Generic Minoxidil Vs Rogaine & Other Brands: Hims, Keeps & More

By the age of 35, two-thirds of men in the USA suffer from some level of hair loss. In women, about 50 percent of the population experiences noticeable hair loss.

Various solutions for fighting hair loss are available nowadays. One of the most popular is a medication known as minoxidil.

In today’s article, we’re comparing Rogaine vs minoxidil and other brands of this hair loss treatment to help you understand the differences and choose the right course of action for your case.

Does Rogaine Treat Hair Loss Differently from Generic Minoxidil Brands?

Whether it’s branded Rogaine or any other generic minoxidil brand, the active ingredient responsible for treating hair loss is the same. It’s a medical compound called minoxidil.

This means that even though these products carry different names and have different manufacturers, their mechanism of action is essentially identical.

In other words, no, Rogaine doesn’t treat hair loss differently from any other generic minoxidil brands.

The Mechanism of Action of Rogaine and Other Minoxidil Brands 

The first form of minoxidil was an oral drug. Its original use was to treat hypertension, and that’s still the case today for patients with very high blood pressure.

However, the form of the drug that deals with hair loss and related conditions (such as alopecia) is topical minoxidil. That’s when you apply the medication on the skin instead of taking it by mouth.

Topical minoxidil first hit the shelves in 1987. It’s currently available in several strengths or concentrations, including 2 percent and 5 percent.

You apply topical minoxidil as a solution or foam on your scalp where an enzyme called sulfotransferase converts it into minoxidil sulfate (the active form).

Because it’s a vasodilator (a chemical that widens blood vessels), minoxidil increases the blood flow to your scalp and hair follicles.

When more blood rushes to your scalp, the hair follicles receive a greater supply of oxygen and nutrients. This stimulates the hair follicles to cut short their resting phase (telogen phase) and move to their growing phase (anagen phase).

The growing phase accounts for around 85 to 90 percent of the hair on a person’s head, which is why it lasts between 2 to 8 years. The resting phase is when the hair falls out and it lasts about 2 to 4 months.

That’s the mechanism of action of minoxidil products.

Why Are There Multiple Minoxidil Brands?

If Rogaine and other generic minoxidil brands work the same way, then why are there so many different brands? What makes topical minoxidil products different from one another?

The answer depends on the brands in question, but generally speaking, the difference either lies in the available concentration of minoxidil, the available forms, and/or the inactive ingredients.

The concentration of minoxidil means the number of minoxidil molecules compared to the total number of molecules in the entire formula.

In other words, the concentration of minoxidil corresponds to the strength of the product. The higher the concentration, the stronger the product.

Currently, the most common concentrations available for topical minoxidil are 2, 5, 10, and 15 percent.

Other than concentration, different minoxidil brands can use varying inactive ingredients. These affect the properties of the formula such as its shelf life, scent, absorption rate, and so on.

Comparing Minoxidil Brands

Before we put the market’s main topical minoxidil brands head to head, here’s a quick summary of the comparison for quick reference: 

Generic Minoxidil vs Rogaine

Rogaine is the most well-known brand of minoxidil for hair loss treatment. A huge contributing factor to this status is the fact that it was the first topical minoxidil product to be approved by the FDA.

Rogaine has been on the market for more than 20 years. It’s been subjected to dozens of clinical trials to ensure the formula is always the best it can be.

Additionally, Rogaine belongs to the global Johnson & Johnson family. Its quality is guaranteed under the same strict standards.

Rogaine offers multiple topical minoxidil products as follows:

• 2-percent solution for women
• 5-percent solution for men
• 5-percent foam for men
• 5-percent foam for women

You can purchase Rogaine products directly from the official website. The company offers deals if you’ll order more than a month’s supply so you can save some money.

Hims vs Rogaine

Hims is a telehealth company that specializes in men’s care and wellness. It doesn’t only offer treatment for hair loss, but also for erectile dysfunction, early climax, anxiety, depression, acne, wrinkles, and more.

Established in 2017, Hims’ hair loss solutions are formulated for men only. These consist of the 3 following options:

• 5-percent solution
• 5-percent foam
• 2-in-1 spray (6 percent minoxidil and 0.3 percent finasteride)

You can order Hims’ minoxidil products through their website, but you’ll first have to complete a consultation with a licensed professional to determine an effective course of action.

Like Rogaine, Hims’ hair loss treatments are FDA-approved and their shipping is free of charge. There’s also a 30-day return window and a 90-day money-back guarantee if you’re not satisfied with the results.

Kirkland Minoxidil vs Rogaine

Kirkland is the in-house brand of Costco; the retail giant. In 2011, Costco joined the hair loss treatment market with a line of topical minoxidil products.

Besides the name of the brand, there are practically no differences between the two products when it comes to forms and efficacy. Like Rogaine, Kirkland minoxidil is available as a 5 percent solution and foam.

