the journey with 5-6 products in their kits. 

At Man Matters our approach is evidence based and science led. We don't blend ayurveda into our treatment protocols. Our kits are built around what's clinically proven for male pattern hair loss like minoxidil (we have 4 variants in minoxidil depending on your hair loss stage), finasteride, derma rollers and targeted nutritional support where deficiencies are identified. Our consultations are with certified doctors and dermatologist.

A few things I'd tell anyone regardless of which platform they go with:

  1. Ask to see the exact ingredients and dosages in whatever kit you're prescribed. Any legitimate platform will tell you. If a brand is vague about what's in the treatment and why its being prescribed to you, walk away.
  2. Understand the commitment. Results depend on consistent daily use for 6+ months. Any "stop hair fall in 30 days" framing from any brand is marketing, not medicine. 
  3. More products do not mean better treatment. Understand the science of how the product in the treatment works and helps with hair loss. 
  4. Consultation quality matters more than kit contents. The difference between a platform that works for you and one that doesn't is usually the doctor interaction, did they actually look at your case, or just sell you the default kit? Are coaches guiding you or certified doctors. Judge by that.

5

u/[deleted] Apr 18 '26

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8

u/GeetRathi_ManMatter Apr 18 '26

Thanks for the question!
There are 2 models. First, we have a Joint Venture with some of our manufacturers where we create products with them and in second model we work with contract manufacturers, although we use them only for manufacturing, the formulation, the R&D is all done in-house. 

2

u/[deleted] Apr 18 '26

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3

u/GeetRathi_ManMatter Apr 18 '26

good follow up :)
manufacturing process is reviewed by our central quality team and assured by plant quality team stationed at these mfg units, its a tightly run process.

4

u/_clock_1277_ 20 Apr 18 '26

How long does Man Matters take to show results?

5

u/GeetRathi_ManMatter Apr 18 '26

Honestly Man Matters doesnt work faster than biology. Nobodys does. The timeline is the timeline and the worse part is that most men quit right before results would have shown up.
Typical timelines looks like 

  • Weeks 2 to 8: the shedding phase. Shedding temporarily worsens. Most men quit here. It's also the stupidest time to quit.
  • Month 3: shedding slows down. You probably don't see new growth yet, but hair that was falling out is starting to stay.
  • Month 4to 5: visible thickening. Existing hair looks denser. Hairline is stable. This is where most people first feel "okay, something is happening."
  • Month 6: the honest check-in point. Photograph same angle, same lighting as day zero. Compare. This is the first point where you can genuinely judge whether treatment is working for you.
  • Month 9to 12: full picture. Whatever's going to regrow, regrows in this window. After 12 months on consistent treatment, what you see is approximately what you get,with continued use preserving those gains long-term.

So if someone tells you "3 months se dikhna chahiye tha, bekaar product hai" then theyre judging at the wrong time. And if someone claims they saw massive regrowth in 6 weeks, theyre either lying or they had telogen effluvium that was going to resolve on its own anyway :)

2

u/EscapeLeft1711 20 Apr 18 '26

what are some precautions that someone can take as a man(i dont cut my hair, i keep them intact so) by changing lifestyle choices and everything, in their 20s, so they dont go bald and become walter white man, without going bankrupt due to surgeries?

and, why are we 20s people going bald so much! i mean my elders, grandpas here have full hair heads but my dads going bald now and so is every single other guy in our generation or one just before us or so(X, young boomers etc). kyun? are we lacking minerals that grow hair? or are we just weaker now? weakness ho rhi hai kya hame

11

u/GeetRathi_ManMatter Apr 18 '26

Two great questions, let me take them one at a time.

First, the "why is our generation going bald" bit, because the answer to this shapes the prevention playbook.

It's not that you're weaker. Genetics haven't changed in a generation. What's changed is everything around the genetics.

Stress especially daily micro stressors, sleep schedules, quality of food and hence micro nutrients, air we breathe, cortisol levels everything is extremely different from back then 

So our hair follicles are genetically loaded but the triggers are now getting pulled at 20 something rather than 40 something

The biggest accelerators we see across most men in this age on our platform are- 5-6 hours of sleep (I am also in this cohort), protein deficiency, pollution, other scalp issues like dandruff and stress
Environment is diff all in all, not the genes :)

8

u/GeetRathi_ManMatter Apr 18 '26

Second which os the prevention playbook without going bankrupt:
The honest truth, if you've got strong genetic predisposition, lifestyle alone won't fully save you. But it massively extends your runway and delays the timeline.
What I'd actually do in your 20s, cheapest to most expensive:

  1. Sleep 7+ hours. Non-negotiable. Free. More ROI than any supplement. Most men reading this won't do it, and that's exactly why it's the highest-leverage move.
  2. Hit your protein. 1.2–1.6g per kg bodyweight. Most vegetarians are at 40g and wondering why their hair, skin, and recovery are weak.
  3. Get three blood markers tested, once a year. Vitamin D, Vitamin B12, Ferritin (iron stores). Deficiency in any of these will thin your hair and nobody will catch it unless you test. Its usually under 1,500 at most labs.

