Reduce the appearance of thinning
Density and growth are cosmetic claims an ingredient list cannot settle.
- Ascorbic Acid
- Acetyl Tetrapeptide-3
- Trifolium Pratense Flower Extract
Stated by brand
Not something a label can show.
KilgourMD
The Prevention Scalp Serum
Scalp treatment
- Scalp treatment
- serum
- Sulfate-free
- Silicone-free
Where to buyBrand website
Add it to your products. We’ll tell you if it’s ever recalled.
Scent:
No added fragrance, no scenting essential oils, and no declared fragrance allergens on the list.
Manufacturer page: kilgourmd.com
Personal fit
Is this right for you?
Complete the consultation to see how well this product fits your hair and your goals. With 6,000+ products in our library, we can match you to the right ones.
- About 20 minutes, and your answers save as you go.
- Every product matched against your hair across the 20 factors we check.
- A personalized routine built around your schedule, styling habits, and local weather.
- Find products that do the same job at a lower cost.
- Your goals, scalp, damage history, water, budget, and scent preferences all shape your plan.
$49 with 60 days of follow-up questions and plan updates
$99 with 12 months. Pay once; the year renews only if you choose.
Factor
Your profile
Fit
Best for hair types
All types
Not in your profile
Moisture level
High
Not in your profile
Slip / detangling
Little
Not in your profile
Weight on hair
Light
Not in your profile
Fragrance
None listed
Not in your profile
Protein
Minor
Not in your profile
Silicone / wax buildup
None
Not in your profile
Clarifying wash needed
Moderate
Not in your profile
Scent
Unscented
Not in your profile
Parabens / preservatives
None of these listed
Not in your profile
Show all 20 factors we check
The rest of what your plan weighs on this product.
Essential oils
None listed
Not in your profile
Fast-drying alcohol
Moderate
Not in your profile
Vegan / cruelty-free
Not yet verified
Not in your profile
Animal-derived ingredients
Not yet verified
Not in your profile
Heavy humectants
Heavy
Not in your profile
Hard-water defence
High
Not in your profile
UV filter
None listed
Not in your profile
Ingredient list
36 ingredientsA long list
Not in your profile
Price tier
Prestige
Not in your profile
Where to buy it
Brand websiteOne channel
Not in your profile
The consultation builds your hair profile, checks every factor in this table against it, and tells you where this product fits or what to use instead.
Start your consultation$49 once, with 60 days of follow-up questions and plan updates. Nothing renews, and you never have to buy a product.
Your avoid-list
Not enough priced scalp treatments to place it
We have not priced enough scalp treatments to place this one.
Great for
Flaking scalpsit has an over-the-counter active
no fragrance (parfum) on the label
free of strong smells
Dry, thirsty hairhumectants and emollients both sit up front
Fine hairthat flattens under most products
Silicone-free routinesno silicones appear in the list
Maybe skip if
Very dry or damaged hairit contains fast-drying alcohol
Dry or very humid airwhere heavy humectants work against you
Non-medicated routinesthis is an over-the-counter drug as well as a cosmetic
Tight budgetsit sits in the upper price tiers
If scent matters to younothing is added here
Picking it up locallywe’ve only seen it sold in one channel
What the formula actually does
Read from the label, not the marketing
Each row says where it comes from: F means we derived it from this product’s own ingredient list, S means it is a claim the brand makes that the formula neither confirms nor contradicts.
Slip and detangling
Little
Nothing here is built to reduce combing force.
Oils and butters
None
No oils or butters in the list.
Weight on the hair
Light
Water-first and light: unlikely to flatten fine hair.
Water-binding (humectants)
High
Humectants near the top: binding water is one of its main jobs.
Protein
Minor
Protein appears, low enough to be a supporting ingredient.
Needs detergent to remove
No
Nothing here needs a detergent wash to remove.
Hard-water defence
Chelators present
Contains chelators, which bind hard-water and pool minerals.
Fragrance
None listed
No fragrance is listed.
from the formula
stated by the brand
reported by reviewers
Scale: 1 dot low · 5 dots high, within this product type.
