Reten Five — a topical hair-loss treatment with 5% minoxidil that stimulates follicles directly at the scalp
💊 Active ingredient: Minoxidil 5% ⏱️ How to use: apply 1 mL to the scalp twice daily 🍽️ Condition: apply to a fully dry scalp, then let it air-dry 📦 Pack: 30 mL bottle with carton ⚡ Highlight: leave-on, no rinsing, unlike tablets 🌡️ Storage: below 30°C, cap closed tightly, away from sunlight
Reten Five is a topical hair-loss treatment with 5% minoxidil in a 30 mL bottle. On the scalp it converts to minoxidil sulfate, pushing resting follicles into the growth phase sooner and extending it, so hairs grow longer and thicker. Men apply it to a dry scalp twice daily; women should ask a pharmacist first.
🛒 30 mL bottle · authentic · 24-hour dispatch from Intimo Life — consult a doctor or pharmacist before use.
Product Description
Reten Five is a topical hair-loss treatment whose active ingredient is 5% minoxidil, supplied as a scalp solution. It is used for androgenetic alopecia and works directly at the hair follicle, with no tablet to swallow.
📊 Key facts
How it works — sulfotransferase enzymes in the scalp convert minoxidil to minoxidil sulfate, which shortens the resting phase so follicles re-enter growth sooner.
Timeline — initial results appear after roughly 8 weeks, with maximum effect around 4 months.
5% beats 2% — the 5% minoxidil solution gives a clearly greater clinical benefit than the 2% strength.
A different route from tablets — minoxidil stimulates follicles directly, unlike oral finasteride such as Finasteride, which lowers DHT.
🏭 Reten Five is made in Thailand by T.O. Pharma Co., Ltd., Bangkok, in a 30 mL bottle with carton, at a friendlier price than imported minoxidil of the same strength.
⚠️ Minoxidil is for external use only, never swallowed, and must be used continuously to maintain the result.
Medically reviewed by
Supatcheree A., Pharmacist | Sources: NHS, StatPearls, DermNet
Last reviewed: 2026-08-05
About Reten Five
What is Reten Five?
Reten Five is the brand name for a 5% minoxidil scalp solution supplied in a 30 mL bottle, manufactured by T.O. Pharma Co., Ltd. in Thailand.
Minoxidil was originally developed as an oral blood pressure medicine. Its side effect of increased hair growth led to the topical formulation now used for thinning hair, and topical minoxidil is today one of the most widely used options for androgenetic alopecia.
Reten Five acts only where it is applied, with nothing to swallow, which makes it an option for people who would rather avoid oral medication.
What does Reten Five treat?
Reten Five is used for androgenetic alopecia, the most common cause of hair loss.
In men it typically begins with a receding hairline and thinning at the crown. In women it usually shows as diffuse thinning over the mid-scalp while the frontal hairline is preserved. Minoxidil slows that thinning and thickens the hairs that remain.
This class is not designed for sudden patchy hair loss, post-partum shedding, chemotherapy-related loss, or loss caused by inflammatory scalp disease. If hair is falling unusually fast or in defined circular patches, see a dermatologist to establish the cause first.
How to apply Reten Five and how much to use
Men apply Reten Five to a completely dry scalp, 1 mL twice daily, morning and before bed.
Women the 5% minoxidil solution is labelled for men. The labelled strength for women is 2% applied twice daily. If a doctor or pharmacist judges the 5% solution appropriate for an individual woman, the dose and frequency must come from that clinician, not from the men's regimen above.
In both cases the key point is to apply to the scalp, not the hair, because the medicine must reach the follicle to work. Wash your hands afterwards, and do not use a hot hairdryer to speed drying.
Cover the whole thinning area rather than only the most obvious spot, since surrounding follicles have usually begun to thin too. Splitting the dose into several drops across the area and spreading them gives more even results than pooling it in one place, and applying at the same times daily keeps drug levels at the follicle steady.
What are the side effects of Reten Five?
Most side effects of Reten Five are local to the scalp rather than systemic, because very little of the drug is absorbed into the bloodstream when it is applied to intact skin.
Local effects include a dry flaky scalp, itching, redness, or stinging, some of which comes from the solvent in the formulation. Ordinary irritation is usually mild dryness and itch that eases as the skin adapts, unlike allergic contact dermatitis, which tends to be visibly red, intensely itchy, and to spread beyond the treated area. If you suspect an allergy, stop and consult a pharmacist or dermatologist.
Systemic effects are rare when the labelled amount is used on intact skin, but stop and see a doctor if you develop palpitations or swelling of the hands and feet. Applying more than the stated amount does not speed results; it only increases absorption into the body.
