How to Apply Minoxidil for Hair Growth

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You may have heard that minoxidil is one of the most popular hair loss treatments out there. What you might not know is how to apply minoxidil effectively — which is where we come in.

Also sold under brand names like Rogaine®, minoxidil is an over-the-counter, topical medication that slows down hair loss and speeds up hair regrowth. This makes it a great option for anybody who has noticed the early signs of balding, like increased hair fall or a receding hairline.

But to actually reap the benefits of minoxidil, you need to use it correctly. Below, we explain how to apply minoxidil foam and minoxidil liquid to treat hair loss. We’ll also share some tips for getting the most out of minoxidil. (Learn more about Itchy Scalp and Hair Loss: Are They Connected?.)

How to Apply Minoxidil

Minoxidil comes in two main formulations: minoxidil topical solution and minoxidil foam. We’ll cover what you need to know about minoxidil application in both forms.

Minoxidil Solution Application

Using minoxidil liquid solution is pretty easy. The entire process only takes a few minutes, making it easy to work into your hair care routine. Here’s how to apply it:

  1. Make sure your hair is completely dry before use. If you’ve taken a shower or bath, dry your hair before applying minoxidil solution.

  2. Fill the dropper provided with your medication with 1 milliliter (ml) of minoxidil. You should see a black line on the dropper indicating the 1 ml mark.

  3. Using the dropper, apply the minoxidil to the areas of the scalp that are affected by hair loss. It may help to part your hair in several places so that the minoxidil can easily come into contact with your scalp.

  4. Using your fingers, rub the minoxidil solution into your scalp.

  5. After you’ve applied the minoxidil, put the cap back on the bottle, and wash your fingers thoroughly using soap and warm water to remove any remaining minoxidil from your skin.

Minoxidil solution is intended for use twice a day. Most people who use minoxidil apply it once in the morning and once in the evening, typically a few hours before going to bed.

Minoxidil Foam Application

Here’s how to minoxidil foam to your scalp:

  1. Make sure your hair is completely dry before applying minoxidil. Before applying the foam, gently part your hair so that your scalp is easy to reach.

  2. Hold the can upside down and press the nozzle to dispense half a capful of foam onto your fingers.

  3. Using your fingers, gently apply the foam to the areas of the scalp that are affected by hair loss. Massage it into your scalp using your fingers.

  4. After you’ve finished applying the minoxidil foam, wash your hands thoroughly to get rid of any remaining minoxidil.

If you’re using minoxidil foam, you’ll also apply it twice a day. Typically, you’ll use half a capful of foam for each application (so a total of one capful of foam a day).

Tips for Applying Minoxidil

Although minoxidil application is pretty straightforward, we’ve got some tips for getting the most out of either the solution or the foam:

  • After you’ve applied minoxidil, allow the medication to dry for four hours before you wear a hat, use a hair dryer, or wash your hair.

  • Don’t exceed the recommended minoxidil dosage for hair loss. Applying minoxidil more often will not improve your results, but it may increase your risk of side effects.

  • Rinse minoxidil off if it gets on other parts of the body. If it drips onto your forehead or face, for instance, use cool water to wash it away.

  • Avoid getting it on your clothing. Unfortunately, minoxidil can stain, so try to prevent it from getting on clothing or bedding. Wait for it to dry before lying on your pillow.

Lastly, if you’re experiencing any concerning side effects — like extreme skin irritation – it’s a good idea to pause using it and consult a healthcare practitioner. We’ll cover the side effects of minoxidil later. (Learn more about Minoxidil Drug Interactions: A Guide.)

What Should You Do If You Forget to Use Minoxidil Daily?

If you forget to use minoxidil and remember shortly after the missed dose, try to apply it as soon as you can. On the other hand, if it’s already about time for your next dose, skip the dose you missed and use the medication as normal.

Minoxidil works best when you use it consistently (ideally, every day). You should notice some new hair growth after about four months of consistent minoxidil use , so don’t give up if you aren’t noticing improvements after a few weeks.

