HairPlusPlus works through three complementary mechanisms — each of its active ingredients contributes a different effect to the overall hair growth picture.
Minoxidil. The same active ingredient found in over-the-counter Rogaine, and the foundation of the formulation. Minoxidil works by:
- Increasing blood flow to the scalp through vasodilation wider blood vessels deliver more oxygen and nutrients to hair follicles.
- Extending the active growth phase of the hair cycle, so each hair has longer to grow before entering the resting phase.
- Stimulating dormant follicles to re-enter the growth phase, which is one of the mechanisms behind regrowth in areas where follicles have miniaturized.
Retinoic Acid (Tretinoin). Best known for its role in skincare for acne and aging, but with documented effects in hair growth as well. Retinoic Acid works by:
- Upregulating enzymes in the skin that Minoxidil needs to be effective. Specifically, Minoxidil is converted to its active form by an enzyme in the skin — and Retinoic Acid increases the activity of that enzyme.
- Enhancing Minoxidil absorption and efficacy. In clinical studies, the combination of Retinoic Acid and Minoxidil applied once daily produced results equivalent to Minoxidil applied twice daily on its own.
- Increasing cell turnover at the follicular level, which supports the regrowth process.
Latanoprost. Originally an eye drop for glaucoma, where it works by influencing prostaglandin pathways involved in eye pressure regulation. The connection to hair growth came from an observed side effect — patients using latanoprost eye drops noticed their eyelashes were growing longer and thicker. Subsequent research showed latanoprost also increases hair density when applied to the scalp. The mechanism appears to be:
- Influencing the prostaglandin pathways involved in hair cycle regulation.
- Extending the active growth phase, similar to Minoxidil but through a different pathway.
- Increasing the proportion of hairs in the active growth phase at any given time, which produces visible density improvements.
The three mechanisms work on related but distinct parts of the hair growth process. Combining them means HairPlusPlus addresses multiple points in the cycle simultaneously — which is often why women see meaningful results on HairPlusPlus after topical Minoxidil alone has plateaued.