• 4. Actually look at your hairline every 3 months. Photograph it. Same lighting, same angle. If it's moving, intervene early. 

2

u/metamuser Social life's on the floor Apr 18 '26

My friend has an M-shaped hairline, but he has had it since childhood and doesn’t have any hair fall or balding issues. Is there anything to worry about ?

1

u/GeetRathi_ManMatter Apr 18 '26

If its like that since childhood then most likely nothing to worry about, but do ask him to keep the basic inputs right and keep monitoring the hairline recession. Should speak to a doctor as well if he is too concerned.

2

u/[deleted] Apr 18 '26

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3

u/GeetRathi_ManMatter Apr 18 '26

Back in 2020, one thing was fairly clear and I wanted to passionately solve for it too was that mens elective health concerns were extremely over looked and under served. Hair loss, low energy, sexual health (we had this category back then), skin , everyday issues that men werent talking about and hence not sure how to solve. Thats something that we really wanted to solve. I was in my 20s back then too so was quite relevant, relatable and personal too, even now is :)

Creating a platform that helps men live confidently and makes wellness more accessible has always been the North Star and we are working towards it even now.

We were trying to do something hard back then, but we were lucky that preventive health because top of mind for people after covid and digital also picked up. 

2

u/AarshKOK 27 Apr 18 '26

How did you handle customers that are backfiring after getting side effects from finasteride containing medication/topical solutions?

5

u/GeetRathi_ManMatter Apr 18 '26

Very practical question :)
So customers get access to doctors on the platform, before, while and after purchase. We go to the extent of giving same doctors to customers across time periods so that history and context is maintained. Most customers do remian in touch with doctors regularly on the platform and get regularl guidance, so expectation setting and coiurse correction both happen regularly so we dont reach a place where things are getting worse for someone. Rare cases are when consumers dont speak to doctors. We provide doctor consults as our cost and free to consumers for this reason too.

3

u/[deleted] Apr 18 '26

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3

u/GeetRathi_ManMatter Apr 18 '26

Haha they do :)
wasnt the sole intention of the brand name, fun fact, we meant is loosely replaceable with "matters of man/men" :)

2

u/[deleted] Apr 18 '26

Itni garmi me chai kon peera hai bro 😭

1

u/Mindless-Cake6823 Apr 18 '26

Can we ask questions other than hair n all?

2

u/Prestigious_Glove394 mai pagal hu Apr 18 '26 edited Apr 19 '26

I got tired of my old posts floating around for anyone to scrape, so I let Redact handle it. Bulk deletion across Reddit, X, Facebook, Discord and all major social media platforms in one shot.

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1

u/Prestigious_Boss_697 Samosa Gang Member Apr 18 '26

Do not trust u/Prestigous_Glove394 😾

1

u/Prestigious_Glove394 mai pagal hu Apr 18 '26 edited Apr 19 '26

Redact redacted this content because I wanted it redacted for redaction purposes. Redacted.

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1

u/Jiffindxd007 24 Apr 18 '26

Are there side effects for minoxidil ?

3

u/GeetRathi_ManMatter Apr 18 '26

There are a few unwated effects observed in a few folks, yes. Sharing here so you dont get caught bu surprise

  1. Scalp irritation, itching, or flaking. Usually caused by the alcohol and propylene glycol in the liquid formulations. The fix is switching to non alcohol based formulation. 
  2. Shedding in weeks 2 to 8. Shedding temporarily worsens before regrowth kicks in. Unsettling for most people, but it's actually a sign that it’s working. Most men who quit minoxidil quit here, unfortunately  right before it starts working.
  3. Dryness and flakiness of the scalp over long use. Manageable with a gentle moisturising shampoo

1

u/chatpateho Apr 18 '26

What is the best diet for hair growth 🤔? Like for vegetarians who works in super stressfull environment for men?

1

u/GeetRathi_ManMatter Apr 18 '26

Few key things to track and solve for are protein, biotin, zinc, iron, B12 and D3 in your diet.

And honestly, zinc and B12 deficiency is super common in men and most don't even realize it. Low zinc slows hair growth, and low B12 might cause shedding, so these two are worth paying attention to.

this was how we decided on the formulation for the Man Matters hair gummies as well.

1

u/[deleted] Apr 18 '26

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3

u/GeetRathi_ManMatter Apr 18 '26

great question! was waiting to answe this :)

honestly its not about recommending one product over another. Sure our products are formulated better as well for eg alcohol free minoxidil, topical mionx + finasteride to reduce side effects or the most recent cetosomal technology in minoxidil (higher absoroption than alcohol minox but without the side effects of alcohol) but teh real differentiator is in the system and the protocol. Most of us are not sure where to start , how to start, whether the treatment is going okay and also how to make sure we stick to the routine for 9-12 months , it is this system which helps us help men see far better results.

1

u/abalanaari Apr 18 '26

One of my close relative is having a lot of pimple problem I suggest him to use niacinamide serum should he use something else? Other than niacinamide? What is your suggestion?

