Minoxidil is a commonly prescribed treatment for women’s hair loss. Whether you’re in the early stages of female pattern baldness, or you’re battling with stress-related hair loss, you’ve likely come across minoxidil as a recommended hair loss treatment for women.
So when and how should women apply minoxidil for best results? And are there any safety concerns to be aware of?
Here, learn all you need to know about using minoxidil for women’s hair loss, including:
- Whether women can safely use minoxidil.
- Potential side effects of minoxidil in women.
- The difference between minoxidil 5% and 2% for women.
- How to apply minoxidil for best results.
- Minoxidil alternatives.
Table of Contents
How does minoxidil work for women with hair loss?
Minoxidil is a vasodilator, so it dilates the blood vessels in the scalp. This allows more blood to flow to the follicles, providing them with essential nutrients so they can continue to produce healthy hair.
Minoxidil can also activate follicles that are in the resting phase of the hair growth cycle. This pushes them into the growth phase, so they produce hair for longer. As the new hair grows, the older hair falls out, leading to a small and temporary increase in hair shedding.
Is minoxidil safe and effective for women?
Yes. Minoxidil was originally developed as an oral drug to treat high blood pressure, and has been safely used in both women and men for decades.
As a topical hair loss treatment, many studies have shown that minoxidil is both safe and effective for women [1-4]. In a study including more than 1,100 participants, more than a quarter (26.5%) experienced moderate to marked hair regrowth thanks to minoxidil versus placebo [4]. Minoxidil is usually safe for treating many female hair loss conditions, including:
- Female pattern hair loss
- Alopecia areata
- Telogen effluvium (stress-related hair loss)
- Traction alopecia
Women who are pregnant or breastfeeding should avoid using minoxidil. But unlike finasteride (another popular hair loss treatment), minoxidil may be used by women of childbearing age provided they’re not pregnant.
The side effects of minoxidil for women
The most common side effects of minoxidil in women include:
- Itchiness and irritation
- Minoxidil rash
- Flaky skin or dandruff
- Hypertrichosis (excessive facial hair growth)
Side effects are normally mild and will subside with continued treatment or if you decide to stop using minoxidil. More significant side effects may be more likely with oral minoxidil, though these are still relatively rare.
Female minoxidil users may be at greater risk of unwanted side effects (namely, hypertrichosis) than men. While this doesn’t necessarily make minoxidil unsafe, it may deter some women from using it.
2% minoxidil vs 5% minoxidil: which is best for women?
While evidence suggests that 5% minoxidil is more effective in terms of improving hair count and thickness, women are usually advised to use a 2% concentration of minoxidil [1]. That’s because the 5% version comes with a higher risk of unwanted facial hair growth (along with other mild side effects like itchiness and irritation).
Not all women experience hypertrichosis when using 5% minoxidil. So you may choose to start with a higher concentration and stick with this unless you experience minoxidil side effects. Others prefer to play it safe and use 2% minoxidil, then switch to 5% minoxidil if they aren’t getting the desired regrowth effect.
How to use minoxidil for women
Applying minoxidil correctly can help improve effectiveness and minimise side effects. Here’s what women need to know about applying minoxidil:
- Apply it to your scalp, not your hair. Part your hair and administer directly onto the skin to get the most coverage (and avoid wasting product).
- Massage minoxidil into thinning areas. Don’t leave it to air-dry; gently rub minoxidil into your scalp skin. This will stop it running and causing unwanted hair growth in other areas.
- Apply minoxidil to your scalp twice a day every day. Consistent application will give you the best results.
- Don’t use too much. Overapplying minoxidil can make your scalp itchy and create greasiness.
Find out how to apply minoxidil correctly based on your thinning area and the type of minoxidil you’re using.
Minoxidil alternatives for women
Topical minoxidil is arguably the most effective all-round treatment for women’s hair loss. So it’s not easy to find a safe alternative that will give you the same results. That said, here are some proven, popular minoxidil alternatives for women:
- Low-dose oral minoxidil — This oral alternative to topical minoxidil works in the same way, but affects the whole body. This may be slightly more effective than topical minoxidil, but puts you at risk of systemic side effects including body hair growth [2].
- Vitamin supplements — Women with nutritional deficiencies may benefit from dietary supplements. For example, women are particularly at risk of iron deficiency, which may contribute to hair loss [5]. Supplementation can help in these cases (but are unlikely to regrow hair otherwise).
- Hormone replacement therapy — HRT is often used to balance your hormone levels during or after menopause. Some types of HRT can help restore hair lost due to hormonal changes [6].
- Topical finasteride + minoxidil — Topical finasteride doesn’t have the same systemic effects as oral finasteride, so it may be safer for women to use (at DrHair, we don’t prescribe products containing finasteride to women due to potential health risks).
It’s also important to avoid damaging styling practices and products to keep your hair looking and feeling healthy.
Can you buy minoxidil for women from DrHair?
Yes! We supply minoxidil to both men and women who are suitable for this treatment. With DrHair, you’ll get:
- Fast discreet delivery of your minoxidil solution.
- Flexibility to buy just one month’s supply (ideal for trialling the formula).
- The best prices, guaranteed.
- Even lower prices when you subscribe.
Take a look at DrHair 5% Minoxidil Formula to learn more about how it works and get a fast eligibility assessment.
FAQs
Find out more about minoxidil for women in these FAQs.
Many women can and do use men’s minoxidil products safely. However, minoxidil products are sometimes targeted at different genders due to the concentration of the active ingredient. 2% minoxidil products are aimed at women, while 5% minoxidil products are designed for men.
Women can still use 5% minoxidil, but be aware you may be at more risk of developing side effects.
It normally takes around 3-6 months to see noticeable improvements in your hair when using minoxidil. If you wear your hair long, it will take more time for your hair to grow to the desired length. Get your hair trimmed regularly to help the minoxidil-treated hair catch up with your lengths. Learn more about how long minoxidil takes to work.
Yes. Several studies have shown that minoxidil can help control hair loss in women [1-4].
Minoxidil can cause unwanted facial hair growth in women (or even body hair growth if you use oral minoxidil). That’s why it’s important to apply it correctly and use the lowest effective dose.
