Trioxidil vs. Minoxidil: Comparing the Two Hair Loss Treatments

You’ve narrowed down your hair loss treatment options — a daunting task, no doubt — but you’re still wondering about trioxidil versus minoxidil (FOLIGAIN® versus Rogaine®). We can help.

Minoxidil is a time-tested, FDA-approved medication, and trioxidil is a newer, natural alternative from FOLIGAIN. Their names sound similar (and almost rhyme), but is that where the likeness ends?

Here, we’ll explore the differences between these two treatments — including their effectiveness, ingredients, side effects, and costs — to help you decide which one might be the best fit for your hair regrowth journey.

Minoxidil is the active ingredient and generic version of Rogaine. It’s a well-known and extensively studied hair regrowth treatment that helps slow the progression of male pattern baldness and regrow new hair. 

Minoxidil is the oldest child in the hair loss treatment family. Its topical formulation was the first medication approved by the FDA (U.S. Food and Drug Administration) specifically for treating male pattern baldness (androgenetic alopecia).

Minoxidil embodies that eldest child energy too — it works hard and gets lots of (deserved) praise.

What Does Minoxidil Do? 

Researchers don’t totally understand how it works. But minoxidil seems to reactivate hair follicles, shaking them out of the telogen (resting) phase of the hair growth cycle and prolonging the anagen (growth) phase, where hair gains length.

The medication also dilates blood vessels. As a result, oxygen, blood flow, and nutrients flood the scalp and hair follicles, which can help with hair growth and overall scalp health.

What’s more, minoxidil shortens the resting phase, thereby extending the growth phase of the hair growth cycle.

Topical vs. Oral Minoxidil for Hair Loss

Topical minoxidil is an over-the-counter (OTC) treatment. We offer minoxidil foam and minoxidil solution, both at 5% strength.

Some brands offer a stronger concentration of 10% minoxidil, but research shows that 5% actually has a better safety profile and efficacy.

You may also have heard of oral minoxidil, though it’s not as buzzy as its topical counterpart. The oral version isn’t FDA-approved for hair loss (though it is for high blood pressure), but it’s sometimes prescribed off-label for hair loss.

Some healthcare providers prescribe off-label oral minoxidil to folks who have trouble keeping up with the twice-daily application of topical minoxidil.

Trioxidil is also a topical solution. Like minoxidil, it’s said to promote hair growth while preventing further hair loss.

If you’ve been researching trioxidil, you might have read that it contains minoxidil. That’s actually not true. Trioxidil is a proprietary, drug-free blend of plant extracts developed by the haircare manufacturer FOLIGAIN. It’s not sold by any other brands.

Trioxidil vs. Foligain vs. Rogaine

This can all be confusing because FOLIGAIN does sell products containing both minoxidil and trioxidil. But you can also use the latter on its own, either in a shampoo, conditioner, or treatment spray.

Trioxidil is available in varying strengths — 2%, 5%, and 10% — with different formulas for men and women. Unlike minoxidil, we don’t have enough data to say what’s the most effective strength.

The first part of this question is an easy one. Minoxidil is the only active ingredient in its namesake products. Depending on the formulation, minoxidil products may contain inactive ingredients like water, ethanol, or propylene glycol.

These other ingredients are there to help the solution dissolve and enhance its ability to get into the hair follicle (all good things).

Minoxidil foam doesn’t contain propylene glycol (an alcohol), which may be helpful for some people from a side effect standpoint, which will get to in a bit.

Trioxidil contains various herbal ingredients, including:

• Trichogen, a blend of herbal extracts)

• Procapil, a patented mix of plant compounds and vitamins that can reduce DHT (more on this below)

• Capixl, a complex of red clover extract and peptides that may help prevent hair miniaturization

• Pea sprout extract

• Copper peptides

The other ingredients vary depending on which trioxidil product you’re using. Some formulations include minoxidil, azelaic acid, and other plant extracts.

Like our hair care products, trioxidil products don’t contain parabens, sulfates, or phthalates.

Trioxidil and minoxidil may have similar-sounding names and share a goal (helping people hold onto their hair). But there are some pretty significant differences between the two, which we’ll explain below.

Minoxidil vs. Trioxidil Side Effects

Minoxidil is generally well-tolerated, and side effects tend to be minimal. The most common topical minoxidil side effects are:

• Skin or scalp irritation 

• Scalp itchiness (sometimes called pruritus)

• Slight burning sensation

• Skin rash or redness

Minoxidil could also cause unwanted hair growth on the face in areas that come into contact with the ingredient. So be careful of how and where you apply it. 

If you’re looking for minoxidil alternatives because you’ve experienced irritation or redness after using topical minoxidil in the past, the reaction may not be from minoxidil itself. Instead, researchers think it could be from propylene glycol, which is present in some minoxidil formulations.

