Minox Beard FAQ | Forum

This topic will serve as a catch-all for the most frequently asked questions about minoxidil.

UPDATE: We've created a new Beard Wiki! Check out beardwiki.com/faq for an in-depth FAQ of the minoxidil beard journey. The below is still relevant, and is a much shorter read than the Beard Wiki FAQ. As well, Beard Wiki has expanded to have an articles section. See the Minoxidil Articles section there to read in-depth content on everything minoxidil related.

What is Minoxidil?

This question and much more can be answered in the guide to growing your beard with minoxidil.

How to use Minox:

- Apply up to 1ml 2x per day, keeping both applications as wide apart as you can. Something like 8-12 hours after your first application should be good.
- Use the dropper to spread the solution across your face, use a couple of fingers to rub it into your skin. Wash hands well after applying.
- After the minox has been applied and roughly four hours have passed, you can wash your face and apply a moisturizer. This is important, especially after being consistent for a few weeks or months, as the face can become very dry without proper hydration.

Can I use minox less than twice per day?

Many guys see results using less than even 1ml per day, with one application. A good way to get used to minoxidil is to start out with 0.5ml and work your way up as weeks pass, so that you might avoid common side effects like headache or feeling tired.

Should I shave or trim while on minox?

Either will be perfectly fine and is good so that the solution can get into your skin. But having a beard is also fine and you'll see progress either way. The most efficient thing to do is to trim with no guard down to the skin. If you're using minox as an already-bearded guy, many opt to not trim at all. For those that start off with little facial hair, it's best to stay neat during the process and then grow the beard out once it looks full enough to start rocking.

Which brand of minoxidil should I buy?

Any brand without included DHT blockers will get the job done. Many choose to buy Kirkland Signature because it's fairly cheap and 6 months will cost roughly 25 USD. Equate (Walmart brand), CVS Pharmacy minoxidil, and Up & Up (Target brand) are all the same as Kirkland, down to where the supply comes from. It's simply repackaged and sold via different companies. Anecdotally, Rogaine is said to be of a higher quality, but no real evidence shows this.

Foam or Liquid Minoxidil? Which is better? 

This is really up to debate, and many feel that liquid is better for results due to the propylene glycol within it. On the other hand, that very same PPG is the reason some people have irritation or allergic reactions, and this is why the foam version came about. From what we've seen, both will get the job done. The most important aspects are making sure it's 5% minoxidil, and that you apply consistently over a long period of time. Patience is key.

How long will it take to see results?

Like much of the minoxidil journey, this varies from person to person. Some see little vellus hair sprout within the first couple of weeks, whereas some don't see anything for a couple of months. The general rule of thumb is to be patient for at least 3 months before deciding that nothing is happening. Vellus is very hard to see and good lighting conditions are needed. If you see results prior to 3 months, that's great, make sure you keep staying consistent with your applications.

Are minoxidil beards permanent? Will I lose my beard if I stop using minox?

The minoxidil journey doesn't last for a life time. You only use MXD for as long as it takes for the new hair to reach maturation (terminal stage). This is when the hair is thick and coarse. If you don't use minoxidil long enough for this to happen, you may see the hair fall out over time, although you will keep any of the hair that you previously had, so there's no risk in that regard.

Hair falling out is certainly a myth that can be contributed to hair loss on the scalp when stopping minoxidil. When one starts balding due to genetics, they are actively balding for the rest of their lives; minoxidil does not reverse or stop this process, it simply forces hair to grow and maintains that growing hair. When stopping MXD, the person then balds as much as they would have had they never even used minoxidil. Comparing head hair with androgenic hair is a very bad correlation to make as they are not the same thing other than the fact that they're both labeled as hair.

How long does it take for vellus to go terminal?

There's no answer to this and it comes down to "as long as it takes." Most guys will need over 6 months, although we have seen many go for as short as that and have terminal hair that they hadn't previously had. Expect at least about 12 months before considering that most of your beard has gone terminal. This is just a general time frame and is not applicable for everything. Gauge your own results as time goes by.

I've heard about shedding during minoxidil. How does this work?

Shedding is a natural process and we go through it all the time, whether on minoxidil or not. However, with MXD we may experience periods of what can be perceived as drastic shedding. Like with all shedding, the hair will grow back. Shedding can occur either on the face or the scalp. As minoxidil goes systemic into the blood stream, this is why you may experience hair shedding from your head even if you're applying it to your face.

For more information about shedding, watch this short video:

Does minoxidil make you sensitive to the sun (photosensitivity)?

In studies, it seems that less than 1% of people have reported sun sensitivity from minoxidil. This doesn't mean it can't happen, however, and it's recommended that you avoid the sun when possible while minoxidil is applied. Very few people from various beard-related Facebook groups have reported any sort of sensitivity after applying and being in the sun.

Does the extra body hair from systemic absorption of minoxidil go away?

Yes and no. From what we've seen, it does increase most guys' body hair and the amount of increase is down to the underlying genetics. We've seen that, for many guys, the body hair gained from minox starts to go away even while still on minoxidil, during the later months. After stopping, much of the body hair goes away as well. Keep in mind, however, that it is very likely that you will end up with more body hair than you started with (and of course never less).

My left and right side are not the same with growth, what can I do?
Keep applying and don't worry about it. Even guys that never needed minoxidil to grow a beard have uneven growth and/or patterns on each side. Humans are not proportionate and having differences between your left and right side is natural. This simply seems more pronounced for those that could never grow hair on their cheeks before, because hair is rapidly coming in (and not at the same rate on each side). As more hair starts coming out and maturing, it will become less and less noticeable. Like with the journey as a whole, it takes patience. Keep applying, shave or trim if you want to, and stay patient.
 

I'll edit this FAQ as more questions come in, feel free to ask and post below as well. Most information can be found in the article I linked, but this is probably much easier to read and is less lengthy.