When is the Best Time to Take Finasteride for Hair Growth?

You’ve probably noticed that when you get a prescription, you’ll also get instructions for when to take said medication. These instructions help ensure you always have a consistent level in your body to do the germ-fighting work. 

Consistency is key for most medications, as it helps prevent forgotten doses and optimize the drug’s effectiveness. The same goes for finasteride, a hair loss medication often prescribed for male pattern baldness (androgenetic alopecia). 

If you’re looking into hair loss treatment options and land on finasteride, you probably have questions about how to take it to get the desired results. We’re covering how finasteride works, what makes it a great choice for hair loss, possible side effects, and the best time to take it.

If you’re ready to use finasteride for hair loss, you need to know the basics of how it works to stop hair loss and improve growth. It all starts with a hormone called DHT. 

Your body makes dihydrotestosterone (DHT) as a byproduct of testosterone. It serves a critical purpose in your childhood development — it’s responsible for the differentiation of male reproductive organs — but that friendship can turn a little sour as you age. 

That’s because DHT also plays a significant role in male pattern baldness (AKA male pattern hair loss). It shortens your hair growth cycle and ultimately shrinks hair follicles. 

Male androgenetic alopecia is the most common form of hair loss in men, affecting 30 to 50 percent by age 50 — and that’s where finasteride comes in as a hair loss treatment. 

This medication, sold as a generic and is the active ingredient in the prescription oral hair loss medication Propecia®, reduces DHT levels in the body.

Here’s what to know about when to start taking finasteride, including dosage information, the best time of day to take it, how to store it, and what to do if you miss a dose.

Start at the First Sign of Hair Loss

The earlier you begin taking finasteride after noticing hair loss, the more effective the medication will be at preserving and protecting your hair. 

It’s typically most effective if you start taking it as soon as you see hair loss. If you’re not sure it’s noticeable, ask a kid in your life — they won’t hesitate to tell you when something’s up with your hair…or your outfit, or your body.

If you notice any thinning or hair loss, it’s a good time to start taking finasteride.

Manage Your Expectations

Though finasteride is highly effective, it’s important to have realistic expectations. Unless you’re putting on a wig or hat or coloring in thinning spots with a Sharpie daily, there’s currently no “quick fix” for filling in lighter patches. 

Furthermore, finasteride used for the treatment of androgenic alopecia doesn’t reduce DHT by 100 percent. Your hair loss can be slowed, but it won’t necessarily stop completely.

So if you have advanced hair loss — obvious thinning across the entire scalp or a bald spot, for example — it’s unlikely finasteride will restore all your hair. 

Many men with hair loss experience regrowth after using finasteride, but it’s not guaranteed. In a 10-year study of 523 Japanese men, 91 percent experienced improvements in hair growth while using 1mg finasteride daily.

Be Patient

Finasteride — and other hair loss medications — usually require several months of consistent use before you can see noticeable results. 

They say “patience is a virtue” for a reason. Taking progress photos of your hair each week to observe incremental chances can be encouraging.

Once you start seeing effects, they should last as long as you continue taking the medication. In the 10-year study mentioned above, 99 percent of the men had no worsening of hair loss during treatment.

An additional study from 2003 found that ​​90 percent of men treated with finasteride either maintained or sustained visible improvement in scalp coverage over five years. Meanwhile, 75 percent of those who received the placebo showed visible deterioration in scalp coverage.

Understanding how finasteride works for hair loss is important, but it’s not the only thing you need to know. Let’s break down finasteride side effects, potential risks, and intended use so you can make an informed decision about whether this is the right medication for you.

Finasteride Side Effects

Side effects of finasteride are rare but possible, as with any medication. 

The most common finasteride side effects are sexual, and they typically resolve quickly after stopping the medication.

A 2012 review on finasteride and sexual side effects showed that adverse sexual effects affected 2.1 to 3.8 percent of those studied. Erectile dysfunction was most commonly reported, followed by issues with ejaculation and decreased sex drive or loss of libido. 

While these issues can affect your life, finasteride has very few, if any, serious side effects. You can learn more about these, including post-finasteride syndrome (PFS) that continues even after stopping the medication, in our comprehensive guide to finasteride side effects.

Finasteride Is Approved for Use in Men

Topical finasteride is approved for men only, and pregnant women shouldn’t handle the pills due to their teratogenic effects (the potential to cause birth defects).

If you use topical finasteride spray at night and share a bed with a partner who’s pregnant or trying to become pregnant, be sure to wash your hands after applying the medication. Also, use separate pillows — and if you’re trying to make that baby, remind her not to touch your hair.

You’d think hair loss would be pretty black and white — you’re losing hair, or you’re not. But it’s actually not that clear-cut, especially since you can expect a “normal” hair loss of between 50 and 100 strands per day.

Knowing the common signs of hair loss is key because the earlier you recognize what’s happening, the sooner you can start treating it.

If you’re not sure you’re losing hair, you can look back at pictures to investigate how your hair (and probably other things) has changed in photos over the past few years. Or perhaps you can just start paying closer attention to the hair on your pillow and in the shower drain. In some cases, you might realize you’re experiencing hair loss when your barber or hair stylist mentions something.

