Hair loss is a common problem that affects over 40% of men aged 40+ across the globe [1]. Many men who are suffering from this choose to take medication or male hair loss treatments to prevent further hair loss and stimulate hair regrowth.
If you’ve been thinking about treating your hair loss, you’re probably already aware of the brand Rogaine® who make a popular Minoxidil solution treatment.
Although this is a topical treatment, it’s still important to pay attention to the recommended dosage and usage instructions to make sure you’re getting the full benefits.
1 ml of Minoxidil topical solution should be applied twice a day to achieve the full results, but if you forget to miss a dosage, or worry about sensitivity you may wonder whether it’s OK to apply Minoxidil solution 3 times a week. Keep on reading to find out how often to use Minoxidil to effectively treat your hair loss.
Minoxidil is a topical treatment that both men and women can use to prevent hair loss. You’ll most commonly find topical Minoxidil solution under the brand name Rogaine® (in the United States) or Regaine (in the UK), but you may also be able to find other off-brand versions for a cheaper price.
There are two different versions of topical Minoxidil from Rogaine®, which are a 5% foam and a 5% solution. Both of these products contain the same amount of Minoxidil and will therefore provide the same hair-stimulating qualities.
Other off-brands also offer Minoxidil in 2% formulas that promote hair growth at a slower rate but can result in less irritation and side effects.
Find out if Rogaine really works and what the difference is between Rogaine for women and Rogaine for men.
If you are looking for a product that can prevent hair loss and stimulate hair growth, Minoxidil is a good place to start.
In several clinical trials [2,3,4], the topical treatment was found to be very effective and led to improvements in both hair density and growth.
Unlike other oral treatments, like Finasteride and Dutasteride which lower the amount of DHT in your body, Minoxidil works as a vasodilator, meaning that it encourages blood flow to the scalp which in turn provides more oxygen and nutrients to the hair follicles.
Because Minoxidil works in this manner, it is safe for both men and women to use Minoxidil for the treatment of their male or female pattern hair loss.
Learn more in our comparison of Finasteride vs Minoxidil
According to NICE (the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence) the recommended dosages for Rogaine® are:
It’s recommended to have a 12-hour interval between each dosage, and the dosage will still remain the same if you’re using one of the 2% formulas of Minoxidil.
Women are usually recommended to use Minoxidil once a day to reduce the risk of unwanted side effects, such as facial hair growth.
However, it can be difficult to find the best hair loss treatment for women, due to the myriad possible contributing factors. That’s why it’s best to get a definitive diagnosis from a hair loss specialist.
Like any medicine or treatment, you’ll get the best results by using it according to the instructions. In the case of Minoxidil, you’re advised to use 1ml of solution (or ½ a cap-full of foam) twice a day. Therefore, using Minoxidil three times a week instead will not get you the results that you require.
This is because reducing the frequency of Minoxidil application results in delivering a reduced dosage of the drug. Without the instructed dosage, the product will work a lot slower at improving your hair loss. Although there are no studies that have looked into using Minoxidil three times a week, many studies have proven that lower dosages provide fewer results [4].
Going against the recommended dosage and applying Minoxidil more or less than the stated amount will not improve your results. Instead, it’s continued, regular use that is needed for you to see any noticeable improvement.
Applying Minoxidil topical solution more often than the recommended dosage could even increase the risk of experiencing skin irritation or other side effects.
If you’re not seeing any results, remember that most people won’t notice any changes until around eight weeks of consistent use [5]. It will also take up to four months before you start seeing new hair starting to grow.
Minoxidil is an easy topical solution to apply to your scalp. However, depending on the formula that you’re using, the application may be slightly different. Find out how to apply Minoxidil and the various types of solution.
After you’ve applied the product, you need to let it dry completely before doing anything else with it. The two formulas can also stain bed linen, so it’s best not to go to sleep before the product has completely dried.
There’s some evidence to suggest that derma rolling after a hair transplant can boost the effects of Minoxidil. If you’re interested in using these treatments in conjunction, speak to your hair loss consultant.
Minoxidil does come with some side effects, which you may be more at risk of if you don’t use the recommended dosages.
Potential side effects include:
Side effects will normally disappear after the first few weeks of use. If they don’t, or you’re having a severe reaction, it’s best to speak to your GP.
In general, Minoxidil is very safe as a hair loss treatment for lost or thinning hair. According to members of the International Society of Hair Restoration Surgery (ISHRS), Minoxidil was prescribed to patients 53% of the time and is the second most popular hair loss medication for hair transplant clinics.
If you’ve tried all the topical and oral treatments for hair loss and still can’t seem to stop your hair from falling out, we can help you with an effective and long-lasting solution – hair transplants.
At Wimpole Clinic, we specialise in FUE (Follicular Unit Extraction) transplants and FUT (Follicular Unit Transplantations).
If you think a hair transplant could be a potential next step in your hair loss journey, we’d love to talk to you in a no-obligation consultation call. Check out our reviews page and gallery to get more of an idea of the type of high-quality work we provide for our patients.
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