Does Minoxidil Shampoo Work for Hair Loss? What You Need to Know
If you’ve been looking for easy ways to treat hair loss or a receding hairline, you’ve probably come across everything from supplements to serums or products like minoxidil shampoo. Minoxidil shampoo seems like a great solution — shampoo is already part of your hair care routine, so it seems like a simple way to incorporate a hair loss medication without adding a whole other step to your busy life.
But does minoxidil shampoo work?
Here, we’ll discuss whether minoxidil shampoo works as a hair regrowth treatment for male pattern baldness (androgenetic alopecia), how to use it, and alternative hair loss treatments (that — spoiler alert — probably work a lot better).
What Is Minoxidil Shampoo?
Before we cover what you can expect from minoxidil shampoo, first, a little minoxidil 101. Topical minoxidil is one of two treatments with FDA approval specifically for treating male pattern baldness (the other is a medication called finasteride, which we’ll get to later). Minoxidil is the active ingredient in the brand name Rogaine®.
Minoxidil is a vasodilator that brings blood flow to the scalp and hair follicles. It also extends the anagen of the growth phase of the hair growth cycle. It’s suitable for all hair types as long as you’re noticing hair loss while using it. The medication can slow the progression of thinning hair and, in some cases, help regrow hair.
So what’s minoxidil shampoo? As you probably guessed, it’s simply shampoo made with minoxidil. Minoxidil is typically found in topical solutions or foams applied directly to the scalp, while some formulations incorporate it into shampoos. The idea behind minoxidil shampoo is to provide the hair and scalp with the benefits of minoxidil while also cleansing the hair.
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Does Minoxidil Shampoo Work?
The words “minoxidil” and “shampoo” are a little bit at odds by the simple fact of how each functions. Here’s the thing — shampoo is designed to be rinsed off, and studies show that minoxidil needs to stay in contact with the scalp for at least four hours for it to truly be effective.
If you look at the directions on most minoxidil foams or solutions, you’ll see that you’re supposed to apply it to a clean, dry scalp and allow it to dry for between two and four hours before laying down or wearing a hat (and you don’t rinse it off).
However, at least one study suggests that leaving a 1% minoxidil shampoo formula on the scalp for three to five minutes may modestly increase hair count (though this amount was statistically insignificant compared to the placebo group).
Another small (and older) study on 22 men looked at the link between the contact time of minoxidil on the scalp and how much of the medication was absorbed (it needs to be absorbed to work). After one hour, 50 percent of the solution was absorbed into the scalp, and by the fourth hair, 75 percent of it had been absorbed.
Minoxidil shampoo may have some promise as a complementary product to minoxidil solutions or foams rather than a standalone hair loss treatment. But before adding a medicated shampoo to your routine, talk to a healthcare provider, as you don’t want to exceed the recommended dosage of minoxidil. Our minoxidil solution dosage is 1 ml twice daily applied to the scalp. For the foam, it’s half a capful twice a day.
How To Use Minoxidil Shampoo
Using minoxidil shampoo is basically the same as using any shampoo, except you’ll want to let it sit longer. Here’s how to get the best results from minoxidil shampoo.
Thoroughly wet your hair.
Squeeze about a dime-sized amount of shampoo into your hands.
Massage the shampoo into your scalp for about two minutes. This will help the product reach the hair follicles.
Leave the product on for at least four minutes.
Rinse thoroughly.
If using conditioner, apply it only to the ends of your hair.
Can Both Men and Women Use Minoxidil Shampoo?
We’ll keep this short — yes, men and women can use minoxidil shampoo. Typically, the strength of minoxidil varies depending on the sex. For example, Hers minoxidil solution is 2%, whereas Hims’s is 5%.
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Minoxidil Shampoo Alternatives
Whether you’re looking for a hair growth shampoo specifically or are open to other hair loss treatments, below you’ll find more regrowth treatments for men from other medicate shampoos, hair care products, and oral formulations.
Topical Minoxidil
Topical minoxidil is one of two drugs approved by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) for treating male pattern baldness. Unlike minoxidil shampoo, these topical treatments are not meant to be rinsed off.
We offer both minoxidil foam and minoxidil solution. The two are nearly identical products in different formulations. However, minoxidil foam does not contain propylene glycol (while rare, some people may experience localised side effects like redness and irritation at the application site, possibly due to propylene glycol, an alcohol found in some formulations).
Finasteride
As we mentioned, finasteride is a DHT blocker that’s FDA-approved for treating male pattern baldness.
DHT Blocking Shampoos
Dihydrotestosterone (DHT) is a hormone that is largely responsible for male pattern baldness (you can learn a whole lot more about it in our guide to DHT).
Certain ingredients and medications partially block the effects of DHT on the hair follicle. The popular hair loss medication, finasteride, does that (we’ll talk about finasteride soon), but other natural ingredients, like saw palmetto, do as well.
Our Saw Palmetto Thickening Shampoo is a good place to start if you’re curious about shampoos for thinning hair.
Minoxidil and Finasteride Together
Minoxidil and finasteride can be used together, and they may be more effective when combined.
A 2019 meta-analysis showed that oral finasteride and topical minoxidil together offer "better therapeutic efficacy and similar safety" compared to either treatment alone.
If you’re considering using both, we offer a couple of options:
Topical Spray: Our popular finasteride and minoxidil spray combines both ingredients in an easy-to-apply formula.
Chewable Supplements: For those who prefer a daily supplement or find it difficult to stick to topical treatments (a common reason minoxidil might not work), our chewable tablets combine minoxidil and finasteride with additional hair-supporting nutrients like biotin and vitamins B5 and B6.
Oral Minoxidil
Oral minoxidil is often prescribed off-label for treating hair loss. It’s a good option for those who experience irritation on the scalp from minoxidil or simply prefer to take a daily pill rather than apply a topical treatment.
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Does Minoxidil Shampoo Work? The Final Takeaway
If you’ve been looking for a hair loss shampoo, you may be curious about minoxidil shampoo. Here’s the TL;DR:
Minoxidil shampoo may offer some benefits as a complementary product, but it’s not as effective as topical solutions since it’s rinsed off and doesn’t stay on the scalp long enough for full absorption.
If you choose to use minoxidil shampoo for managing pattern hair loss, it’s essential to follow a healthcare provider’s recommendations to avoid exceeding the recommended dosage.
While minoxidil shampoo can be part of your hair care routine, it’s best used alongside proven treatments like topical minoxidil or oral finasteride, ideally under the guidance of a dermatologist.
Hims does not sell minoxidil shampoo, but we do provide access to many other hair loss treatments that contain minoxidil as well as other proven products. We can help you connect you with a healthcare provider online to get expert advice on hair loss treatments that will work for you.
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 GP about the risks and benefits of any treatment.