Should you invest in a Minoxidil Shampoo if you’re going bald?

One of the most common questions I’m asked by my balding pals is whether they should invest in a minoxidil shampoo to help slow down the balding process.

My answer; kind of, but not really. Research shows that Minoxidil is most effective when applied and lieft on your scalp for a longer period of time – I’m talking hours, here. The likelihood is that you’re not going to be spending several hours every day in the shower washing your hair, so it’s likely that Minoxidil is not truly effective as a shampoo.

I say ‘kind of’, because there is really no harm is using a Minoxidil shampoo if you’re a guy. But, the likelihood is that any positive effects you’re seeing on your hair won’t be from the Minoxidil; they’re likely from the other ingredients that are in the shampoo.

Whilst there’s no scientific proof that minoxidil shampoo really works for your hair, several other ingredients may actually have an impact on your hair loss. Let’s have a look at some of these ingredients, and review whether you should invest your hard earned cash into them.

So, is Minoxidil Shampoo a scam?

Well, kinda (in my opinion) – often, companies will just use an expensive and luxury shampoo, add the label ‘minoxidil’ to it and hey presto! You’re automatically going to grow your hair back.

Now, minoxidil does work for hair loss and it’s a great option if you’re willing to accept the potential side effects that you may encounter. But, generally the minoxidil needs to be applied for longer than the length of your shower for it to really work. So whilst it’s not necessarily a scam, it’s not really allowing the minoxidil to work as well as it could.

If you’re using the Minoxidil Shampoo in the shower, then you’re likely going to wash off the formula before it really has a chance to work for you. This means that you’re not getting the full effect of the minoxidil – you’d be better off looking at other minoxidil products like Rogaine, which usually comes in a spray or liquid format.

There are other ingredients in the Minoxidil shampoo that are more likely to be effective than the minoxidil itself. Here’s a few of those ingredients with some research suggesting that they help to prevent hair loss.

1. Saw Palmetto

Saw Palmetto is one of the more commonly known ingredients that some are claiming will help to rejuvenate your hair. It must be said that there’s still a distinct lack of evidence that saw palmetto works for your hair, but the evidence that has currently been uncovered does appear promising.

Saw palmetto has been used for a while to treat many different things, such as an enlarged prostate. It makes sense then that it would have an effect on hair loss. This is because the reason saw palmetto is use to treat an enlarged prostate is that it helps block the conversion of testosterone to DHT. DHT is a hormone that has been linked with baldness for many years, so minimizing the DHT production in your body is good for your hair follicles.

2. DHT Blockers

There are tons of other DHT blockers that work in a similar way to Saw Palmetto that you can use to help to block DHT. Things like Stinging nettle extract are other forms of DHT blockers that work well for helping to reduce your hair loss.

Like Saw Palmetto, these other DHT blockers work in a similar way, restricting the ability for you body to convert testosterone to DHT.

Of course, there are some possible side effects of using DHT Blockers which you’ll need to be aware of.

3. Things like Biotin and other vitamins

You’re probably going to notice lots of shampoos that are filled with things like Biotin, Keratin and other vitamins that are going to magnificently help your hair grow. Whilst a shampoo filled with these things isn’t a bad thing, it likely isn’t going to make a difference in the growth of your hair. And here’s why.

Biotin is only proven to affect your hair if you’re deficient in it. It’s not going to make a difference to your hair unless you’re specifically deficient in Biotin.

The fact that you’re going to find Biotin in tons of foods like eggs and almonds, the likelihood is that you’re not deficient in Biotin and a little added to your shampoo is not going to have an effect on your hair growth. It’s unlikely to do any harm either, but don’t count on it as your

Conclusion

Overall, you can probably see that I’m pretty negative when it comes to the possibilities of actually regrowing your hair. This is because it’s a multi billion dollar industry, and the likelihood is that people are just trying to make money out of other people’s insecurities.

You can look to these products if you’re looking to help the quality of your hair, but just realise it’s not going to grow back overnight!