Ingredients that matter
The ingredients that change a decision
The workhorse ingredients, plus anything lower down that changes a decision. The chips name what an ingredient does. They are not safety scores, and no ingredient here is rated good or bad on its own.
| Ingredient | What it does | Why it matters | Chip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water | solvent | The base everything else is dissolved in | Neutral |
| Propanediol | humectant | Pulls water into the hair | Moisturizes |
| Ascorbic Acid | antioxidant | Protects the oils from going off | Stabilizes |
| Phospholipids | emollient | Softens and smooths the strand | Softens |
| Ascorbyl Palmitate | antioxidant | Protects the formula | Stabilizes |
| Butylene Glycol | humectant | Adds a little water-binding | Moisturizes |
| Dextran | polymer | Supports the hold | Holds |
| Acetyl Tetrapeptide-3 | active | A secondary active | Active |
| Biotinoyl Tripeptide-1 | vitamin | A trace vitamin addition | Protein |
| Alcohol Denat.Alcohol | drying alcohol | A small amount, for fast drying | Drying |
| Piroctone Olamine | active | A secondary active | Active |
What the list leaves out, and what it carriesThe list carries no sulfates, silicones, or fragrance. Carries an over-the-counter scalp active (piroctone olamine). Hard-water chelators are present. Contains fast-drying alcohol.
Full ingredient list (36)
In the US, ingredients above 1% are listed from most to least. Below 1% they can appear in any order. Each note keeps three things apart: what the ingredient generally does, its role in this type of product, and what its position can tell you.
-
1
Water
General function
The base of almost every rinse-off and cream hair product. It carries everything else and is normally the first ingredient on the label.
Leading ingredientListed in the first three ingredients, it is likely a structural part of this formula.
- solvent
-
2
Propanediol
General function
A corn-derived humectant and solvent, often chosen as a lighter-feeling alternative to propylene glycol.
Leading ingredientListed in the first three ingredients, it is likely a structural part of this formula.
PubChemMay suitFine or easily flattened hairLight and water-binding rather than oily, so it adds less weight than oils or butters do.
May suitVery dry or highly damaged hairA small water-binding solvent. It holds moisture and helps the rest of the formula spread evenly over the strand.
DependsClimate-sensitive or frizz-prone hairA humectant follows the air: it holds water in humid conditions and can give it up in very dry ones. Climate decides what it does more than the label does.
- humectant
- solvent
-
3
Ascorbic Acid
General function
Vitamin C, used as an antioxidant and, in some treatments, to help remove mineral build-up.
Leading ingredientPubChemListed in the first three ingredients, it is likely a structural part of this formula.
- antioxidant
- vitamin
-
4
Phospholipids
General function
Fat-and-water-loving lipids that help conditioning ingredients bind evenly to the strand.
Supporting ingredientListed in positions 4–8, it likely makes a meaningful contribution alongside the formula's main ingredients.
May suitFrizz-prone, damaged, or high-friction hairEmollients fill and smooth the surface of the strand, which lowers the friction that lifts the cuticle and reads as roughness.
- emollient
- emulsifier
- ▾Below about here, the order stops meaning much. These are usually used at 1% or less.
-
5
Ascorbyl Palmitate
General function
An oil-soluble form of vitamin C used to keep oils from going rancid.
Estimated lower-concentration zonePubChemIt appears around or below the estimated 1% line, where label order no longer indicates relative amount; its role may be minor or technical.
- antioxidant
-
6
Butylene Glycol
General function
A light humectant and carrier that helps extracts dissolve.
Estimated lower-concentration zoneIt appears around or below the estimated 1% line, where label order no longer indicates relative amount; its role may be minor or technical.
PubChemMay suitFine or easily flattened hairLight and water-binding rather than oily, so it adds less weight than oils or butters do.
May suitVery dry or highly damaged hairA small water-binding solvent. It holds moisture and helps the rest of the formula spread evenly over the strand.
DependsClimate-sensitive or frizz-prone hairA humectant follows the air: it holds water in humid conditions and can give it up in very dry ones. Climate decides what it does more than the label does.