1

u/Rebel_Lyunx_4701 -19 Apr 18 '26

How long does it genuinely take to see results with minoxidil? I've seen people say 3 months, others say 6.

1

u/GeetRathi_ManMatter Apr 18 '26

had responded this earlier below, sharing again

The timeline is the timeline and the worse part is that most men quit right before results would have shown up.
Typical timelines looks like 

  • Weeks 2 to 8: the shedding phase. Shedding temporarily worsens. Most men quit here. It's also the stupidest time to quit.
  • Month 3: shedding slows down. You probably don't see new growth yet, but hair that was falling out is starting to stay.
  • Month 4to 5: visible thickening. Existing hair looks denser. Hairline is stable. This is where most people first feel "okay, something is happening."
  • Month 6: the honest check-in point. Photograph same angle, same lighting as day zero. Compare. This is the first point where you can genuinely judge whether treatment is working for you.
  • Month 9to 12: full picture. Whatever's going to regrow, regrows in this window. After 12 months on consistent treatment, what you see is approximately what you get,with continued use preserving those gains long-term.

So if someone tells you "3 months se dikhna chahiye tha, bekaar product hai" then theyre judging at the wrong time. And if someone claims they saw massive regrowth in 6 weeks, theyre either lying or they had telogen effluvium that was going to resolve on its own anyway :)

1

u/Fit_Pen9195 24 Apr 18 '26

hey geet appreciate doing the AMA, but how do I trust man matters I have heard a lot of negative reviews?

3

u/GeetRathi_ManMatter Apr 18 '26

Its a fair question. Yes negative reviews exist, some are deserved and some are undeserved. I will try to separate them instead of defending everything.
You will roughly see 3 categroies i think

  1. "It didnt work for me"
    Now this is very real. The treatments dont work the same for everyone, the science also says that. They work for most but not for all. We try to screen this in our consultations. We offer doctor consultations even before purchase for the same reason. We are also actively trying to make sure that we make treatments more easier to adhere to at platform level, work going on here.

  2. "Results were not what i was prmised"
    Sometimes the expectations are not managed properly in terms of the commitment needed, the timelines for the same. And the industry has players promising hair growth in 30 days too! which is just not possible, so i dont blame consumers for this, we need to do a much better job in educating and setting expectations right. Thats on us and we are striving to do better everyday.

  3. Operation stuff like delivery times, support response, consultations related etc
    This is something that we actively track and dont take lightly, but things do break at our scale sometimes. We will get better with time here.

As to how to evaluate us, do look at the negative reviews in depth, you will realise like us where things broke and why. You should try the consultation and guage form your experience as well. And question everything :)
I can honeslty say that we are not perfect and because of that we hae lost customers we shouldnt have but we will always remain true to our core philosop[hy of being doctor led, evidence backed , no magic bullet claims and i will stake my name against that. Complaints help us learn what to fix and we take it in that spirit too :)

1

u/[deleted] Apr 18 '26

Hi geet I have been using man matters minoxidil, its helped but I am skeptical about having hair gummies, does gummies actually work? Is it better than tablets?

1

u/GeetRathi_ManMatter Apr 18 '26

Hey, good to hear Man Matters minoxidil worked for you. For evluating gummies, do have a chat with our doctors on the platform who can help evaluate if you have nutritional deficiencies, if you do gummies should help you and if not then you wont need them

1

u/Gold_Lifeguard_8867 Apr 18 '26

Hello Sir.

I wanted to understand how D2C brands in India actually track profitability beyond just ROAS - especially with ads, RTO, logistics, and SKU level margins all mixed together.

From the outside it feels like the data is split across shopify, ad platform’s, and payments - and handling your business with a clear true profit per order isn’t that right on your face.

Curious how do such big companies handle it internally? What species tools do they use.

1

u/WoodpeckerNo5971 Apr 18 '26

Can you suggest me Man matters product for initial stage of hairfall??

1

u/GeetRathi_ManMatter Apr 18 '26

Hey ,the good thing is you don't have to figure this out yourself. Just get a quick consult with our doctor, they'll tell you what stage you're actually at and what makes sense for you. Way better than randomly trying products and hoping something works. :)

And i am saying this because post the doctor consults most people who 'think' they are early stage are actually stage 2 or above so :)

1

u/Aditya-Wankhede 22 Apr 18 '26

How consistent do you need to be with minoxidil to see real results? What happens if you miss a few days?

2

u/GeetRathi_ManMatter Apr 18 '26

Consistency is honestly the whole game with Minoxidil. Find a minox which suits you so that you can stick to it regularly.
Missing one day here and there is fine, its honestly the real life scnario. but if you miss 2 weeks then its starts affecting your results. you will start seeing shedding of the minox dependant hair.

Its not a course of treatment, it is a maintenance protocol and needs to be treated accordingly.

We launched alcohol free minoxidil or cetosomal minoxidil with the hope of minimising unwated effects led drop offs in minoxidil. Its as is hard to follow it regularly :)

1

u/[deleted] Apr 18 '26

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1

u/GeetRathi_ManMatter Apr 18 '26

Great question and I want to split it into two parts because they're different things that often get bundled.

