Minoxidil is a well-known over-the-counter hair growth serum that has lined supermarket and pharmacy shelves for several decades. Often, it is one of the first hair growth solutions people turn to with quivering hands when they are reaching for a solution for their hair woes. Once you start using the solution, it is only natural to wonder how soon it will start to work. Here is a glimpse at the timeframe you can expect with minoxidil and what can increase your odds of getting your hair to grow in faster and thicker.
What Is Minoxidil?
Minoxidil is a topical hair regrowth treatment that does not require a prescription. Minoxidil was first discovered decades ago when it was used as an oral medication to treat high blood pressure. Minoxidil works by dilating the blood vessels all over your body to reduce blood pressure. People taking the medication noticed they had an unusual side effect of hair regrowth or thickening on their scalp.
For many, this side effect was rather pleasant, which spurred researchers to start looking at a more direct solution for hair vessel dilation restricted to only the scalp. That way, people without blood pressure issues could also tap into the benefits of hair regrowth without suffering adverse consequences from systemic vessel dilation.
How Long Does It Take Minoxidil to Work?
Most people start to notice results in three to six months with consistent use. That may seem like a long time, and many people wonder if the product is even working during that time frame. Indeed, minoxidil works the whole time you are using it, but you don’t see results right away because the product works on hair that is just transitioning into the growth phase.
When you apply minoxidil to your scalp, several things happen. Firstly, vessel dilation brings more nutrients and oxygen to your follicles. With the boost in support from your body, your hair follicles are more likely to grow quicker and healthier. Secondly, minoxidil also does something to modify the hair growth cycle. It lengthens the growing phase, called anagen, which allows your hair strands to grow healthier and longer over time.
Is Minoxidil a DHT Blocker?
One of the leading causes of thinning and blading is male and female pattern hair loss. These conditions may result from your genetics, but there is another factor that may be the culprit: DHT. Dihydrotestosterone (DHT) is a derivative of testosterone that can cause your hair follicles to shrink if you are sensitive to it or have high levels in your system. Also called miniaturization, shrinking hair follicles make the hair finer until the follicle eventually stops producing hair altogether.
Minoxidil is not a DHT blocker, which means it often does not help resolve the underlying issue causing hair loss. However, even without this component, minoxidil may help you see some hair thickening, although it may not prevent you from losing other hair follicles.
How Can You Make Minoxidil Work Faster?
If you follow the directions on the brand of minoxidil you are using, there is little else you can do to make your hair grow faster during treatment. Some men are prescribed finasteride to help with the added issue of DHT. Finasteride works to help block DHT in the scalp. Although this medication can help with hair regrowth, it does have some unwanted side effects, such as erectile difficulties.
Aside from oral medication, it is always helpful to turn toward diet and lifestyle modifications to better your hair health overall. You can take hair support supplements and eat a well-balanced diet that includes plenty of protein, vitamins, and minerals. Also, it is helpful to reduce stress and cut our harmful behaviors like smoking and excessive drinking.
The Trouble With Waiting
Waiting 3-6 months to see the first signs of hair regrowth is difficult. Indeed, hair regrowth is not a quick process. Nonetheless, there are some risks with waiting so long to see results. It is really hard to tell if you are seeing hair growth or not in the beginning with minoxidil. So, using a product for that long without seeing results can be discouraging. What is more, people who recently start minoxidil often find that their hair loss worsens before it gets better.
Aside from not knowing if the product is working or not for a long time, the side effects of minoxidil can be discomforting. Minoxidil is known to cause scalp irritation, itching, and rash. It also is a greasy formulation, which can make it hard to style your hair effectively.
But, perhaps the biggest challenge with waiting is that minoxidil doesn’t usually solve the problem. Again, because it is not a DHT blocker, minoxidil will not help combat the most common cause of hair loss. Therefore, it pays to explore other options for hair growth support.
Is There Something More Effective than Minoxidil?
Yes, there are several other options aside from minoxidil. Although minoxidil was one of the first effective medications for treating hair loss, remarkable strides have been taken since this was first discovered in the 1950s.
Nanoxidil is a powerful alternative to minoxidil. It is a vasodilator like minoxidil, but it has a much lower molecular weight, meaning that it can penetrate your scalp and follicles much more effectively. It also opens ion channels between cells to help boost oxygen and nutrient delivery and lengthens the growing phase of the hair growth cycle.
When used with known DHT blockers, Nanoxidil effectively treats some of the hardest forms of hair loss, including receding hairlines and vertex balding. Examples of DHT blockers include azelaic acid, ketoconazole, and caffeine. You can find all of these ingredients, including Nanoxidil, in SPECTRAL.DNC-N from DS Laboratories. This powerful formulation has no known side effects and has incredible efficacy.
Along with using a hair regrowth serum, make sure you are using the proper hair cleansers. Some shampoos and conditions can help with hair regrowth, so you can even take steps in your everyday routine to combat hair loss. Shop the REVITA and REVITA.CBD Hair Stimulating Shampoo lines to take action against hair loss with your regular hair cleansing habits.
Nanoxidil 5% Topical Solutions for Hair Loss
Not sure what might be the right product choice for you? Schedule a free call today with one of our product advisors to get a custom recommendation for your hair loss based on your specific needs.