Lightening hair?

[wooly]

Hi there. I've been using 5% rogaine diluted in half with isopropyl alcohol for 5 months. I began diluting the rogaine because of a racing heart rate and it worked. I'm happy to report that the formula is growing back my hair. I should also say that when I started I was not noticably bald. I was receeding and thinning and wanted to get ahead of the problem.

Anyway, my wife noticed that my hair is lighter where I've been applying the minoxidil. Is this normal? I've got black hair and the lightening is only noticable in direct light but I think it's a bit wierd looking. Any ideas on how to stop this?

Thanks!

 

[pologuy514]

Wooly,
Congrats dude on growing some of your hair back! You should post some your before and after pics. I'd be interested to see the difference. Keep with it.
-Pologuy

 

[UK1]

I'm sure finasteride made my hair go darker so if the minoxidil lightens it things will even out nicely.
Maybe you could dye your hair?

 

[wooly]

If the hair lightening gets more extreme, I may resort to dying but I was just wondering if this is common or if anyone had the same issue?

Thanks!

 

[Pondle]

Anyway, my wife noticed that my hair is lighter where I've been applying the minoxidil. Is this normal? I've got black hair and the lightening is only noticable in direct light but I think it's a bit wierd looking. Any ideas on how to stop this?

Thanks!

Could be some new growth coming through? Remember weaker hairs are less pigmented than full terminal hairs.

 

[klink]

My hair on top looks lighter, I attribute to what the other guy already said, less pigmented.

 

[seeves]

My hair has definately lightened and has basically acted as a highlighter to show where i apply the minoxidil. I have my hair pretty short also and i work outside about 4 days a week so between the sun and minoxidil, my hair is almost turning blonde from light brown where i apply it. I should be straight after growing it out but it sucks when a treatment makes your hair look worse than it really is.

 

[wooly]

Glad to hear I'm not alone. I thought it was lightening my hair (existing) and not new growth. Your comments confirm this. It must be the solution reacting to the sun. I live in Southern Cal and am in the outdoors quite a bit. I keep my hair pretty short so I think it will keep the lightening under the radar.

 

[klink]

It's been winter here in Chicago and I have not been really out in the sun at all.