If you often find you’ve forgotten to apply minoxidil, here are a couple suggestions for how to better remember:

  • Keep your minoxidil  in an obvious, impossible-to-miss location. It’s helpful to store minoxidil in a place where it will be right in front of you when you use it — say, on your bedside table or near your toothbrush.

  • Place a sticky note, or set a calendar reminder. A sticky note on your bathroom mirror can be a great way to remember. More of a digital person? Try setting an alarm on your phone for a few minutes after you wake up. Hit the snooze button a lot? Create a recurring event in your phone’s calendar app.

Rest assured, the longer and more consistently you use minoxidil, the easier it will become to remember to apply it. That’s because the more you do it, the more likely it is to become a habit (especially once you start seeing results).

How to Store Minoxidil

Excess heat and moisture could affect the product, so when you’re not using minoxidil, keep it stored in a convenient location away from spots like your radiator or shower.

And if you have young children or pets in your home, you don’t want them getting into your minoxidil. Try to store minoxidil (and other medications) in a location that’s out of their sight and reach.

Does Minoxidil Cause Side Effects?

For the most part, minoxidil is a safe and effective medication. Minoxidil is an FDA-approved medication, which means it has to meet specific criteria for safety and effectiveness.

That said, all medications have side effects, and minoxidil is no exception. The most common minoxidil side effects include:

  • Skin irritation

  • Dryness

  • Scaling

  • Burning

  • Flaking

  • Itching

Talk to your healthcare provider if you experience any of these side effects while using this medication.

It’s also important to note that you might experience temporary hair shedding when you first start using minoxidil. So if you notice a little extra hair fall, don’t panic — your hair will grow back soon, as long as you’re using the treatment consistently.

Other Hair Loss Treatments

If minoxidil isn’t right for you, or if you’d like to pair it with another hair regrowth treatment for maximum effect, you’ve got other options:

  • Finasteride: An FDA-approved, prescription hair loss treatment, finasteride is effective at slowing down androgenetic alopecia (aka male pattern baldness).

  • Combining minoxidil and finasteride: Using a combination of finasteride and minoxidil can be super effective for treating male pattern hair loss. You can try our topical finasteride and minoxidil spray, or take finasteride pills along with topically applying minoxidil.

  • Hair growth supplements: One possible cause of hair loss is nutritional deficiencies. Along with eating a varied, balanced diet, you can use supplements like our biotin gummies to support healthy hair growth.

  • Hair care products: Some products actually promote hair regrowth, like our thickening shampoo with saw palmetto. A dermatologist or hair stylist can also point you in the right direction on your options.

In addition, it’s a good idea to stick to gentle hair care techniques when you’re trying to address hair loss. Styling your hair too roughly can cause breakage, which can make your hair appear thinner and less healthy.

The TL;DR on Minoxidil Application

Whatever has you investigating minoxidil — thinning hair, bald patches, or the realization that your hairline is starting to look like your dad’s — you’re in the right place.

Losing hair can be frustrating, but there are solutions.

Luckily, minoxidil is a science-backed medication that’s supported by decades of comprehensive, large-scale scientific research. Keep this key information in mind when it comes to how to use minoxidil:

  • Using minoxidil is a simple process. Follow the instructions outlined above for how to apply minoxidil solution or foam to your scalp. Make sure to be consistent with minoxidil application to achieve the best results.

  • Minoxidil works — but it doesn’t work overnight. It may take a few months before you notice any hair regrowth. So as long as you’ve read up on how to apply minoxidil properly, don’t sweat that you’re doing something wrong.

  • Be aware of the side effects. While minoxidil is generally safe, it doesn’t agree with everyone. Mild side effects might go away after a few weeks of use, but if the side effects are bothering you, speak with a healthcare professional.

  • Minoxidil can be paired with other hair regrowth treatments. You might benefit from using minoxidil alongside finasteride, hair growth supplements, and quality hair care products.

Got more questions? We can help you book a hair consultation with a healthcare professional. They can give you personalized medical advice and help you explore your hair loss treatment options.

