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According to the Mirror and Sun Newspapers
Thousands of men desperate for a full, bushy hipster beard are smearing hair-loss drug on their FACE as part of bizarre new trend... but is it safe?
They're applying an over-the-counter balding medication called minoxidil to their cheeks, chins and moustaches twice a day and sharing their results online.
Boys from as young as 16 to men well into their 50s make up the budding subculture of hopefuls desperate to achieve a more mature or masculine look.
Minoxidil, marketed under the brand name Regaine in the UK, comes in foam or liquid form in a strength of two or five per cent.
It's available on Amazon and in most pharmacies with no prescription needed.
It works by helping the blood flow to hair follicles - the part of the skin which grows a hair by packing old cells together.
Minoxidil also widens the hair follicle, causing a thicker strand of hair to grow, and extends each follicle's growth stage which results in longer hair strands.
Its effect on hair growth was first discovered in the 1970s during clinical trials to see if it worked as a high blood pressure treatment.
Taken orally in pill form, the drug dilates small arteries in the body allowing for an increase of blood flow.
But in the 1970s trials, led by US researchers from the pharmaceutical company Upjohn, based in Michigan, it had the unintended effect of causing hypertrichosis, or excessive hair growth.
More recent clinical studies have shown that 60 per cent of men who use minoxidil on their heads experience visible regrowth of hair.
But in support forums across the internet, men with dreams of looking like Jason Mamoa are using minoxidil as an off-label medicine for beard growth.
The most popular Facebook group, The Minox Beard Spot, boasts 55,000 members.
It's filled with hundreds of before-and-after photos and thousands of comments from members complimenting and encouraging one another on their journeys.
Adam Siddals, 27, one of the group's founders, documented his minoxidil journey through YouTube videos that have amassed millions of views.
The business analyst, from Derby, started using the product on his face in April 2016 at the age of 24, after being teased for his lack of facial hair.
He told MailOnline: 'I had a very patchy jaw-strap, a bit more hair on the chin, a tiny bit under my neck and a very weak, straggly moustache.
'It really bothered me, I was insecure about my lack of facial hair.
'My friends always used to tease me for having no facial hair. They used to say, "Just face it you'll never grow a beard, quit trying".
'It sounds silly but I felt I had to prove them wrong. I remind them all the time that they are the reason I started using minoxidil.'
Before his journey, Mr Siddals spent weeks researching to find a cure for his lack of facial follicles.
When he found Minoxidil he was naturally sceptical. 'I don't believe in miracle cures or magic tablets,' he said.
'I did research for about a month before ordering my first can of Minoxidil. I didn't believe it would work, if I'm honest.
'But as I started documenting my journey, the results came so quick. It was surreal, I couldn't believe it.'
Mr Siddals, who lives in London, said his beard has commanded respect from others and changed his life.
He added: 'Now I've started being taken more seriously at work and I look older. It's given me newfound confidence and made my life better.
'Taking Minoxidil is the best decision I've ever made apart from proposing to my girlfriend.'
Mr Siddals used the product for two years and stopped last July.
Experts claim that hair strands grown through the use of minoxidil will fall out once customers stop using the drug.
But Mr Siddals has been off it for nine months and hasn't noticed any change.
He offered advice for beard growing hopefuls, saying: 'In some cases it's better to wait for nature to take its course.
'If you're in your late teens, I'd advise you to wait it out a little longer. But if you're hitting mid 20s, it may be that you can't grow a full beard naturally.
'I'd advise everyone to research into side effects. Scalp hair shredding sometimes freaks people out, even though it's quite rare.'
Mr Siddals added: 'Another common side effect is dry skin and potential heart palpitations. I'd also tell newcomers to start slow.
'There's no need to be applying the strongest, most concentrated form of Minoxidil when you're starting out. And use the foam, it has less side effects.
'And remember there's loads of people it doesn't work for. It's not a miracle cure. Like any drug, some people don't take to it as well as others.'
What are your thoughts on this?
Thousands of men desperate for a full, bushy hipster beard are smearing hair-loss drug on their FACE as part of bizarre new trend... but is it safe?
