Alcohol Free Minoxidil, All You Need to Know

Minoxidil is the first-line treatment for hair loss. It is one of the two FDA approved products for that purpose. Whether it is a liquid, foam or gel minoxidil, alcohol is one of the major ingredients in the product. Some people prefer a minoxidil product free of alcohol for various reasons, including allergies, religious beliefs, or personal preferences.

We have more than 15 years of formulating various special minoxidil products. We recently launched an alcohol free minoxidil product at the request of some customers. The product can be used for both men and women for hair, beard, mustache, or eyebrow growth.

In this article, we will go over all the aspects of an alcohol free minoxidil product so you can make an informed decision before you make a purchase. The following aspects are covered: 

  • Why is alcohol used in a minoxidil product?
  • How is alcohol free minoxidil formulated?
  • Is alcohol free product less effective than a regular minoxidil  product?
  • How to use it?
  • Are the side effects the same as regular minoxidil?
  • How to store it?
  • How to maximize the results with an alcohol free minoxidil product?
  • Alcohol free minoxidil before and after photos.
  • Where to buy alcohol free minoxidil?

 

Why is alcohol used in regular minoxidil?

In chemistry, alcohol are organic molecules that have a hydroxyl group (-O-H). So both ethanol and propylene glycol (PG) are alcohol by definition (See figure below, the hydroxyl groups are highlighted in red). When most people look for an alcohol free minoxidil, they look for an ethanol free minoxidil. Ethanol, also called ethyl alcohol, is the alcohol in beer and wine. 

So why is ethanol in almost every minoxidil solutions in the first place? It is there for a few reasons: (1) it helps dissolve effective ingredients. Minoxidil does not dissolve in aqueous solution (water) very well. Organic solvent such as ethanol and propylene glycol are needed to bring it into solution; (2) it also helps minoxidil product dry faster after being applied to the body. Alcohols evaporates quickly and create a cooling sensation on the skin, which can be perceived as refreshing by some users; (3) alcohol is an effective natural antibacterial and antiviral substancel. It helps preserve the formulation and extend the shelf life of the product. Think about the disinfectant spray solutions we used during Covid-19 pandemic. Most of them are basically high % acohol solution. 

How is our alcohol free minoxidil (maxogen-B) formulated? 

Other solvent is needed to dissolve minoxidil if ethanol is not used. Some people choose to increase the amount of propylene glycol (PG) for this reason. Based on our experience, 10~20% of people are allergic to propylene glycol. Thus we believe increasing the amount of PG is not a good idea. As a matter of fact, we believe those people who are allergic to ethanol is very likely to be allergic to PG as well. Therefore, we would like to remove PG from this product as well.

Without ethanol and PG, what solvent can we use? The answer is glycerin. Glycerin is odorless liquid that is commonly used in a variety of pharmaceutical and cosmetic formulations as a solvent and a humectant. It is one of the main solvents we use in all of our NO PG products. 

A solution with glycerin tends to dry very slowly and feels very greasy. Through our many years of research, we have developed a proprietary glycerin based solvent that dries super fast and non-greasy. We used this type of solvent in Essengen-5 NO PG Fast Dry, which was applauded by people who have sensitive skin. 

 

Is alcohol free minoxidil less effective? 

It depends. For minoxidil to be effective, it needs to be able to be absorbed into the skin. Glycerin, as a humectant, has an excellent balance of skin penetration and retention characteristics. To further enhance the penetration capability of the product, we also add dimethyl isosorbide (DMI) to the product. DMI is a clear, colorless liquid that is commonly used as an ingredient in cosmetic products. It is primarily used as a solvent to enhance the solubility and delivery of other active ingredients in a formulation.

With the optimized solvent, the minoxidil in Maxogen-B can be properly absorbed by skin and play its role as a hair growth stimulator, making it at least as effective as the alcohol-containing minoxidil product. 

 

How to use alcohol free minoxidil product?

Our alcohol free product, Maxogen-B, is a 5% minoxidil solution. For men, it is recommended to use it twice a day.  One shall use the included dropper to apply up to 1 ml of the solution to the area where hair/beard growth is desired.  For women, it is recommended to use it once a day.

 

Are the side effects the same as regular minoxidil products?

One should not expect any alcohol and PG caused side effects such as dry skin and/or hair, flaking scalp, itchiness, etc. However, minoxidil related side effects, although very rare in general, remain the same: Dizziness and lightheadedness, chest pain and heart palpitations. If you experience any of this, you should stop using the product immediately and consult your doctor.

 

How to store the product?

Store the product at room temperature.  It is very important to not store the product in a freezer, otherwise the effective ingredient may precipitate out and compromise the effectiveness of the product.

 

How to maximize the effectiveness of an alcohol free minoxidil?

We enhance the effectiveness of the product with  Caffeine and Biotin that work synergically with minoxidil to maximize hair growth. Research shows that biotin helps your skin cells produce more keratin, a protein that your body needs to make strong and healthy hair. Some studies also suggest that biotin can increase the rate of follicle growth. 

Caffeine is widely used in topical solution or shampoo for hair growth. The mechanism it works is believed to be similar to minoxidil. Caffeine, as a stimulant, increases blood circulation to hair follicles and thus helps hair grow faster and become stronger. It also stimulates hair shaft elongation, resulting in longer, wider hair roots. It also prolongs anagen duration, which is the hair growth stage.

 

Alcohol free minoxidil before and after photos.

 

Where to buy alcohol free minoxidil?

A very few places offer alcohol free minoxidil products.  Since there is no standard formulation for this product, each provider has to figure out its own way to formulate it. Usability and effectiveness are expected to vary from one brand to another.  You can order our Maxogen-B, an alcohol and PG free minoxidil enhanced with biotin and caffeine from this site.