This article originally appeared on Hims.com and was syndicated by MediaFeed.org.

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Minoxidil is an effective treatment for hair loss. But you might wonder if there are any natural minoxidil alternatives worth trying. While some natural solutions can promote hair growth, these aren’t as well-studied as minoxidil.

A well-studied hair loss treatment, minoxidil is approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for treating pattern baldness. It can be used to treat many other types of hair loss.

But that doesn’t mean minoxidil works for everyone.

There are many reasons why you might be looking for a natural minoxidil alternative. Perhaps there’s a minoxidil shortage in your area, or you’ve experienced some unpleasant side effects of minoxidil. Or maybe you just want a natural treatment to use alongside your minoxidil topical.

No natural hair growth solutions are proven to be as effective as minoxidil. Still, there are a few products and methods that may stimulate hair growth and reduce hair fall.

If you’re looking into natural alternatives to minoxidil, here’s what you need to know.

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Much like penicillin and Viagra, minoxidil is one of those medications that was sort of discovered by accident. Originally used to treat high blood pressure, minoxidil produced an unexpected side effect: healthy hair growth.

The active ingredient in Rogaine, minoxidil is a topical solution that is applied to the scalp. Topical minoxidil can be purchased over the counter (that is, without a prescription).

Minoxidil is a vasodilator, which means it widens your blood vessels. When applied to your scalp, minoxidil boosts blood flow to your hair follicles. It might also lengthen the anagen phase of your hair growth cycle, which means new hair grows for longer.

The result? Thicker, healthier-looking hair with decreased shedding.

Other than minoxidil, some conventional treatments for hair loss include:

  • Finasteride (sold under the brand name Propecia), which is specifically used for male pattern baldness

  • Laser hair treatments, which is where a low-level light stimulates your hair follicles

  • Hair transplants, which can be effective but costly

While minoxidil is generally safe to use, it can also cause some side effects. The possible side effects of minoxidil include scalp irritation, a dry scalp and allergic reactions.

Is minoxidil natural? No — minoxidil is not considered a natural treatment for hair loss. It doesn’t occur naturally in the body or in nature. Instead, it’s a medication that stimulates the blood vessels to widen, which can increase circulation to the hair follicles.

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Complementary and alternative medicine, often called natural medicine or natural treatments, are those outside the realm of your doctor’s prescribed medications.

And when it comes to hair loss, there are several natural treatments and supplements marketed as being effective.

Unfortunately, as with many complementary treatments, the research is lacking around these treatments. When it comes to natural hair health treatments, more scientific evidence is necessary in order to claim that one natural solution can produce similar effects to minoxidil.

In other words, there’s no natural minoxidil alternative that is proven to be as effective as minoxidil (or any other FDA-approved hair loss medication, for that matter).

With that said, there are some natural treatments for hair loss. Here’s a quick summary of these natural alternatives. 

(RelatedDo Hair Growth Products Work?)

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It’s possible that microneedling can support hair growth.

review from 2020 looked at whether needle therapy can treat hair loss. It found that microneedling delivered with a rolling device seemed to promote hair density and hair regrowth in people with hair loss conditions.

This includes conditions like:

  • Male pattern baldness, also called androgenic or androgenetic alopecia caused by a type of male hormone called dihydrotestosterone (DHT)

  • Alopecia areata, an autoimmune disorder that causes hair thinning and bald patches 

  • Telogen effluvium, which is hair fall caused by severe stress or illness

It’s believed that microneedling increases blood circulation, which might stimulate hair follicles.

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When used topically or orally, saw palmetto, which is a plant, may have hair loss benefits.

A 2020 review looked at the benefits of saw palmetto for hair loss. It found that about 60 percent of users saw their hair quality improve, while nearly 30 percent saw an increase in total hair count in a collection of seven studies.

 This natural treatment is often blended into topical hair care products, like saw palmetto shampoo.

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Do essential oils reduce hair loss? Some research suggests that rosemary oil might stimulate hair regrowth.

study compared the effectiveness of rosemary oil vs minoxidil for hair loss. The researchers concluded the results of applying rosemary oil daily was “not inferior” to the results of 2% minoxidil.

