Rogaine is an FDA approved treatment for hair loss that contains minoxidil. It generally contains a stronger percentage than other OTC brands, and it's one of the most popular and well-known for good reason.
Best hair growth product overall
Sometimes, the best-known product is best-known for a reason. Rogaine contains the active ingredient minoxidil, which has overwhelmingly been shown to effectively treat hair loss in clinical trials. And the clinicians I spoke to recommended it for women as well as men.
The most common options include: Minoxidil (Rogaine). Over-the-counter (nonprescription) minoxidil comes in liquid, foam and shampoo forms. To be most effective, apply the product to the scalp skin once daily for women and twice daily for men.
Minoxidil is available as Rogaine or Theroxidil, or in generic form. It's sold as a liquid or foam and in two strengths: 2% and 5%. Effectiveness: Minoxidil works for about 2 out of 3 men. It's most effective if you're under age 40 and have only recently started to lose your hair.
Finasteride (Propecia) and Minoxidil (both oral and topical - Rogaine) are the only drugs approved by the FDA to treat pattern baldness (hair loss resulting from hereditary causes).
Your dermatologist will prescribe medication to help with hair loss. Topical minoxidil, commonly called Rogaine, can help with hair growth and thickness. In some cases, your doctor will prescribe Finasteride in oral form.
The only medicine approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat female pattern baldness is minoxidil: It is applied to the scalp. For women, the 2% solution or 5% foam is recommended. Minoxidil may help hair grow in about 1 in 4 or 5 of women.
Topical minoxidil—or Rogaine—is effective for both male and female hair loss, as well as hair loss due to chemotherapy, says Rina M. Allawh, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in Pennsylvania. The formula is available in both 2 percent and 5 percent topical solutions and 5 percent foam.
Best for Thinning: PURA D'OR Anti-Thinning Biotin Shampoo
PURA D'OR Anti-Thinning Biotin Shampoo is our best pick for people who are experiencing hair thinning because it's clinically proven to reduce hair thinning in eight weeks.
In addition to MSM and Omega-3 acids, ingredients like vitamins A, C and E, saw palmetto, ashwagandha, hydrolyzed collagen, biotin, keratin, and magnesium can also be helpful in the regrowth process.
Minoxidil (Rogaine®): Minoxidil can help early hair loss; it cannot regrow an entire head of hair. To use minoxidil, you apply it to the scalp as directed, usually once or twice a day.
In June 2022, the FDA approved the first treatment for a type of hair loss in which the immune system attacks hair follicles, known as alopecia areata. The drug, called baricitinib, was already approved for the treatment of another autoimmune disorder, rheumatoid arthritis.
Nearly every dermatologist we polled cited Nutrafol supplements as a winning choice for hair growth.
Biotin. Of all the nutrients and B vitamins you consume, the one most commonly connected with hair loss is biotin.
Iron deficiency (ID) is the world's most common nutritional deficiency and is a well-known cause of hair loss.
Berries. Berries are loaded with beneficial compounds and vitamins that may support hair growth. This includes vitamin C, which has strong antioxidant properties. Antioxidants can help protect hair follicles against damage from harmful molecules called free radicals.
Actor Matthew McConaughey has promoted his use of Regenix for hair growth for more than two decades. The company says Regenix utilizes vitamins, minerals, and plant extracts to build a customized hair growth product for customers.
Biotin assists in thickening your hair as it promotes follicle regrowth (Byrdie). Overall, sweet almond oil is known to make your hair stronger and less prone to split ends, meaning that the process of excessively losing damaged hair is reduced (Healthline).