Daniel Alain Blog

Minoxidil is an FDA-approved hair loss solution that regrows lost hair. Popular brand name versions like Rogaine® tout impressive effectiveness, but a closer look reveals a harsh truth: Minoxidil doesn’t always work.

If your hair is falling out, you’ve likely scoured the internet for every possible treatment. Hair transplants are effective, but you might wince at the thought of a long recovery period and scarring. Your weekend brunch, Monday meeting, and patience don’t have time for that. Minoxidil is next on your list — a non-invasive, easy treatment, but you might wonder: does Minoxidil stop working after some time?

Minoxidil is a hair loss treatment trusted by many men and women for hair regrowth. But is it safe to use Minoxidil? In most cases, yes. But like all medications, the drug has some risks for side effects.

Beginning your hair loss journey can be confusing. You may not even know where to begin. Wherever you are in your hair loss journey, you have probably heard of Minoxidil, also known by its brand name, Rogaine®. While Minoxidil is an excellent hair loss solution it doesn’t work for everyone. The FDA-approved hair loss treatment is only approved for the treatment of androgenetic alopecia, or male or female pattern baldness. Even if you have androgenetic alopecia, Minoxidil still may not work for you.

Is your hair thinning or falling out? You’re part of a large community of people battling the same issues. About 30 million women and 50 million in the US experience genetic hair loss (androgenetic alopecia), while others deal with stress, diet, or medically related hair loss. Many people turn to hair loss treatments like the FDA-approved Minoxidil from brands like Rogaine®, Keeps, Hims®, and Nioxin®. But after months of using the product, people report mixed results. Which leads to the question: Does Minoxidil work for women and men?

You’ve heard about Minoxidil, or maybe you use it to treat hair loss, and with daily applications, you’re wondering how long you have to commit to using Minoxidil. Applying the foam or liquid solution every day, and waiting hours for your hair to dry before styling, is painstaking. Which brings up an important question: Do you have to use Minoxidil forever? Or can you stop after you see results—if you see results?

After a few months of noticing hair loss symptoms — a widening part, thinning, bald patches, or clumps of hair falling out — and no luck covering them up with different hairstyles, fibers, or hats you’ve decided to try a hair loss treatment. You’ve heard promising success stories about Rogaine®, the most popular brand name of topical Minoxidil. Maybe you also took Daniel Alain’s Minoxidil Response Test (MRT), the only way to know if you have the necessary enzyme activity for the product to work.

How Long Does it Take Minoxidil to Work? Have you been using Minoxidil for months but haven’t seen any results? Maybe you haven’t started using Minoxidil yet because you need more information? Committing to applying a topical hair loss treatment twice daily, every day, for an unforeseeable amount of time isn’t ideal, especially since we know that Minoxidil doesn’t work for everyone. Just how long does it take Minoxidil to work and start showing results?

How Do I know If Minoxidil Is Working For Me? If you’re experiencing hair loss, the good news is that you’re not alone, and there is treatment. But amidst the sea of options, it’s challenging to know which ones are right for you.

What is Minoxidil Used For? You’ve heard of Rogaine®, but what is Minoxidil? Minoxidil is the generic form of brand-name Rogaine®. It is an FDA-approved topical solution and foam used to treat hair loss in men and women with androgenetic alopecia, also known as pattern hair loss or hereditary hair loss. With daily, ongoing application, Minoxidil may stop hair loss and thinning and increase hair density, making hair feel thicker. However, despite clever marketing slogans boasting its effectiveness, Minoxidil doesn’t work for everyone.