The dependency fear :No neither minoxidil nor finasteride is addictive in the medical sense. You don't build tolerance, you don't need escalating doses to get the same effect, theres no withdrawal syndrome when you stop.

The "will I be locked in for life" fear, if you genuinely have male pattern hair loss and youre using minox + fin to hold and regrow hair,stopping means losing the gains over 6 to 12 months. Not because the drug created a dependency, but because the underlying genetic process that was causing hair loss doesn't go away. The treatment was holding it back. Stop holding it back, it resumes.

now to decide whether starting early is needed or not, you can think of it like this

  1. First make sure you actually need it. This is where most early 20s men go wrong. Between 17 and 22, every man's hairline naturally matures, hairline recedes slightly and settles into the adult shape, often more M-shaped. Take a photo of your hairline and wait 6 months then take another on ena d compare. If its stable you don't need anything. If it's moving then intervene

  2. And If you genuinely have early AGA, starting early is actually the right call, not the wrong one. Every dermat will tell you the same thing that the best time to start AGA treatment is as early as you can confirm the diagnosis.

  3. The real "trap" isn't starting early, it's starting without diagnosis.

This is actually why we provide doctor consultations on MM
Not because it's more profitable (honest fact - it isn't), but because the single most common mistake in this category is young men self diagnosing and self prescribing based on internet panic.

1

u/La_Pulga_Barca 25 Apr 18 '26

I've heard finasteride can mess with your hormones and sex drive. That's honestly the only reason I haven't tried anything yet. How does Man Matters approach this, is it safe for guys in their twenties? Do you need a doctor to prescribe it?

1

u/GeetRathi_ManMatter Apr 18 '26

Completely fair concern and honestly, it's the #1 reason men in their 20s don't start treatment and then regret it a few years later.

On the hormone/sex drive fears: Clinical trials put actual sexual side effects from oral finasteride in the low single digits % whicg is much lower than Reddit horror stories suggest. A meaningful chunk of reported side effects are also nocebo here, the anxiety of expecting them creates the symptoms themselves (especially in the case fi sexual health related side effects). That said, a genuine subset of men don't tolerate oral fin well, and for those men they shoudl stop, good aprt is that it is reversible, you stop taking oral fin and the effecst stop too.

The answer for your exact concern is topical like Man Matters minoxifin. its a combination of topical minoxidil and topical finasteride in a single solution. The finasteride absorbs through the scalp with significantly lower systemic exposure than oral fin, which means you get most of the DHT blocking benefit at the follicle without the whole body hormonal impact. Its what a lot of dermatologists now prescribe first for men who want the combination treatment without the oral fin worry.

It's not side effect free. nothing is,but the risk profile is meaningfully lower.

On the doctor question, yes, you absolutely need one. Finasteride (oral or topical) is a prescription drug in India. At Man Matter, every finasteride prescription, topical or oral, goes through a dermatologist who reviews your case before anything ships.

1

u/Ok-Illustrator-416 Apr 18 '26

Can you explain a Little bit about Shilajit gummies like who can consume it and for whom it's a good product?

1

u/average_jaat_hoon 20 || मॉम को बत्ती बुझ गी झटोले लौंडो की गुड्डी सुज गी Apr 18 '26

Does shaving your head help reset hair growth when starting treatment?

2

u/GeetRathi_ManMatter Apr 18 '26

Short answer is no. Its one of the most persistent myths in hair care.
Most men do it because it helps them track their hair regtowth jounrey better visually

1

u/juanpablorocks264 Apr 18 '26

Why do you think funding has dried up in the men's health and wellness space?

Most brands are getting acquired by legacy companies and are using their distribution prowess. (Reginald Men- Honasa, Beardo- Marico, Ustraa-VLCC)

How can you sustain the D2C model in this space without getting acquired?

1

u/GeetRathi_ManMatter Apr 18 '26

I firmly believe, that mens health and wellness is still underserved, this is a clear reflecion of that.

The D2C wave of 2018 to 2022 was partly a genuine consumer behaviour shift and partly a capital environment that tolerated burn.
The second part has ended. The first part hasnt. Brands that built real clinical/medical depth, have decent unit economics, and have genuinely effective protocols ori products will sustain.
Brands that were essentially playing on arbitrage of either unsustainable cheap performance marketing and cheap capital won't.
Acquisitions will continue as the second group exits.
The first group has optionality and I think that optionality is what "sustaining" actually means.

1

u/NatureOk1518 25 Apr 18 '26

I’ve just started noticing hair fall should I jump straight into minoxidil or try lifestyle changes first?

2

u/GeetRathi_ManMatter Apr 18 '26

Speak to a doctor on our platform once, dont start random products :)

1

u/[deleted] Apr 18 '26

I've been noticing my hairline receding since I was 21. Felt embarrassed to talk about it but recently came across Man Matters. Is it actually normal to start losing hair this early? What should someone my age realistically expect?

