Male pattern baldness, or androgenetic alopecia, is a common issue that can easily creep up on you, whether in the form of a receding hairline or a bald patch around your crown.
These early signs of baldness can be alarming, but they’re also a great sign to take action and protect your hair from further thinning.
If you’ve ever researched hair loss treatments, you’ve probably heard of minoxidil. Available as a generic medication and under the brand name Rogaine®, minoxidil is a topical liquid or foam that’s applied directly to your scalp to stimulate hair growth and stop hair loss.
It’s also available as an oral medication that your healthcare provider may prescribe if you have hair loss that doesn’t respond to topical treatments. However, this oral form of minoxidil is not yet FDA-approved, which means it’s only prescribed off-label.
Like other hair loss treatments, minoxidil starts working right away within your body. However, it usually takes several months before the effects of minoxidil — for example, reduced hair shedding and normal hair growth — are visible.
Below, we’ve gone into more detail about what minoxidil is, as well as how it works as a treatment for male pattern baldness.
We’ve also explained how long you’ll usually need to wait before you’ll see results from minoxidil treatment, as well as other options you might want to consider if you’re starting to lose hair.
If you want quick results from your hair loss treatment, you probably also want a quick answer to this question: How long does it take minoxidil to start working?
We’ve got you covered with this TL;DR:
Available as a generic medication and under the brand name Rogaine®, minoxidil is a topical liquid or foam applied directly to your scalp to stimulate hair growth and stop hair loss.
Typically, you’ll start seeing results from minoxidil within two to four months. It begins working immediately once it hits your body, but you won’t actually see those results until your hair grows a bit, which can take several months because hair only grows about a half-inch per month.
It’s normal to see hair shedding when you begin taking minoxidil, and this is not a sign the medication isn’t working. However, if you stop using minoxidil regularly or go cold turkey, you can expect to see hair loss resume within two to four months.
Minoxidil is the generic version and active ingredient in the medication Rogaine. The FDA (U.S. Food and Drug Administration) has approved it in topical form as a treatment for male pattern baldness and female pattern hair loss.
Topical minoxidil is over-the-counter, meaning you can buy it without a prescription.
In some cases, it’s available off-label in an oral form, typically in cases where someone has trouble with the upkeep of a twice-daily topical product. Off-label use means a medication is prescribed for something it’s not FDA-approved to treat.
Minoxidil works in a couple of ways. First, it moves your hair into a phase of active growth, known as the anagen phase of the hair growth cycle.
Second, it may dilate blood vessels to increase blood flow to the scalp, providing hair follicles with more nutrients for consistent growth.
Minoxidil works as a remedy not only for male pattern baldness (androgenetic alopecia) but also for other forms of hair loss, like telogen effluvium, traction alopecia, alopecia areata, and shedding as a result of fungal scalp infections.
Check out our guide to minoxidil for hair growth for more insight.
How long does Rogaine take to work? Although results can vary from one person to the next, you should generally see some improvement from using minoxidil after about two to four months. More significant results will be visible after a full year of treatment.
Minoxidil works quickly, but it takes time for your hair to transition from the telogen phase of the hair growth cycle to the anagen phase.
It also takes time for your hair to grow. On average, hair grows about a half-inch a month — or six inches per year.
This means you may need to wait several months after your hairs enter into the anagen phase before any improvements in growth or scalp coverage become visible.
In the meantime, it’s common to notice that your hair initially appears thinner after you use minoxidil. This temporary problem is likely caused by minoxidil moving your hair follicles from one phase of the hair growth cycle to another.
While it can look alarming, any minor hair shedding that occurs after you start treatment with minoxidil isn’t permanent hair loss and typically resolves in a few months.
If you’ve recently started using minoxidil, stay patient and focus on the long term. Your hair will almost certainly look better two to four months from now — and even better after a whole year — but it may be a slightly bumpy ride until then.
Stick with it and keep up your twice-daily application of minoxidil. In due time, your hairline and total hair count will thank you.
Minoxidil isn’t a magic potion for hair loss, and everyone’s experiences may differ. Having said that, the odds are good that you’ll see positive, significant results if you have hair loss and use minoxidil consistently as part of your treatment routine.
Over the last few decades, several clinical trials and observational studies have looked into the effects of minoxidil, with almost all research showing positive results for men with hair loss.
In a 2004 study published in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, dermatologists looked at the effects of topical minoxidil 5% on more than 900 men with hair loss caused by male androgenetic alopecia. After 12 months, 84 percent of the men rated the minoxidil solution as either “very effective,” “effective,” or “moderately effective” at regrowing hair.