- humectant
- solvent
-
7
Dextran
General function
A polysaccharide polymer used as a thickener and binder in serums and scalp treatments, helping increase viscosity and hold ingredients together.
Estimated lower-concentration zoneIt appears around or below the estimated 1% line, where label order no longer indicates relative amount; its role may be minor or technical.
- polymer
- thickener
- binder
-
8
Acetyl Tetrapeptide-3
General function
A small synthetic peptide included in scalp serums and scalp treatments marketed for fuller-looking hair, often as part of a branded complex alongside red clover extract. It is a formulated active rather than a cleansing or conditioning agent.
Estimated lower-concentration zoneIt appears around or below the estimated 1% line, where label order no longer indicates relative amount; its role may be minor or technical.
- active
- protein
-
9
Trifolium Pratense Flower Extract
- botanical extract
-
10
PPG-26-Buteth-26
- emulsifier
- solubilizer
-
11
PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
- solubilizer
- emulsifier
-
12
Apigenin
- botanical extract
- antioxidant
-
13
Oleanolic Acid
- botanical extract
-
14
Biotinoyl Tripeptide-1
General function
Biotin bonded to a short peptide, included in thinning-positioned products. Evidence for applied biotin changing hair growth is limited.
Estimated lower-concentration zoneIt appears around or below the estimated 1% line, where label order no longer indicates relative amount; its role may be minor or technical.
PubChemDependsVery dry or highly damaged hairUnhydrolysed protein is too large to enter the strand. It sits on the surface, which is a coating effect rather than internal reinforcement.
- vitamin
- protein
-
15
Glycerin
General function
Glycerin, also called glycerol, attracts moisture and mixes completely with water.
Estimated lower-concentration zoneIt appears around or below the estimated 1% line, where label order no longer indicates relative amount; its role may be minor or technical.
Scientific ReportsMay suitDry, coarse, or high-porosity hairHigh-porosity hair loses water fast; a humectant holds some of it in place for longer than the wash itself would.
May suitVery dry or highly damaged hairBinds water into the outer layers of the strand, and water is what makes dry hair flexible again rather than brittle.
DependsClimate-sensitive or frizz-prone hairWater moves both ways. Measured across concentrations, glycerin solutions give water up in some conditions and take it from the air in others. What it does for you depends on how much of it is there and on the air around it.
- humectant
- 16 Pisum Sativum Sprout Extract
-
17
Phenoxyethanol
- preservative
-
18
Sodium Benzoate
- preservative
-
19
Oryza Sativa Extract
- botanical extract
-
20
Panthenol
General function
Provitamin B5. It draws in water and penetrates the strand a little, which is why it is the standard ingredient for softness and shine claims.
Estimated lower-concentration zoneIt appears around or below the estimated 1% line, where label order no longer indicates relative amount; its role may be minor or technical.
PubChemMay suitFine or easily flattened hairIt hydrates without adding oil or a film, which is the combination fine hair usually needs.
May suitFrizz-prone, damaged, or high-friction hairDeposits a lubricating layer that makes combing easier, which is most of what stops mechanical damage adding to frizz.
May suitVery dry or highly damaged hairA humectant that also penetrates the cuticle, so it holds water inside the strand rather than only on the surface.
- humectant
- conditioning agent
- vitamin
-
21
Ocimum Basilicum Hairy Root Culture Extract
- botanical extract
-
22
Alcohol Denat.
· Alcohol
General function
Fast-drying alcohol used to make sprays set quickly. In leave-on products it can leave hair feeling dry, especially in high position on the list.
Estimated lower-concentration zoneIt appears around or below the estimated 1% line, where label order no longer indicates relative amount; its role may be minor or technical.
PubChemMay suitFine or easily flattened hairEvaporates on contact, which is how a spray sets almost instantly and leaves no weight behind it.
- drying alcohol
- solvent
-
23
Dimethyl Isosorbide
- solvent
-
24
Ethylhexylglycerin
General function
A preservative booster that also adds a little softness. Almost always paired with phenoxyethanol.
Estimated lower-concentration zoneIt appears around or below the estimated 1% line, where label order no longer indicates relative amount; its role may be minor or technical.
