Frequently asked questions

Is Kirkland® minoxidil the same as FOLIGAIN®?

Both use 5% minoxidil for men. FOLIGAIN® also offers low-alcohol, foam, women's 2% and Trioxidil products and has official stores in Europe.

Is Kirkland® minoxidil sold in the EU, UK or Switzerland?

Not officially. It is a US Costco® product and usually reaches Europe through third-party importers.

Is FOLIGAIN® as effective as Kirkland®?

At the same 5% concentration, the active ingredient is the same. Results depend on consistent use and the type of hair loss.

How long does minoxidil take to work?

Most people see first changes after 2-4 months and fuller results after 6-12 months of consistent use.

Can women use 5% minoxidil?

Women should use products made for women, such as FOLIGAIN® 2% for women or a women's foam, unless a doctor advises otherwise.

What happens if I stop using minoxidil?

Hair gained or maintained with minoxidil usually returns to its previous state within a few months.

Where can I buy FOLIGAIN® in my country?

Use the country selector on this site to go directly to your official regional FOLIGAIN® store.

What is minoxidil and how does it actually work?

Minoxidil is a vasodilator: it widens the small blood vessels in the scalp, so more oxygen and nutrients reach the follicle. It also pushes follicles out of the resting phase and back into the growth phase, which is why thinning hair starts to thicken.

• The crown and mid-scalp respond first; the hairline is the hardest area.
• It does not treat the underlying cause, so androgenetic alopecia keeps progressing on its own.
• The hair you keep is kept only while you keep using it.

Which strength should I pick — 2% or 5%?

5% is the standard strength for men. 2% is the label strength for women who apply twice a day; some women use 5% foam once a day on a doctor's advice, which is off-label.

Start with the strength the label for your sex states, and only change it with a doctor's input.

What are the most common side effects?

Minoxidil was originally a blood-pressure tablet, so anything that increases how much you absorb — a broken scalp barrier, too much product, applying to wet hair — raises the chance of a whole-body effect.

• Scalp itch, dryness or flaking, most often from the propylene glycol in the liquid.
• A brief warm or tingling feeling right after application.
• Extra hair on the forehead or cheeks if the product runs or is applied too generously.
• Rarely: dizziness, a fast pulse or swollen ankles — stop and speak to a doctor if this happens.

Why is my hair shedding more in the first weeks?

That is the expected 'dread shed'. Follicles that were sitting in the resting phase get pushed into the growth phase together, so the old hair drops out before the new hair comes through. It usually starts in weeks two to six and settles by month three or four.

If shedding lasts longer than about two months, or there is no regrowth by month six, that is worth a doctor's look rather than more product.

How do I apply minoxidil so it works best?

• Apply to a dry scalp, not wet hair — water dilutes it and pushes it away from the follicle.
• Part the hair and put the product on the skin, not on the hair shaft.
• Use the measured dose: 1 ml of solution or half a cap of foam, spread across the whole thinning area.
• Let it dry fully before you lie down, and wash your hands afterwards.

Foam is applied with the fingers; the dropper is for the liquid only.

How long must it stay on, and can I wash it off?

Give it at least four hours before washing, swimming or heavy sweating, so the follicle has time to absorb it. If you apply in the morning, wash your hair in the evening; if you apply at night, wash in the morning.

• Four hours is the practical minimum for the liquid.
• Foam dries faster on the surface, but the same absorption window applies.
• Sweating it off before it has absorbed wastes the dose.

My minoxidil seems to stop working — what do I check first?

Only after these are checked does switching brands make sense: the active ingredient is identical, so a brand change fixes supply and consistency problems, not the biology.

• Consistency: have you actually applied it daily for the last six months, or mostly?
• Supply: an opened bottle loses potency, and so does a product stored in heat or sunlight.
• Dose: most people who 'stop responding' are applying less than the full 1 ml.
• Cause: if the hairline has kept receding, minoxidil alone may simply not be enough any more.

Do I have to use minoxidil forever?

For androgenetic alopecia, yes — the hair you keep is kept only while the drug is present. If you stop, the hair you gained falls out within three to six months and you end up where the condition would have taken you anyway.

Some people step down to once a day or a lower strength to maintain. That is a conversation with a doctor, not a guess.