Does anyone use Rogaine? Or know how it should be used?

[SweetShelby]

I've been reading about Rogaine and see that it needs to be applied to the scalp morning and evening.

I'm thinking of trying it, but I do not and cannot wash my hair everyday. I wash it every 3 days (and more often than that in the summer). Does it need to be applied to clean hair only? If I apply it to hair that is washed only every 3 days or so will it still reach my scalp properly or would I have to start washing it everyday?

I'm also curious to see from those of you who have tried it or are using it, if you are really able to stick with the twice a day application. I would have tried Rogaine sooner, but I can see myself skipping applications.

How much of a hassle is the Rogaine application process?

Thank you.

Edit to add: Also, are you using the women's or men's formula? I see the men's formula has more of the active ingredient for about the same price. Any harm in using the men's?

[finaleofseem]

Hi Shelby! Let me see if I can answer some of your questions, as I am a Rogaine user.

First, yes, the men's formula does have more of the active ingredient. However, it also causes more side effects (unwanted hair growth on the body, scalp itchiness, etc). I started with the women's and worked my way up to the men's formula, just to see if I would have side effects/to get myself used to it. I don't think everyone has to do this, but minox has been known to cause heart palipitations, so I wanted to be extra safe.

Also, I don't always wash my hair every day, either, and i haven't noticed that this is a problem. I just make sure to part my hair and make sure i get the dropper in the part, and avoid my hair as much as possible. The biggest probelm I've run into with not washing every day is that if I use too much Rogaine in one area, it can look a little greasy.

My only real side effect has been some scalp dryness -- part of the reason i don't wash every day anymore. When it gets really bad, I use some Jojoba oil on my scalp and leave it in overnight/for at least 2 hours.

Hope this was helpful. If you have any questions, I'm more than glad to help, if I know the answer.

[SweetShelby]

Hi Fin,

Thank you so much for the thorough answers and sharing your experience.

Do you feel the Rogaine has been working for you? Enough to use it the rest of your life? What is the longest amout of time you've skipped it or taken a break from it?

The jojoba oil sounds good, are you able to use it when you are using the Rogaine?

I've been reading online about women who have grown all sort of unwanted facial hair, body hair etc. after starting Rogaine. Has that happened to you?

I'd hate to start this to try to grow hair on my scalp and then wine up with hair on my forehead.

[Dara]

Hi Shelby,

I have been using the 5% rogaine for about 8 months now and it hasn't done a thing for me. It does make my hair a little stiff so I try to wash my hair every 2 days. I have trouble getting it only on my scalp. It usually ends up on my hair too.

I was going to stop using it but I read somewhere that you need to give it a year to work. So I decided to stick with it for a year.

Dara

[esmerelda]

I posted a 6-month review of my rogaine/ minoxidil experience over on the Network in the rogaine users group if anyone is interested in reading it.

[Tiny]

Ive been thinking about trying the womens rogaine myself, kinda scared about trying the mens. I have general thinning on my sides and crown. Has anyone ever experienced with the rogaine and tried just applying once a day instead of the twice as recommended? Im worried about my hair drying out. What was anyones experience with the minoxidil, any side effects, dryness,lots of hair shed?

[Tiny]

and what does it mean when it says may make your hair look rough? thats kinda scary

[leosachon1]

I have been suffering hair loss from the age or 18. Rogaine did nothing for me, and the more dependent I became on it and the less it worked, the more stressed I was getting, eventually causing further shedding as a result.
Have you considered any other treatments?
Leonie x

[Tiny]

I started with womens therapro cellagen supplied from a local salon in town, used that for 3 years with not much hair growth improvement. thats why I got on the mens rogaine foam, been using it for 6 months. I do see some small thin hairs coming in but it also is making my hair look dry and frizzy, i tell myself to get off it but i still keep doing it because it says it can take up to a year to see results and I'm half way there, so hoping to get good results out of this. I just want my hair back like it was before but I also want it to look healthy. I also take the hairinfinity vitamins, they are expensive and I don't really see my hair growing any faster then if i just took cheap vitamins, but I"m still sticking with that regiman also for now.what other treatments are there? what have you ended up doing. I also use the bosley shampoo and conditioner for thinning hair

[Venera]

i'm on minoxidil for three weeks and my hair is getting thinner every day. It feels like I lost another 20%. I don’t know whether to continue or not?
I know that is normal to lose some when starting the treatment but no one says it will grow back so I am scared.

[Tiny]

I didn't seem to have much hairloss while starting it, at least I don't think I did because I tried not to get too involved with that process, otherwise I would have freaked out myself. I would just like to know what some of the faithful users experienced. Did your hair look dull? Still having problems with my crown area even after 6 months of use(should say starting my 6th month) I just want my shine back and healthy looking hair.Has anyone ever quit the rogaine after this period of time and did you lose alot more hair?

[deenabl]

I used 5% men's Rogaine from the end of May 2011 to mid August 2011. I started an anti-depressant in April 2011, and within about 10 days of staring the med my hair started shedding. Stopped the med immediately, went to a Dermatologist who said to use to Rogaine, to speed up the growing process and stop the shedding. I used it twice a day for about a month, then used it once a day for about a month, then every other day for a few weeks then stopped. The Rogaine grew my hair back, stopped the shedding, it was great. However, it also made the fine downy blonde hair on my arms turn black, I starred to grow hair on the top of my feet and on my cheek bones! I have been off the Rogaine since August 2011 and my hair is falling out by the ton. I have less hair now than before, I started using the Rogaine. You need to know that, regardless of why you use the Rogaine; Telogen effluvium, Androgenic Alopecia, Alopecia Areata, etc.... Once you stop using it, the hair that it helped grow, that includes both (anagen and telogen hairs), your hair will fall out. Rogaine is absorbed by the scalp, then into the blood stream. I regret ever using it. Now you can see my scalp, I cry everyday. I had long, beautiful, soft, curly hair, now I have about 40% of it left, and no one can tell me if it is going to grow back! Rogaine made my telogen effluvium worse. I would not use Rogaine unless you want to be stuck with it and its horrible side effects for a long time. It's effects are only said to work for about 48 months. I would personally rather be bald. I hope this helps.

[Tiny]

Thanks that kinda helps, I fought myself on if I had wanted to even begin this and then I just gave in. I basically have done the same as you with the applying of it and I still only put it in every other day. I'm afraid that if I completly stop thats what will happen with my hair and I'm just so sick of dealing with this issue anymore, I guess I will just keep doing what I'm doing and hope for the best. Thanks again

[leosachon1]

I was recommended to a hair clinic specialising in non-surgical hair replacement. i am very satisfied with the results! would you be interested in this?

[Tiny]

of course i would be but what state do you live in. I live in VT and there is very limited salons around here that deal with hairloss issues. I do notice a slight difference in my crown area, no more of that wide circle area I had up by my bang area but my hair looks very unhealthy maybe from all the new hairs coming in. I see my hair dresser next week, and I will decide from there what I'm going to do with this rogaine crap