PubChemMay suitFrizz-prone, damaged, or high-friction hairEmollients fill and smooth the surface of the strand, which lowers the friction that lifts the cuticle and reads as roughness.
- preservative
- emollient
-
25
Tocopheryl Acetate
- antioxidant
- vitamin
-
26
Bisabolol
General function
A chamomile-derived ingredient used for a soothing claim on the scalp.
Estimated lower-concentration zoneIt appears around or below the estimated 1% line, where label order no longer indicates relative amount; its role may be minor or technical.
PubChemMay suitFrizz-prone, damaged, or high-friction hairDeposits a lubricating layer that makes combing easier, which is most of what stops mechanical damage adding to frizz.
- conditioning agent
- botanical extract
-
27
Ferulic Acid
- antioxidant
- preservative
-
28
Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
General function
A cross-linked thickener that gives gels a smooth, bouncy texture and light hold.
Estimated lower-concentration zoneIt appears around or below the estimated 1% line, where label order no longer indicates relative amount; its role may be minor or technical.
May suitClimate-sensitive or frizz-prone hairA set polymer film is a physical barrier to humidity, so a style keeps its shape longer in damp conditions.
May suitMaximum-hold stylingSynthetic film formers dry into a continuous film, which is what holds a shape against movement and against humid air.
DependsBuild-up-sensitive routinesSome acrylate copolymers rinse with water and some need a detergent; the label alone does not say which one a formula used.
- thickener
- polymer
- film former
-
29
Piroctone Olamine
- active
-
30
Sodium Phytate
General function
A rice-derived chelator that binds hard-water minerals without EDTA.
Estimated lower-concentration zoneIt appears around or below the estimated 1% line, where label order no longer indicates relative amount; its role may be minor or technical.
PubChemMay suitBuild-up-sensitive routinesBinds the calcium and magnesium in hard water, which is what stops mineral deposits accumulating on the strand wash after wash.
May suitGray, silver, or brass-prone hairCopper and iron carried in tap water deposit on the strand and read as a dull, warm cast on gray or light hair. A chelator holds those metals in solution so the wash carries them off.
- hard-water chelator
- 31 Resveratrol
-
32
Saccharomyces/Zinc Ferment
- botanical extract
-
33
Saccharomyces/Copper Ferment
- botanical extract
-
34
Saccharomyces/Magnesium Ferment
- botanical extract
-
35
Saccharomyces/Iron Ferment
- botanical extract
-
36
Saccharomyces/Silicon Ferment
- botanical extract
What the whole list adds up to
- 11 botanical extracts
- 5 solvents
- 5 antioxidants
- 4 humectants
- 4 vitamins
- 4 preservatives
- 3 emulsifiers
- 2 emollients
- 2 polymers
- 2 thickeners
- 2 actives
- 2 proteins
- 2 solubilizers
- 2 conditioning agents
Ingredient list captured 2026-09-08. Formulas change, so check the package in your hand when an ingredient matters to you.
Formula
4
Formula score
4 of 10
Too few comparable prices to place it in the range; the formula itself leaves out conditioning agents up front.
How the score is counted
- No conditioning agents up front in the formula
- No slip for detangling either
- Reviewers mention 2 things they like about how it performs
- Prestige tier, sold at Brand website
- Conditioning agents up frontWhat makes wet hair comb through.3 pts
- Oils or butters in the working zoneSoftens the strand rather than just coating it.2 pts
- Slip for detanglingReduces the force it takes to comb wet hair.2 pts
- A humectantBinds water into the hair.1 pt
- A pH adjusterBrings the formula to the acidic pH hair prefers.1 pt
- Fragrance kept out of the top eightScent as a finishing touch, not a major share.1 pt
The formula score measures completeness for the job: a weighted share of the systems this product type is usually built around that we find in this list. It does not rate how well the product works or its quality, and it never compares across product types.
Does the same job
Formulas that do the same things (cleanse, condition, coat or hold) for less per ounce. Scent, texture and where you buy them can still differ.
