How to Use Minoxidil 5%: How Much, How Often, and With Other Hair Products

Short answer: Minoxidil 5% spray is used twice a day, 1ml each time, which is 10 sprays of the pump. The Sons Minoxidil 5% leaflet (section 3, last revised September 2026) says to wash your hands before and after, to put it on a completely dry scalp, starting in the centre of the thinning area, and to massage it in lightly with your fingertips; our application guide also asks you to allow 4 hours before washing your hair. Do not use more than 2ml in 24 hours, and do not try to make up for a missed application by using extra. This product is licensed for men aged 18 to 65.

This guide sets out what the leaflet and the Summary of Product Characteristics (SmPC) for Sons Minoxidil 5% say, as of October 2026: the steps, how much and how often, when to apply it, missed doses, combing and other hair products, foam or liquid, use without hair loss or after a transplant, flying with it, storage and expiry, and using it safely. Minoxidil 5% is a pharmacy medicine, supplied after a pharmacist consultation, no prescription required.

How do you apply minoxidil 5% spray?

Spray 1ml, which is 10 sprays of the pump, onto the thinning area of a completely dry scalp twice a day, massage it in lightly and wash your hands before and after: those are the Sons Minoxidil 5% leaflet's directions (section 3). Step by step, with our minoxidil page's application guide:

1. Before you start. Wash your hands thoroughly with water. Your hair and scalp must be completely dry when you apply the solution.

2. Find the thinning area. Part dry hair to expose the thinning area.

3. Spray 1ml onto your scalp. Apply 1ml to the scalp, not the hair, twice a day. That is 10 sprays of the pump, over the whole thinning area, starting in the centre.

4. Massage it in. Massage gently, allow 4 hours before washing. The leaflet says to massage it lightly into your scalp with your fingertips.

5. Wash your hands again. Wash hands thoroughly after use. If any of the solution gets onto your face or other skin, rinse it off with plenty of water.

If you are not sure about any step, the leaflet says to check with your doctor or pharmacist.

How much minoxidil should you use, and how often?

Use 1ml twice a day, which is 10 sprays of the pump each time, and never more than 2ml in 24 hours: that is the dose in the Sons Minoxidil 5% leaflet (section 3) and its SmPC (section 4.2). The leaflet says to keep to the recommended daily dose whatever the extent of your hair loss, and the SmPC says that using more than the recommended dose, or using it more often, will not improve results (section 4.4).

Sources: the Sons Minoxidil 5% leaflet, section 3 (last revised September 2026), and its SmPC, sections 4.2 and 6.5 (revised 19 June 2025). The 4-hour wait before washing is from our application guide.

What if you use too much?

Tell your doctor or pharmacist straight away, the leaflet says. Using too much can make the skin side effects stronger, especially itching, dryness, irritation and eczema, and swallowing the solution can cause serious heart problems, such as low blood pressure, a fast heartbeat, fluid retention and heart failure.

Each bottle holds 60ml, which is 30 days of the licensed dose of 1ml twice a day. You can order more at any time (see when you can order more hair loss treatment), and your order comes in plain packaging, with no medicine names on it.

What time of day should you apply minoxidil?

There is no set time: the Sons Minoxidil 5% leaflet says 1ml twice a day on a completely dry scalp, and names no times of day. A morning and an evening application is a simple way to keep to twice a day. Pick two times when your hair and scalp are dry and you will not be washing your hair for the next 4 hours, as our application guide asks.

Our minoxidil page adds: Do not apply immediately before exercise or excessive sweating. If you shower or swim, apply it afterwards, once your hair and scalp are completely dry.

How long does minoxidil take to dry or absorb?

The leaflet does not give a time for it to dry or soak in. Our minoxidil page's advice is: Allow it to dry fully (at least 4 hours) before washing.

Can you use minoxidil once a day?

Not as it is directed: the Sons Minoxidil 5% leaflet and its SmPC give 1ml twice a day, and neither gives a once-a-day dose. If twice a day is hard to keep to, talk to our pharmacist or your GP before you change how you use it.

What if you miss a dose or skip a day?