Still, science needs to further explore the effects of rosemary oil to support the hypothesis that it can function as an effective natural substitute for minoxidil.

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Capsaicin is a compound found in peppers. It’s also used in some pain-relieving creams.

In one clinical trial, oral use of capsaicin was found to improve hair growth when compared to placebo.

Take these findings with a grain of salt: , This study involved fewer than 50 participants and combined capsaicin with isoflavone, making it difficult to credit capsaicin alone.

Topical capsaicin did result in the growth of vellus hair (often referred to as “peach fuzz”), but this isn’t the thick scalp-type hair you’re usually after if you’re struggling with hair loss.

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You might’ve seen a few hair growth shampoos that contain caffeine. But does caffeine treat hair loss?

In some small-scale clinical studies, topical caffeine (such as a caffeine-enriched volumizing shampoo or lotion) has been shown to reduce hair loss progression and intensity.

Some studies combined caffeine with other treatments such as minoxidil, and reported more dramatic benefits than minoxidil alone.

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Many people claim that it’s possible to use turmeric for hair loss.

Some research shows curcumin, which comes from turmeric, may improve the effects of topical minoxidil in people with male pattern baldness.

However, these findings don’t support the use of curcumin alone for successful treatment of hair loss.

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While several amino acids have been researched for treating hair loss,  cysteine and lysine, in particular, have been studied in humans.

There’s still a lot of inconclusiveness around these amino acids: When studied, both were evaluated in conjunction with numerous other ingredients.

For example, a formula containing lysine, iron, vitamin B12, biotin, selenium and vitamin C was found to reduce hair shedding in women after six months.

With a treatment of so many components, it’s impossible to know whether the reduction in hair shedding came from the amino acid, one of the other ingredients or from the ingredients working together.

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Biotin is also known as vitamin B7. It helps your body produce keratin — the building block of healthy hair and nails.

Biotin deficiency can cause hair loss, so it makes sense that biotin consumption may reduce hair fall in people suffering from deficiency.

If you’re looking for a natural supplement for hair loss, you could try our biotin gummies. Our volumizing conditioner also contains biotin if you’d prefer a topical application.

(RelatedBiotin for Hair Growth: Can It Help With Hair Loss?)

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There is a link between zinc deficiency and hair loss, studies have shown.

This research shows that zinc supplementation may boost hair regrowth in some people, although further research is needed.

Our dandruff detox shampoo contains pyrithione zinc 1% and salicylic acid to promote a flake-free, clear, healthy scalp.

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Pumpkin seed oil can be found in a number of hair growth supplements.

One study evaluated the effects of pumpkin seed oil vs minoxidil for hair growth. Specifically, it looked at 60 women with female pattern hair loss. Half of them used 5% minoxidil foam every day, while the other half used pumpkin seed oil.

While it wasn’t as effective as minoxidil, pumpkin seed oil did seem to promote hair growth in some participants.

You might’ve also heard about using apple cider vinegarstinging nettle or garlic for hair growth. Much like the natural remedies listed above, there’s a lack of rigorous research to prove whether they’re effective.

Remember that the type of hair loss you’re experiencing will determine which treatments work for you. Treating your hair loss ASAP is critical because it’s not always reversible. So, we’d advise you to speak with a healthcare professional so that you can get the help you need — as soon as you need it.

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Minoxidil is a well-researched, FDA-approved treatment for hair loss. But some people might seek natural substitutes for minoxidil.

  • No natural minoxidil alternative has proven to be as effective as minoxidil. In other words, none are as rigorously well-studied and proven to be as good at stimulating hair growth.

  • But some studies show that certain natural treatments could promote hair growth. These include microneedling, saw palmetto and biotin supplements, among others.

  • Minoxidil still comes out on top. As a versatile, safe and effective hair loss treatment, minoxidil is certainly worth trying. 

This article originally appeared on Hims.com and was syndicated by MediaFeed.org.

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