Minoxidil is a medication that men may use for male pattern baldness to help slow down hair loss and promote hair growth. It needs to be used on an ongoing basis to work so is it ok to shave while using Minoxidil?
The commercial name for Minoxidil that you may have also heard of is ROGAINE. It’s produced in both liquid and foam format and is topically applied directly to the area to be treated.
ROGAINE® was the first FDA-approved hair loss treatment in 1988. Minoxidil is now produced globally under many different other names.
Minoxidil For Beard Growth And The Impact of Shaving
It got me to thinking about a few questions related to the use of Minoxidil for hair growth that I couldn’t answer:
- Can Minoxidil be used on the face for beard and facial hair growth?
- Does shaving interfere with the success of Minoxidil to regrow hair?
I decided to contact the manufacturer of ROGAINE® and ask them directly. Below is the response I received from Johnson & Johnson regarding the questions.
ROGAINE® is intended and FDA-approved to treat genetic hair loss on the scalp. We do not recommend any off-label uses of ROGAINE® products.
Additionally, studies have shown that the absorption of ROGAINE® does differ when your head is shaven. This may be due to the unavailability of hair shafts. This could potentially effect the results you see with ROGAINE®. We would therefore recommend not shaving your head when using ROGAINE®.
-Johnson & Johnson Canada Inc Consumer Care
ROGAINE® is Recommended For Head Hair Growth Only
So ROGAINE® remains approved for hair loss and hair growth on the head only. While I’ve seen people online buying and using it for beard growth, the recommended use is on the scalp for head hair growth.
Since it was approved back in 1988, I’m somewhat surprised that it hasn’t been approved for use other than on the head. Perhaps it’s because Johnson & Johnson hasn’t applied for the approval. Or perhaps they did apply and couldn’t get approved because it doesn’t help beard hair growth.
Here’s a secondary quote from Johnson & Johnson on the same subject:
Our products are not intended and tested for facial hair growth. We recommend contacting your dermatologist first to know the best product to use.
-Johnson & Johnson Canada Inc Consumer Care
Don’t Shave Your Head While Using ROGAINE®
It’s also recommended to avoid shaving your head while using ROGAINE®. Shaving might interfere with its ability to be absorbed. Makes sense. If you have a shaved head, there are no hairs to absorb the ROGAINE® and you’d be relying on it being absorbed into your skin through the hair follicles only.
I presume the same goes for shaving your beard if you’re using it for beard growth although as stated ROGAINE® isn’t actually approved for that purpose. So if you are using it to grow a better beard and facial hair, you should avoid shaving the area you’re treating.
And since ROGAINE® needs to be used on a continual basis to retain hair growth and retention, you’ll need to work around shaving your beard if you decide to get rid of the facial hair but still want to work on the facial hair you are capable of growing.
Conclusion: Is It Ok To Shave While Using Minoxidil
- Is it ok to shave while using Minoxidil, commercially sold as ROGAINE®? The manufacturer (Johnson & Johnson) told me that shaving your head should be avoided while using ROGAINE® as it can interfere with the absorption of the product.
- ROGAINE® was approved in 1988 by the FDA as the first hair growth product for men specifically for hair growth on the head.
- It has not been approved by the FDA for beard hair growth although some men do purchase the product for this purpose.
- If you’re looking for other beard growth suggestions, check out this link.
Have you used ROGAINE® or other hair loss product on your head? Or on your face for beard growth? If so, did it work?
