Category: Hair Products

I’m considering purchasing the Scalproller but i’m concerned as to the safety of the increased absorption of minoxidil. In your opinion do you think it is safe if the increased absorption is so much greater? And would using the Scalproller lead to a shed similiar to the shed when switching from 2% to 5% minoxidil?

The following response is by UK-based physician Dr. Bessam Farjo:

Response by: Dr Bessam Farjo United Kingdom

5% minoxidil is the safe limit. More may cause systemic side effects such as dangerously low blood pressure. It is speculated that the absorption of minoxidil in a lot of people is not as efficient as it could be. This is most likely due to method of application which can be influenced by the amount of hair present. I have prescribed 6% in the past without side effects and I know of a clinic in the UK that gives a 12.5% preparation! I don’t have any data with regards to their side effects. One possible side effect of too much minoxidil is a lowering of blood pressure and resultant light-headedness.

I don’t know if the scalproller will cause any shedding, but it will be one of the observations I will make when I start a clinical trial. I emphasise that at this point I see the scientific basis of such a device but cannot actually endorse the scalproller itself or support any claims that it will help with hair loss.

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Learn more about the author of this article, Dr. Bessam Farjo, on his BaldingBlog profile or at his website.

Hello, i am slightly confused, i read how resveratrol can increase test levels, is this true and would it worsen my hairloss?

But i also recently read a contradictory study on the combination of resvaratrol with curcumin, which is claimed to help with hairloss. Do you think this is a posibility? An italian company were seeking a patent on a pill that contained these two .

Also i take finasteride, can the res/cur, affect the absorption of fin? I take fin in the morning.

Here’s what I just learned from Wikipedia —
Resveratrol is a chemical produced naturally by several plants (including red grapes). As suggested, it gives the heart beneficial qualities of red wine. Curcumin is found in Indian spice turmeric, which is a member of the ginger family.

So in essence (let’s cut out all the nebulous scientific names), you want to know if natural extracts from grape and ginger can be beneficial to your hair. There are THOUSANDS of these natural concoctions people have tried to help with hair loss throughout history. I really do not know if it will work, but in the end it becomes a “buyer beware” market and your experience with how your body responds is the final answer you need for you. In my opinion, I doubt it will have an impact on your hair, but more so on your wallet and time. I don’t know anything about the study you’re referencing, so I can’t really give you any insight into their findings.

I just had an epiphany regarding why minoxidil may not work for the majority of men. I would like your expert opinion on this. I think I may have just discovered something.

I have been using minoxidil for about a year along with an herbal shampoo containing all natural ingredients. I recently switched to a fancy shampoo that has many other ingredients, including dimethicone and various other ingredients that are commonly used in most shampoos to improve texture and increase thickness.

I noticed, after using this newer shampoo, that when I applied the minoxidil, it beaded up on my scalp. I immediately realized that dimethicone is a form of silicone. After reading the label of the shampoo and the matching conditioner, I noticed that they also contained other silicone-based ingredients. The ingredients are used in almost all shampoos and conditioners to coat the hairs, to add shine and improve the texture, etc.

As you may know, silicone is also the primary ingredient in auto polish, car wax and many other similar products. Silicone adds a layer of protection to surfaces and protects them. It causes water to bead up on a car’s paint, etc. This is why I noticed, I’m sure, the minoxidil beading up on my scalp after using the shampoo and conditioner containing the dimethicone. If silicone can cause water to bead up on a car’s paint, I’m sure it can also cause minoxidil to bead up on one’s scalp. It certainly appears to have that effect. If it’s beading up, I’m sure it isn’t properly penetrating. No penetration = no results!

So … here is my epiphany. We all know that minoxidil does NOT work for the majority of men. And if it does, it usually only works minimally. Now, since the majority of shampoos and conditioners contain dimethicone and similar ingredients, which prevent or hinders the penetration of minoxidil, couldn’t this be the reason why most men do not respond to minoxidil? Furthermore, there is a small percentage of men known as “responders.” These are men who respond very well to minoxidil. Maybe the reason they respond so well is something so simple that it has been overlooked, i.e., they are simply the ones using dimethicone/silicone-free hair products allowing the minoxidil to actually penetrate and do its job unhindered.

What do you think? Has this been addresssed before? If not, do you think my “theory” has any merit? I really think it does. Let me know what you think.

It is an interesting theory, but the dimethicone in the shampoo should not block the absorption of minoxidil, unless perhaps you leave the shampoo on your scalp without rinsing. You should apply minoxidil after you wash off any shampoo and conditioner and the scalp is warm from the hot shower you take, with the scalp pores open. That is when the absorption occurs.