Rogaine Extra Strength vs Regular: What's The Difference

Rogaine® has a well-established reputation in the hair space for men. The brand-name medication (with the active ingredient, minoxidil) has been around for decades, meaning that it (or a generic version of it) has helped fathers, sons, and maybe even grandsons with balding and thinning hair.

Here are some quick facts: Rogaine comes in a couple of different strengths, is available as both a foam and a liquid and has a diverse — but manageable — range of potential side effects.

Here, we’ll explain the differences between Rogaine Extra Strength and regular Rogaine so you can decide which is best for you.

Before we talk about hair loss treatments, it’s important to understand the difference between normal and problematic hair loss.

According to the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD), normal hair loss happens every day.

In fact, you might shed as many as 100 hairs a day on average.

Shedding is part of your hair’s three-phase cycle, which is made up of the anagen, catagen and telogen phases.

What you really need to know is this: at any one time, about 90 percent of your hair should be in the anagen or growth phase, with the remaining follicles being in the catagen phase (declining phase) and the telogen phase (or resting phase).

The experts say that the telogen phase should account for nine percent (or thereabouts) of your follicles, which means that, including the catagen phase, as much as 10 percent of your hair could be either resting or hibernating at any time.

Hair loss, simply, is an interruption of the cycle, typically expressed as a failure to return to the anagen phase from the telogen phase.

When that happens, Rogaine may be an effective solution because it helps to reactive follicles.

Rogaine is the original brand-name version of minoxidil, a medication that, when used correctly, can increase blood flow to blood vessels on the scalp and hair follicles, stimulating growth.

It’s typically available in a topical form as either a liquid or a foam and is applied to the area where you want hair to grow.

Minoxidil is available as an oral tablet, but oral minoxidil is currently not approved for use in the U.S. by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for hair loss (the oral version is approved for high blood pressure). Minoxidil as a topical solution is FDA-approved.

We offer minoxidil foam and minoxidil solution, both at 5% strength.

And if you’re wondering about Rogaine OTC vs prescription, you can get the liquid and foam over the counter online or at most drugstores. Oral minoxidil requires a prescription.

Minoxidil and Rogaine can take a while to work, and results can take a few months — it may be a year before you see effects so it’s important to stick with it.

One study, conducted over a 48-week period, found that minoxidil boosts hair growth and thickness by as much as 18 percent when used as directed.

Though Rogaine (and minoxidil) are generally well-tolerated, minoxidil's side effects can include relatively mild skin irritation (we’ll touch on a potential cause of that irritation soon). Other side effects may include scalp itching or dryness, scaling, flaking, irritation, or burning of the affected area.

More serious side effects include chest pain, lightheadedness, increased or rapid heartbeat, difficulty breathing, swelling of the face or joints, and even weight gain. In rare cases, allergic reactions are possible.

If you experience any of these side effects you should contact a healthcare professional immediately — they may tell you to discontinue use.

You should tell your healthcare provider about any medications for hypertension that you’re using, as blood pressure side effects may come from minoxidil, and those interactions could be dangerous.

Rogaine has been on the market since the ‘90s, as have some of its competitors (like the not-as-well-known Regaine). It is typically available in 2% and 5% concentrations, but there is also minoxidil 10% (extra strength).

Neither formulation requires a prescription, and both are available over the counter (OTC) and online.

Research has shown that 2% minoxidil is less effective at providing the desired results in hair growth than the 5% formulation.

However, the difference between 2% and 5% is irrelevant to the question of Rogaine Men’s products, as Rogaine’s “Extra Strength” classification is not based on concentration but on the delivery system.

Rogaine offers two products for men: a 5% solution and a 5% foam. Rogaine brands their solution “Extra Strength,” and the foam is left as a normal strength default.

It’s likely that Rogaine has branded two as such not because one formulation is more effective but because the solution may carry a higher risk of irritation.

There have been no comparative studies between the liquid and foam delivery methods (at least, none that we could find), but one of the side effects of minoxidil is that it may cause scalp irritation in the form of contact dermatitis.

Some researchers think this reaction may be caused by an alcohol known as propylene glycol. The foam doesn’t contain this ingredient and might be considered a gentler version, but not due to its minoxidil content.

For more, check out our guide to the differences between liquid and foam minoxidil.

Rogaine and minoxidil are just one of severalproducts recommended by the American Academy of Dermatology Association for slowing hair loss and regrowing new hair. A healthcare professional might suggest others either in lieu of or alongside minoxidil.

However, minoxidil and finasteride (more on that in a second) are currently the only two hair loss medications approved by the FDA. Below, you’ll find more information on other hair loss medications.

Finasteride

Another frequently recommended hair regrowth treatment is finasteride.

Finasteride works differently than minoxidil. It’s taken orally and specifically targets the hormone DHT, which is understood to be one of the primary causes of male pattern hair loss (also called androgenetic alopecia).

Finasteride prevents the hormone from being created, and studies have shown that daily use can reduce DHT levels by as much as 70 percent — which is roughly 70 percent better for the survival of your hair than using no treatment at all. In some cases, this treatment option also causes hair regrowth.

Minoxidil and Finasteride Together

Minoxidil and finasteride are a dynamic duo. One 2019 review of research found that oral finasteride and topical minoxidil combined were more effective (but just as safe) as either medication on its own. Our topical finasteride and minoxidil spray is an easy way to use both at once.

Saw Palmetto

There are other DHT fighters on the market, with admittedly less science behind them (mostly because plant-based ingredients typically aren’t as well studied as medication). What we do know is that saw palmetto also reduces DHT levels, according to some studies. It’s not as well-researched as finasteride, but some research findings show it’s well-tolerated.

Our thickening shampoo contains saw palmetto (and it also just happens to smell great).

Our guide to what to look for in a men’s hair loss shampoo has more detailed information if you’re interested.

TL;DR. Rogaine and Rogaine Extra Strength are actually… the same strength (5%). The difference is the application method — one is a foam, and the other is a liquid solution. It’s also available in a 2% strength.

Below, we’ll recap the key points of using rogaine for hair loss.

• Rogaine and Extra Strength Rogaine are both topical solutions that are designed for the treatment of androgenetic alopecia.

• Extra Strength refers to the solution and regular rogaine, in this case, refers to the foam. Both are the same 5% strength, which seems to be the sweet spot when it comes to correcting thinning hair or a receding hairline. Because they’re topical, they can be used as part of a hair care routine and should be applied directly to your scalp when your hair is dry.

• The generic name for Rogaine is minoxidil. Minoxidil works by bringing blood to the scalp and widening the hair follicles — in other words, it’s a vasodilator.

• Your first step should be speaking with a dermatologist or healthcare professional about any new medications you want to use, prescription, OTC, or otherwise.

Want to know more about male pattern baldness treatments? Our DHT and male hair loss guide is a great starting place.

Check out our explainer on how minoxidil and finasteride can work together for more information on two of the most popular treatments for male pattern baldness.