Minoxidil is one of the only proven treatments to tackle male pattern baldness. It’s a solution that’s applied to the affected areas of the scalp to tackle the causes of hair loss. 

Minoxidil is the name of the treatment and its active ingredient. It works by increasing the supply of blood and nutrients to the hair follicles, which in turn stimulates growth. By stimulating growth, the process of hair loss slows down.  

Minoxidil 5% solution is effective for around 9 in 10 men. This means that there’s around a 90% chance you’ll see some improvement in your hair loss within a year, while taking the treatment. 

As soon as you stop using the solution it will stop having an effect and it’s likely your hair loss will resume.  

The treatment itself gets to work as soon as you start using it, but you might not see signs minoxidil is working for between three and nine months.  

The solution comes in a small bottle with a pump. Use the pump to apply 1ml of the solution to your scalp each morning and night. 

The scalp must be dry before applying the solution. Once applied, you can style your hair as normal. 

Minoxidil is for men aged 18+ only. It shouldn’t be used by men who:  

• Are allergic to any of the ingredients  
• Have high blood pressure  
• Have an infected, irritated or inflamed scalp  
• Have psoriasis or sunburn on the scalp  
• Have a dressing or bandage on the head  
• Have a fully shaved scalp  

Yes, lots of men, if they're clinically suitable, use Finasteride and minoxidil together. Finasteride is a prescription-only hair loss treatment, find out how you can use these treatments together in our guide. 

You could also try DHT blocking shampoo and biotin with minoxidil. To find out more about these treatments, visit our hair loss bundle page.  

Like all medications, there’s always a chance you might experience side effects with minoxidil. Minoxidil side effects tend to be mild and not very common but are worth bearing in mind. Most common side effects include skin irritation, headaches and shortness of breath. 

There are a variety of hair loss treatments available, but minoxidil and finasteride are the only proven ingredients that regrow hair, other than a hair transplant. Understandably, hair transplants aren’t a solution for everyone – they’re expensive and invasive form of hair loss treatment. 

Other options to help hair loss include wigs, hair pieces or makeup. Some vitamins and supplements claim to aid hair loss and healthy hair growth. While there is limited evidence to suggest these work, there’s usually no harm in trying, when taken in safe doses. 

Another way to keep your body (including your hair) as healthy as possible is to eat a healthy diet for hair loss and make sure you’re getting all the essential nutrients. There are also vitamins and supplements for hair loss you can take alongside a healthy diet to support hair health.