Minoxidil
What is minoxidil?
Minoxidil is a drug that widens blood vessels and lengthens the hair growth phase. Topical minoxidil is approved over the counter for pattern hair loss. Low-dose oral minoxidil, first approved as a blood pressure pill, is now widely prescribed off-label for hair loss at 0.5 to 5 mg a day.
Listed here because well-known people have tried it on themselves. Trying something is not recommending it; each entry says whether the person tells others to do it.
Who has tried it
Tried by 1 person we can source: 1 kept.
Kept
Bryan JohnsonEntrepreneur, founder of BlueprintBlueprint (Bryan Johnson)
Dates not stated · Does not recommend it to others
Takes 3.75 mg of oral minoxidil a day, after starting at 2.5 mg to check for side effects, and applies 1 mL of 5% topical minoxidil each night.
“I started with 2.5 mg and evaluated for side effects. I now take 3.75 mg a day.”
Bryan Johnson, Bryan Johnson's Haircare Routine (July 2026) · Status checked November 1, 2026 · Suggest a correction
What the evidence shows
Topical minoxidil works for male pattern hair loss: in a 48-week trial, 5% solution regrew more hair than 2% solution or placebo [1]. Low-dose oral minoxidil is newer. In a 24-week randomized trial, 5 mg a day was not significantly better than 5% topical solution on hair counts, though photos favored oral use at the crown [2]. A network meta-analysis ranked oral minoxidil 5 mg first for terminal hair growth at 24 weeks [3].
In a review of 1,404 patients on low-dose oral minoxidil, the most common side effect was unwanted body or facial hair, and serious problems were rare [4]; that study had no control group.
Topical minoxidil is approved for hair loss. Oral minoxidil is approved only for severe high blood pressure, so its use for hair is off-label. Neither form has anything to do with slowing aging; the benefit is cosmetic and lasts only while it is used.
Safety
- Topical minoxidil is approved over the counter for pattern hair loss. Oral minoxidil is approved only for severe high blood pressure; low doses for hair loss are off-label and need a prescription.
- Common side effects are extra facial and body hair, scalp itching with the topical form, and a temporary rise in shedding in the first months.
- Oral use can cause lightheadedness, fast heartbeat, fluid retention and ankle or eye swelling. People with heart disease or low blood pressure need a physician's review first.
- It is not for use in pregnancy or breastfeeding, and topical minoxidil is toxic to cats.
- Hair gained is lost within months of stopping.
Common questions
Does Bryan Johnson take minoxidil?
Yes. As of his July 2026 hair routine he takes 3.75 mg of oral minoxidil a day and applies 1 mL of 5% topical minoxidil at night. He started the oral form at 2.5 mg and raised it after checking for side effects.
Is oral minoxidil better than topical minoxidil?
Not clearly. In a 24-week trial, 5 mg oral was not significantly better than 5% topical on hair counts, though photos favored oral at the crown [2]. Oral is easier to use, but has more whole-body side effects.
Is low-dose oral minoxidil safe?
In a large review of 1,404 patients, serious side effects were rare; the most common was unwanted hair growth, and about 1% stopped for effects such as lightheadedness or fluid retention [4]. It is a prescription drug and needs a physician's review.
Does Bryan Johnson take finasteride?
No. In 2024 he wrote that he had avoided oral finasteride and its side effects. His topical formula at the time contained dutasteride instead; see the dutasteride page.
Sources
- 1.Olsen EA, Dunlap FE, Funicella T, et al. A randomized clinical trial of 5% topical minoxidil versus 2% topical minoxidil and placebo in the treatment of androgenetic alopecia in men. J Am Acad Dermatol, 2002. doi:10.1067/mjd.2002.124088
- 2.Penha MA, Miot HA, Kasprzak M, et al. Oral Minoxidil vs Topical Minoxidil for Male Androgenetic Alopecia: A Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA Dermatol, 2024. doi:10.1001/jamadermatol.2024.0284
- 3.Gupta AK, Venkataraman M, Talukder M, et al. Relative Efficacy of Minoxidil and the 5-α Reductase Inhibitors in Androgenetic Alopecia Treatment of Male Patients: A Network Meta-analysis. JAMA Dermatol, 2022. doi:10.1001/jamadermatol.2021.5743
- 4.Vañó-Galván S, Pirmez R, Hermosa-Gelbard A, et al. Safety of low-dose oral minoxidil for hair loss: A multicenter study of 1404 patients. J Am Acad Dermatol, 2021. doi:10.1016/j.jaad.2021.02.054