When it comes to treating male pattern hair loss, Minoxidil is one of two medications clinically proven to be effective. But as we explain in this article, there are some simple steps you can take to improve the effectiveness of Minoxidil, to help you achieve the results you’re hoping for when beginning your hair loss treatment.
Is Minoxidil an effective hair loss treatment?
Alongside Finasteride, Minoxidil has been clinically proven to treat male pattern hair loss. After being introduced as an antihypertensive medication, Minoxidil was found to be an effective treatment for androgenetic alopecia, more commonly known as male pattern hair loss. As a vasodilator, Minxodil improves the flow of blood and oxygen to the affected areas of your scalp, restimulating the hair follicles and improving the growth and appearance of your hair. But how do you ensure Minoxidil is as effective as possible? Let’s take a closer look.
Tips for making Minoxidil more effective
While Minoxidil has been clinically proven to treat male pattern hair loss, here are four things you can do to make sure your treatment is as successful as possible:
Take it alongside Finasteride
A Chinese study concluded that combining Finasteride and Minoxidil is the best course of treatment for hair loss, particularly when compared to using the medications in isolation. Finasteride blocks DHT, the natural hormone that is responsible for the miniaturisation of your hair follicles, while Minoxidil provides your follicles with the nutrients they require to thrive. As such, they form an excellent partnership, so combining Finasteride and Minoxidil to treat male pattern hair loss is a great option and is effective in 9/10 men.
Choose a 5% solution
A randomized clinical trial found that a 5% topical Minoxidil solution is more effective at treating male pattern hair loss than a 2% Minoxidil solution. At Sons, we offer a 5% Minoxidil solution, which is a good option if you wish to use Minoxidil in isolation to treat your male pattern hair loss.
Be consistent with your application
As is the case with any type of medication, you need to be consistent and routine with your application of Minoxidil. You are required to apply 1ml of Minoxidil solution to the areas of your scalp affected by male pattern hair loss, and you need to do this twice a day. It helps to incorporate your Minoxidil application into your daily routine, with many men opting to apply it while brushing their teeth, which is a fairly engrained habit - by latching Minoxidil on to the toothbrushing habit, you’re more likely to be consistent in application. You also need to be careful not to miss days, as skipping applications will reduce the efficacy of the medication.
Use other hair loss treatment products
Although Finasteride and Minoxidil are the only two medications that have been proven to treat hair loss, you can turn to other products to improve your results. You can take a hair vitamin supplement, as it is a crucial ingredient for the body’s production of keratin, which is influential in the health of your skin, nails, and hair. You can also opt for a DHT-blocking shampoo containing saw palmetto, which is an effective way to reduce the prevalence of the hormone on your scalp. Both products are part of our Ultimate Plan, which is our most effective hair loss treatment option.
The bottom line: How to make Minoxidil more effective
The bottom line is that Minoxidil is an effective hair loss treatment, but the above tips can help you get the very best results for your hair. If you’re unsure about which hair loss treatment plan to start, check out our available plans or reach out to our friendly team if you have any questions.
All of our blog articles are reviewed by our Medical Director before publication.