A different study from 2007 compared the effects of topical minoxidil 5% with a placebo.
After 16 weeks, the men who used the 5% minoxidil displayed a statistically significant increase in new hair growth and reduced hair loss compared to those who used a non-therapeutic placebo.
Another study compared the effects of minoxidil 5% with minoxidil 2% in men with male pattern baldness. The researchers found that both dosages of minoxidil were well-tolerated, but the stronger 5% solution was more effective at promoting satisfactory hair regrowth.
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Beyond showing that topical minoxidil is safe, most research on this medication suggests that side effects, while possible, aren’t common.
Potential side effects of topical minoxidil include:
Temporary hair shedding
Scalp irritation
Burning skin
Pruritus (itchy, dry skin)
Allergic reactions, such as contact dermatitis
Out of more than 900 men who participated in one study, fewer than 40 people experienced any adverse effects from topical minoxidil, with none of the most common side effects classified as serious.
Research also suggests that oral minoxidil is generally safe and effective for men with hair loss. Still, it should be used with caution by those with hypertension (high blood pressure) or heart health issues.
Although uncommon, both topical and oral minoxidil could cause more severe side effects and allergic reactions.
Find out more in our guide to minoxidil side effects.
Minoxidil only works when it’s actively in your system. If you stop taking minoxidil, you can expect to see hair loss resume in about three to four months.
That’s why it’s vital to continue taking minoxidil even when you’re not seeing immediate results.
Many healthcare professionals even recommend sticking with minoxidil treatment after hair transplant surgery.
If you’re using minoxidil to treat hair loss from male pattern baldness, there are numerous things you can do to improve your results with this topical treatment:
Start minoxidil as early as you can. Hair loss treatments work best when used as early as possible — ideally, as soon as you notice the first signs of male pattern hair loss.
Apply minoxidil properly. Minoxidil is an easy medication to apply, but consistency is key. This means using the proper amount and applying it twice daily to your scalp. Our guide to applying minoxidil for hair growth explains how to use minoxidil effectively, whether you opt for the foam formulation or liquid solution.
Make minoxidil a habit. You’ll only see the effects of minoxidil as long as you’re using it. Once you stop applying it on a regular basis, your hair growth will stop, and you’ll likely start to see excessive shedding or thinning again.
Use minoxidil with oral finasteride. Minoxidil works well on its own, but research shows it’s even more effective when used with finasteride. This prescription hair loss medication prevents your body from producing DHT (dihydrotestosterone), a male hormone known to cause genetic hair loss. We offer minoxidil and oral finasteride together in our Hair Power Pack.
Consider topical finasteride and minoxidil. If you don’t like the idea of taking an oral medication to treat hair loss, you can apply minoxidil and finasteride together in the form of a topical medication. We offer topical finasteride and minoxidil in a convenient, easy-to-use spray.
Eat a hair-friendly diet. Though your diet won’t prevent hair loss, the foods you eat and your intake of essential vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients can have a visible impact on your overall hair condition. See our guide to the best foods for hair growth for tips.
When it comes to treating hair loss and promoting hair density, patience is a major virtue. Once you start using minoxidil, focus on applying it twice a day — not on checking your mirror every few hours for new hairs.
When does minoxidil start working? Here’s what to remember about how long it takes minoxidil to work:
Minoxidil doesn’t work overnight, but it does work. How long does minoxidil take to work, then? On average, research suggests it takes around four months for new hair to appear, with more significant results after one year of continuous use.
Your hair might look worse before it gets better. It’s common to notice more shedding before your hair gets thicker. Hold steady and keep using minoxidil — after a few months, your hair should look fuller.
Using finasteride can improve your results. Finasteride and minoxidil work great as a team for treating hair loss. Try adding oral finasteride to your hair loss prevention routine, or use a topical medication that combines both ingredients.
You’ll see the best results after a year. You’ll likely notice a small increase in hair growth that eventually turns into a thicker crown, a stronger hairline, or a fuller head of hair over the course of the next year.
Interested in using minoxidil to treat hair loss and regrow hair? We offer minoxidil solution and minoxidil foam as part of our range of evidence-based hair loss treatment options for men.
This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. The information contained herein is not a substitute for and should never be relied upon for professional medical advice. Always talk to your doctor about the risks and benefits of any treatment. Learn more about our editorial standards here.
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This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. The information contained herein is not a substitute for and should never be relied upon for professional medical advice. Always talk to your doctor about the risks and benefits of any treatment. Learn more about our editorial standards here.