Do not make up for it with extra: the Sons Minoxidil 5% leaflet says not to use a double dose to make up for a forgotten one. What to do next depends on where you are in treatment, it says:

• In the early part of treatment, which the leaflet calls the initial treatment period, apply the forgotten dose as soon as possible, then carry on with your usual twice-a-day routine.
• Later, in what it calls the maintenance period, carry on as normal, as if you had not missed the dose.

The leaflet does not say when one period ends and the other begins, so if you are unsure, ask our pharmacist. Do not use more than 2ml in 24 hours, and do not try to make up for a missed application by using extra.

What if you stop for longer?

Start again with your usual 1ml twice a day, never more. The leaflet says continued use is needed to keep any regrowth, and the SmPC says hair growth may stop when treatment is interrupted, with the hair loss back where it started within 3 to 4 months (section 4.2). Our guide to whether minoxidil works explains what to expect, and when.

Can you comb your hair or use other products after applying minoxidil?

Yes, once the solution has dried on your scalp: comb gently, so you do not spread it onto your forehead or face. That is our advice, because the Sons Minoxidil 5% leaflet does not mention combing, and its SmPC says unwanted hair can grow where the solution is transferred to skin other than the scalp (section 4.4).

For styling products, our minoxidil page's advice is: Apply minoxidil to a dry, clean scalp before other styling products.

Can you moisturise after using minoxidil, or apply it after oil?

The leaflet does not mention oils or moisturisers, but it does say your hair and scalp must be completely dry when you apply the solution, so put minoxidil on a clean, dry scalp rather than over oil. The SmPC (section 4.5) says that products which change the skin's outer layer, such as steroid creams, tretinoin, dithranol and petroleum jelly, could increase how much minoxidil is absorbed if they are used at the same time, and its licence rules out using it with other medicines on the scalp or under a dressing (section 4.3).

On your face, wash your hands after applying minoxidil and before you put on a moisturiser, so none of the solution is carried onto your face. If your scalp feels dry or flaky, speak to our pharmacist rather than adding another product to it: dry skin and flaking are listed side effects, covered in our guide to minoxidil side effects.

Can you use minoxidil with other hair loss treatments?

Not with another medicine on your scalp at the same time: its licence rules that out (SmPC, section 4.3). Our pharmacy checklist asks "Are you currently using any other hair loss treatments?" and our pharmacist reviews your answer. There is not enough evidence to recommend using finasteride and minoxidil together, so we do not supply the two together as a plan. If you already use minoxidil, tell our pharmacist during your consultation so they can advise you. Our guide to hair loss treatment in the UK explains how the two licensed medicines differ.

Minoxidil foam vs liquid: which should you use?

Both are licensed treatments for male pattern hair loss: the British Association of Dermatologists' leaflet lists 5% minoxidil liquid or foam, applied to the affected scalp, not the hair. They are different products, each with its own leaflet and directions, so which suits you depends on you, and a pharmacist can advise.

We supply the liquid, Sons Minoxidil 5% cutaneous solution, with a spray pump, and this guide follows its leaflet; if you use a foam, follow its own leaflet instead. The Sons solution contains alcohol (ethanol) and propylene glycol: its leaflet says propylene glycol may cause skin irritation and the alcohol may cause a burning feeling on damaged skin. Our pharmacy checklist asks: "Are you allergic to minoxidil or propylene glycol?"

Can you use minoxidil if you don't have hair loss?

No: Sons Minoxidil 5% is licensed to treat moderate male pattern hair loss in men aged 18 to 65 (SmPC, sections 4.1 and 4.2), not to prevent hair loss in someone who has none. Its product information adds that it should not be used for other types of hair loss, for example when there is no family history of hair loss, the loss is sudden or patchy, or the cause is unknown (section 4.4).

Some hair fall is normal: the NHS says we can lose between 50 and 100 hairs a day, often without noticing. If your hair loss is patchy or sudden, or your scalp is red, sore or flaky, see your GP first. These signs point to a cause other than male pattern hair loss. Our guide to a receding hairline describes the early signs of male pattern hair loss, and our hair loss page sets out the two licensed medicines.

