As a hair loss treatment, maximum-strength minoxidil is only prescribed to people with androgenetic alopecia. So, whether used alone or combined with other ingredients, it’s probably not going to help with stress-related hair loss or with traction alopecia, which is hairline thinning that may be caused by heat damage or physical strain on the hair (like wearing a super tight bun every day). “If you don’t have androgenic alopecia, minoxidil has no purpose,” says Helen Reavey, a trichologist and founder of hair and scalp-care brand Act+Acre. Furthermore, even if you do have diagnosed androgenetic alopecia, minoxidil still might not work for you. “About 50% of men will see results, but 50% won’t,” says trichologist Angela Onuoha. “For women, it’s even lower, with only 30-40% seeing results.”
