Rogaine® (minoxidil) is a topical treatment for hair loss that is thought to work by increasing blood flow to the hair follicles. It’s available as a liquid or foam, and it must be used consistently to maintain hair regrowth.
Rogaine
*image for illustrative purpose only
Rogaine
*image for illustrative purpose only
Rogaine® is a topical treatment approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) used to promote hair growth and slow hair loss. Its active ingredient is minoxidil. It is primarily used for androgenetic alopecia (male and female pattern baldness) but may also be beneficial for other hair loss conditions.
Rogaine is thought to work by increasing blood flow to the hair follicles, making the growth phase of the hair cycle longer and stimulating hair regrowth. It is available in 2% and 5% formulations, in liquid or foam form, and it’s typically applied once or twice daily.
Consistent, long-term use is necessary to maintain results. After stopping treatment, hair loss generally returns within a few months.
Rogaine works best when used early in hair loss and requires at least three to six months of consistent application to see noticeable results. Talking to your healthcare provider may help to determine if Rogaine is the right treatment for your hair loss.
Topical minoxidil is available in many formulations, including some meant for use in women. The information below is specifically about Men's Rogaine Extra Strength Unscented® and may not be accurate for other formulations of topical minoxidil.
Men's Rogaine Extra Strength Unscented (minoxidil 5%) is used:
To regrow hair on the top of the scalp
Vasodilator
Stop use and ask a doctor if:
Chest pain, rapid heartbeat, faintness, or dizziness occurs
Sudden, unexplained weight gain occurs
Your hands or feet swell
Scalp irritation or redness occurs
Unwanted facial hair growth occurs
You do not see hair regrowth in 4 months
The price of Rogaine varies depending on the formulation, quantity, and where you buy it. The average retail price of one bottle of Rogaine 5% solution (a month’s supply) is about $33, but coupons may be available to bring down the price.
Topical minoxidil (the active ingredient in Rogaine) is also available without a prescription from pharmacies and online retailers, including through the Hims platform, where minoxidil solution costs $15 per month and minoxidil foam costs between $19 and $30 per month depending on the subscription plan you choose.
Rogaine is available over-the-counter at many pharmacies and via online retailers. You don’t need a prescription to get Rogaine.
Topical minoxidil is also available in many of the same locations. Hims sells both minoxidil solution and minoxidil foam.
For external use only
For use by men only
Flammable: Keep away from fire or flame
Do not use if:
You are a woman
Your amount of hair loss is different than that shown on the carton or your hair loss is on the front of the scalp. 5% minoxidil topical solution is not intended for frontal baldness or receding hairline
You have no family history of hair loss
Your hair loss is sudden and/or patchy
You do not know the reason for your hair loss
You are under 18 years of age. Do not use on babies and children
Your scalp is red, inflamed, infected, irritated, or painful
You use other medicines on the scalp
Ask a doctor before use if you have heart disease
When using this product:
Do not apply on other parts of the body
Avoid contact with the eyes. In case of accidental contact, rinse eyes with large amounts of cool tap water
Some people have experienced changes in hair color and/or texture
It takes time to regrow hair. Results may occur at 2 months with twice a day usage. For some men, you may need to use this product for at least 4 months before you see results
The amount of hair regrowth is different for each person. This product will not work for all men
Keep out of reach of children. If swallowed, get medical help or contact a Poison Control Center right away
Pregnancy and breastfeeding: May be harmful if used when pregnant or breastfeeding
There are other options for treating hair loss and male pattern baldness besides Rogaine or another topical minoxidil, although some options may be more effective than others. They include:
Oral minoxidil (prescribed off-label at the discretion of a healthcare provider)
Platelet-rich plasma therapy for hair loss
Targeted hair-care products such as thickening shampoo
Combination products, such as topical finasteride and minoxidil spray (prescribed at the discretion of a healthcare provider)
Biotin and other supplements that support healthy hair
Rogaine or a comparable topical minoxidil can start working right away, but most people start to notice the effects — such as reduced hair shedding and new hair growth — within two to four months. More significant results usually become visible after a full year of treatment.
Rogaine (minoxidil) 5% is a stronger form of the medication that’s generally considered more effective at regrowing hair and stopping hair loss than Rogaine 2%. A landmark randomized clinical trial compared the effects of minoxidil 2%, minoxidil 5%, and a placebo in men with pattern hair loss and found that the participants who used the 5% solution saw results sooner and had significantly more hair regrowth after about a year of treatment than those who used the 2% solution.
Both Rogaine foam and liquid work well for treating hair loss. There’s no evidence to show that one works better than the other. Whether you choose to use the foam or liquid really comes down to personal preference. The foam is typically easier to apply to larger areas of the scalp and dries quicker, while the liquid may be easier to apply to very thick or long hair.
Yes. Rogaine or topical minoxidil and finasteride work well together. In fact, using both can be more effective for treating hair loss than using just one or the other. While Rogaine is a topical treatment that increases blood flow to the hair follicles, finasteride is a prescription oral medication that blocks the production of dihydrotestosterone (DHT), a key contributor to pattern hair loss. Hims also offers access to a combination Topical Finasteride and Minoxidil Spray.
*This information is from the label for Men's Rogaine Extra Strength Unscented®. See the Full Prescribing Information for more complete information. Minoxidil, the active ingredient in Men Rogaine Extra Strength Unscented, may also be the active ingredient in other medications, and this information may not be accurate for all medications that include the active ingredient minoxidil.
GoodRx. (2023). Minoxidil (Rogaine): uses, side effects, dosage, and reviews. https://www.goodrx.com/men-s-rogaine/what-is
Olsen EA, et al. (2002). A randomized clinical trial of 5% topical minoxidil versus 2% topical minoxidil and placebo in the treatment of androgenetic alopecia in men. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12196747/