Our minoxidil foam doesn’t contain propylene glycol, but our liquid solution does.

Natural Isn’t Always Better

Natural ingredients are often thought to have fewer side effects, but that’s not always true. Because of the lack of research, we don’t know much about the potential side effects of trioxidil. 

That said, it’s always possible to react to a particular ingredient within the formula. The brand says to discontinue use and contact your dermatologist or another healthcare professional if you experience irritation, redness, or discomfort.

Trioxidil vs. Minoxidil Cost

Trioxidil is generally more expensive than minoxidil. There are two reasons for this:

• Minoxidil is generic, which means it often has a lower price point than its brand-name counterpart. There’s no generic version of trioxidil. 

• Trioxidil is only produced by FOLIGAIN, whereas minoxidil’s prices must be kept competitive because many companies make and sell it.

For context, a two-ounce bottle of 10% trioxidil retails for just under $27, whereas the same size bottle of our minoxidil solution costs $15. If used consistently (which is key for efficacy), this is about a one-month supply.

FOLIGAIN also recommends using all three trioxidil products together (FOLIGAIN Triple Action shampoo, conditioner, and topical spray) for the best outcome — and this can get pricey.

Trioxidil vs. Minoxidil Effect on DHT

Dihydrotestosterone (DHT) is the hormone that causes male pattern baldness. Some men are genetically more sensitive to the effects of DHT, and when DHT binds to receptors in their hair follicles, it leads to thinning hair and balding.

Certain ingredients and medications act as DHT blockers, preventing the hormone from affecting hair follicles. Minoxidil doesn’t block DHT, but finasteride (another FDA-approved medication for male pattern hair loss) does.

If you want to combine minoxidil with another product proven to lower DHT levels, our topical finasteride & minoxidil spray might be your best bet. Research has shown that the two ingredients together are even more effective than when used alone.

The jury’s out on whether trioxidil can effectively block DHT, because (you guessed it) we just don’t have enough research yet.

It does contain natural ingredients like Panax ginseng that could theoretically block DHT. But because the formulation is proprietary, we don’t know how much of each ingredient is actually present or if it’s enough to be effective.

The application process for trioxidil and minoxidil is similar, except trioxidil comes in a spray whereas minoxidil is a solution (with a dropper) or a foam.

When using minoxidil:

• Apply half a capful of foam or one milliliter of the solution directly to your dry scalp in areas where you see thinning or hair loss. 

• Wash your hands when you’re done.

• Repeat this process twice daily.

When applying trioxidil:

• Once daily, spray the treatment four times directly onto the scalp in areas with hair loss or thinning. 

• Massage the product onto your scalp for several minutes.

• Leave it on for at least four hours or until the next time you wash your hair.

• Wash your hands after use.

You can learn more about how to apply minoxidil for hair growth in our guide.

If you’re using a pure trioxidil product that doesn’t contain minoxidil, then yes, you can use trioxidil and minoxidil together. According to the brand, this may even be encouraged.

But if you’re considering using a FOLIGAIN product that already contains trioxidil and minoxidil, adding even more minoxidil to the mix isn’t a good idea. Using too much minoxidil won’t be any more beneficial for your hair and could increase the risk of side effects.

If you’re open to something new without as much research behind it or you want to avoid minoxidil for any reason, trioxidil is an interesting option — but it comes with many unknowns.

Minoxidil, on the other hand, has been used specifically to treat hair loss for over 30 years (it gained FDA approval in 1988), which makes it a better option if you want something proven to work.

Research shows that 5% minoxidil is more effective than 2% formulations for treating androgenetic alopecia in men (though 2% may work well for female pattern hair loss).

In an older study, about 84 percent of people who used minoxidil for a year found it effective to some degree.

The only clinical data we have for trioxidil is sponsored by the brand, but it found that 76% of trioxidil users had less hair loss after four months of use.

There are a few key things to consider when deciding between trioxidil or minoxidil hair regrowth treatments:

• Research. Minoxidil is an FDA-approved treatment for hair loss with extensive research and over 30 years of clinical use. Trioxidil, while promising, has significantly less research backing its efficacy.

• Ingredients. Minoxidil has a single active ingredient, whereas trioxidil contains a proprietary blend of herbal extracts.

• Cost and availability. While both products are over-the-counter, Minoxidil is widely available and more affordable because multiple manufacturers make generic versions of it. Trioxidil, on the other hand, is exclusively produced by FOLIGAIN, making it more expensive.

If you’re interested in using minoxidil but aren’t sure where to start, our guide to minoxidil foam versus liquid can help you choose.

You can also consult a licensed healthcare practitioner following our online hair loss consultation to access prescription treatments.