Amazon Basic Care Minoxidil Topical Solution USP, 5 Percent, Hair Regrowth Treatment for Men, Extra Strength, 12 Fluid Ounces

Thrilled to say it's working great for me! Will it work for you? Statistically speaking - Probably. (But a lot more hair might fall out at first - don't panic! It's a good thing.) And if you want to make some babies in the near future, use this, not finasteride (more on that later).I did a lot of reading. One study of about 1,000 men had some solid stats. About 62% percent of men using 5% minoxidil (same as Rogaine) reported a reduction in hair loss. Regarding hair regrowth, 16% rated it “very effective,” 48% rated it “effective,” 20% rated it “moderately effective,” and 16% rated it "ineffective.” Based on that, there's a good likelihood you'll get some benefit from using this as directed (1 ml, applied twice daily).At first, you might wonder how there's a reported reduction in hair loss of only 62%, but a much higher reporting of hair regrowth by 84% of participants. They're two separate issues. You could still keep losing hair, while also experiencing hair regrowth. Seeing bald patches disappear is different from seeing hair that's fallen out during regular washing, if that makes sense.From my personal experience, I both have less hair loss, and more hair growth in the "very effective" range. But as is common with a lot of people, for about a three week period when I first started using this product, I had a LOT more hair loss than I had previously. That's common. It has to do with the cycles of hair follicles. Seeing the old, weak hair falling out is a good sign that the stuff is working. You just have to ride it out. Surprisingly, the bald patch I was developing did not appear any larger or any thinner when I was in that phase.Please note - I'm 49, and that matters. Based on my reading, minoxidil is most effective in men 40 or younger. I'm happy to have it work as well as it has for me. I also wasn't totally bald, but getting really thin up top (see the pics). Minoxidil is most effective for men who have male pattern baldness that runs in the family. That's basically just guys in the fam slowly going bald as they get older. Most people with bald spots fit that category.While this review is mainly geared toward guys, I'll briefly address women interested in minoxidil. From a study I read, "19% of women ages 18 to 45 using Rogaine for eight months reported moderate hair regrowth, while 40% had minimal growth (compared to 7% and 33% for placebo, respectively)." Women don't need this 5% liquid formula. They tend to find either 2% liquid, or 5% foam the most effective.Some places plug using minoxidil in combination with finasteride, a tablet medication. Some people just use finasteride, and it's pretty effective alone or in combination with minoxidil. But BEWARE. If you want to make a baby anytime soon, stick just with minoxidil. Finasteride, even in low doses, can reduce sperm count. I've also read that pregnant women should not come in contact with finasteride, as it can effect the formation of the fetus. Yikes! So there are a few big, red flags against finasteride.Finally, this is the best price I found for 5% minoxidil anywhere, 6 bottles (6 months) for $32. At $64 per year it'll still be cheaper than a hair transplant that costs (many) thousands of dollars. I will probably eventually switch to using it just once per day. If I retain what I've grown, then my annual cost will only be $32.Couldn't be happier with this product.

Backstory: I'm a 35yo female with a family history of androgenic alopecia. I started thinning around 30yo. I've also had issues with anemia and low testosterone, which I treated first before starting Minoxidil. I tried oral Minoxidil first but had side effects and had to discontinue. I've been using this product for five months with good results so far. I tried the foam in the past, but I prefer the liquid for more precise application. I use an applicator with multiple small rollerballs to ensure it's getting on my scalp instead of my hair. It can be quite messy if you apply it using the dropper. Initially I was using it twice a day and I did experience a scary increase in shedding after several weeks. The shedding lasted about a week. I knew this was expected so I continued using the product but decreased to once a day and I'm still noticing improvement with minimal shedding. I also take Nutrafol vitamins daily, use Ketoconazole shampoo every other wash, and take Iron supplements. I have noticed a SIGNIFICANT improvement in my hair. I will admit that my scalp was a little irritated when I first started to use the product but it was remedied with Head and Shoulders shampoo before I switched to Ketoconazole. I honestly think my scalp adjusted to the product too. My only con is the scalp flaking. It isn't a deal breaker and it has decreased but I still have to comb flakes out of my hair occasionally. I use a scalp brush in the shower to help. Overall, the benefit is worth it to continue using. Consistency is key and push through the initial shedding!

5 stars for the price and quantity, 4 stars objective for the product overall.This DOES work, it is NOT a scam product. Keep in mind that this product contains a topical treatment that is shown to work for only around 2/3 of those who use it. There is a solid shot it won't work for you. That is not the fault of this particular hair loss treatment.There may be side effects. For some, this will work and there will not be any side effects. For others, it will work and there will be side effects. This is me and most others. For some, it won't have any effect at all. For the least lucky, it won't work and there will also be side effects. This both is and is not the fault of this product.This product uses an alcohol solution to evaporate more quickly, which is their alternative to the more costly foam products. Due to this, YOU SHOULD EXPECT DRY SCALP AND DANDRUF.Some may not experience this. I've had perfect skin and scalp for 38 years, but have been thinking g for a few and decided to try this product. I have had a TON of dandruff, but simple antiz-dandruf shampoo - something I've never needed before - has it under control.The biggest flaw of the product is that it is a liquid solution instead of a foam. That is both because of the above described dry scalp/dandruff issues, but also because unless you have very short hair or take a long time in the morning before you go to work, you will very have wet hair around your treated area for about an hour. I wake up early now before work just to apply this product. Further, due to it being a liquid, expect it to run down your neck and face. This doesn't hurt you, but it is an annoyance which should be addressed in a product review.Were this product not both so inexpensive for the quantity, it would be a 3 star product. Works, but big pain in the rear. Due to the fact that it costs less than most 3 month supplies while having 6 months of supply, though, I give it 4 stars. If this were this a price/quantity issue alone, I'd give it 6 stars.Its cheap, it works, you get a lot of it,, and its not so much a pain in the butt so as to detract from the positive effects.I'd rate this a buy for most people, but if you don't care about money then get a foam based product instead.