I Tried Minoxidil For 3 Years... Here's What Happened

Summary

The creator describes using topical minoxidil for more than three years after experiencing substantial hair loss beginning in his early 20s. His goal was to improve his confidence and appearance, while emphasizing that shaving one’s head or being bald is also a valid choice.

His Routine and Results

• He began using generic 5% liquid minoxidil in January 2023, initially applying it to his scalp twice daily. He later switched to once-daily use, which suited him better.
• He reports seeing small new hairs within about two months, more noticeable improvement by month four, and his strongest early results around months six to eight.
• After roughly a year, he felt his hair looked much fuller, though he had not regained all of his original density. He says his progress later fluctuated, with periods of shedding followed by regrowth.
• He eventually had a hair transplant of about 4,000 grafts. He continues using medication because he believes hereditary hair loss can continue.
• He says minoxidil results may gradually be lost after stopping treatment and that minoxidil alone may not address the underlying process of hereditary hair loss.

Application and Products Tried

• He applied enough product to cover the affected scalp area and rubbed it in. He cautions that using more does not necessarily lead to better results.
• The liquid formula irritated and dried his scalp, which he attributed to its propylene glycol carrier, and took several hours to dry.
• He found that foam dried faster but left his hair stiff and difficult to style. He also describes dissolving foam in a cap placed in hot water to make it easier to apply as a liquid. This was his personal method, not a general medical recommendation.
• He tried microneedling, starting with a 0.5 mm dermaroller and later preferring an adjustable dermastamp. He says he waited several hours before applying minoxidil because applying it immediately caused irritation and an increased heart rate for him.
• About a year into treatment, he added topical tretinoin. He says this made application a two-step process but coincided with further improvement. He later used a combined minoxidil–tretinoin formula.
• He also mentions trying or considering finasteride, dutasteride, PRP, red-light therapy, and a Moxie laser. He credits his largest gains to the early period of minoxidil use and says later progress was more limited.

Cautions Discussed

• He says some users experience an initial shed and that shedding can recur during treatment. He encourages viewers not to assume that every shed means treatment has failed, though his claims about how common or predictable shedding is reflect his own explanation.
• He avoids oral minoxidil because of concerns about possible cardiovascular effects, including fluid retention, swelling, and heart palpitations. He also notes that increased body hair may be unwanted for some people.
• He warns that minoxidil can be dangerous to pets if they come into contact with it. He uses a silk bonnet at night, keeps the product away from his dogs, and washes his hands after applying it.
• He advises viewers to research treatment and speak with a doctor or dermatologist. He emphasizes that he is sharing personal experience, not medical advice.

The creator also discusses a delayed-release oral minoxidil formulation that he says is in clinical trials. He hopes it may reduce side effects, but it is not presented as an established treatment.

People, Places, and Products Mentioned

• Speaker: Zeph Sanders
• Locations: Turkey, New Jersey, and Brazil, mentioned in connection with a planned hair-transplant giveaway and coverage of surgeons
• Products and treatments: 5% liquid and foam minoxidil, a combined minoxidil–tretinoin formula, dermaroller, dermastamp, dermapen, finasteride, dutasteride, PRP, red-light therapy, and Moxie laser
• Brand mentioned: The Men’s Solution, whose products he promotes