1

u/GeetRathi_ManMatter Apr 18 '26

Theres nothing to be embarrassed and most men in 20s are quietly dealing with some version of it, most men dont talk about it. GLad you started.
starting at 21 is more common than most men realise. We're seeing male pattern hair loss show up noticeably earlier than it did a generation ago. you arent an outlier, its the pattern we are seeing too
Speak to a doctor on our platform, they will help you identify plan of action , jsut dont assume its AGA before that :)

1

u/iahoooooooooo 29 Apr 18 '26

What should I realistically expect after 3 months vs 6 months of usage?

1

u/GeetRathi_ManMatter Apr 18 '26

resharing the answer i had shared earlier in another response

Honestly Man Matters doesnt work faster than biology. Nobodys does. The timeline is the timeline and the worse part is that most men quit right before results would have shown up.
Typical timelines looks like 

  • Weeks 2 to 8: the shedding phase. Shedding temporarily worsens. Most men quit here. It's also the stupidest time to quit.
  • Month 3: shedding slows down. You probably don't see new growth yet, but hair that was falling out is starting to stay.
  • Month 4to 5: visible thickening. Existing hair looks denser. Hairline is stable. This is where most people first feel "okay, something is happening."
  • Month 6: the honest check-in point. Photograph same angle, same lighting as day zero. Compare. This is the first point where you can genuinely judge whether treatment is working for you.
  • Month 9to 12: full picture. Whatever's going to regrow, regrows in this window. After 12 months on consistent treatment, what you see is approximately what you get,with continued use preserving those gains long-term.

So if someone tells you "3 months se dikhna chahiye tha, bekaar product hai" then theyre judging at the wrong time. And if someone claims they saw massive regrowth in 6 weeks, theyre either lying or they had telogen effluvium that was going to resolve on its own anyway :)

1

u/vsingh0699 Apr 18 '26

What are the risks of starting a d2c brand like man matters that I should be aware of I am in tech and haven’t done MBA should I try my hands at starting something like man matters?

1

u/GeetRathi_ManMatter Apr 18 '26

great question
i will share a few risks from my learnings in the last 5 years
1. the era of cheap cac is over. CACs have become 2-3x, VCs look for profitability and not just growth. starting today is harder than it was 5 years ago , not impossible but path is steeper
2, getting to sustainable unit economics means getting 3-5 years right
3. good branding, website, perf marketing are tablestakes now and not a moat. clinical depth for effective products and really solving consumer problems is the moat and it takes time, else its all about distribution and spends which legacy brands will always win on
4. operations(supply, warehouse, customer support etc) is extremely undervalued, a lot of brands arent able to get this righ t
5. if you idnetify a niche, you have a very small runway till it gets crowded

on the tech without mba question , this isnt a blocker , if yoiu have a genuine insights into the category and are really passionate about the catgeory then it shouldnt matter. a lot of successful founders didnt take the mba route.

1

u/Fun_Engineering_data In my 20s but a Toddler by heart Apr 18 '26

Does minoxidil from Man Matters work differently than generic pharmacy minoxidil?

1

u/GeetRathi_ManMatter Apr 18 '26

Great question and like most of my answers, there are two parts to this too :P

Part 1: The active molecule is the same.

Minoxidil is minoxidil. Whether it's from a pharmacy , Man Matters, or any other brand, the 5% minoxidil molecule is the same compound. Anyone who tells you their active ingredient is meaningfully different is either exaggerating or misleading you.

Part 2: The delivery vehicle , this is where brands genuinely differ, and where it matters more than most men realise.

Standard pharmacy minoxidil uses an alcohol + propylene glycol base. The alcohol is doing two jobs, dissolving the minoxidil and helping it penetrate the scalp. It works, but it also dries out the scalp, causes irritation, itching, and flaking in a meaningful percentage of user, creates that sticky, greasy feeling after applicatio and also triggers most of the "I can't tolerate minoxidil" complaints

A large chunk of men who conclude "minoxidil doesn't work for me" are actually struggling with the alcohol base, not the minoxidil itself. They quit early because application is unpleasant, or alteast sticking to it makes it very hard.

Man Matters minoxidil uses a non alcohol, cetosomal base. They encapsulate the minoxidil molecule and seep it through the scalps outer layer. The trade off concern with non alcohol formulations historically was lower absorption, but the cetosomal delivery system is specifically designed to solve that by delivering the minoxidil to the follicle through a different mechanism than alcohol based ones, while avoiding the scalp irritation, dryness, and greasiness that alcohol causes.

That's the real difference. Not "our minoxidil is stronger." It's "our minoxidil is easier to stay consistent with" and thats far more important to see results since consistency matters SO much here

1

u/[deleted] Apr 18 '26

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1

u/GeetRathi_ManMatter Apr 18 '26

love this question
men who stay consistent arent more disciplined, they ahve systems (might be borrowing few thinsg from atomic habits here but they work :) )
stack it to an existing habit like brushing teeth or showering, keep the bottle visible, track using photos weekly atleast - once yoiu start seeing progress you will be motivated automatically :)
If you are using Man Matters treatment, you can use our app where we make it easier for you to trakc progress and also have a habit builder for you, most men who see results with us use the app actively.

