Struggling with hair loss? Looking for a safe and effective product to get your hair back? You’re in the right place.
Today we’ll be doing a Minoxidil review which is one of the market’s most popular hair loss products for men.
I’ve used Minoxidil myself to grow a beard and I’ve also applied it to my hairline with great results.
This article will be based on my personal experience, other customers, and scientific data.
Let’s jump in!
What is Minoxidil?
In case you don’t know, Minoxidil is a topical drug that was approved by the FDA originally for treating high blood pressure. However, it was found that men were regrowing hair when it was used, thus it’s transformed into one of the most highly recognized forms of hair loss treatment.
We’ll be going over what’s in Minoxidil to make it do such an amazing job, but here’s an overview.
Minoxidil works by opening up the potassium channels of hair follicles which allows for more oxygen, nutrients, and blood to enter them. This amount is much more than average, allowing for hair to grow a lot faster and thicker than it normally would.
You will notice that you will grow hair very quickly when you apply Minoxidil topically. Similarly, it’s common for men to experience shedding phases in which hair falls out first. I personally never experienced any shedding, so it’s on a case-to-case basis, as well.
But the shedding isn’t bad if you do experience it. This is because Minoxidil is essentially helping your hair go through the three different phases at a much faster rate to get them to telophase, A.K.A when a hair is thick, permanent, and terminal.
Minoxidil benefits
There are a few different benefits you will gain by using Minoxidil. The first, as you could guess, is hair regrowth. Minoxidil will help regrow hair where you are balding and experience thinning. If you have lost hair in areas along your hairline, templates, or crown, these areas will be alive with life again.
The second benefit is that new and existing hair will become thicker. Once again this is due to the fact that minoxidil stimulates potassium channels and helps hair becoming healthier. If you find that your hair is thinning and losing its thickness, this will be a huge benefit for you.
Lastly, the gains you receive from Minoxidil will no doubt increase your confidence, self esteem, and overall happiness. Whether you’re a man or woman, our hair plays a big role in our image and how we feel about ourselves.
Nice hair is a sign of attractiveness and youth. So, when we begin losing our hair it can make us feel self-conscious. Seeing your hair grow back and become thicker will put a smile on your face every time you look in the mirror.
Minoxidil side effects
Minoxidil is a very powerful anti-hair loss product, so it does come with some reported side effects. I’ve personally used Minoxidil and experienced little to no adverse effects, so it’s on a case-to-case basis. However, these are some of the reported side effects:
- Itchy skin: Some individuals report that their scalp or face becomes itchy after applying Minoxidil. This typically goes away after several uses because your skin becomes used to the product.
- Red skin: The skin becoming red and irritated is a common side effect because of the strength of this product. Once again this will go away once your skin becomes used to it.
- Dry skin: Similar to the drying and reddening skin, it can also become dry. Make sure to use a moisturizer to combat this or it can cause flakiness and make any cosmetic side effects worse.
- Unwanted hair growth: There are reports of people growing excess hair on the hands, fingers, chests, and other regions because of using Minoxidil. Always use gloves when applying this product and avoid getting it on any part of your body you don’t want more hair to grow.
- Chest pain: While it’s not a very common adverse effect, some people do report that they get chest pain from using Minoxidil. In this case, it’s recommended that you completely cease the use of the product and seek medical attention if it continues. This brings me to my next point.
- Fast heartbeat: Similar to chest pain, another side effect that can happen is a faster heartbeat. Once again, cease using the product if you experience this.
- Dizziness: Becoming light headed and dizzy happens to some individuals, as well.
Is Minoxidil safe?
Yes, overall Minoxidil is a very drug for reversing hair loss while yielding minimal side effects in most cases.
Take this study from 2012 on Minoxidil, for example. The study concluded that it needs to be applied on a regular basis, typically once to twice per day for gains to be maintained. Furthermore, adverse reactions included allergic contact dermatitis on the scalp but in small cases.
Another study looked at Minoxidi’s effectiveness and toxicity. There is no known antidote if a large quantity of Minoxidil is taking orally since it’s not for oral consumption and purely a topical solution. However, accidental cases where individuals ingested Minoxidil orally resulted in mild effects interestingly enough. Vomiting was a typical reaction and rarely was hospitalization needed.
Is Minoxidil effective?
