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Rogaine is the brand-name version of minoxidil, an over-the-counter topical drug that can help treat hair loss. However, it can take some time before a person sees any benefits.
- Best foam for men: Men’s Rogaine 5% Minoxidil Unscented Foam | Skip to review
- Best solution for men: Men’s Rogaine 5% Minoxidil Solution | Skip to review
- Best foam for women: Women’s Rogaine 5% Minoxidil Unscented Foam | Skip to review
- Best solution for women: Women’s Rogaine 2% Minoxidil Solution | Skip to review
We refer to “women,” “men,” or both to align with how companies market their products, but there is no need to stick to one type or the other. A person should choose the product that best suits their needs.
Rogaine is the brand-name version of minoxidil, and it is available without a prescription.
Researchers
According to the company, Rogaine is the first brand that has Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval to help hair growth in both males and females.
The company started selling minoxidil hair regrowth products for males in 1988 and launched a product for females in 1992. Currently, the company offers minoxidil in strengths of 2% and 5%, as well as foam and unscented versions.
Rogaine is a topical treatment, which means a person applies it to their scalp.
Researchers
Minoxidil shortens the telogen phase and encourages hair to enter the anagen phase, in which the hair begins to regrow. This means people may experience extra hair shedding when they start treatment, but the topical extends the anagen phase, meaning people should see more hair growth.
People often notice that their hair becomes longer and thicker when they are using minoxidil than when they were not using it.
When the topical product makes contact with scalp sulfotransferase, it turns into minoxidil sulfate, the active form of the product. Different people have different levels of sulfotransferase activity, which may explain why some people have faster or better results.
However, most people who use minoxidil will not notice much difference until they have undergone treatment for around 8 weeks. People will notice the most improvement in hair growth after 4 months.
All Rogaine hair growth products are available over the counter, which means a person does not need a prescription.
However, people who are experiencing hair loss may wish to contact a healthcare professional for advice on which treatment strategies best suit their needs.
Please note that the writer of this article has not tried these products. All information presented is purely research-based and correct at the time of publication.
Medical News Today follows a strict product selection and vetting process. Learn more.
Best foam for men: Men’s Rogaine 5% Minoxidil Unscented Foam
- List price: around $44
- Size: 2.11 ounces (oz)
- Usage: twice daily
- Safe for: color-treated and permed hair
This foam product may be suitable for people who prefer a more convenient and less messy application. The company states that the foam is heat-activated and involves no mess and that the company designed it to fit into a person’s busy routine.
This product is unscented, and its active ingredient is 5% minoxidil. Other ingredients include botanical extracts and an emollient, which may help condition the hair and scalp, and alpha hydroxy acid (AHA), which exfoliates the skin and helps keep hair follicles open.
Rogaine states that this product is suitable for color-treated and permed hair.
How to use Rogaine foam
A person should use this product only on damp or towel-dried hair, twice per day.
After dividing the hair into rows to increase scalp exposure, people should dispense half a capful of foam into their hands.
Then, they should massage the foam into the areas where they notice hair thinning and leave the hair to air dry before styling it.
Best solution for men: Men’s Rogaine 5% Minoxidil Solution
- List price: around $44
- Size: 2 fluid ounces (fl oz)
- Usage: twice daily
- Safe for: color-treated and permed hair
This product is the same as the Men’s Rogaine Foam but in solution form.
The company recommends that people use this product every day for the best results. While the solution may not be as convenient to use as the foam, Rogaine claims that this product is still simple to use and will fit into busy routines.
Unlike the foam version, this product does not contain AHA.
Rogaine states that this product is suitable for color-treated and permed hair.
How to use Rogaine solution
Each bottle comes with a dropper. People should apply 1 milliliter (mL) of solution to their scalp using the dropper, twice per day
Then, they should massage the solution into their hair, allow the hair to dry, and style it as usual.
Using the solution more than twice per day will not increase results.
Best foam for women: Women’s Rogaine 5% Minoxidil Unscented Foam
- List price: around $44
- Size: 2.11 oz
- Usage: once daily
- Safe for: color-treated and permed hair
This product contains 5% minoxidil, botanical extracts, emollient, and AHA. It has the same formulation as the Men’s Unscented Foam but has FDA approval for use in females.
This foam may be best for people who prefer a more convenient and less messy way of applying the product to their scalp. Because it is unscented, it may also appeal to those who are sensitive to fragrances.
Like other Rogaine products, this foam is suitable for use on color-treated and permed hair.
How to use Rogaine foam
People should apply this product only to damp or towel-dried hair.
It is important to part the hair into rows to increase scalp exposure. Then, a person should massage half a capful of foam onto the thinning areas.
After leaving the hair to air dry, people can style it as usual.
Best solution for women: Women’s Rogaine 2% Minoxidil Solution
- List price: around $37
- Size: 2 fl oz
- Usage: twice daily
- Safe for: color-treated and permed hair
This solution contains 2% minoxidil as its active ingredient, which is a smaller percentage than in the version for males.
This product is suitable only for people with thinning hair on top of the scalp. People with patchy or more severe hair loss may not experience any results and should contact a healthcare professional for more advice.