Color WowSame function
Youth Juice Collagen Scalp Serum
$27.06/oz
- Fragrance-free
- Unscented
- Lightweight
- Differs
Kevin MurphyLowest cost per oz
THICK.AGAIN
$15.75/oz
- Lightweight
- Silicone-free
- Differs
OribeSame function
Serene Scalp Densifying Treatment Spray
$18.10/oz
- Lightweight
- Silicone-free
- Alcohol-free
- Differs
See more alternatives in the product library
These products do a similar job. We haven’t matched them to you. Find the one that fits your hair, routine and budget
Final decision
Should you buy it?
Depends on your hair: see who it suitsBest user
Flaking scalps, for an over-the-counter scalp active and a formula with no added fragrance
Biggest tradeoff
Not ideal for very dry or high-damage hair, very dry or very humid climates, or anyone who does not want a medicated product
Best alternative if not
Nothing in our library matches it closely at a lower price.
We do not sell products or take placement fees. This page states what the formula and the prices show; the consultation is what matches it to a person.
Claims check
What the brand says, and what the formula shows
Claims are quoted from the brand. We mark a claim supported, partly supported or conflicting only when the ingredient list speaks to it. Everything else stays "stated by the brand". That isn’t a criticism: most claims can’t be checked from a label.
0
SupportedBacked by ingredients
0
Partly supportedSome supporting logic
2
Stated by brandNo clear evidence
0
Potential conflictFormula works against claim
Fuller-looking hair
Density and growth are cosmetic claims an ingredient list cannot settle.
- Ascorbic Acid
- Acetyl Tetrapeptide-3
- Trifolium Pratense Flower Extract
Stated by brand
Not something a label can show.
How to read this
We look at the first 10–15 ingredients and what they do in a formula, not at the marketing. If the list doesn't speak to a claim, we don't assume.
Reviewers
What people report
Themes that come up again and again in sourced reviews, written by our researchers in their own words. We don’t store or scrape star ratings.
Several reviewers say shedding slowed and new growth or thicker spots appeared, but only after weeks or months of daily use.
Reviewers with thinning hair or a receding hairlineMany reviewers describe the serum as light and quick to absorb, leaving scalp and hair feeling clean rather than greasy.
Reviewers across hair typesSeveral reviewers find the dropper hard to control, with some reporting it dispenses too little or too much at once.
Reviewers across hair typesScent divides reviewers: several find it mild or fragrance-free, while a sensitive reviewer found it overpowering.
Reviewers sensitive to fragrance and those who notice scentMore from KilgourMD
How this page was made
- Everything above comes from our researched product record: identity, the ingredient list as printed, the brand's own claims, dated prices and review themes our researchers wrote in their own words. No part of this page is written by hand for one product.
- The value band is a fixed label over two stored numbers: this product’s cost per ounce as a percentile of every product of this type we have priced, each at the size it is most often sold in, and how many products we score as doing the same job cost at least a quarter less per ounce.
- Both scores out of ten are defined on this page. The formula score is completeness for the job, computed from a fixed per-format checklist shown beneath the gauge; the price score is cost per ounce against every product of this type we have priced.
- The "Is this right for you?" panel reads only your own consultation answers, and it applies exactly the filters our recommendation engine applies. It is computed when you load the page and is never stored on it.
- 4 sources consulted for this product (0 manufacturer or regulatory, 1 retailer, 3 editorial), last checked 2026-10-31.
- Ingredient references are linked for 9 of 11 product-aware annotations on this page. Fit notes are general formulation guidance. They aren’t a verdict on the finished product or on you.
- We haven’t tested this product in a lab, and we don’t physically test your hair. Formula readings come from the ingredient list. Claims about how it behaves are labelled as the brand's.
- Ingredient order tells you relative amount only above roughly 1%. Prices are what we saw on the dates shown and can change.
- Ingredient names link to our ingredient library, where each entry shows what it does, which product types use it, and where it usually sits on a label across everything we have researched.
- This is cosmetic information, not medical advice, and nothing here diagnoses or treats a health condition.
- Formula readings: derivation v23. Record last updated 2026-09-08.
