My Personal Experience with Minoxidil (Regaine)– Does It Work?

I mentioned in an earlier post that I will be sharing my Minoxidil experience with you and here it is….

At the time when my hair loss was at its worst I started a using a product which I thought was my last resort. I had done a lot of reading about it after one doctor suggested it. Everything I read seemed to suggest not to use it!! But I had reached a stage where I felt it couldn’t really get any worse, so I took the plunge.

I am talking about Minoxidil or in other words Regaine (or Rogaine) as it more commonly known. Here in Dubai I was able to find it in most pharmacies in a little green box. I remember buying the first bottle at the pharmacy in Al Murooj complex on Sheikh Zayed Road. At that time it cost Dhs. 98 for a small 60ml bottle.

I was hesitant to use it because there were so many mixed views out there about this product in the web. Some people suggested that it worked great for them while other regretted the day they started using. But what scared me the most was the common thread among many discussions that once you start using it, you must continue to use it forever and ever…..or else your hair will off again.

But in the end, out of desperation I went ahead and started using it. The recommended use is twice a day so one fine evening I stuck the spray applicator on and put the fate of my hair on a small 60ml bottle. I think I used it for about 4 months – they say you don’t usually see any results until after 4 months but I had to stop using because I did see some effect already after almost 4 weeks. To be honest I didn’t apply it as religiously as I should have. I tried my best to apply it twice a day but this was often difficult especially when I was away from home due to work and/or arriving at my destination tired.

Why did I stop using Regaine? I stopped because it seemed to be working and a little too well at that. I felt I had a little regrowth on some of balding patches but when I also started getting hair on arms and on cheeks; I decided I had to stop it. I remember one day using some store-bought wax strips on my cheekbones and asking myself which is better – a bald head or a hairy face? None of the above if you are lady! Solutions for bald head – wear wigs or get transplants; solutions for hairy face and body – get a wax job. Tough decision to make especially with the knowledge that once you stop using Minoxidil you risk even further hair loss – well at least that’s I was reading.

I decide to stop Regaine and I have to tell you that my hair did NOT fall off. It’s nearly a year and a half today since my short stint with Regaine and my hair is almost back to its old glory days. I can’t tell for sure whether or not Regaine helped my hair grow back but I feel that it triggered some form of hair growth for me. Personally, I think the “you can never stop using Minoxidil” threath may be a scheme devised by the manufacturers – a lifetime commitment from us means more money for them!

So, if you are deciding on whether to start using Minoxidil for your hair loss, I hope my experience will help you in some way. You may or may not get: hairy cheeks/ regrowth/hair loss if and when you decide to stop using it.

Finally, if you decide to start using it then be prepared to put some money aside because it is not cheap. It is available in most pharmacies here but you may want to consider buying it online if it works to be cheaper.