If you’re trying to figure this out, there are some common signs of hair loss to look out for:

• A receding hairline, often beginning with temple hair loss 

• Noticeable thinning of hair with lack of density, known as diffuse thinning

• Being able to see more of your scalp

• Excessive hair loss after showering or brushing

• A difference in how your hair looks in photos 

• Hair that takes longer than usual to grow (average growth is about one centimeter per month)

To dive deeper, check out our guide to the early signs of balding.

If you’re asking when to take finasteride morning or night, the choice is yours and yours alone.

The best time of day to take finasteride is whatever time you’ll remember to take it consistently. For some, that may be first thing in the morning or whenever you take your vitamins. Others may prefer to take finasteride with dinner or before bed. 

Although there is no recommended time of day when it's best to take finasteride, try to take it at a consistent time daily and avoid missing doses. This consistency helps with the medication’s absorption, metabolism, and excretion.

If you're not good at remembering to take your medication at the same time each day, it can be helpful to set an alarm. 

What If I Miss a Finasteride Dose?

Don’t sweat it if you miss a dose of finasteride.

If it’s been fewer than six hours since you were supposed to take it, take your finasteride as soon as you remember. If it’s been more than six hours, just take it the next day at your usual time — and don’t double up on doses to make up for the missed one.

There are a few things to keep in mind about taking finasteride for hair loss. These include dosage considerations and other steps you can take alongside finasteride to increase its effects.

Pay Attention to Dosage

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved finasteride for hair loss at a dose of 1 milligram (mg) once daily, taken with or without meals. As mentioned, you should take it around the same time every day.

Finasteride for benign prostate hyperplasia (or BPH, an enlarged prostate) is typically sold under its original brand name, Proscar®. Higher doses of finasteride, usually 5mg once a day, are approved for treating BPH. 

Taking a higher dosage for hair loss won’t increase the effects, but it will increase the risk of side effects.

Store Finasteride Properly

Finasteride should be stored at room temperature, like in a medicine cabinet in your bathroom — but we know this temperature varies widely depending on whether you’re asking your mom or that one friend who’s obsessed with saving on his heating bill.

Specifically, the medication should be stored between 59 to 86 degrees Fahrenheit and, like all prescription drugs, out of reach of children. Keep the container closed and avoid contact with moisture.

Know Finasteride Isn’t Preventative

We applaud you for being proactive. But there’s no evidence that taking finasteride before seeing hair loss does any good, even if baldness runs in your family.

Start taking finasteride at the first sign of hair loss — but not before.

Consider Combining Finasteride and Minoxidil

Though finasteride is effective when it flies solo, the best finasteride results are often seen when it’s combined with topical minoxidil, which is also FDA-approved for hair loss. 

Finasteride and minoxidil (generic for Rogaine®) are like the power couple of the hair loss world: Each is impressive on its own, but they're nearly unstoppable when paired together.

Minoxidil and finasteride complement each other but work differently.

Minoxidil comes as a 5% minoxidil foam or a 2% minoxidil liquid solution, which are both applied directly to the affected area(s) on your scalp. Unlike finasteride, minoxidil isn’t a DHT blocker. Instead, it increases blood flow to the scalp, flooding it with oxygen and nutrients needed for hair health. 

A 2019 meta-analysis on the efficacy of minoxidil and finasteride found that the combo of oral finasteride and topical minoxidil was more effective and as safe as using one or the alone.

Both medications can also be used topically. Studies show that new hair count is similar in people treated with topical finasteride versus finasteride tablets.

For more info, read our guide to topical finasteride.

Use Thickening or Volumizing Shampoo

You’re already using shampoo, so you might as well make it work even harder. Yes, this is a good time to finally say goodbye to your two-in-one shampoo and conditioner.

In addition to finasteride, try a volumizing shampoo and conditioner or a thickening shampoo.

Our thickening shampoo contains saw palmetto, a plant extract that works like finasteride and can partially block DHT. Volumizing products contain ingredients like biotin, argan oil, and rice protein to strengthen and add volume to hair.

Want to learn more? Our guide to finasteride for hair loss dives deep into the topic.

Here’s a recap on the best time of day to take finasteride:

• It’s a personal preference. When to take finasteride is ultimately up to you. Take it at whatever time of day is convenient — as long as you can realistically take it at that time each day.

• Use the correct dosage for your needs. Finasteride is FDA-approved at 1mg for hair loss and can be taken with or without food. Higher-dose finasteride tablets (typically 5mg) are intended to treat BPH, a type of prostate enlargement. If 1mg works for hair loss, that does not mean taking more is better  — in fact, it increases your risk of side effects. 

• It plays well with minoxidil. Taking the two together is a popular combination therapy for hair loss. One easy way to pair finasteride with minoxidil is to use our topical finasteride & minoxidil spray (now there’s a two-in-one product we stan).

• It’s a long game. It’ll take several months before you start noticing the effects of daily finasteride. The FDA says daily use for three months or more is necessary before you can see benefits. And remember, it's more about stopping further hair loss than promoting new hair growth (though that can happen). If you’re not seeing further hair loss at the three-month mark, you’re on the right track. For more info on how long it takes to see improvement, check out our guide to the finasteride results timeline.

• Consistency is key. After you start taking finasteride, you’ll need to use it every day to maintain the results and keep your hair. Don’t sweat the occasional missed dose, but try not to make a habit of it.

If you have questions about the side effects of finasteride or when to take it, seek medical advice from a dermatologist or other healthcare professional. 

You can begin of exploring whether finasteride or another hair loss treatment is right for you by first taking our free online hair loss quiz.