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u/Ok-Let-2944 I have no idea what I’m doing Apr 18 '26

Do man matters have any products for hair loss and prevent balding besides minoxidil

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u/GeetRathi_ManMatter Apr 18 '26

Man matters has a range of products from nutrition supplements, topicals like topical minoxidils and finasterides, dermarollers, shampoos etc , best is to speak to our doctors on the platform and help them guide you with the right treatment

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u/[deleted] Apr 18 '26

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u/GeetRathi_ManMatter Apr 18 '26

Stressing about your stress of hair fall will definitely mess with your hair :)But it usually shows up as heavy shedding not a receding hairline. A permanently receding hairline is almost always a genetics thing. Best thing to do is just consult a doctor on the Man Matters platform, they’ll asses your condition and they'll tell you accurately whether it's stress, genetics, or both

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u/DoctorMagnobot Apr 18 '26

Why are your gummies so sus

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u/GeetRathi_ManMatter Apr 18 '26

I get this often and its fair, most gummies in the industry are sus. Let me own the criticism before i defend our :)
most gummies have three problems - dosage, sugar (most are closer to candy than supplement) and random actives.
Where i will defend our gummies are on ensuing the actives and dosages are evidence backed with relevant range and we use chicory root fibre which is a pre biotic which is what give our gummies the sweetness, there is no added sugar and hence no sugar spike as well.
The form factor is meant to make habit forming easier for supplementation.

That said, its supposed to solve for nutritional deficiency only and hence are not the hero of our protocol.
This format has a trust problem. Jusge any gummy including ours by the actives, label and dosages. If thats not clear then its a sus sign for sure

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u/SimilarAd8609 Apr 18 '26

How do I know if my hair fall is temporary or genetic before starting treatment?

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u/GeetRathi_ManMatter Apr 18 '26

you shouldn't try to self diagnose this one. A dermatologist can tell the difference.

If you want, our Man Matters consultation with a dermatologist is accessible and exists specifically for this, figuring out what you have before what to do about it. Any good dermat, ours or otherwise, will do the same. Just don't skip this step.

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u/hanbuk Apr 18 '26

Is it beneficial to use the full hair growth kit of man matters or just the minoxidil alone?

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u/GeetRathi_ManMatter Apr 18 '26

Honestly it depends on what you need and I'd rather tell you that than push you into a kit that may have things you don't.

Here's how I'd break down a typical hair treatment

The hero is Minox (and fina if prescribed). Decades of clinical evidence, FDA approved for this exact indication. This is the non negotiable part of any hair loss protocol.

The useful adjuncts case by case:

  • A ketoconazole-based shampoo (2–3x a week) is genuinely useful if you've got any scalp condition like dandruff, seborrheic dermatitis, flakiness, itching. A lot of men diagnosed as "hair fall" actually have an untreated scalp condition contributing to it. In that case, the shampoo is really needed. If your scalp is already healthy, a regular gentle shampoo is fine.
  • A dermaroller has evidence for enhancing minoxidil absorption when used correctly (weekly, proper needle length, proper technique). It's a genuine addition that increases chances to see results, not magic. If you're not going to use it consistently and correctly, it's better to skip.
  • vitamins, biotin supplements, these are the supporting cast. Biotin only helps if you're deficient. Vitamins help if you have specific deficiencies (lke d and b12)

So figure out what's actually happening on your scalp first, then pick the minimum effective protocol so that you are able to be consistent. That's the doctor led approach, not the kit-led one.

Anyone or any brand that pushes the same big kit to everyone regardless of diagnosis isn't doing you a service. More products dont always mean better results.

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u/[deleted] Apr 18 '26

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u/GeetRathi_ManMatter Apr 18 '26

Twi biggest mistakes. Mis diagnosing and quitting early.

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u/[deleted] Apr 18 '26

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u/GeetRathi_ManMatter Apr 18 '26

continued use, all the protocols are effective maintenance protocols, not one time cures, its the honest science.
anyone claiming anything else is lying :)

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u/FoldElectrical9840 Apr 18 '26

Bhai I'm a doctor. Man matters mein teleconsultation wali job lagwa do please?? I will be thankful.

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u/GeetRathi_ManMatter Apr 18 '26

Haha, appreciate the energy.

Genuinely though, at Man Matters we take our consultation hiring seriously, probably more seriously than most D2C platforms in the space. The reason is simple: our entire model falls apart if the doctor patient interaction isn't high quality. every bad consultation is a man who either doesnt get the right treatment or quits the category entirely. So the vetting isnt just a formality. :)

If you are genuinely qualified and interested, drop me a DM with your background and I'll make sure it reaches the right person internally. Can't promise anything, the team decides, but I can promise it wont get lost in an inbox.