Like all Rogaine products, this solution is suitable for use on color-treated and permed hair.
How to use Rogaine solution
This product comes with a dropper, which people can use to measure out 1 mL of solution.
People should apply 1 mL of the solution to damp or towel-dried hair and massage it into the scalp. After leaving the hair to air dry, they can style it as usual.
The following table compares Rogaine’s products on price, usage, and more.
| List price | Size | Usage | Safe for | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Men’s Foam | around $44 | 2.11 oz | twice daily | color-treated and permed hair |
| Men’s Solution | around $44 | 2 fl oz | twice daily | color-treated and permed hair |
| Women’s Foam | around $44 | 2.11 oz | once daily | color-treated and permed hair |
| Women’s Solution | around $37 | 2 fl oz | twice daily | color-treated and permed hair |
These products have FDA approval for use in both males and females with hair loss or hair thinning.
According to the FDA, the company’s minoxidil solution for males is suitable for use in people with androgenic alopecia, or male pattern baldness.
The products for females are suitable only for those who experience hair thinning at the top of the scalp due to a genetic hair loss condition, androgenic alopecia. This condition can affect both males and females.
While minoxidil has FDA approval only for androgenic alopecia, there is evidence that it can help promote hair growth in people with
- alopecia areata
- hair loss due to chemotherapy
- scarring alopecia
- monilethrix
- hereditary alopecia
Minoxidil may also be beneficial in people who have received a hair transplant.
However, people with any condition other than androgenic alopecia should contact a healthcare professional to ensure that minoxidil is the right treatment for their circumstances.
There are
People who have a history of sensitivity to minoxidil or any of its ingredients, such as propylene glycol, should avoid this product.
People who are under the age of 18 or are pregnant or nursing should not use minoxidil. While researchers do not consider minoxidil disruptive to the growth and development of a fetus, there are rare reports of congenital disabilities.
Additionally, people with the following hair conditions or circumstances should not use this product:
- no known reason for hair loss
- no family history of hair loss
- sudden or patchy hair loss
- hair loss due to childbirth
- infected or inflamed scalp
People who currently use medication on their scalp should not use minoxidil.
Two medications are popular alternatives to Rogaine. One is minoxidil, the generic form of Rogaine, and the other is Propecia (finasteride).
Minoxidil has the same active ingredient as Rogaine, so it will work in the same way. However, generic versions are often significantly cheaper than brand-name products.
Propecia, or finasteride, is an oral prescription medication for hair loss. Finasteride works by
Because finasteride is a prescription-only medication, it is likely to be more expensive when factoring in the cost of a healthcare professional appointment. However, opting for generic finasteride over branded Propecia can save costs.
Learn more about finasteride and where to buy it.
Home remedies for hair loss
There are several home remedies for hair loss. However, these remedies may not work as well as a medication such as minoxidil or finasteride.
Options include:
- Iron supplements: Iron deficiency
is common in females experiencing hair loss or hair thinning. However, there is not enough evidence to suggest that iron supplements can reverse hair thinning. Learn where to buy the best iron supplements. - Rosemary oil: There is
some evidence that rosemary oil increases hair growth over 6 months. Learn more about rosemary oil for hair growth. - Pumpkin seed oil: Pumpkin seed oil
can prevent the body from converting testosterone into DHT, which may prevent hair thinning and hair loss. However, more research is necessary to determine how effective this remedy is. Learn more about pumpkin seed oil. - Saw palmetto: Saw palmetto supplements and topical treatments
may increase hair growth, although they are not as effective as minoxidil or finasteride. Learn more about saw palmetto for hair loss.
Usually, people tolerate Rogaine well. However, it may cause some side effects,
- an increase in hair shedding, especially at the start of treatment
- skin redness, discomfort, and irritation
- scaly scalp
- itchy scalp
- allergic reaction
- excessive hair growth in places other than the scalp (hypertrichosis)
Cyclosporine may increase the risk of hypertrichosis. Baby aspirin may
Here we answer some common questions about these products.
Will I get all my hair back when using Rogaine?
No, it is unlikely that a person will regain the fullness and coverage they had before experiencing hair loss or thinning.
It can take around 2 months before a person starts to see an improvement, with results peaking within 12 months of starting treatment.
How long until I see results with Rogaine?
People will start to see improvements
What happens if I stop using Rogaine?
Once a person stops using Rogaine or minoxidil, they may notice that their hair thins again.
Does Rogaine actually regrow hair?
Minoxidil, the main ingredient in Rogaine, shortens the telogen phase, which causes hair shedding, and increases the anagen phase, which promotes hair growth.
What is the downside to using Rogaine?
Rogaine is more expensive than generic minoxidil.
Additionally, people may experience side effects such as skin irritation, increased hair shedding, and excess hair growth on parts of the body other than the scalp.
Rogaine is a brand-name version of minoxidil. It is an over-the-counter topical solution that can help promote hair growth and prevent further hair thinning or hair loss. Suitable Rogaine products are available for both males and females.
However, people who have hair loss from causes other than androgenic alopecia should contact a healthcare professional to determine whether Rogaine or another treatment is most suitable for their circumstances.