Treatments that claim to stop, or even reverse, hair loss might sound too good to be true. Surely they’re just the stuff of dodgy tube ads and snake oil salesmen? Not so!
There are multiple legitimate hair loss treatments you can consider, including finasteride tablets.
But how well does finasteride work? And how long does it take to regrow hair? Read our expert guide to find out more.
Three key takeaways
Finasteride is an extremely effective medication used to treat hair loss. However, it can cause some side effects, such as erectile dysfunction.
You should use finasteride continually for at least 12 months before you decide whether it works for you, as it can take up to a year to produce noticeable results.
Alternative treatments for hair loss include another medication called minoxidil, hair transplants and lifestyle changes.
How does finasteride work?
Finasteride is a 5-alpha reductase inhibitor. Which is the scientific way of saying it stops the main hormone involved in male-pattern hair loss, dihydrotestosterone (DHT), from being produced.
In fact, finasteride causes there to be around 60% less DHT present in the scalp. As a result, it can prevent further hair loss. And in some cases, it can even promote hair regrowth. However, the results can vary from person to person. The only way to know how it will work for you is to try it yourself.
How effective is finasteride?
Finasteride is known to be the most effective treatment for hair loss. For example, one study found that 90% of participants treated with finasteride for five years experienced a reduction in hair loss and/or hair regrowth.
Yes, topical finasteride also works for hair loss. A 2018 systematic review and a comprehensive 2020 review found that topical finasteride is associated with a decrease in the rate of hair loss and an increase in hair growth.
In fact, oral and topical finasteride tend to produce comparable results. For example, a 2014 study found that oral finasteride reduced scalp DHT by 62-72% and topical finasteride reduced scalp DHT by 68–75%.
However, topical finasteride is not yet licensed in the UK.
What type of hair loss is finasteride suitable for?
“Not all types of hair loss require treatment, as they may only be temporary. For example, if you’ve experienced hair loss due to chemotherapy or chronic stress. In these cases, your hair should grow back on its own.
However, if your hair loss is likely to be more permanent, for example if you have a family history of male or female pattern baldness, then finasteride could be an appropriate option for you.”
Ian Budd, Prescribing Pharmacist at Chemist4U
When is the best time to take finasteride?
The best time to start taking finasteride is as soon as you notice hair loss. This is because finasteride is arguably more effective at preventing hair loss than it is at producing hair growth. So, if your hair loss is already advanced, you may need a more intensive form of treatment, like a hair transplant.
How long does finasteride take to work?
Though everyone’s results will be individual to them, this is what you can typically expect when taking finasteride:
1-3 months: you won’t notice much change in your hair at this point, but finasteride should be reducing the amount of DHT in your bloodstream by up to 70% in the background.
3-6 months: this is when you should start to see some results. Maybe your hair loss will have slowed down, or you may see some new growth around your hairline or crown. However, these results are just the beginning.
12 months: at this point, you may see improvements in your hair count and thickness. Or, at the very least, finasteride should have prevented your hair loss from worsening.
Long term: you may continue to see improvements in your hair following the 12-month mark.
You should continue using finasteride for up to a year before you determine whether it works for you.
Stopping finasteride treatment
If you decide to stop taking finasteride, it is important to note that you will lose any improvements you’ve seen in your hair.
If finasteride simply isn’t working for you and you want to stop taking it, there is no evidence to suggest that tapering off the drug rather than coming off it abruptly offers any benefits.
However, you should speak to your GP or pharmacist before you make any changes to your medication. This can help manage the risk of post-finasteride syndrome (PFS).
Alternatives to finasteride
If finasteride isn’t the right fit, you still have other hair loss treatments you can explore:
Minoxidil: how minoxidil works is different to finasteride. Instead of stopping DHT, it causes your scalp blood vessels to widen. This allows more nutrients and oxygen to flow to your follicles, therefore stimulating hair growth.
Hair transplants: when a surgeon transplants small sections of your scalp and hair follicles from the back of your head to areas that no longer grow hair. This can encourage hair growth in the new locations.
Lifestyle changes: depending on the cause of your hair loss, lifestyle changes may help you to slow it down and even promote hair regrowth. For example, you can try making some changes to the way you look after your hair, switching to using a gentle shampoo, using essential oils like rosemary oil and peppermint oil and eating more foods rich in antioxidants (blueberries, spinach, kidney beans and walnuts).
FAQs
Is there a downside to taking finasteride?
It’s important to be aware of the potential side effects of finasteride before using it. More severe side effects can include:
If you haven’t seen any improvements in your hair loss after 12 months, you should speak to your GP or a pharmacist about trying other treatment options, such as minoxidil or a hair transplant.
Sources
Finasteride [Internet]. StatPearls [Internet]. National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI). Accessed 10 September 2025.
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