Vegamour vs. Minoxidil: How Do They Compare?

Vegamour versus minoxidil — which of these popular hair loss treatments should you choose?

Even if you’re not totally sure what Vegamour is, you’ve probably seen the telltale rose tincture bottle somewhere on your social feeds. Once you’ve figured out it’s a hair growth product, you might wonder how Vegamour compares to minoxidil.

With Vegamour’s promise of natural, vegan ingredients and minoxidil’s long-standing reputation backed by (lots of) clinical research, it can be hard to decide which is right for you.

Well, maybe you don’t have to choose. We’ll discuss everything you need to know about Vegamour versus minoxidil, including efficacy, price, and what the science has to say about each.

Vegamour is a cruelty-free, vegan haircare brand that sells products for the scalp, hair, eyelashes, and eyebrows.

The brand offers shampoo, conditioner, biotin supplements, and products designed to boost shine or slow the effects of aging.

But if you’re wondering how Vegamour stacks up against minoxidil, you’re probably thinking of Vegamour’s lines of Gro and Gro+ products — specifically, the Gro serum, which is the most similar in application to topical minoxidil.

Here, we’ll compare topical minoxidil to Vegamour’s Gro Hair Serum (though oral minoxidil also exists, and Vegamour has other Gro products, like shampoo).

How Does Vegamour Work?

The Vegamour Gro+ hair growth serum has several key ingredients, including:

• Biotin

• Caffeine

• Turmeric

• Mung bean

• Red clover

It’s a water-based formula (water is the first ingredient), and it contains other ingredients like alcohol (which acts as a preservative).

These ingredients are chosen for their potential to promote hair growth and overall hair health. The brand says that its products include organic plant actives that have been clinically shown to help improve visible hair growth, help reduce fall-out, and repair hair follicle damage.

Research on Vegamour for Hair Loss

There isn’t a ton of research on Vegamour (which isn’t unusual when it comes to natural or plant-based products). But certain ingredients in it may help with hair loss or encourage hair density.

• Caffeine. A 2007 study found that caffeine partially blocked the effects of DHT (a hormone responsible for male pattern hair loss) on hair follicles, but the study was done in vitro rather than on humans or animals.

• Turmeric. Turmeric contains a chemical called curcumin, and some research supports the idea that this compound can increase growth factors associated with hair growth.

• Red clover. Other older animal studies suggest that red clover may inhibit the effects of DHT, but the study was on the ingredient taken orally.

Is Vegamour FDA-Approved?

No, vegamour isn’t considered a drug, so it’s not FDA-approved. The brand’s products fall into the category of either personal care products (cosmetics) or supplements.

While the U.S. Food and Drug Administration regulates supplements, these products don’t go through the same approval process as medications (including minoxidil).

There are currently no known clinical trials looking specifically at the effects of Vegamour. However, statistics from a consumer study on 20 people using the Gro serum (conducted by the brand) found that 95 percent of participants noticed less hair fall-out.

Topical minoxidil, the active ingredient in Rogaine®, was approved by the FDA in 1988 specifically for treating male pattern baldness (androgenic alopecia). More than 35 years later, it’s still among the most widely used and effective treatments for hair loss.

Minoxidil is also sometimes available as a pill for hair loss. But this is technically an off-label use, as oral minoxidil currently only has FDA approval for treating high blood pressure.

How Does Minoxidil Work?

Researchers still don’t fully understand how minoxidil works to promote hair growth. But there are a few key things about its mechanism of action that we do know:

• Minoxidil is a vasodilator. This means it widens blood vessels. As a result, the medication increases blood flow to the scalp and brings oxygen and nutrients to hair follicles.

• Minoxidil affects hair growth stages. It shortens the telogen (resting) phase of the hair growth cycle and extends the anagen (growth) phase. This is crucial for forming new hairs.

• Minoxidil increases the size of hair follicles. Larger follicles result in thicker, fuller hair.

Since minoxidil doesn’t affect hormone levels, it works well for multiple causes of hair loss, including androgenetic alopecia (run-of-the-mill baldness), traction alopecia, and telogen effluvium.

Research on Minoxidil for Hair Loss

There are over 30 years of research on minoxidil for hair loss, so there’s lots of data to draw on.

For guys who love good statistics (pie chart stans, unite), here are some of the standout findings on minoxidil:

• A 2004 study looked at nearly 1,000 men who used minoxidil for hair growth. After a year, 84 percent of participants saw hair regrowth and a decrease in shedding.

• Topical minoxidil comes in different concentrations, including 2% ( typically used for female pattern hair loss) and 5% strengths. Our minoxidil foam and minoxidil liquid solution are both 5%.

• Sometimes, you may also see it in a 10% strength. But research shows that 5% topical minoxidil is actually slightly more effective than 10%.

• Newer research from 2022 has also found that oral minoxidil is a “safe and effective treatment in hair loss from different causes.”

Compare minoxidil foam versus liquid in our blog.

Is Vegamour better than Rogaine or generic minoxidil?

