Hair will only grow back when you are actively using Minoxidil each day. This is because Minoxidil works as a treatment that is continuously used in order to give long-lasting results. Some people experience shedding when first using Minoxidil, but this is natural and a good sign. It can be off-putting, however, so many will ask whether the hair lost will grow back if they stop using Minoxidil. The answer is no! If you stop using Minoxidil twice a day as recommended, you may begin to re-experience further hair loss, especially after up to 4 months.
This guide will answer the question: Does hair grow back after stopping Minoxidil? It’s a commonly asked question within hair loss and thinning forums and reviews. If you’re putting the time, effort, and resources into our hair re-growth efforts, you probably want to know all the information you can about Minoxidil. Read this guide to find out why hair won’t grow back as effectively after stopping Minoxidil, and how you can avoid reversing all the good changes caused by the product. We’ll also take a look at why Minoxidil causes shedding, and how it’s actually a good sign.
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Why Does Minoxidil Sometimes Cause a ‘Shedding’ Phase?
Some Minoxidil users are shocked to find that they begin to initially lose some hair before the re-growth phase begins. That’s why we’re here to answer the question: Does hair grow back after stopping Minoxidil? Many who have experienced the shedding phase due to Minoxidil will believe that the hair lost once treatment began will grow back if they stop taking Minoxidil.
This is not the case. As the Minoxidil has activated the telogen phase of the hair, where it begins to shed over the course of 100 days, your hair cannot revert back to an earlier stage in its life cycle. So, your hair will not grow back after stopping Minoxidil. That’s why it’s considered to be a long-term treatment, and those using it should choose to apply it indefinitely.
The 3 Phases of Hair Growth Explained
Minoxidil can cause this state of shedding as it works to stimulate the hair follicles, prompting them to enter the ‘anagen’ phase of hair growth. This anagen phase is where the cells in the hair follicles are multiplying at great speed, and in doing so they’re helping to stimulate more hair growth over time.
If you begin to use Minoxidil, it’s likely that you have hairs that are in different stages from the anagen stage. This can cause hair to shed in order to reach the anagen stage. The three stages of hair growth are described below:
- Anagen
This is the active growing stage of hair. Studies show that in the anagen phase, our hair can grow around 1cm a month. This is a great amount of hair regrowth for those who have otherwise been experiencing age-related hair loss! Minoxidil works to activate the anagen phase of the hair, so it’s one of the best ways to treat balding and thinning. - Catagen
This is where the hair is beginning to stop growing and will move into the telogen phase. Very few hairs enter this phase at any given time, as it only lasts a couple of weeks. - Telogen
This is the shedding phase. The telogen phase lasts 100 days for hair on the head. It’s where the hair is preparing to fall out, and in fact, we lose 25 – 100 telogen hairs every day. That doesn’t account for the higher amount of telogen hairs we’re likely to lose each day as we age! Once a telogen hair has shed, it should then enter the anagen phase again, where the cycle repeats itself.
How Long Will Minoxidil Cause Hair Shedding?
Many other animals experience hair growth and shedding all over their bodies, at the same time. The case is very different for humans. In humans, each hair follicle can be at a different phase of growth – it all depends on when that particular hair follicle first started growing. So, Minoxidil won’t cause all hair to shed. Only the hairs that were already beginning to enter the telogen phase will shed when you begin treatment. That is if you experience any shedding at all.
Thankfully, the shedding phase associated with Minoxidil use only lasts up to 6 months. This is because it takes 6 months for your hair follicles to “reset” and revert to the anagen phase. Once they are at the anagen phase, you will begin to experience hair growth with continued use of the product.
Would Hair Loss Continue After Stopping Minoxidil?
Many users of Minoxidil have reported that they experience more severe hair loss after they stop their Minoxidil treatments. Even if you stop using Minoxidil during the ‘shedding’ phase, you may still continue to experience further hair loss. This happens because the Minoxidil has already activated the telogen phase in the hair, where it causes potentially unhealthy hair roots to shed before the anagen phase can get to work.
So, hair shedding associated with the telogen phase can continue to occur when you stop using Minoxidil. The unhealthy, brittle hair roots you have lost during the shedding phase are highly unlikely to grow back if you stop using Minoxidil. Instead, we would recommend that you persevere and continue Minoxidil treatment past the 6-month mark. This is where you’ll begin to move past that initial shedding phase and get to experience healthier hair regrowth. The hair you regrow with use of Minoxidil is actually better quality and thicker, giving a fuller effect to the hair.
The key here is to stick with the treatments. Don’t become put off by any signs of hair loss that seem to be caused by Minoxidil. The solution must activate this hair loss in order to regrow the roots from the very beginning, in a much healthier way!
Should I Discontinue Minoxidil Treatments?
It can be disheartening to discover you’re going through a ‘shedding’ phase when you first start Minoxidil treatments. It’s a little off-putting to find that using a hair re-growth serum can actually make you shed more hair first.
Before deciding whether you should discontinue your Minoxidil treatments, consider the effects that doing so might have on your hair. Make sure that you are determined to stop using Minoxidil first. Going back and forth between treatment and quitting treatment can have a detrimental effect on your hair follicles. They’d constantly be in a state of confusion as to which stage they’re in, and you might experience more hair loss as a result.
How Minoxidil Can Help You Recover from Hair Loss
Minoxidil is a specially formulated hair re-growth serum available in the form of a dropper or foam. With a 5% concentration of Minoxidil as the active ingredient, Kirkland Minoxidil is a stronger alternative to some of the lower quality hair loss products on the market.
Simply apply the solution twice each day as part of your morning and evening routine. With no scent or lasting impact, you’ll find it easy to incorporate Minoxidil into your everyday life. Once you begin using Minoxidil, you will find that you can experience hair regrowth in a much healthier way. This can take up to 4 months to happen, but you’ll begin to see noticeable results – and those around you will, too. Experience healthy hair re-growth and stop losing hair with Minoxidil.
