How to apply minoxidil: liquid and foam, step by step

Minoxidil is simple to use, but small habits make a real difference over months: where it goes, how much you use, and what you do afterwards. Here’s how to get it right.

Before you start

• Read the leaflet in the pack and follow the directions for the strength you’re using.
• Start with a dry scalp. Towel-dried is fine; dripping wet isn’t, because the minoxidil gets diluted and runs.
• Check the skin. Don’t apply it to a scalp that’s sunburnt, broken, red or sore.

Applying the liquid

1. Part your hair over the thinning area so you can see the scalp.
2. Fill the dropper to the line. The usual amount is 1 ml per application.
3. Apply it a few drops at a time directly onto the scalp, moving the parting as you go so you cover the whole area.
4. Spread it lightly with your fingertips. There’s no need to rub it in.
5. Wash your hands straight away.
6. Let it dry, usually 20 to 30 minutes, before styling, putting on a hat or going to bed.

Applying the foam

1. Run your hands under cold water and dry them. Warm fingers melt the foam before it reaches your scalp.
2. Dispense half a capful onto your fingertips.
3. Part your hair and smooth the foam onto the scalp over the thinning area.
4. Wash your hands.
5. It dries in a few minutes, which is why a lot of people find it easier in the morning.

Liquid or foam?

	Liquid	Foam
Drying time	20 to 30 minutes	A few minutes
Feel	Can leave hair slightly greasy or stiff	Lighter, with less residue
Sensitive scalp	Usually contains propylene glycol, a common cause of itching and flaking	Usually free of propylene glycol, so often better tolerated
Long or thick hair	The dropper reaches the scalp easily	Can be harder to get through to the skin

Both use the same active ingredient. The best one is the one you’ll actually use, every day, for months.

Fitting it into your day

• Twice a day means morning and evening, roughly 12 hours apart. Tie it to something you already do, like brushing your teeth.
• At night, apply it at least an hour before bed so it’s dry before it meets the pillowcase, or your face.
• Washing your hair: apply after your shower, on a dry scalp, and leave it for about four hours before washing or swimming. If you go to the gym or the pool after work, apply afterwards.
• Styling: put minoxidil on first, let it dry, then use gel, wax or spray.
• Caught in the rain? Don’t reapply. Just carry on at your next usual time.
• Missed one? Skip it and carry on as normal. Don’t double up.
• Colouring or a perm: mention minoxidil to your hairdresser, and don’t apply it on the same day, as both can irritate the scalp.

Seven habits that hold results back

1. Putting it on your hair rather than your scalp.
2. Using more than the recommended amount, or applying it more often.
3. Applying it to a wet scalp.
4. Going to bed while it’s still wet.
5. Missing applications regularly.
6. Forgetting to wash your hands, which can lead to unwanted hair where your fingers touch your face.
7. Giving up during the early shed, or before six months.

Side effects to know about

The most common are itching, dryness, flaking or redness where you apply it. If the liquid irritates, switching to the foam often helps. Unwanted hair on the forehead or cheeks can happen if minoxidil runs or transfers. Wipe off any that reaches your face, and it usually fades once it stops reaching that skin.

Stop and get medical advice if you have chest pain, a fast heartbeat, feel faint or dizzy, put on weight suddenly, or notice swollen hands or feet. You can report suspected side effects to the MHRA through the Yellow Card scheme.

Like a copy to keep? Our free Thinning Hair Handbook covers why hair thins, when to see your GP, how minoxidil works, how to apply it and what to expect month by month. It comes with a printable photo tracker.

This is general information, not medical advice. If you’re not sure whether something is right for you, speak to your GP or a pharmacist.

Sources: British Association of Dermatologists: Male pattern hair loss (leaflet); British Association of Dermatologists: Female pattern hair loss (leaflet); NHS: Hair loss.