Contraindications and precautions for Reten Five
Do not use Reten Five if you are allergic to minoxidil or any ingredient in the formulation, and do not apply it to a scalp with open wounds, inflammation, sunburn, or infection, because damaged skin absorbs far more of the drug systemically.
Anyone with heart disease or a blood pressure condition should consult a doctor first, since minoxidil is a vasodilator in its oral form. Stop and seek medical advice if you develop palpitations, swelling of the hands or feet, unusually rapid weight gain, or chest pain.
Minoxidil at any strength should be avoided in pregnancy and breastfeeding, and the bottle must always be kept away from children and pets, as this external preparation is harmful if swallowed. If it is swallowed or gets into the eyes, rinse with plenty of clean water and seek medical help promptly.
Reten Five compared with other topical hair-loss products
Several topical scalp products are used for hair loss, differing in both mechanism and how they are used.
Reten Five (Minoxidil 5%) — a leave-on solution that is not rinsed off, stimulating follicles back into the growth phase directly.
Nizoral Shampoo (Ketoconazole) — a wash-off medicated shampoo aimed at yeast and dandruff that inflame the scalp; it does not stimulate follicles directly.
In short: if the goal is regrowth and thicker hair, choose a topical minoxidil such as Reten Five. If dandruff and an inflamed scalp are part of the problem, a medicated shampoo can be used alongside it, since the two work at different points and do not clash.
Can Reten Five be combined with oral hair-loss medicines?
Yes, and dermatologists commonly do exactly this, because the two classes act at different points and complement each other.
Topical minoxidil such as Reten Five stimulates follicles at the scalp, while oral finasteride products such as Propecia and Firide reduce DHT, the hormone that causes follicles to shrink. Used together they address the cause and encourage regrowth at the same time.
Note that oral finasteride is for men only; the approach for women differs. Always check with a doctor or pharmacist before combining treatments, and never layer several minoxidil brands at once.
How many months until Reten Five shows results?
Topical minoxidil takes time; it is not a treatment that shows results in a week.
Results generally begin to appear after about 8 weeks of consistent use, with the maximum effect around 4 months. Photographing the scalp from the same angle under the same lighting each month shows change far more clearly than checking the mirror daily.
What makes the timeline differ between people includes how long the hair has been thinning, how much sulfotransferase enzyme each person's scalp produces, and how consistently the solution is applied. Skipping days regularly slows visible progress, so it helps to tie the routine to brushing your teeth or washing your face.
Where to buy Reten Five?
Where to buy Reten Five?
Order online from Intimo Life with delivery across Thailand in 1-3 business days, packed discreetly for privacy with no product name shown on the parcel.
Yes, and it is common. Minoxidil-induced telogen effluvium appears between weeks 2 and 8 as the drug pushes older resting hairs out to make room for new ones. It settles with continued use. If heavy shedding lasts past three months, see a dermatologist.
Yes. Minoxidil stimulates follicles while you use it but does not change the underlying genetic cause. After stopping, new hair gradually returns to its pre-treatment state within three to four months. Treat it as long-term care, and discuss alternatives with a doctor if you need to stop.
Yes, with sensible spacing. Skip the application on the day you dye or perm, and resume at least a day later. Dye and perm solutions are alkaline and already irritate the scalp, so applying the medicine to irritated skin stings and reddens more easily. Wash thoroughly before resuming.
Leave at least two to four hours after applying so it can absorb; washing sooner rinses it away. The easiest routine is to shampoo first, dry the scalp completely, then apply. Avoid a damp scalp, as the solution spreads unevenly.
This product is registered for the scalp only, so beard, moustache, or eyebrow use is off-label. Facial skin is thinner and irritates more easily, and the eyebrow area sits close enough to the eyes that the solution can run into them. Ask a dermatologist first.
It usually comes from the solution running onto the forehead or transferring from your hands. Drop it precisely on thinning areas, wash your hands afterwards, and let the scalp dry fully before bed. It is more common with 5% and improves once technique is adjusted.
No. There is no safety or efficacy data below 18. Teenage hair loss also often has non-genetic causes such as stress, iron deficiency, thyroid problems, or scalp disease, which need treating at the source. See a doctor for a diagnosis first.
Much less so. Minoxidil reactivates follicles that are still alive, but a scalp bald long enough to look smooth and shiny with no fine hairs usually means the follicles have shrunk permanently. The earlier you start, the better.
Store below 30°C, away from direct sunlight and heat. Close the cap tightly after every use, as the solvent evaporates. Avoid hot humid bathrooms and cars, keep it away from children and pets, and check the expiry date.
The price depends on the current listing; see this product page at Intimo Life for the current figure. Locally made minoxidil is generally more affordable than imported products of the same strength. For questions about use, message our pharmacist first.
Related Products
Products with the same active ingredient or treating the similar condition.
Finasteride
Harifin
Firide
Finascia
Nizoral Shampoo
