Minoxidil Method: Helpful, Harmful, or Neither?

[Vigaku]

I guess I should've asked this question months ago but here goes...

This is how I apply minoxidil. I apply it on some nights during the week, and after I apply it, I put on a shower cap that isn't permeable. The reason is so that when I sleep the minoxidil doesn't somehow touch my pillow making a stain. For more information, this is the result of putting on the shower cap and leaving it on overnight:

1. The minoxidil doesn't dry up or evaporate because of the shower cap.

2. The environment inside the cap is also a little warmer than if the cap wasn't on.

That's pretty much it. So, would these be somewhat beneficial, or harmful? Meaning does it enhance the use of minoxidil or do the opposite? Just honest guesses would be great. Thanks.

 

[follicle84]

Well i would think without it being able to evaporate by wearing a shower cap minoxidil would be given more time to absorb into the scalp making it a little more effective. However ppg stops stops the minoxidil from evaporating quickly anyway. I then thought by wearing a cap you would be increasing the probability of your head sweating and producing more sebum which could interfere with the absorbtion rate of the minoxidil solution. Saying that though your scalp pores maybe more open to enable easier absorbtion. Who knows, i would guess from what your telling me about the solution not drying up your enabling more minoxidil to be absorbed so its probably a good thing unless its sebum that has kept your scalp wet and its ruining the concentration of the minoxidil.

 

[treeshrew]

You have to be kidding me.

Sorry, but you need to use the foam and have faith.

It dries within 30-45 seconds and that's it. No need for a showercap, LOL.

If you are one of the people minoxidil will work for (far majority) it's going to work regardless of the shower cap.

I can just see your new girlfriend - hey baby, why you wear that shower cap each night?

Are you on finasteride? That is really the only "cure" for male pattern baldness. minoxidil, in tandem, helps maintain.

What's your situation? I really don't think the showercap is necessary.

 

[ryan r]

A showercap? thats a bit weird isnt it? Why dont u just apply it a few hours before going to bed?

I use kirkland and it takes a long time to completely dry, and I apply 4 h before going to bed. When using an other brand, it dries quicker so u can apply it like 2 hrs before going to bed.
I think if u use a showercap and dont let it dry properly first, it will go on your hair and on the showercap as your lying and twirling in your bed.


excuse my english, but im from holland and im not gonna take hours to try and figure out correct sentences on this forum, sry :innocent:

 

[Vigaku]

...

k just to clear some things up.

I apply minoxidil right after a shower. Now this shower is not focusing on body cleanliness (though of course I do cleanse it but mildly), but I focus more on the cleanliness of my scalp, so I apply shampoo, lather, rinse, and comb through it with sturdy comb. I rinse and repeat this 2-3 times to make sure my scalp is as clean as I can get it to be, meaning little to no sebum build-up should be left.

I then dry myself and my hair a little bit (just so it wouldn't be dripping) I then apply minoxodil.

I don't really sweat as a result of the shower cap. It's very very thin and transparent. It's just not permeable. Here in Maryland it's cold as hell so sweating is an impossibility.

When I said a little "warmer" I meant simply the temperature is maybe 2-3 degrees higher inside the shower cap (this is just an estimation).

I do not apply this right before I go to bed, but with the amount I'm having to apply (I'm not thinning just in the crown and in a dime-sized area. I'm thinning...all over, so I have to apply it where it needs to go) it isn't going to dry anytime soon and here's why. minoxidil is VERY hard to evaporate. I once had a minoxidil stain on my bed sheet and it stayed on it for probably 8 hours or more, and this was a couple touches of drops not a spill-like stain.

I also put the shower cap so it wouldn't somehow drip down my back from the crown. minoxidil is liquid after all. Not interested in foam since it's too expensive, and, from what I've heard, less effective as it doesn't have the propylene glycol which enhances penetration.

Thanks for the replies, all. My other threads seem to be sucking though because they're attracting so few people.

