Ask The Dermatologist: What's The Difference Between Untangled Hair Supplement and Minoxidil®?

Minoxidil ® is the generic version of the popular hair loss medication Rogaine®. It is a topical product that comes in the form of liquid or foam and is believed to work due to its anti-inflammatory, vasodilating, and anti-androgenic effects.¹

Though popular, minoxidil is associated with a number of side effects, including an initial stage of hair shedding. To understand how it compares to Foundation Skincare’s UnTangled Hair Supplement, we’ve asked Dr. Anthony Nuara, MD PhD FAAD your most pressing questions, including: Can minoxidil really grow hair? And is it the best hair growth treatment available? Can they work well together?

What is Minoxidil?

Minoxidil is actually a blood pressure medicine that works as a vasodilator. It modulates potassium channels and causes relaxation of smooth muscle in the blood vessel walls. While researchers are still not sure how Minoxidil works for hair growth, they have observed this effect in many patients who have taken the drug for high blood pressure.

How Does It Work?

Researchers have hypothesized that minoxidil’s mechanism of action may have something to do with increased blood flow, but the medication interacts with multiple cellular receptors, so there is still a lot we don’t know.²

Some research shows that the medication increases the anagen interval in humans, which is the active phase when the hair follicle works to produce the hair fiber.³ Other studies suggest that minoxidil may stimulate the immune system, which makes it a suitable treatment for autoimmune disorders like alopecia areata.⁴

The good news is that minoxidil is safe as a topical and can be used by both men and women. As an oral drug, minoxidil should always be monitored by a physician, as side effects are possible. Some patients have experienced an increased heart rate, weight gain, facial flushing, and bloating.⁵ However, hair growth is the most common side effect of the drug, which is something we have learned to exploit.

What Is UnTangled Hair Supplement?

UnTangled is a supplement containing a custom blend of clinically-proven vitamins, herbs, and acids, including marine collagen, folic acid, and biotin, which are essential to hair growth. These nutrients boost keratin production, revitalize a stagnant hair growth cycle, and fortify the follicles to slow hair loss and promote hair growth. The best way to think about the ingredients in UnTangled is to view them as the raw materials your body needs for healthy hair. If you want to put up a building, you need a steady supply of these materials and this is exactly what UnTangled offers.

How Does UnTangled Work?

UnTangled targets hair loss through nutritional support. Each nutrient plays its own role in supporting the hair follicle and helping to accelerate a healthy hair growth cycle. Here how each nutrient works:

• Marine collagen: Replenishes our body’s natural supply of collagen to build hair proteins
• Vitamin A: Preformed vitamin A fights cell damage and minimizes the risk of hair breakage
• Vitamin C: Helps builds collagen and protects the scalp and hair from free radical damage 
• Vitamin D3: Stimulates new and old hair follicles while improving hair thickness
• Vitamin E: Promotes scalp health and coats the hair cuticle to protect against damage
• Horsetail Extract: Stimulates hair growth while reducing split ends
• Biotin (Vitamin B7): Aids sebum production to keep hair from breaking and increases hair volume and shine
• Folic Acid (Vitamin B9): Promotes red blood cell production and helps with the keratinization of hair
• Iron: Boosts circulation and carries oxygen to hair roots
• Selenium: Supports thyroid hormones that help regulate hair growth and fights free radicals
• Zinc: Plays a key role in DNA and RNA production important to hair regrowth
• Pantothenic Acid (Vitamin B5): Prevents moisture loss to minimize breakage while supporting and repairing hair structure
• Saw Palmetto: Fights against hormone-related hair loss by blocking the DHT hormone

Minoxidil Pros & Cons

Topical minoxidil is very safe. But irritation is possible and the medication usually causes hair shedding when you first start using it. It can also be a little cumbersome to apply to the scalp if you have long or relatively thick hair. The foam preparation is less greasy than the liquids in general.

Oral minoxidil at a low dose is effective, but higher doses are associated with the side effects mentioned above, like irregular heartbeat and flushing. You may also grow hair in unintended places.  

UnTangled Hair Supplement Pros & Cons

UnTangled is a comprehensive supplement that closes nutritional gaps in your diet, ensuring you get the micronutrients your body needs to support your hair growth cycle from the inside. It does not contain minoxidil or finasteride, so you will have to see your physician if you are interested in trying those medications. One drawback for some users is that although UnTangled is pescatarian friendly, it does contain marine collagen, so it is not vegan.

Can You Use Minoxidil and UnTangled Hair Supplement Together?

Absolutely. This is the first treatment plan I recommend to all of my patients and it becomes the foundation of their hair regimen. You can also use these products with Foundation Skincare’s Hair Serum, which is a topical product that nourishes the hair follicles with ingredients like apple stem cell, olive leaf extract, Stimucap, and more. Patients using the Hair Serum have seen a reduction in shedding, increased hair growth, and improved thickness of hair in as little as three months of use. Taking this comprehensive approach is the best way to target hair loss internally and externally for faster, more noticeable results.

Though you can start taking minoxidil, UnTangled, and the Hair Serum at any time, it’s best to tackle hair loss at the first signs of shedding. Preserving the hair you have is easier than regrowing hair, but both are possible with the right approach. Learn more about hair loss solutions in the FS Journal.

---

References:

1. https://www.healthline.com/health/does-rogaine-work

2. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/6239893/ 

3. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6691938/ 

4. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15098965/ 

5. https://www.mayoclinic.org/drugs-supplements/minoxidil-oral-route/side-effects/drg-20068757?p=1