Minoxidil won't just slow the loss of hair from your scalp, it is also effective at slowing the loss of hair elsewhere in your body. How does it do that? ... It does that by extending the anagen phase ... For most people who are losing their hair quickly or who have already lost their hair, minoxidil alone is not going to be a sufficient treatment. However, minoxidil has been shown to be effective at slowing rates of hair loss in people that are starting to experience some hair loss.