What hair loss treatment works for men?
Two medicines have the best evidence. Minoxidil on your scalp and finasteride tablets may slow male pattern hair loss. But both only work for as long as you keep using them.
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What is the best hair loss treatment for men?
For male pattern hair loss, look at minoxidil and finasteride first. The NHS calls them the main treatments for male pattern baldness.
Minoxidil is a 5% liquid or foam you spread on your scalp. Finasteride is a 1 mg tablet you take daily, and your prescriber should talk you through its risks.
Neither is a cure. The BAD, the UK body for skin doctors, says there is no cure. The NHS says no treatment is 100% effective.
| Treatment | What the evidence says | The catch |
|---|---|---|
| Minoxidil 5% liquid or foam | May slow hair loss and help hair grow. | Not on NHS prescription. Works only while you use it. |
| Finasteride 1 mg tablets | May slow hair loss and possibly help regrowth. | Can take up to 14 months. Loss restarts if you stop. |
| Hair transplant | Moves hair from the back and sides to bald areas. | Private only. Not offered on the NHS. |
| Laser comb or cap | Some research suggests it may help growth. | More research is needed. |
| PRP (your own blood plasma, injected) | Only limited research. Results are unpredictable. | Private only. |
| Fibre sprays | May help hide thinning. | May wash off when your hair gets wet. |
Your next move: pick the one you could keep using for years. The next section shows why that matters most.
How long does hair regrowth take for men?
Months, not weeks. The BAD says to use minoxidil for at least 6 months, and possibly 12, before any benefit may show.
What to expect once you start
- 1
First 4 to 6 weeks
Minoxidil may cause extra shedding. It’s old hair making way for new.
- 2
Months 6 to 12
Give minoxidil at least 6 months, possibly 12, before any benefit may show.
- 3
Up to 14 months
Finasteride can take this long to show a benefit.
- 4
If you stop
Hair loss restarts. Any gain lasts only while you keep going, and finasteride’s benefit can fade over time.
That’s the catch from the top of the page. Stop finasteride and the BAD says hair loss restarts. Minoxidil’s benefit also lasts only while you use it.
So the best treatment is the one you’ll still be using in two years. Weigh the cost, the daily routine and the side effects before you start.
Strength matters too. In a 48-week trial of 393 men, the 5% liquid gave 45% more regrowth than the 2%. It also caused more itch.
Before you start a hair loss treatment
- See a GP about the cause before you pay a hair clinic.
- Put minoxidil on your scalp, not your hair, and never on cuts.
- Give minoxidil at least 6 months before you judge it.
- Give finasteride up to 14 months before you judge it.
- On finasteride, stop and seek medical advice if you feel depressed or have suicidal thoughts.
- Cover bald patches with sun block or a hat in the sun.
Is finasteride safe? The side effects to know
Know the risks first. Lower sex drive and erection problems affect about 2% of men who take it.
The MHRA, which checks UK medicines, also warns of depression and suicidal thoughts. UK patient alert cards have flagged these risks since 2024.
If you feel depressed or have suicidal thoughts on it, the MHRA says stop and seek medical advice. Talk any sexual side effects through with a health professional.
Never stop or change a prescribed medicine without your prescriber for any other reason.
Does it work? In trials of men aged 18 to 41, men on finasteride had 138 more hairs than men on a dummy pill after 2 years.
Men on the dummy pill kept losing hair. The drug’s maker ran the trials. Ask your prescriber whether finasteride suits you.
Is it male pattern baldness or something else?
Check before you treat. Minoxidil and finasteride are for pattern loss, which can start any time after puberty. Starting young may mean it moves faster.
| What you notice | What it may mean |
|---|---|
| A receding hairline or thin top, with full sides and back | The usual male pattern. |
| Your dad, brother or grandad lost hair the same way | Pattern loss usually runs in families. |
| Thinning after illness, stress or weight loss | This kind of hair loss may be temporary. |
| Hair loss with tiredness, breathlessness or pale skin | Can be a sign of low iron. See a GP. |
| 50 to 100 hairs lost a day | Normal. Most go unnoticed. |
Sources: BAD; NHS: hair loss; NHS: iron deficiency anaemia
Pattern loss usually moves slowly, over years to decades. So there’s time to get the cause checked first.
Our hair loss blood test guide covers the checks.
Shedding after a hard few months? Read about stress hair loss.
Worried about hormones? See does testosterone cause hair loss.
What about hair transplants, lasers and other solutions?
A transplant moves hair from the back and sides to bald areas. That hair resists DHT, a hormone made from testosterone, better. It’s private only.
Low-dose minoxidil tablets may work at least as well as the liquid, with few side effects, in some cases. Ask a prescriber whether you’re one of them.
Dutasteride blocks DHT more strongly than finasteride. But it hasn’t been clearly shown to work better, and its side effects seem more frequent and longer lasting. In the UK it’s used for an enlarged prostate, a gland below the bladder.
Laser combs and caps beat a dummy device in a 2017 review, but the trials varied a lot. PRP and microneedling have little research behind them.
Shampoos and pills sold for hair? See which hair loss products work, and rosemary oil against minoxidil.
When to speak to a GP
A GP may be able to tell the cause by looking at your hair. Book an appointment if:
- You’re worried about your hair loss, or it’s affecting how you feel.
- You’re thinking of paying a hair clinic. See a GP about the cause first.
- Your loss doesn’t match the usual pattern of a receding hairline or thin top with full sides and back.
- You’re losing hair and feel tired, short of breath, notice your heartbeat more (palpitations), get headaches or have paler skin. These can be signs of iron deficiency anaemia.
- You take finasteride and feel depressed or have suicidal thoughts. The MHRA says stop it and seek medical advice.
If hair loss is getting you down, your GP may be able to help you get counselling.