Sorry, I should elaborate really. I got about three months` supply of a chemist own-brand in the US. I was pretty good about using it but I did miss some days out. You know when someone has their hair tied back and it recedes at the temples? Well I had a little bit of that but not too bad. I saw that as a good place to do a trial of minoxidil and applied it on one side but not the other. I didn`t notice any difference. Eventually the hair did grow back but on both sides so I put that down to my hair growth being in some sort of cycle. They do say it works but on a percentage of women (I can`t remember the percentage, maybe 16 or 21). I would give it a go (even at UK prices) but I wouldn`t hold my breath. You never know, it might work for your friend.