- Men desperate for facial hair have resorted to putting Minoxidil on their face
- Drug is available over-the-counter in pharmacies and is used to treat balding
- Tens of thousands of men have formed community online in Facebook groups
- Adam Siddals documented journey on YouTube where he has millions of views
They're applying an over-the-counter balding medication called minoxidil to their cheeks, chins and moustaches twice a day and sharing their results online.
Boys from as young as 16 to men well into their 50s make up the budding subculture of hopefuls desperate to achieve a more mature or masculine look.
Minoxidil, marketed under the brand name Regaine in the UK, comes in foam or liquid form in a strength of two or five per cent.
It's available on Amazon and in most pharmacies with no prescription needed.
It works by helping the blood flow to hair follicles - the part of the skin which grows a hair by packing old cells together.
Minoxidil also widens the hair follicle, causing a thicker strand of hair to grow, and extends each follicle's growth stage which results in longer hair strands.
Its effect on hair growth was first discovered in the 1970s during clinical trials to see if it worked as a high blood pressure treatment.
Taken orally in pill form, the drug dilates small arteries in the body allowing for an increase of blood flow.
But in the 1970s trials, led by US researchers from the pharmaceutical company Upjohn, based in Michigan, it had the unintended effect of causing hypertrichosis, or excessive hair growth.
More recent clinical studies have shown that 60 per cent of men who use minoxidil on their heads experience visible regrowth of hair.
But in support forums across the internet, men with dreams of looking like Jason Mamoa are using minoxidil as an off-label medicine for beard growth.
The most popular Facebook group, The Minox Beard Spot, boasts 55,000 members.
It's filled with hundreds of before-and-after photos and thousands of comments from members complimenting and encouraging one another on their journeys.
Adam Siddals, 27, one of the group's founders, documented his minoxidil journey through YouTube videos that have amassed millions of views.
The business analyst, from Derby, started using the product on his face in April 2016 at the age of 24, after being teased for his lack of facial hair.
He told MailOnline: 'I had a very patchy jaw-strap, a bit more hair on the chin, a tiny bit under my neck and a very weak, straggly moustache.
'It really bothered me, I was insecure about my lack of facial hair.
'My friends always used to tease me for having no facial hair. They used to say, "Just face it you'll never grow a beard, quit trying".
'It sounds silly but I felt I had to prove them wrong. I remind them all the time that they are the reason I started using minoxidil.'
Before his journey, Mr Siddals spent weeks researching to find a cure for his lack of facial follicles.
When he found Minoxidil he was naturally sceptical. 'I don't believe in miracle cures or magic tablets,' he said.
'I did research for about a month before ordering my first can of Minoxidil. I didn't believe it would work, if I'm honest.
'But as I started documenting my journey, the results came so quick. It was surreal, I couldn't believe it.'
Mr Siddals, who lives in London, said his beard has commanded respect from others and changed his life.
He added: 'Now I've started being taken more seriously at work and I look older. It's given me newfound confidence and made my life better.
'Taking Minoxidil is the best decision I've ever made apart from proposing to my girlfriend.'
Mr Siddals used the product for two years and stopped last July.
Experts claim that hair strands grown through the use of minoxidil will fall out once customers stop using the drug.
But Mr Siddals has been off it for nine months and hasn't noticed any change.
He offered advice for beard growing hopefuls, saying: 'In some cases it's better to wait for nature to take its course.
'If you're in your late teens, I'd advise you to wait it out a little longer. But if you're hitting mid 20s, it may be that you can't grow a full beard naturally.
'I'd advise everyone to research into side effects. Scalp hair shredding sometimes freaks people out, even though it's quite rare.'
Mr Siddals added: 'Another common side effect is dry skin and potential heart palpitations. I'd also tell newcomers to start slow.
'There's no need to be applying the strongest, most concentrated form of Minoxidil when you're starting out. And use the foam, it has less side effects.
'And remember there's loads of people it doesn't work for. It's not a miracle cure. Like any drug, some people don't take to it as well as others.'
What are your thoughts on this?
