When you start your treatment with Sons, you feel (quite rightly) that you’ve taken the first step in tackling hair loss. The idea is that Minoxidil will help you keep the hair you have and hopefully grow some more. So, a noticeable increase in shedding when you start using Minoxidil can be a big surprise. But don't worry, temporary shedding at the start of your treatment is actually a sign that Minoxidil is working. Here’s why.
The Hair Growth Cycle
To understand how Minoxidil works, you need to understand how your hair grows.
Here’s a breakdown:
Anagen phase (the growth phase)
Your hair is constantly growing out of your follicle - you can think of your follicle as an anchor point which connects your hair strand to blood and nutrient supply. This phase normally lasts between two and six years.
Catagen phase (the regression phase)
Your hair stops growing and begins to break away from the follicle - this can take up to two weeks.
Telogen phase (resting phase)
Your hair is detached from the follicle and is waiting for a new hair to force it out of your scalp. Around 10-15% of your hairs are in this stage at any given time, which lasts up to three months.
Exogen phase (the shedding phase)
Your old hair falls out, to make way for a new hair to take its place.
Why does Minoxidil cause hair shedding?
When you first start using Minoxidil, it soaks into the scalp and stimulates the hair follicles, which provides a boost of nourishment that encourages regrowth. However, once your new, healthier, and thicker hairs start to grow, they push out the old, thinning hairs.
Minoxidil is thought to lengthen the anagen (growth) phase and shorten the telogen (resting) phase. In other words, it accelerates the hair growth cycle by forcing out the older hairs which are ready to go, to make way for new and healthier hair. This is why you might notice more shedding of finer hairs in the first few weeks of treatment.
This shedding stage does not happen to everyone. However, for those who do experience it, shedding usually starts in the first month of use and lasts between four and eight weeks. Once your new hairs have undergone the full hair growth cycle that we’ve explained above, you should begin to see an increase in hair that is thicker and healthier than the hair that you lost. As long as you use Minoxidil every day and avoid a ‘stop-start’ routine, the shedding phase will settle down over time.
How long does Minoxidil take to work?
Most men will see the benefits of Minoxidil after three to six months of consistent use - this will include slowing the recession of your hairline and/or regrowth of hair. However, the ultimate results from Minoxidil usage will appear after a year of consistent treatment, especially when used alongside Finasteride.
We understand that experiencing shedding when you first take on a Sons' treatment can feel counterintuitive, but try not to panic - this is a sign that Minoxidil is working and will provide you with better hair in the long run. Stick with it and you’ll be able to enjoy the full benefits of hair loss treatment that you’ve been looking for.
All of our blog articles are reviewed by our Medical Director before publication.