 

[ryan r]

Just apply it on time so it goes into the skin, and not onto your bed, never heard of any showercaps so I think u can do without as well.

 

[Bryan]

What you're essentially doing by using the shower cap is applying the topical minoxidil under occlusion, which is a well-known method used by doctors to intensify the effect of topical drugs!

 

[Vigaku]

^lol when I started to read that I got scared...

But I was happy to figure out someone agrees with me on this.

Yeah sweating will obviously interfere as it's less liquidy than water on scalp after a shower, but I'm not going to sweat within 8-9 hours after a good shower unless I'm well...hot...and it's very cold here in Maryland.

Also again, minoxidil is very hard to make evaporate. You put it on 3 hours before you go to bed and there's still a small percentage of liquid on your scalp that would create a minoxidil stain if you're sleeping on your back. With the way my head is shaped my crown is kinda of a downhill so it slightly touches objects when I'm lying.

Also I don't have a wife/girlfriend. Not ever planning onto. Last case was so full of bullshit I vowed to not fall for someone again, and with the number of times I fell for someone, I'm not really going to change. The farthest I will go is be close friends with a girl/girls. Keeping my hair is more for my self-esteem rather than to impress some b!tch who's ignorant about male pattern baldness.

 

[follicle84]

Im taking it your girlfriend was harsh on you about your hairloss you can do without that. Tell me are you trying to increase the potency of minoxidil absorbtion?

 

[Vigaku]

follicle84, I have really no clue what was going through her mind at that time, but I do know it has something to do with her being selfish and falling for another guy that apparently did not even like her enough that he either forgot about or intentionally did not show up to her senior prom. Could my lack of hair density have factored into this? Who knows. She never really talked about it so I can't tell.

And although I am trying to enhance the minoxidil absorbtion, I am also trying to make things not touch minoxidil, i.e. my fingers when I want to scratch my head and my pillow when I go to sleep a few hours after applying the thing.

Two questions I have about minoxidil though.

I was wondering if any diffuser here applies minoxidil this way...ok, basically, I am thinning evenly throughout the top of my head. Basically if you look at an NW8, those are the areas I'm thinning in (I am NOT an NW8 ). I have enough hair that you couldn't see my scalp, so, in order to spread the minoxidil as evenly as possible, I part my hair with two combs making 10-12 linear rows from the right side of my upper head to the left, with each row beginning at the hairline and ending at the crown (I make one row and apply in one row at a time). I apply 4-5 drops of minoxidil in the row, and the liquid runs down the row. Once it fills the row in I rub in the minoxidil with my fingers.

^Anyone here do it this way or use a similar way? Surely you depart your hair somehow when applying, so what do you use? A comb? In how many areas do you depart your hair?

Finally does anyone use this version of minoxidil? This is mine.

 

[follicle84]

follicle84, I have really no clue what was going through her mind at that time, but I do know it has something to do with her being selfish and falling for another guy that apparently did not even like her enough that he either forgot about or intentionally did not show up to her senior prom. Could my lack of hair density have factored into this? Who knows. She never really talked about it so I can't tell.

Women are complicated. How old are you? I was a good looking guy in my teen years. I was with this girl for 5 months and i treated her right, bought her presents, gave her love and effection and i really liked her. Then all of a sudden she dumped me for some Ahole who isnt even bothered about her and whats annoying is she's still with him 6 years on. I find the more you give the less you recieve at least in my experience of being young. Its probably nothing to do with your hairloss.

I cant really comment on minoxidil as i dont use it anymore and i dont suffer from diffuse thinning.

 

[Vigaku]

Oh ok, I was about to ask you do help me with the minoxidil bit but I see you don't use it, so nvm.

Well, all I can say is, for those women who don't care about guys who care about/love them, they sure as hell deserve a guy they love and care about, not giving a rat's *** about them, but that's pretty obvious.