@samanthaschneidermd Topical minoxidil can be a game-changer for hair loss — but consistency is key. It works by extending the growth phase of your hair cycle, helping you hold onto more strands longer. Not just for men. Not just for your scalp. Let’s normalize talking about hair loss and treating it early. #HairLossHelp #Minoxidil #DermTips #HairRegrowth #WomensHairHealth #ScienceOverShame ♬ original sound - Samantha Schneider, MD

Have you caught yourself thinking your ponytail feels smaller than it used to? Or that you’re seeing more scalp in photos? You’re not imagining it—hair thinning is incredibly common, and it happens to both women and men.

The good news? There are effective treatments, and one option is almost always at the top of a dermatologist’s list: minoxidil (brand name Rogaine).

Why Minoxidil Is the Go-To

Minoxidil is one of the most studied and reliable treatments for many types of hair loss. Dermatologists typically recommend:

• 5% strength for both men and women
  
• Using it twice a day
  
• Choosing either foam or solution—both work equally well
  

Yes, even women can use the “men’s” version. The active ingredient is exactly the same.

What About Shedding at First?

Some people notice increased shedding when they first start minoxidil—and that can feel scary. But it’s actually normal.

Here’s what’s happening:

• Hair follicles cycle between “sleeping” (resting) and “growing” phases
  
• Minoxidil encourages sleeping hairs to shift into the growing phase
  
• Those old resting hairs fall out first
  
• New, healthier hairs begin to grow in their place
  

So early shedding doesn’t mean it isn’t working—it often means the process has started.

Consistency Is Everything

Minoxidil works a lot like fertilizer for your hair. If you stop using it, your hair will gradually return to the way it was before treatment. That’s why commitment matters.

You also need patience. Hair grows slowly, and real improvement usually takes:

• 3 to 6 months to start seeing visible change
  
• Continued use to maintain those results
  

Trying it for a few weeks and quitting won’t give you the full picture.

You Don’t Have to Figure This Out Alone

Hair loss can be emotional and confusing, and there are many possible causes—from genetics to hormones to medical conditions. Minoxidil is a great starting point, but a dermatologist can help determine what type of hair loss you have and whether additional treatments could help.

If thinning hair is bothering you, reach out. There are more options than you might realize—and you deserve a plan that fits your hair and your life.

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Want the transcript for this video instead?  

 Have you noticed that your hair's just getting thinner? Your ponytail's not as thick as it used to be. I'm Dr. Schneider. I'm a board certified dermatologist. Let's talk hair loss. So the first thing that pretty much any dermatologist is gonna suggest that you do for almost any types of hair loss is gonna be using Minoxidil.

Brand name is Rogan. Use 5% whether you're a man, whether you're a female, 5%. You can buy the men's. If you're a woman, it is the same product and use it twice a day. It does not really matter in terms of efficacy between foam or solution. Some people do get some shedding. When you first start using it, that's normal.

What's happening is you've got your sleeping hairs and you've got your growing hairs, and minoxidil is taking those sleeping hairs and kind of shifting them into the growing hairs. Now, the sleeping hairs don't just start growing. That's not how it works. They fall out and then you start growing new hairs, so that's why you can get that shedding.

It is true that you kind of have to keep using it. It's like fertilizer for your hair, and if you stop putting the fertilizer on, your hair will kind of revert back to where you were as if you weren't using it. Consistency is key, so you wanna make sure that you're continuing to use anything that you try for hair loss.

It can take several months to see a difference. We usually tell people three to six months, so if you're gonna try it, you really wanna commit to doing it.