How to use minoxidil lotion and foam

This is the practical companion to our minoxidil guide, which explains what minoxidil does, who it suits and the evidence behind it. Here we cover the day-to-day: how to put it on, how to fit it around your life, and what is normal along the way. Always follow the leaflet that comes with your product if it says something different.

Lotion or foam

Both work. Pick the one you will use every day.

	Lotion (solution)	Foam
Strengths	2% and 5%	Usually 5%
Feel	Wet, can run; may leave hair greasy	Dries faster, less greasy
Irritation	More likely; many contain propylene glycol	Usually free of propylene glycol
Precision	Dropper or spray reaches the scalp easily	Harder through long hair

For men, the 5% strength works better than 2%, and the 2017 European guideline suggests it.^2,1 For women, the guideline recommends 2% lotion twice a day or 5% foam once a day, and treats them as about equal.¹

How much and how often

The usual doses in the European guideline are:¹

Men: 1 ml of 2% or 5% lotion, or half a capful of 5% foam, twice a day.
Women: 1 ml of 2% lotion twice a day, or half a capful of 5% foam once a day.

Your product's leaflet may differ slightly. Follow it. More product, or more applications, will not speed things up, and they make irritation and unwanted hair on the face more likely.

Step by step

Start with a dry scalp and dry hair. If you have just washed your hair, dry it fully first. Minoxidil spreads and soaks in better on dry skin, and water dilutes it.
Part your hair over the thinning area so you can see the skin. With long hair, make several partings a finger-width apart.
Apply to the skin, not the hair. With lotion, use the dropper or spray along each parting. With foam, put it on cool fingertips (run them under cold water first, so the foam does not melt) and dab it onto the scalp.
Spread it gently over the whole thinning area with your fingertips, a little beyond the edges. There's no need to rub hard.
Wash your hands straight away with soap.
Let it dry before you lie down, put on a hat or helmet, or use hair products. This usually takes 20 to 30 minutes for lotion, less for foam.

Fitting it into your day

A routine that works for many people:

Morning: shower, dry your hair, apply minoxidil, then get dressed and have breakfast while it dries. Style your hair once it is dry.
Evening: apply it at least an hour before bed, so it does not end up on your pillow and face.

Some practical points:

Washing: most leaflets advise leaving minoxidil on for a few hours before washing, swimming or heavy sweating. If you wash your hair every morning, apply it after the shower rather than before.
Hair products: gels, sprays and dry shampoo go on after minoxidil has dried.
Hair dye and perms: check your leaflet. Many advise not applying minoxidil on the same day as a chemical treatment. Never apply it to an irritated scalp.
Missed a dose: skip it and carry on as normal. Never double up.
Travel: lotion often contains alcohol and is flammable. Keep it in your liquids bag and away from heat.

The first six months

Minoxidil is slow, and it can look worse before it looks better.

Fig. 1 What is normal in the first six months on minoxidil1 square = 1 month

Weeks 2 to 8: you may shed more than usual. This is common and is usually read as follicles starting a new growth cycle.¹ Keep going.
Months 2 to 5: often little to see. Fine, short hairs may appear and slowly thicken. Avoid checking in the mirror every day; it is hard to see slow change that way.
Month 6: compare with the photos you took before you started. The 2017 European guideline advises judging minoxidil at six months.¹ Less shedding, a parting that has not widened, or new fine hairs all count as a response.

Take progress photos on day one. You will want them at month six.

Troubleshooting

Itchy, flaky or red scalp. Often caused by propylene glycol in lotions. Try a foam, or apply once a day for a week and build up again. If the redness or pain persists, stop and see a pharmacist or doctor.

Unwanted hair on the forehead or cheeks. Usually from product running or transferring. Apply less at a time, let it dry before bed, wash your hands, and change your pillowcase often. This hair usually goes after you stop.

Greasy or stiff hair. Switch to foam, or apply your second dose in the evening so you can wash in the morning.

No change at six months. Check that you used it every day, on the scalp, at the right dose. If so, talk to a doctor or pharmacist about other options, such as finasteride for men, or minoxidil tablets.