Last Updated on August 11, 2023 by Robert Price

Rogaine is a proven hair loss treatment option that can dramatically slow the balding process.

That’s been established.

But the jury’s still out on which version of Rogaine/minoxidil is better, the liquid or the foam. And in this post, I’m going to be the judge and jury.

Do you have a problem with that? I’m a hair loss researcher, blogger, and consumer advocate with thousands of hours of experience at this point, so I hope not. Also, five years after starting this site, I realized I was going bald in 2021. And guess which treatment I chose to help me win my battle against hair loss? Minoxidil, of course!

Over the last year and a half, I’ve used both over-the-counter versions of the medication for extended periods of time, and I’ll detail some of my personal experiences for you. In my post, I’ll also incorporate commentary from hair loss experts and product reviews from everyday minoxidil users as I compare foam vs. liquid minoxidil based on the following six metrics.

1. Price
2. Convenience
3. Ease of Use
4. Side Effects
5. Aesthetics/Utility
6. Effectiveness

By the end of this article, you should be able to determine which version of minoxidil best suits your needs and lifestyle.

Note – this article contains affiliate links, meaning I may earn a small commission (at no extra cost to you) if you purchase a product via a link on this site/page. Learn more here. 

Let’s begin.

Comparing Minoxidil Liquid vs. Foam Based on Six Critical Factors

1. Price

Winner: Standard Liquid Minoxidil

The liquid minoxidil is generally cheaper than the foam, especially if you purchase one of the popular generic forms of the product, such as the Kirkland-brand minoxidil.

On Amazon, you can currently pick up a 6-month supply of Amazon-brand minoxidil for around $30. Pricing will vary, of course. The foam isn’t particularly expensive either, but it’s usually a few dollars more per bottle, starting at around $9 a bottle for the Kirkland brand.

I’ve also heard many people complain about needing to use more of the foam in order to get full coverage on their scalps, which increases their overall cost per bottle. In my experience, I didn’t feel as though I needed to apply extra product to my thinning area when I used the foam, but my hair loss is relatively mild and isolated at my crown. If you’re suffering from a more advanced variety of hair loss, the liquid may yield a little more coverage and therefore be a more economical option for you.

2. Ease of Use

Winner – Minoxidil Foam

It takes a little longer to fill a dropper with liquid minoxidil than it does to dispense a half capful of foam minoxidil (I’ll have some more application tips for you later in the article). Granted, you probably won’t save more than a few seconds per treatment if you choose the foam over the liquid, but you only get 8,640 seconds per day, and if you literally want to make all of those seconds count, the foam will be the better option for you.

Also, you’re probably less likely to have a “mishap” while using the foam version of the product. Personally, I’ve had liquid minoxidil drip onto my forehead and face on many occasions, flow onto areas of my scalp where I didn’t want it to go, and even gotten the product in my eye once or twice (I may or may not have been intoxicated at the time). The foam is less messy and accordingly a little easier to use for most people.

3. Convenience

Winner – Minoxidil Foam

Minoxidil foam dries faster than liquid minoxidil. It’s also easier to apply, as I noted in section two of this post.

So if you’re looking for a minoxidil product that’s super easy to fit into your daily routine, the foam is probably your best bet. The Rogaine website compares applying the foam to brushing your teeth, which is not a bad analogy or complete marketing BS. There’s a semblance of truth to it!

I find that the foam is actually a decent standalone hairstyling product, which is another reason I believe it’s more convenient to use than the liquid. The liquid won’t necessarily make styling your hair harder, but it probably won’t make the process easier either.

The Long Hair Exception

If you still have a lot of hair, or longer hair, you may find it difficult to reach your problem areas while using minoxidil foam. And if that’s the case, the liquid may be a better option for you.

4. Aesthetics/Utility

Winner – Minoxidil Foam

“It’s too greasy” is a common gripe among liquid minoxidil users. I don’t have that particular complaint about the product. Sure, it’s greasier than the foam, and I definitely feel as though I need to wash my hands thoroughly after applying the liquid (I wash them after using the foam too, of course, but with less vigor).

