Surefire cures for baldness have been around ever since man learned to talk fast. But lately there's a dramatic new twist to the promise: a remedy with medical credentials and FDA approval. The source of excitement is a drug called minoxidil, which is mixed in an alcohol-based solution and rubbed on the scalp. Unlike the snake oils of the past, minoxidil has been tested in controlled studies. And while it didn't always halt baldness or regrow hair, it did work on some men to some degree.