However, Kirkland doesn’t offer a minoxidil product for women. Also, Kirkland’s price range is much more affordable compared to that of Rogaine. The solution is about 9 times cheaper whereas the foam is around 4 times less costly.

Keeps vs Rogaine

Keeps is another brand that sells topical minoxidil along with other hair loss treatments. It also offers a range of cosmetic products to boost the effects of the company’s hair loss solutions.

As a telehealth group, Keeps’ operation is subscription based. It promises customers FDA-approved products at prices that are 50 percent less than most pharmacies.

Keeps’ products are clinically proven for efficacy. The company even provides free online consultations with licensed health professionals before you start treatment.

Keeps’ line of topical minoxidil products is focused entirely on men. It’s more limited as it consists only of a 5-percent solution and a 5-percent foam.

The company did recently come out with a new topical hair loss treatment. It’s a gel that features minoxidil (5 percent) and finasteride (0.25 percent).

Finasteride blocks the conversion of testosterone to dihydrotestosterone (DHT), which is the hormone that causes male pattern baldness.

Keeps’ topical minoxidil products are quite affordable compared to Rogaine, so it’s a good starting option if you’re on a more modest budget.

Hers vs Rogaine

Hers is a telehealth brand that specializes in women’s wellness and care.

It’s the female version of Hims, also founded in 2017. which means it doesn’t only offer hair loss treatments.

Hers also sells medications and supplements for birth control, anxiety, depression, infections, migraines, sexual health, acne, and more.

Hers’ range of topical minoxidil consists of the 3 following options:

• 2-percent solution
• 5-percent foam
• 2-in-1 spray (6 percent minoxidil and 0.3 percent finasteride)

You can order Hers’ minoxidil products through their website, but you’ll first be prompted to complete a consultation with a licensed professional to determine the most effective treatment plan.

Hers’ hair loss treatments are FDA-approved, safe to use on colored or chemically-treated hair, and their shipping is fee-free. There’s also a 30-day return window and a 90-day money-back guarantee if you’re not satisfied with the results.

Regaine vs Rogaine

This particular comparison is pretty interesting as most people consider Rogaine and Regaine as two unrelated brands like Hims, Kirkland, Keeps, and so on. But the truth is the exact opposite.

Rogaine and Regaine are different names of the same brand. They both belong to Johnson & Johnson and offer the same products. 

The difference in the name depends on your location. The product is known as Rogaine in the United States and as Regaine in the UK – a Lays vs Walkers kind of situation.

Up and Up Minoxidil vs Rogaine

Up & Up is one of the many in-house brands owned by the retail giant we all know and love; Target.

Target first launched its hair loss treatment line of topical minoxidil products back in 2014. Besides the name of the brand, there are no differences between Up & Up and Rogaine when it comes to strength and forms.

Approved by the FDA, Up & Up minoxidil is available as follows:

• 2-percent solution for women
• 5-percent foam for women
• 5-percent solution for men
• 5-percent foam for men

Although Up & Up isn’t the most affordable brand featured today, it’s still a lot more cost-effective than Rogaine.

Scalp Med vs Rogaine

ScalpMED is an online company that manufactures and sells hair growth treatments, including minoxidil-based products.

ScalpMED has been in the market for over 15 years. The company’s approach to treatment is a bit different than other brands as it presents a multi-package system for men and one for women, both of which consist of:

• 1 NutriSol bottle
• 2 Vitadil bottles
• A bottle for mixing/application

NutriSol is a formula developed exclusively by ScalpMed, while Vitadil is a formula that features 5 percent minoxidil for men and 2 percent minoxidil for women.

ScalpMed products use an FDA-approved ingredient -which is minoxidil-, but the products themselves are not approved by the FDA.

Not to mention, their prices are quite more expensive compared to Rogaine and other generic minoxidil brands.

Regoxidine vs Rogaine

Regoxidine is another brand of 5 percent minoxidil treatment for men, manufactured and distributed by Innovus Pharmaceuticals. It’s available for sale at Amazon, Walmart, and various other retail stores and pharmacies.

Equate vs Rogaine

Equate is the in-house brand of Walmart, a mega retail store chain that needs no introduction.

Equate offers the same ingredients in its formula as Rogaine but at a cheaper price. It’s available as a:

• 2-percent solution for women
• 5-percent foam for women
• 5-percent solution for men
• 5-percent foam for men

Final Thoughts

There you have it, a comprehensive comparison of generic minoxidil vs Rogaine.

Generally, the generic brands offer the same effect as Rogaine but at more budget-friendly prices.

Some brands are available in the same minoxidil concentrations and dosage forms as Rogaine, while others are limited to only solutions or expanded to sprays. Similarly, some brands cater to both men and women, whereas others only focus on either sex.