How to dilute 5% Minoxidil to 2% concentration? (liquid, NO foam)

[cefegro]

I bought 6 months treatment and I realize 5% its too strong for me, I'm very low on budget right now and I wonder if there's a way to dilute 5% Minoxidil to 2%.

I heard alcohol its not good idea, water the same thing

Its that true?

Please help me out, I dont want to stop my treatment

Thanks a lot!

BTW, I can't just use less Minoxidil because the area is not small, I have to down the %

 

[violetfluff]

The solvent used by Kirkland and Rogaine is a mixture of ethanol, propylene glycol and water. I don't know the relative amounts but Kirkland contains more propylene glycol relative to ethanol.
Ethanol could be substituted with isopropanol due to similar solvent properties although ethanol is a better solvent for minoxidil. Don't use methanol or methylated spirit.

The amount of water used in the solvent mix is probably small since minoxidil has a low solubility in it, you can't get a solution stronger than 0.1% w/v in pure water.
If you use too much ethanol it may dry and irritate the scalp and if you use too much propylene glycol it will take longer to dry/evaporate and give an oily feeling to the hair.

I would suggest first trying a 50/50 mixture of isopropanol and propylene glycol to dilute the 5% solution and see how it goes, if it's too oily try 75/25 mixture or conversely 25/75 mixture if too drying.

Dilute the 5% solution with 1.5 times its volume with your solvent mix e.g. 100ml of 5% solution is diluted with 150ml solvent mix to give a 2% solution.

Ethanol is a somewhat better solvent than isopropanol however if you use ethanol make sure it's 95% w/w rectified spirit (note, this is not the same as 95 proof, this would contain too much water and precipitate the minoxidil from solution).
If using isopropanol use the 100% grade as sometimes it is sold as a 70% solution mixed with water.

Both isopropanol and propylene glycol are easily obtainable on amazon or eBay for example.

 

[swingline747]

why not just use what you have once a day instead of twice or just use half the regular dose each time twice?