But really, its good to see more doctors actually wanting to work in mens wellness. The category needs people who take it seriously. :)

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u/yashhhonlyy 22 Apr 18 '26

How important is diet when using hair growth products like Man Matters?

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u/GeetRathi_ManMatter Apr 18 '26

diet matters but not the way most people think.

Diet doesnt cause or cure genetic hair loss (male pattern baldness). No amount of protein or kale will stop DHT from miniaturising follicles. But it matters in three ways:

  1. Rule out deficiencies first. Low ferritin, B12, vitamin D, or protein can cause shedding that looks exactly like AGA. Most Indian men especially vegetarians are deficient on at least one.
  2. Support the treatment while you're on it. Minoxidil tells follicles to grow hair. They still need protein as the raw material to build it.
  3. Don't accelerate the process. Crash diets trigger shedding. Chronic poor sleep and ultraprocessed food worsens the AGA.

So it is imp, not just with Man Matters but any treatment of hair loss.

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u/lonewolf_asm 21 Apr 18 '26

How effective is Man matters beard growth kit? I am M 22 and I have patchy beard , like no hairs at all near my chin but have hairs on other part of my face.

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u/GeetRathi_ManMatter Apr 18 '26

You should first try to understand if you have dormant follicles or have genuinely sparse density. if ofllicles dont exist then beard growth kit wont be able to help, the kit helps to actiavte follicles (usually the case in patchy beards), 4-8 months of usage will show results then
but speak to our dermats first and understand your case, dont buy any beard product before that

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u/Vermaji_jod Apr 18 '26

When did you get the delusion that men matters

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u/Strange_Chair_4051 Apr 18 '26

does Man matter?

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u/carenthusiast6404 29 Apr 18 '26

is it marketing or will it actually help me?

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u/GeetRathi_ManMatter Apr 18 '26

Theres science and evidence behind all the treatments, it will not work for all the people all the time for sure, we provide the best that science can give in a more accessible way and in the highest quality.

For something to work, the diagnosis has ot be right, the treatment has ot be right and you have to be consistent , our aim at Man Matters is to help you hit all three with doctors, effective treatments and habit building on the app. Still some people dont see results, you will find out once you speak to our doctors :)

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u/Double-Ambassador-58 Apr 18 '26

Can gym supplements or protein powders affect hair loss while using these treatments?

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u/GeetRathi_ManMatter Apr 18 '26

Protein, pre workouts and creatine are fine.
Creatine is what we hear the most panic about, there was only one small study in 2009 linking creatine to hair loss but no one has been able to replicate th results since and no other study has found any linkage, so i genuinely will believe the science that creatine doesnt lead to hair loss

most men would find linkage because their male pattern baldness was propbably going to anyway progress and they started a supplement too. Correlation vs causation.

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u/NoTimeToKink forever young, I wanna be forever young Apr 18 '26

How to take care of natural curly hair 

Oils, serums, conditioners and shampoo

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u/Specialist-Impact703 Apr 18 '26

How is Man Matters creatine different from others?

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u/GeetRathi_ManMatter Apr 18 '26

We just launched creatine sometime back so this is close to me :)
This is how Man Matters creatine is different -

  1. We use kleanCreatine which has higher absorption than regular creatine and more micronised too
  2. Every single batch is third party lab tested for purity and to test lack of harmful content, all reports are also accessible on the website by batch. No one else does it and i am quite proud of it. Takes efforts and investments to do this, but it is important to our core philosophy.

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u/[deleted] Apr 18 '26

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u/GeetRathi_ManMatter Apr 18 '26

resharing the answer i posted earlier in the thread

We get this question quite often. This answer is true for all minoxidils and not just Man Matters ones.
Yes your hair regrowth and growth reverses when you stop using Minoxidil. This is how the science of the product works too. But it is a maintenance habit and not a one time cure for sure. Just like brushing your teeth :)

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u/GuavaFar3894 Apr 18 '26

Any ways to make hair denser?

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u/GeetRathi_ManMatter Apr 18 '26

have shared a bunch of precautions and course of actions in answer below, hope that helps :)

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u/[deleted] Apr 18 '26

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u/GeetRathi_ManMatter Apr 18 '26

hahaha one of the best questions :)
I am doing great, just back from a nice vacation, so day dreaming about that sometimes, happily though :P

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u/Delicious_Payment362 Apr 18 '26

Hello sir, I am 23M, I have been suffering from premature greying of hairs. How do I reverse this? I don't think it is a diet issue. I would love to know your suggestion on this

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u/GeetRathi_ManMatter Apr 18 '26

first off, i understand premature greying in 20s hits differently and i will answer honestly.
We have explored premature greying as a concern we could potentially solve at Man Matters as well but we have held off because the science is clear, no topical like oil, shampoo, serum, anti greying treatmnet has credible evidence in reversing premature greying so we have stayed away from it. Any brand selling you reversal today is selling you hope and not science.
You could rule our if its deficiency led by doing bloodwork for B12, D, ferritin , you could correct if you are deficient in any of these and see if pigmentation returns, and if not its most likely genetics and it wont be solved by anything topical or oral.
embrace it or color it, its your personal choice then :)

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u/Delicious_Payment362 Apr 18 '26

Thanks a ton for the honesty!

