Some people might think they can maintain their hair with Minoxidil treatment, but that’s not how it works. The reality is that any hair you grow with Minoxidil is entirely dependent on continued use of Minoxidil. Why? Because Minoxidil only stimulates hair growth temporarily. Also any new hair growth will eventually be miniaturized by the same process that caused them to disappear in the first place, and that process is miniaturization induced by DHT binding to the androgen receptor of your scalp.

Minoxidil is a growth agonist. Its primary mechanism of action is improving blood flow to the scalp, which can stimulate hair follicles to grow. However, it doesn’t address the root cause of androgenetic alopecia: androgen-induced miniaturization driven by DHT. Essentially, it doesn’t stop the ongoing damage to hair follicles caused by hormones. Finasteride, Dutasteride, or a topical antiandrogen are essentially the only treatments that address this problem.

Let’s say you’ve been using Minoxidil for five years and notice a 10% improvement in your hair density. That’s great, but the extra hair you see exists solely because of Minoxidil. If you stop using it, your hair will eventually revert to where it would have been had you never started Minoxidil in the first place. It doesn’t slow the progression of hair loss, it simply masks it temporarily, and eventually your going to lose those hairs when you have to temporarily stop Minoxidil due to lifestyle changes such as moving countries or travelling, or your going to lose those hairs due to DHT-induced miniaturization.

Personally, I’m not a big fan of Minoxidil used solo. While it’s widely used, and has a good safety profile especially when used in a topical form, it doesn’t tackle the underlying problem. 

If you’re considering using Minoxidil, I recommend ensuring you have a strong foundation of DHT protection first. This means using treatments that block or inhibit androgens like DHT and testosterone, which are directly responsible for follicle miniaturization. Once you’ve stabilized your hair loss and protected against further damage, you can then think about adding growth agonists like Minoxidil to your regimen if needed.

Ultimately, the cornerstone of any effective hair loss prevention plan should be addressing androgen-induced miniaturization. Without that foundation, no amount of Minoxidil or other growth stimulants will provide lasting results.