confused about minoxidil instructions

[op117]

I'm sure this question has been answered in various parts of the site, but I can't seem to find anything about it. The question is: when is it "safe" to apply styling products to the hair after using minoxidil? The rogain site says to wait 20 minutes, and then other sources say to wait until the formula dries. It takes much longer than 20 minutes for the stuff to dry, so I'm pretty confused. The one mention of this that I saw on this site said to wait until it is dried... but that takes a couple of hours! I have a very light smoothing product, made by nioxin that i like to use, but I really don't wan tto use it if it will negate the effects of the minoxidil. Any suggestions??

 

[westcovinajoe]

When I apply Rogaine it dries in like a half an hour, maybe I have a dry head...


Your options....

Apply it at lunch time and before bed.
or,

Apply it at dawn and at dusk.
or,

Stop using your hair lotion stuff.
or,

Get up earlier, thus providing you with adequate time for your head to dry.

I can't think of any other solution to your problem.

Joe.

 

[Dannie]

How much Rogaine do you apply when it takes about a half an hour to dry??? I've never used Rogaine but I use 1ml of generic 5% Minoxidil twice a day and it takes less then minute.

 

[Guest]

It takes like 3 or 4 hours to dry here. I use Rogaine 5%.

But I apply at least 2ml each time. 4ml a day.

 

[op117]

i use the recommended 1ml twice daily. i just takes forever to dry. even after it stops dripping, there is an oily residue for a couple of hours.

 

[Dannie]

Is it because of propylene-glycol?

 

[techprof]

get dr. lee's minoxidil (#500) http://www.xandrox.com.
it dries in 5 minutes or less.

 

[jambri]

In my experience Dr Lee's minoxidil dries more or less instantly. If your hair remains slightly wet after application you can brush it through... then you can step outside without having to hang around.

 

[Guest]

Dr Lee could dry faster, but the question is if that formula is as effective as Rogaine formula.

Also PPG is there for some reason. Otherwise, Rogaine would never include it in their formula.

 

[Bryan]

Also PPG is there for some reason. Otherwise, Rogaine would never include it in their formula.

Here are a couple of reasons:

1) The maximum solubility of minoxidil in pure ethanol is only about 2.9%, so you wouldn't even be able to have a 5% solution without some additional propylene glycol thrown in there.

2) If the topical vehicle contained only alcohol, the alcohol would evaporate rapidly when applied to the scalp, causing a lot of the minoxidil to precipitate out of solution and be wasted. You want _some_ propylene glycol in there just to keep most of the minoxidil dissolved properly, so it can do its job.

Bryan

 

[jimmystanley]

so it's dr. lee's #540 product ppg free, or does it just have a smaller amount?

 

[Guest]

Well, after reading the second reason, I can say I preffer Rogaine.

Why use Dr. Lee minoxidil, if it will cause "a lot of the minoxidil to precipitate out of solution and be wasted".

Maybe someone must evaluate the risk/benefit before buying one product or the other.

 

[Bryan]

Well, after reading the second reason, I can say I preffer Rogaine.

Why use Dr. Lee minoxidil, if it will cause "a lot of the minoxidil to precipitate out of solution and be wasted".

I'm not necessarily claiming that Dr. Lee's solution will cause a lot of minoxidil to be wasted. It does have propylene glycol, just not as much as standard Rogaine.

Bryan