Want to grow a thicker beard? Some men use minoxidil, a well-known hair loss treatment, to help them out. While minoxidil is licensed for scalp hair loss, it's not approved for beard growth. Studies suggest it might work, but the evidence is limited and more research is needed.
Here's what you need to know about using minoxidil for beard growth.
Key Takeaways
- Topical minoxidil is licensed for scalp hair but is used off-label for beard growth
- Small studies suggest it can increase beard hair count and density, but larger trials are needed
- Minoxidil is generally safe but can cause side effects, particularly skin irritation with topical formulations
- Manual does not currently prescribe minoxidil for beard growth due to limited evidence, but we continuously review emerging research and will update our guidance if this changes
Does minoxidil work for beard growth?
From what we know so far: yes, it appears to work, but it's important to understand that minoxidil is not licensed for beard use. It's an off-label application, and the evidence base is much smaller than for scalp hair loss.
Most research on minoxidil focuses on head hair, with only a handful of small studies looking at beards. One interesting case report looked at a set of identical twins. Here, one twin used 5% topical minoxidil on his beard and moustache area every day while the other didn’t. The minoxidil twin had greater hair count and density on both his beard and moustache areas after 16 months of use.
Similarly, applying 0.5ml of 3% minoxidil lotion twice per day led to better beard growth than placebo in another 16-week study.
While these early results are promising, much larger, longer-term studies are needed before we can fully understand how effective and safe minoxidil is for beard growth. At MANUAL, we don’t currently prescribe minoxidil for beard growth. But we’ll update our guidance if the research landscape changes.
Minoxidil beard results: Timeline and what to expect
Broadly, here’s what your minoxidil beard growth timeline might look like. Caveat: everyone responds to medicine in their own way, so your experience could be different.
Another caveat: there’s limited research on minoxidil and beards, so the below is an estimation. It draws from what we know about minoxidil and hair in general.
One month
You might start to notice a few new, light-coloured hairs pop up.
Two months
By now, you might have a modest amount of facial hair coverage.
Three months
Some men experience increased hair shedding around this time (though it can happen earlier). This is a common side effect and actually a good sign that the treatment is working. It happens with both topical and oral minoxidil, including when used on the scalp.
The shedding represents hairs in the resting phase being pushed out before re-entering the growth phase. These are hairs that were going to fall out anyway, and they'll grow back healthier and longer. Hair growth typically recovers and continues to progress once this shedding phase passes.
Four to six months
This is when you're likely to see more noticeable results. In the 3% minoxidil lotion study we mentioned above, men saw increased facial hair count after around four months, but it can take longer for some people.
A year
It can take up to a year to see maximum results. In fact, in the twin case study we mentioned earlier, best results were seen after 16 months of consistent use.
How to use minoxidil for beard growth
There’s no official advice here because minoxidil isn’t licensed for beards. But if we follow the general guidelines for using minoxidil on your scalp:
- Make sure your skin is clean, healthy, and dry.
- Spray or apply the minoxidil to the area, making sure you’re using the right amount. There’s no dosing guidance on minoxidil for beards so check with your prescriber.
- After each pump or spray, spread the minoxidil over the area with your fingertips.
- Wash your hands thoroughly after using minoxidil.
- Don’t get your beard area wet for at least four hours. This will prevent the minoxidil being washed off.
- Leave at least 12 hours between each dose.
Which type of minoxidil is best for beard growth?
Again, because we’re still learning about how to use minoxidil for beards, we can’t say for sure which dose is most effective.
But in scientific research, men saw results using 3% and 5% topical minoxidil.
While we don't prescribe minoxidil for beard growth at MANUAL, if you're experiencing hair loss on your scalp, our hair loss treatment plans include 5% and 10% minoxidil formulations. Our clinicians will guide you on which strength is best for your individual needs.
Side effects and safety
Minoxidil is generally considered safe to use, though like any medication it can cause some side effects. Topical formulations have lower body absorption compared to oral minoxidil, making body-wide side effects less likely.
Common local side effects from topical minoxidil include:
- Irritation, redness or burning
- Flaking
- Itching
- Rash
Because topical minoxidil can still be absorbed into the bloodstream, you shouldn't use it if you have heart problems or uncontrolled high or low blood pressure.
Does oral minoxidil work for a beard?
It might, but we don’t have enough evidence to say for sure. Studies on facial hair mostly look at topical minoxidil.
Though there is some data. Thirteen of 25 men (52%) in one study noticed increased beard hair density when taking minoxidil tablets for hair loss. This aligns with hypertrichosis, a known side effect of oral minoxidil where increased hair growth occurs across the body, often starting on the face within 3 to 6 weeks of treatment.
While this is an unwanted side effect for many, it does suggest oral minoxidil could potentially stimulate beard growth, though more targeted research is needed.
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