Use of minoxidil for the preparation of a pharmaceutical composition for treating a subject to generate a hair follicle and/or to increase the size of a hair follicle in a scalp, eyebrow or scarred region. The treating comprises disrupting an epidermis of the scalp, eyebrow or scarred region, and contacting it with the pharmaceutical composition. The subject may have androgenetic alopecia (AGA). A non-therapeutic method for generating a hair follicle and/or increasing the size of a hair follicle in a scalp, eyebrow or scarred region of a subject. The method comprises disrupting an epidermis of the scalp, eyebrow or scarred region, and contacting it with minoxidil. The subject may have male pattern baldness or female pattern baldness.