Some people recommend liquid minoxidil as a styling product as well! It comes down to preference, but ultimately, I think it’s safe to say that the majority of minoxidil users prefer the foam to the liquid when it comes to aesthetics and hair styling.

5. Side Effects

Winner – Minoxidil Foam

Glycol, which acts as a delivery agent for liquid minoxidil, is known to cause a variety of skin issues, from redness to contact dermatitis. Minoxidil/Rogaine foam is known for causing fewer side effects overall, and thus is the winner here. It should be noted, however, that both the liquid and foam medications are well tolerated and that only a small percentage of users report dermatological side effects with liquid minoxidil. Over the last year and a half, I haven’t experienced any side effects with either variety of the medication.

6. Effectiveness

Winner – Liquid Minoxidil, by one single hair on your balding head!

Most of the other points were indisputable in this comparison. The effectiveness of minoxidil foam vs. liquid, however, is something that even many hair loss experts disagree on. Robert Bernstein and William Rassman, co-authors of the book Hair Loss and Restoration for Dummies, fall on opposite ends of the debate, with Rassman preferring the foam and Bernstein recommending the liquid (1, 2).

Bernstein’s argument is more compelling, though, in my opinion. He notes that gycol is a better delivery agent, and that the foam has a tendency to get “caught up” in people’s hair.

A 2011 article in the Indian Journal of Dermatology also suggested that liquid minoxidil may be more effective in terms of hair regrowth.

Breaking it Down, Point By Point

Just to refresh your memory, here are the winners in each category.

• Affordability – Minoxidil liquid
• Ease of Use – Minoxidil foam
• Convenience – Foam
• Aesthetics – Foam
• Side Effects – Foam
• Effectiveness – Liquid, but just barely!

Now, drum roll please.

The Winner Is…

Minoxidil Foam, with One Big Caveat!

The liquid might actually work better! Based on everything I’ve read, the liquid does actually penetrate the scalp more efficiently than the foam, delivering the medication to where it’s needed. Is there a huge difference in terms of effectiveness between the two products? I doubt it. And because the foam is more convenient to use, compliance rates may be slightly higher with that version of the product.

I actually prefer the liquid overall, mainly because it’s cheaper and easy enough to apply for me, but I often keep a bottle of the foam on hand because it’s a far better styling product, in my opinion.

Related Content

In the minoxidil chronicles, I talk about my experiences using the product–the good, bad, and ugly.

It Comes Down to Preference

There’s no reason you can’t try both the liquid and foam to see which one you like better! Buy a bottle of each and conduct your own little experiment.

Ultimately, choosing which minoxidil you use is analogous to choosing your preferred cola. Okay, maybe that’s a bad analogy because everyone prefers Coke over Pepsi.

It’s more akin to choosing your favorite light beer. They all suck. No one with any taste enjoys drinking light beer, but it gets the job done — and Coors Light is slightly less repugnant than the other two in my view and is therefore the best option.

Similarly, no one relishes applying minoxidil everyday, in foam or liquid form. But trying both could be a wise move on your part, just so you can figure out which version of the product you’ll despise the least. Assuming it works, which hopefully it does, you could be using minoxidil for many years to come!

Once or Twice Per Day?

For men, the standard dose is one ml (or approx. 1/2 capful of the foam) twice daily.

However, many doctors, including Dr. Bernstein of Bernstein Medical, advise their patients that using minoxidil once daily is sufficient.

Bernstein states that compliance can be an issue for patients with minoxidil. Accordingly, he says that using the product once per day is enough to yield positive results, provided the patient administers double the recommended dose.

Minoxidil has a half-life of about 22 hours. So if you use twice as much product once per day, it should work just about as well as the standard twice-daily regimen.

Women are more sensitive to minoxidil’s effects than men. They can either use the 5% formula once per day, or the 2% minoxidil twice per day.

