How to Use Minoxidil to Regrow Your Hair

Losing your hair can be worrying and cause you to lose your confidence. Thankfully, there are a range of treatments available to try to restore your hair. Minoxidil is a topical treatment that can help fight hair loss.

The treatment comes in a liquid or foam usually and is applied right onto areas that are thinning or balding. It acts as a vasodilator, which means it increases blood flow to the follicles. Your follicles can get more oxygen and nutrients with increased blood flow, so they can grow new hairs.

Here, we’ll take a look at how to use minoxidil to regrow your hair. We’ll see what the treatment is and how it works. And we’ll show you how to get the most out of your minoxidil treatments as well as how Hairy Hair can help you in treating your hair loss.

What is minoxidil?

Minoxidil was first created to combat high blood pressure. Researchers discovered that it could make hair grow, leading to its use as a hair loss treatment. Applying the solution right on the scalp can help to activate dormant hair follicles that have shrunk and stopped producing hair. This meant they were able to start growing new hairs again.

Minoxidil is available over the counter, meaning you won’t need a prescription for a liquid or foam product. It’s also known as Regaine or Rogaine, but these are just the brand name versions of minoxidil. 

What are the different minoxidil doses?

Minoxidil comes in 2% and 5% solutions. The lower 2% is recommended for women to apply twice a day. The 5% solution can be used to treat male and female pattern baldness. It should only be applied once a day for women and twice a day for men.

The 2% solution might be recommended if you’re only in the early stages of hair loss. The 5% solution has been shown to have stronger results. A study from the Duke Dermatopharmacology Study Center found that patients who used the 5% solution saw 45% more hair regrowth compared to those who used the 2% solution after 48 weeks.

Using more than the recommended amount of minoxidil won’t help you grow more hair. It can actually increase your chance of side effects.

The product comes in different forms, like liquids or foams. Users report that the spray version dries faster than the liquid or foam. Whichever form you go for, you should stick to the recommended dose. If you skip days or use less than you’re supposed to, the solution won’t work as well.

It’ll take around 3-4 months to start noticing regrowth. It can take as long as 8-12 months to see the full effects. Minoxidil should be applied twice per day. There should be at least 12 hours between applications. That means that many people do it first thing in the morning and before bed. 

Minoxidil also comes in a tablet form. These can be more convenient for people who don’t like using sprays or foams.

Getting the most out of minoxidil

Make sure to follow the instructions provided for the best results. There are extra tips to get the most out of your treatment.

Minoxidil works well in combination with other medications. It provides enhanced results when combined with a medication like finasteride. This blocks the production of dihydrotestosterone (DHT). This is the hormone that causes hair follicles to shrink and stop producing strands.

Being careful with your hair can also help with ensuring your new strands are able to thrive. Avoid losing baby hairs by being gentle when washing and conditioning. 

Be gentle with your combing or styling after applying minoxidil. Avoid brushing your hair too harshly soon after treatment since it may prevent the drug from being absorbed. Allow at least two hours before you style your hair too harshly.

A scalp massage can also improve the circulation of blood. A scalp massage is great for lowering stress levels. If you have high stress levels, it can cause nutrients to be diverted away from your hair follicles.

The most important thing to remember is to be consistent and patient. You’ll get the best results when you apply the product regularly and give it time to work.

Potential side effects

Minoxidil is safe, with some potential side effects. The most common side effect is dryness or irritation on the area you apply the product. It can cause itchiness and flakiness. You can calm redness or burning by using a good moisturiser.

Some people can see unwanted hair growth in areas apart from the scalp. Hair can grow on other parts of the body if you’re not careful with application. This is more likely to happen with the 5% solution rather than the 2%. Only apply the product to thinning areas of the scalp, and be careful with washing your hands after application to reduce the chance of this happening.

People can experience headaches or a dizzy sensation as less common side effects. Contact your doctor and stop taking minoxidil if you experience these or a rapid heartbeat. 

Pregnant women or people with heart conditions are not recommended to use minoxidil. Your doctor can advise you on whether the medication can interact with any other health condition or medication you are taking.

Progress and dosage alterations

New hair won’t grow immediately when you start taking minoxidil. Most people have to wait several months to see improved hair growth. Keep applying the product even if it doesn’t seem like it’s working. Some people can see an increase in hair growth after 4 months of consistent use. It can take between 6 and 8 months for other people.

You may want to look at changing your dosage if you have been using minoxidil consistently for 8-12 months and haven’t seen any improvements. You should consider a 5% solution if you’ve tried the 2% solution and haven’t noticed any regrowth.

If you develop any side effects, you can even decrease the dose. Your doctor may recommend using minoxidil with some other medication like finasteride if you are not showing improvement.

Any new hair that you have gained will likely fall out if you stop minoxidil when you see your regrowth. It is a long-term solution, so it will need to be applied continually to keep you seeing results.

What can Hairy Hair do to help with my hair loss?

Minoxidil can be helpful in the fight against hair loss by encouraging hair regrowth. Hair follicles are better able to produce resilient strands when they receive enough nourishment.

Minoxidil has some potential side effects, even though it can have positive results. A combination treatment may increase your potential to achieve regrowth as it targets different hair loss problems simultaneously.

Hairy Hair uses a powerful combination of ingredients to create a single daily supplement to counter hair loss. The pill may facilitate the delivery of more oxygen and nutrients to your hair follicles by widening the blood vessels in the scalp. It acts as a DHT blocker to prevent hair follicles from shrinking and causing hair loss.

Natural growth promoters work to encourage keratin production. This is the central protein in hair strands. It also lowers inflammation, so your scalp is better equipped to promote hair growth.

Minoxidil as a hair growth treatment

Minoxidil is an appealing treatment for many people suffering from hair loss. The ability to widen blood vessels in the scalp means that your hair follicles can receive more nourishment. The treatment is also available in both topical and oral forms.

Minoxidil only works to combat one hair loss issue. A combination treatment may provide you with better chances of fighting your hair loss compared to a single medication.

Contact Hairy Hair today to begin your hair loss treatment from the comfort of your home. Just fill in a short online questionnaire so we can get to know you and your hair loss to start your treatment. After our expert team has had a chance to review your details and create a personalised treatment plan based on your needs, a qualified Australian GP will give you a call.

From there, you can discuss your prescription, and they can answer any questions you might have. Your supplement will be delivered straight to your door with no need to visit a clinic. Act at the first signs of hair loss to potentially give you a better chance at achieving regrowth.