No study has directly compared Vegamour and minoxidil, so it’s hard to say definitively which hair loss treatment is better.

If you’re looking for a deeply studied solution to hair loss, you’ll probably prefer minoxidil, which is proven to slow hair loss and even help regrow hair. However, if you’re interested in a non-medicated, plant-based option, you may prefer Vegamour.

The overlapping portion of a Vegamour-minoxidil venn diagram would show that both topical products address hair loss. But the two have many differences, which we’ll cover below.

Vegamour vs. Minoxidil Ingredients

Does Vegamour contain minoxidil? It does not. The two products have entirely separate ingredients.

As mentioned, Vegamour contains plant-based ingredients like turmeric, caffeine, biotin, and a blend of mung bean and red clover. The formula also includes seed extracts, linalool, glycol, glycerin, alcohol, citral, and more.

Vegamour is a proprietary formula, so we don’t know exactly how much of each ingredient is in it. But we do know that all ingredients are vegan and have been clinically tested.

The active ingredient in minoxidil products is (as you may have guessed) minoxidil. Depending on the formula you get, you might see other inactive ingredients like propylene glycol.

Minoxidil vs. Vegamour Application

Vegamour and topical minoxidil are both applied directly to the hair and scalp. The main difference is that Vegamour is applied once daily to wet or dry hair, and minoxidil should be applied twice daily to clean, dry hair in areas you see thinning.

Minoxidil works best when used two times a day. If you’re forgetting to keep up with your routine, you may want to ask your healthcare provider if another hair loss treatment like oral finasteride (an FDA-approved medication that blocks the conversion of testosterone to DHT) or oral minoxidil is a better choice.

Long-Term Results of Vegamour vs. Minoxidil

If you’re not sensitive to any of the ingredients in Vegamour, it’s likely safe for long-term use. That said, we just don’t have the same long-term research findings to draw on (Vegamour was founded in 2016).

Minoxidil is safe for long-term use and is meant to be used indefinitely to continue seeing results.

Minoxidil vs. Vegamour Price

Minoxidil (generic Rogaine) typically costs around $20 for a one-month supply — our minoxidil liquid solution is $15, and our minoxidil foam is $20 a month.

A one-month supply of Vegamour Gro serum is $64, though if you subscribe for delivery every 30 days, the price is $49.

What about Vegamour vs. Rogaine prices? With brand-name Rogaine, you’re looking at around $30 to $45 a month — still less than Vegamour.

Minoxidil is generally well-tolerated, and any side effects tend to be mild and rare.

However, potential side effects of topical minoxidil include:

• Skin or scalp irritation

• Scalp itchiness (pruritus)

• Slight burning sensation

• Skin rash or redness

• Unwanted hair growth (why it’s important to use minoxidil only on areas where you want to see hair growth)

The Vegamour website says there are no known harmful side effects or long-term health risks associated with anything the brand puts in its products.

However, citrus ingredients like limonene and citral (both of which are found in Vegamour) can sometimes cause irritation or an allergic reaction. Research shows that citral is a well-known contact allergen that can be irritating for some people and that a contact allergy to oxidized limonene is common.

If you have sensitive skin or know you react to citrus or citrus peels (some folks notice their skin feels weird after sipping a margarita or another citrusy drink), do a patch test before applying Vegamour to your scalp.

Without concrete studies on Vegamour’s side effects, it’s always worth checking the reviews to see what people loved and where others had issues (anecdotally, at least).

There’s no official guideline on whether you can use Vegamour and minoxidil together — but since they work differently, it’s likely safe.

Our rule of thumb is that if you’re unsure, ask. It’s always better to check with a dermatologist or other healthcare professional before using Vegamour and minoxidil together (or any other combination of products).

Another thing to note is that in some cases, using a different topical product before applying minoxidil can interfere with minoxidil’s absorption into the scalp. So if you’re planning to use both, try spacing out the applications of each.

Wondering if Vegamour is better than Rogaine (minoxidil)? It comes down to your preferences and what you’re hoping to achieve with your haircare routine.

Here’s the TL;DR on comparing the two:

• Natural vs. proven. Vegamour offers a natural alternative to medicated hair loss treatment with plant-based ingredients, while minoxidil is a clinically proven solution with extensive research supporting its effectiveness.

• Ease of application. Vegamour Gro Hair Serum can be used on wet or dry hair once daily, whereas minoxidil calls for twice-daily application to clean, dry hair for optimal results.

• Cost and availability. Minoxidil is a more affordable option, typically costing around $20 a month. Vegamour has a higher price point of $64 a month, with the potential for a reduced price through a subscription. Both are available over-the-counter and in certain stores (for example, some Vegamour products are sold at Sephora).

If you’re dealing with hair thinning or want to explore minoxidil treatment, consider booking a consultation through our online platform.

We’ll connect you with a licensed healthcare provider who can determine whether you’re experiencing pattern hair loss or another issue and guide you on the best treatment options available for healthier hair.