Minoxidil does not stop natural beard growth. What it does is enhance what’s already there by making the existing hairs coarser, and by growing more new, healthy hairs.
If you do decide to quit using minoxidil on your face, then you will keep the hairs that have transitioned to terminal whiskers. However, vellus hairs that haven’t fully matured yet will eventually be lost.
Your natural beard will still continue to grow like before you started using minoxidil without any issues.
Does minoxidil affect natural beard growth?
Minoxidil does affect natural beard growth positively because it makes the existing hairs thicker, which gives the illusion of a fuller beard.
Furthermore, it provides more nutrients to your facial hair by promoting blood flow which means you will grow more facial hair than you would without the product.
Can I use minoxidil if I already have a beard?
What’s even more is that it will probably improve the beard you’ve already got, all the while growing in new facial hair.
Of course, the results will probably not be as drastic when you already have a full beard compared to starting out with a patchy beard, or no beard at all.
Does minoxidil affect facial hair?
Minoxidil most certainly affects facial hair, but in a positive way.
It promotes more hair growth while simultaneously making the hairs thicker. While it is theoretically used to stop or slow down hair loss on the scalp, and even to regrow lost hair on one’s head, it can be used effectively to grow a beard.
Minoxidil will not cause you to suddenly lose your hair, although you might notice some increased hair shedding in the beginning. This is transient in nature, however.
How long before a minoxidil beard is permanent?
A minoxidil beard is permanent if, and only if the hairs have transitioned from vellus hairs into terminal hairs.
This usually takes multiple months, up to years to happen. Nevertheless, minoxidil starts working immediately. Even though the results aren’t immediately noticeable.
That’s why I advocate that you keep using minoxidil for a prolonged period of time without coming off if you’re looking to grow permanent facial hair. Otherwise, vellus hairs will inevitably be lost once more.
How do I know if minoxidil is working on my beard?
There are some obvious markers to look for that suggest that minoxidil is working on your beard.
Firstly, growing new vellus hairs that weren’t there before you started using minoxidil is your best, and most obvious way to determine that the product started doing its work.
Secondly, your hairs will most likely get coarser, so you might notice that you’re developing a thicker beard over time.
It’s also possible that you notice increased hair shedding at first, which typically means that the drug is doing its job, even though it might seem contradictory since you’re “losing” hair.
Important to note is that even though minoxidil basically starts working immediately from the very first time you use it, the effects take quite some time to become detectable. That’s why you shouldn’t instantly despair when you don’t observe any changes in your facial hair.
Does minoxidil increase beard density?
Minoxidil does increase beard density by promoting hair growth in addition to making the hairs coarser over time.
This results in a thicker beard, and means that minoxidil can be used to grow facial hair. Nevertheless, it should still be noted that minoxidil is only FDA approved for usage on the scalp, and not on the face.
Can minoxidil fill in a patchy beard?
Minoxidil can fill in a patchy beard depending on the circumstances.
If your beard is patchy because you’re young, or since you simply have the genetics to develop an uneven beard, then minoxidil can most likely aid you to grow a fuller beard.
What it doesn’t help for, or at least not nearly as well, is if you have a patchy beard due to suffering from the autoimmune disease named alopecia areata.
What is the success rate of minoxidil for beard growth?
It’s hard to say what the success rate of minoxidil for beard growth is since it’s only FDA approved for usage on the scalp. Few official studies have been published regarding the utilization of said substance to grow facial hair.
Anecdotally, many users have reported positive results with regard to facial hair growth. Myself included, and I started applying minoxidil in my late twenties.
Conclusion
Minoxidil can theoretically be used to grow a beard, and can even be used to fill in a patchy beard. It does not stop natural beard growth.
Facial hair grown by minoxidil will only be permanent if the vellus hairs have transitioned into terminal hairs.
Minoxidil starts working immediately, although the effects are usually only noticeable after a while. The most common indicators that the drug is working are developing new vellus hairs, your beard getting coarser, and experiencing hair shedding at first.
I can say from personal experience that minoxidil helped me to develop my beard, and I was well into adulthood when I first started my minoxidil journey.