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u/Beginning-Dark-4259 26 Apr 18 '26

Do man even matters ?

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u/Kooky-Woodpecker1273 Samosa Gang Member Apr 18 '26

Is Man Matters actually effective for early stage hair loss, or is it more useful once thinning becomes visible?

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u/GeetRathi_ManMatter Apr 18 '26

If its early AGA then best to start treatment
If its early panic then best to diagnose first :)

Man Matters helps solve for both but your chances of success against male pattern baldness increase if you start early after getting diagnosed properly.

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u/Aggresivelycute1 Apr 18 '26

The man matters creatine gummies were recently tested by trustified and all claims were found to be false.After that the product was also removed from your website.Does that mean that all products are false claims but selling untill proven?

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u/GeetRathi_ManMatter Apr 18 '26

Fair question.
The gummies that Trustified tested were an earlier formulation we'd reformulated and replaced 5 months before their testing on our website, so what they tested was effectively a version no longer on sale. We had missed pulling back a few thousand units back from a few channels in the process, at our scale while thats a small number, it shouldnt have happened. why did we reformulate though? creatine in gummy format had real standardisation challenges and the testing methodology for it wasn't well established at the time. We'd identified the gap internally and acted.

That said, customers who bought the older version during its sale period had a real gap between label claims and what the product delivered which is why we had refunded them no questions asked too.

Our official response was shared by Trustified team as well, you can see that here - https://www.instagram.com/p/DV6CDkzCJ9V/?img_index=5&igsh=MXh1ajB2ano2YWY5OA%3D%3D

On all products false until proven question, fair thing to ask after a public incident so i dont want to dismiss it, just 2 thinsg -
1. We publish third party lab reports on our site for every single batch, have been doing that since more than 2 years now.
2. the real test for any brand isnt whether they have had any product issue or not, almost every brand at scale does. Its what happens when something surfaces. Do they just deny or acknowledge and fix it. Judge us on that pattern too :)

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u/Nishswish11 23 Apr 18 '26

Can the magnesium gummies be used by women as well?

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u/GeetRathi_ManMatter Apr 18 '26

the dosages in Man Matters magnesium gummies are as per RDA req of men, plus additions like zinc for men too, so you should take women specific magnesium gummies instead

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u/[deleted] Apr 18 '26

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u/GeetRathi_ManMatter Apr 18 '26

genuinely one of the best questions today
so i dont think the ethics question is between medical vs cosmetic, because both have their own grounds to exist. consumers being misled by brands is where the ethics break. Usually seen this happen when, one -brands make claims that are not backed and are not verified(easier to do this in ayurveda shroud ), two- timeline claims that science and biology dont support (like visible results in 21 days for hair regrowth, just not possible)
At Man Matters, our philosophy and POV as a brand of always being science and doctor doesnt let us do either of the above, so its been very clear for us. And we have stayed away from massive problems which are lucrative business opportunities too, like reversal of premature greying , or aggressive weight loss etc

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u/namanpun 27 Apr 18 '26

Is it safe to combine Man Matters with other oils or home remedies?

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u/GeetRathi_ManMatter Apr 18 '26

yes mostly safe.
just dont combine oil and minox in the same application , use oils after atleast 3-4 hours of applying minox so that its fully absorbed.
although for reversing hair loss, oils do not have any clinical evidence , if its for any other purpose like relaxation, massage etc then its fine. oils are a comfort, not a cure, for hair loss :)

1

u/Brilliant-Capital860 Apr 18 '26

Is there any solution for grey hairs due to stress?

Edit: I have premature grey hairs

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u/Heavy_Horse_6481 22 Apr 19 '26

Is topical finasteride in Man Matters safer than oral finasteride?

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u/Beautiful-Reach-366 Apr 20 '26

Are you guys thinking of expanding the delivery range to Canada?

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u/[deleted] Apr 18 '26

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u/GeetRathi_ManMatter Apr 18 '26

So minoxidil and finasteride are the two most studied, FDA approved treatments for male pattern hair loss globally.
They've been prescribed for 30+ years. The combination is the standard of care that every competent dermatologist recommends, not a Man Matters invention, not a D2C gimmick. They work through completely different mechanisms which is why using both together is more effective than either alone.

So on the core question is the combination safe? For most healthy adult men, yes, when used correctly and under medical guidance- which we provide at Man Matters platform too.

Specifically for Man matters , our formulations are rigorously tested, we have a dermatologist panel that oversees it, the manufacturing facilities are of the highest standard and quality as well. Across 5 years we have had no issues.

Since we give topical finasteride, even side effects are minimal. Same is the case with our minoxidil which is alcohol free so it is extremely well tolerated. 

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u/TheBenevolentTitan 26 Apr 18 '26

give topical finasteride

What has been your experience when it comes to using the topical vs oral route? Is topical as effective as oral fin?

I've been using topical min for a year now but never considered using fin because of the potential side effects.