Objectives To explore potential effects of recombinant human fibroblast growth factor 20 (rhFGF20) in the growth of cultured mouse vibrissal follicles. Results The growth of cultured mouse vibrissal follicles was significantly induced by rhFGF20 in a dose dependent pattern in the in vitro vibrissal follicle organ culture model. However, too high concentration of rhFGF20 could inhibit the growth of vibrissal follicles. We further demonstrated that rhFGF20 stimulated the proliferation of hair matrix cells and activated Wnt/beta-catenin signaling pathway. Conclusions The rhFGF20 might be a potential therapeutic agent to treat hair loss disorders.