Seven Quick Tips for Applying Minoxidil

1. Read the instructions. That’s obvious I know, but it’s a step many people skip and one of the 8 most common minoxidil mistakes.
2. Use on dry hair only. You don’t need to shampoo ahead of time.
3. Make sure the product gets into your scalp. You need to massage it in and make sure the product reaches your follicles.
4. Make several parts in your hair if you can prior to application. This will help you see the areas that are thinning and ensure even distribution of the medication.
5. Hit the “Problem” Areas – Of course, you should cover every area that’s thinning or receding.
6. Treat the Crown Too, Even if You’re Not Thinning Back There Yet – Chances are you’ll start losing it on your crown eventually. So you might as well treat the problem preemptively.
7. Wash Your Hands Afterwards. 

Three Minoxidil Alternatives

If you’re not quite sold on minoxidil liquid or foam at this point, here are few alternative hair loss treatments for your consideration:

1. Finasteride –  finasteride is sort of the male equivalent to “the pill.” Like the female version of “the pill” — i.e. birth control — finasteride comes with an array of unpleasant, potential side effects, primarily of the sexual variety. The drug has an excellent safety profile overall and has been FDA-approved to treat hair loss for over 25 years.

Women have begun using finasteride “off label” too, but it’s not typically a first-line treatment option for women. Finasteride works considerably better than minoxidil overall and can halt hair loss dead in its tracks in roughly 90% of users.

2. Laser Therapy – As I’ve said before, laser therapy is the “embarrassing” hair loss remedy. It works to some degree, but you’d probably be mortified if your girlfriend or beer buddies “caught” you wearing a ridiculous-looking laser helmet or cap.

As of now, laser therapy is more of a supplementary treatment for men that I don’t typically recommend to anyone who isn’t 100% committed to fighting hair loss on a long-term basis. On the other hand, laser therapy is widely used as a somewhat effective, primary treatment for female hair loss.

Overall, it’s a treatment that can help you maintain what you have and maybe regrow a few hairs too, but laser therapy is unlikely to produce to any miraculous gains for you.

To find out if laser therapy is a legit treatment option for hair loss, check out my article describing the 7 things you should know before you buy a laser device (or simply click on the above picture).

3. The “Natural” Route  – A number of natural remedies show some promise in treating minoxidil, including rosemary oil, pumpkin seed oil, and saw palmetto to name a few. Will any of these natural solutions work as well as minoxidil? No, I imagine that’s very unlikely, but they may help treat hair loss to a limited extent.

Top-Rated Minoxidil Products and Closing Thoughts

• Rogaine Foam – After over 30 years, Rogaine’s still the #1 minoxidil brand. As of 2023, it’s literally helped multiple generations of men avoid premature baldness.
• Kirkland Liquid Minoxidil – A popular, budget-friendly option. Kirkland is a trusted brand that offers a quality product at an affordable price.
• Rogaine Foam for Women – The 5%, once-daily solution. The product has been shown to work for about 60% of women.

Have you personally used minoxidil foam, liquid, or both? Which version do you think is better and why?

Good luck and Godspeed on your quest for thicker, fuller hair in 2023 and beyond.

Now, here are a few related related articles I hand picked out just for you:

• The 8 Biggest Minoxidil Mistakes That Can Lead to Baldness!
• I’m Finally, Officially Going Bald – Here’s What I’m Doing About It…
• Minoxidil vs. Male Pattern Baldness – Who Wins? An In-depth Review
• Complete Minoxidil Guide for Women
• Minoxidil, Finasteride or Both? 6 Factors to Consider Before You Start Treatment
• 10 Fast Facts About 10% Minoxidil
• A Long, Hard, and Honest Look at Propecia – Is It Worth the Risk?
• Will You Look Good Bald? – Get the Honest Answer Here

Robert Price

Robert Price is a writer, consumer advocate, and hair loss researcher with thousands of hours of experience in the field. His goal is to keep you out of the hair loss rabbit hole, underworld, or whatever you want to call it. He founded Hair Loss Daily, the unbiased hair loss blog, in 2016. You can learn more about Robert in the my story section of this website.