How should I use Minoxidil?
Whether you are using 2% or 5% Minoxidil, you should use it twice a day. Some people like to apply it once in the morning and once at night. My preference is to apply it once when I return home from work in the afternoon and once at night. This is because I don't like how it makes my hair look and feel after I apply it, so I prefer to not have it in my hair during the daytime. There are some people that like to apply it more than twice per day, but I do not like to do this because (a) it takes a lot of effort and so it's difficult to stick to the routine and (b) the more of it is in your hair the worse the hair typically looks (this is my own opinion). Twice a day is good enough and has been proven to be effective.
During each application, use the stopper that comes with your bottle of Minoxidil to take 1ml of Minoxidil solution. To apply it effectively apply a drop or two at a time to your scalp in the areas where you would like to either maintain or regrow some hair and very gently rub it into the scalp. Keep applying a drop or two at a time until you have covered all of the areas where you want to maintain or regrow hair. Do not apply too much. As a guage to knowing whether you are applying the right amount, you should not feel like there is a residue on your scalp about 10 minutes or so after applying it. Don't overdo it. Some people will find this hard to follow, but I have found that it is effective at the levels that I have described here. If you overdo it you risk developing a sensitivity to the delivery vehicle. Realize that you will have to use Minoxidil indefinitely in order to maintain the results you get, so there is no need to slather your scalp with it.
Some like to apply it to a wet scalp but this can cause absorption into the blood and increase the risk of side-effects. I recommend applying it to a dry scalp.
If you choose to use Minoxidil, be consistent with it and give it at least 6 months to see if you are getting results. In order to measure your results you should take a picture before you start of your scalp, and compare it to a picture that you take after 6 months of use. Most men should expect to see some improvement. However, don't expect miracles, and don't expect to regrow hair in areas of slick baldness. Minoxidil works best to help you strenghten the hair you already have and to maintain your existing hair. In rare cases you can have exceptional regrowth, but most people can expect modest gains.
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