Minoxidil is one of the most effective and quickest acting hair loss products available on the market. There are piles of anecdotal evidence from reviews to YouTube videos and online discussions that attest to the drug’s effectiveness.
However, let’s see what science has to say about it.
One study from 2002 took 393 men aged from 18-49 and had them apply 5% topical Minoxidil solution, a 2% Minoxidil solution, and a placebo in a randomized trial. These were applied twice daily and researchers measured hair counts in targeted areas.
The trial extended 48 weeks and researchers found that the 5% solution produced better results than 2% but both still helped increase scalp coverage. Another interesting discovery from the study was that patients said they had a global benefit of improved quality of life.
Minoxidil ingredients
So, what’s in Minoxidil to make it so effective, to begin with? Well, firstly, Minoxidil is a drug itself so it doesn’t contain any other ingredients. However, Rogaine and other products contain Minoxidil as an active ingredient.
Technically it is categorized as an antihypertensive vasodilator. Antihypertensive drugs are those which help relieve hypertension and high blood pressure while vasodilators open up blood vessels. Together they are able to get more blood flowing to hair follicles, bringing them back to life.
Is Minoxidil worth it?
If you’re interested in an affordable and fast-acting hair loss solution, then yes, Minoxidil is well worth the investment. It has minimal side effects for most individuals and doesn’t require a prescription to purchase. This means that it’s also very accessible.
Minoxidil original use
The original use of Minoxidil was to treat ulcers, but it was found to be a powerful vasodilator in trials and eventually approved by the FDA after 200 different versions were synthesized.
Are Minoxidil gains permanent?
No, unfortunately not. The gains you make from Minoxidil will slowly taper off when you cease the use of the drug. This is because you are stimulating the potassium channels used to grow hairs, so once you stop taking it, this process no longer occurs.
However, some people have claimed that the beard gains from Minoxidil are permanent.
Are all Minoxidil products the same?
Yes, for the most part, all products that use Minoxidil as the main ingredient are the same. This is because they will use varying amounts from 2-5% and it may be a foam or liquid. Besides that, some products may use other ingredients that are good for hair health.
Is Minoxidil a steroid?
No, Minoxidil is not a steroid. As I previously mentioned, it is both an antihypertensive and vasodilator drug. A steroid is technically a drug that contains hormones or alkaloids which relieve swelling and inflammation.
How to apply Minoxidil
Once you have purchased Minoxidil, you will need to apply it correctly to get the most gains. There are two ways to apply Minoxidil depending on which product you buy which includes foam or liquid.
Applying foam is as simple as applying the foam to your scalp with the applicator and rubbing it into the scalp. Remember you’re not trying to apply it to the hair, but the skin to reach follicles.
The liquid can be applied in a similar manner by squeezing the dropper to apply Minoxidil to any areas you wish to experience hair growth.
Make sure to wash your hands thoroughly afterward as you don’t want to get the drug on your clothes or other parts of your body.
Minoxidil alternatives
Maybe Minoxidil isn’t for you. There are many approaches you can take besides this drug to begin regrowing your hair and restoring your confidence. These include the following:
- Finasteride: A popular hair loss drug that is sold under names like Propecia.
- Scalp massages: Making the scalp more elastic helps get more nutrients, blood, ad oxygen to hair follicles while stimulating them in the short term. Read my guide on hair loss scalp massages to learn more.
- Brushing: Similar to massaging, brushing the scalp helps to promote blood flow to hair follicles to make them stronger. Read my previous article on brushing your scalp for hair regrowth.
- Dieting: Your diet plays a huge role in hair health, so you may want to try fixing what you eat to see if it has an impact on your scalp. Try avoiding junk food, processed food, and refined sugar. Eat more veggies, fruit, drink water, and go for an overall cleaner meal plan.
- Provillus: This is another hair loss product that uses Minoxidil along with vitamins and minerals to stimulate hair growth quickly. Read our review to learn more.
Wrapping up our Minoxidil review
Minoxidil is one of the most cost effective and reliable solutions for reversing hair loss. It can be easily ordered online, doesn’t cost too much, and has little side effects in most cases.
You can purchase a foam or liquid version with both being applied topically.
It works by stimulating the potassium channels, allowing for increased amounts of blood and nutrients to enter the follicles. However, gains will be slowly lost once you stop using the drug.
