Minoxidil for Beard Growth: Does It Work, and Do the Gains Last?

Can minoxidil help you grow a fuller beard, and will it stay if you stop? Minoxidil is a hair loss medicine you put on your scalp. Many men now put it on their face too, hoping to fill in a patchy beard. Before and after photos are everywhere. Here is a fair look.

What supporters say online

Many people online say minoxidil:

Turned a patchy beard into a full one
Started working within a few months
Is cheap and easy to find

A common claim is that once the new beard hairs turn thick and dark, they last forever, even after you stop. One person said that after a year of use, "every beard hair possible went terminal," and the beard stayed for years after stopping.

Is the "it lasts forever" claim true?

Partly. Many people do report keeping most of their beard after stopping. But many others report losing some of it, often the thinner hairs that had not fully matured. Some say they lost around a fifth of their gains. There are no long term studies that follow men after they stop, so the honest answer is that results vary and nobody can promise you will keep it all.

What research says

A 2016 study of 48 men found that those using minoxidil on the beard had more hairs and better photo scores after 16 weeks than men using a fake lotion. The hairs did not get much thicker. Side effects were mild.

A medical case report and a review of minoxidil both note that the most common side effects on the skin are dryness, itching, flaking, and rashes. Some people grow extra hair in places they did not want it. A few people have reported a fast heartbeat, so people with heart problems should be careful.

Pills are a different story. Minoxidil was first a blood pressure pill, and the oral form can cause fluid buildup and heart problems. Some people online push pills for faster beard growth. Trading heart risk for a fuller beard is a bad deal.

Positives

Some real evidence. A controlled study found more beard hairs.
Easy to try. Sold over the counter.
Many happy users.

Negatives

Off label use. It is not approved for beards.
Skin irritation. Dryness and itching are common.
Results vary. Some people barely respond.
Gains may not all stay. Some hair can fall out after stopping.
Takes months of daily use.

Bottom line

Minoxidil can help some men grow a fuller beard, but results vary and some gains may not last. The liquid or foam is a fair bet. The pills are not worth the heart risk for a beard. A beard that suits your face can change how you look in photos, and The Face They See lets people of the opposite gender rank your photos for free.

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