Daniel Alain Blog

Does Minoxidil Work for Women & Men's Hair Growth 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, Him®, 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?

If your morning routine involves a 30-minute mirror panic over finding yet another clump of hair in the drain, you're not alone. Over 50 million men and 30 million women in the U.S. experience androgenetic alopecia, the medical term for genetic hair loss.

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?

It might sound counterintuitive, but technically, Minoxidil causes hair loss at the start of treatment — shedding, specifically. However, shedding is part of Minoxidil's regrowth process and actually signifies that your body is responding to the drug. But can Minoxidil cause hair loss overall?

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.

Some days, it feels like battling hair loss is a full-time job. Strands amass throughout your life, serving as constant reminders of this one, all-encompassing issue that seems like it has spun completely out of control. You’ve tried various supplements and hair treatments, but maybe their potency was short-lived, and they didn’t show you how to control hair fall.

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.

When you experience hair loss, it’s natural to want to find a solution that will work for you. You don’t have time to waste on false claims or faulty products. Many products on the market that promise to regrow hair address other issues such as hair shedding, thinning, or breakage. There are only two hair growth treatments on the market that are FDA-approved to regrow hair: Finasteride and Minoxidil. Both Finasteride and Minoxidil were originally studied for purposes other than treating hair loss. However, both have been studied and the efficacy of their use as a hair growth treatment has earned them the coveted label of FDA approval.