How long does minoxidil take to work?
Minoxidil is one of the most popular treatments for hair loss. It is effective against several kinds of alopecia, such as male pattern baldness and female pattern baldness.
If you’ve just started using minoxidil, it’s completely natural to wonder how long it’s going to take to work. You might be checking in the mirror each morning, looking for any sign of new growth. But as they say, a watched pot never boils.
So, how long does it take for minoxidil to start to work and when can you expect to notice a difference? In this article, we’ll talk you through how minoxidil works and what your results from minoxidil should look like month-by-month, so you can feel confident in your treatment journey. Let’s get started.
What is minoxidil and how does it work?
Back in the 1970s, oral minoxidil started to be used to treat high blood pressure (hypertension). At the same time, patients using it started to notice that their hair was growing back. In response, researchers developed a topical form of minoxidil that can be applied to an area affected by hair loss. Since then, it’s become a go-to solution for those looking to regrow their hair.
It’s not fully understood why minoxidil thickens hair. It’s believed the main benefit is that minoxidil is a vasodilator. This means it expands the blood vessels in the areas it’s applied to and promotes healthy blood flow. This blood flow helps to deliver more oxygen and nutrients to your hair follicles, leading to hair growth. Now, it is one of two non-surgical medications approved for hair loss in both men and women by the NHS (alongside finasteride).
Types of minoxidil treatment
There are two main forms of minoxidil available to treat hair loss:
- topical minoxidil – can be used as a solution, gel, foam or spray. Topical minoxidil causes fewer side effects, as the application is localised, but can leave the hair feeling slightly greasy
- oral minoxidil – some individuals prefer taking minoxidil tablets if their scalp is sensitive to topical treatments. However, oral minoxidil is not licensed to be used for hair loss and is only available from certain providers if the patient has accepted the risk of using an unlicensed, off-label preparation of minoxidil. Oral minoxidil can cause more systemic (whole body) side effects, but doesn’t leave any residue in your hair
How long does minoxidil take to work?
Both oral and topical minoxidil begin working immediately. However, you won’t start to see new hair growth until six to eight weeks into treatment (around two months after you start using the medication), simply because hair grows slowly.
This is just the beginning, as Minoxidil hair growth peaks 12 to 16 weeks after the beginning of your treatment. More significant results and noticeable improvements in the hair across your whole scalp will only be visible after one full year of treatment.
Overall, however, results can be slower if you’re using topical minoxidil compared to an unlicensed oral preparation of minoxidil, because less of the medication is absorbed that way. Whichever form of minoxidil you choose, for treatment to be successful it needs to be regular and consistent.
Can minoxidil make your hair thinner at first?
When you first start using minoxidil, it can cause your hair to appear thinner at first. Naturally, this can spark alarm. A 2023 study found that a high number of topical minoxidil users stopped using the treatment after a few months due to dissatisfaction with their hair growth.
However, there’s no need to panic. The initial shedding phase associated with using minoxidil is temporary and is caused when minoxidil accelerates the hair growth cycle. This can force old hairs to shed and make way for new, healthier hairs to grow in their place.
As Ian Budd, one of our prescribing pharmacists, explains: “While the hair shedding phase can feel like moving backwards, it’s actually a sign the treatment is working. It isn’t permanent and will resolve within a few months. The key is to focus on your goals, not on how your hair looks at this point in the treatment process. Before drawing a conclusion about whether minoxidil works for you, you need to use it consistently for at least a year.”
Minoxidil results timeline
Everyone’s journey with minoxidil is different. So, if you know someone who’s having more noticeable results than you more quickly, it doesn’t mean you won’t see the same results. Your body may just need more time to respond to the treatment.
With that in mind, let’s consider how your minoxidil progress may look over time.
Weeks 1–2
At this point, you may notice some initial shedding of existing hair. Remember, this is actually a good sign. Don’t give up now.
Weeks 2–8
You may not see any visible difference yet, but as blood flow to your hair follicles increases, the growth phase of your hair cycle is kicking in.
Weeks 8–12
Your minoxidil results after two months may start to produce some new, fine hair growth in the treated areas and a reduction in shedding.
Months 4–6
This is when minoxidil’s full effects start to become clear. You may notice that you have more hair in the areas you’ve treated and an increase in hair density.
Months 6–12
One study found that after a year of treatment with 5% topical minoxidil, 62% of patients with male pattern hair loss had a reduction in areas of alopecia.
FAQs
What happens if you stop using minoxidil?
Once you start using minoxidil, you’ll need to keep using it to retain any benefits of the treatment. If you stop using minoxidil, hair shedding usually resumes within three to four months.
When is it too late to use minoxidil?
It’s never too late to start using minoxidil. However, the treatment is more effective when you are in the early stages of hair thinning. Those who have experienced significant balding may therefore have less significant results.
Speak to your GP if you want to explore other treatments that may be more effective during the advanced stages of hair loss.
Can men and women use minoxidil?
While both men and women can use minoxidil, women are normally advised only to use a lower dose. This is because the 5% twice daily concentration may cause unwanted facial hair growth. Minoxidil 2% lotion is suitable for women and Regaine Foam for Women contains 5% minoxidil, but it is recommended that women only use this once a day.
Sources
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