Before your order is sent, our pharmacy checklist asks about your hair loss, your scalp, allergies, blood pressure, other medicines and your heart, and some answers mean we cannot supply it.

Can you use minoxidil after a hair transplant?

Follow the advice of the surgeon or clinic that did your transplant, and do not use minoxidil while your scalp is still healing: the Sons Minoxidil 5% leaflet says not to use it on a scalp that is inflamed, infected, irritated or painful, on a shaved scalp, or under any kind of dressing or bandage.

Our pharmacy checklist asks: "Do you currently have any skin conditions on your scalp such as psoriasis, eczema, dermatitis, or open wounds?" A yes: Minoxidil should not be applied to irritated or broken skin. Please speak to your GP. If you are not sure whether your scalp is ready, ask your clinic before you order.

Can you bring minoxidil on a plane?

Yes, in most cases: as of October 2026, a 60ml bottle is within the 100ml limit that most UK airports set for each liquid container in hand luggage, and GOV.UK says no proof is needed for a liquid medicine in a container of 100ml or smaller. The 3-bottle pack is three separate 60ml bottles (SmPC, section 6.5).

• The rules for liquids depend on the airport, GOV.UK says: check them at the airport you fly from and at any you travel through, including on the way back. Some airports may allow containers of up to 2 litres, and some ask for liquids in one clear, resealable plastic bag that holds no more than a litre and measures about 20cm by 20cm.
• If you can, pack liquids in your hold luggage, GOV.UK suggests.
• The Civil Aviation Authority's guidance on dangerous goods allows medicinal articles in hand or hold luggage, without the airline's approval, up to 0.5 litres for each item and 2 litres in all per person.
• The solution is flammable, so keep the bottle tightly closed and away from heat and flames, as the leaflet says.
• Security staff can refuse anything they consider dangerous, and countries outside the UK may have different rules, so check with your airline and the airports before you travel.

Does minoxidil expire, and how should you store it?

Yes: do not use Sons Minoxidil 5% after the expiry date on the carton and label, which refers to the last day of that month (leaflet, section 5). Its SmPC gives a shelf life of 3 years and says it needs no special storage conditions (sections 6.3 and 6.4); neither document gives a separate time limit once the bottle is open.

• It is flammable: the leaflet says to keep it away from heat, sparks, open flames and hot surfaces, not to smoke near it, to keep the container tightly closed and to store it in a well-ventilated place.
• Keep it out of the reach of children. Swallowing it by accident can cause serious heart problems, and children should not touch the parts of your scalp where you have put it.
• Do not pour it away or put it in your household rubbish: the leaflet says to ask your pharmacist how to dispose of medicines you no longer use.

How do you use minoxidil safely?

Keep it to your scalp and away from your eyes, mouth, face and any broken skin, and protect the areas you treat from the sun. The leaflet and the SmPC set out these points:

• Minoxidil is for topical use on the scalp only. Avoid contact with eyes, broken skin, or other body areas. Wash hands after application.
• Avoid contact with the face after application to prevent unwanted facial hair growth.
• If it gets into your eyes or onto broken skin, bathe the area with plenty of cool tap water (SmPC, section 4.4).
• Avoid breathing in the spray mist (SmPC, section 4.4).
• Protect the areas you treat from the sun, even when it is cloudy, and do not expose them to ultraviolet (UV) lamps. The British Association of Dermatologists also advises protecting any bald areas of your scalp from the sun with sun cream, a wig or a hat.
• It can cause dizziness or low blood pressure. If it does, do not drive or use machines.
• It is flammable. Do not use it while smoking, or near a naked flame or other heat source.
• Do not use it under a dressing or bandage, or with other medicines on your scalp, such as a steroid cream.

Side effects, from headache and itching to the signs that mean you should stop, are in our guide to minoxidil side effects. Before you start, read the leaflet in your pack in full, and keep it: you may need to read it again.

For support, Alopecia UK (alopecia.org.uk) can help, and the British Association of Dermatologists has a patient leaflet.