Is minoxidil foam less effective than minoxidil liquid?

I prefer the foam Minoxidil over the liquid because they removed a preservative chemical that is used in the liquid that often causes topical scalp symptoms like irritation, redness and flaking. The foam does need to be messaged into the scalp a little more because it does not get to scalp as easily as the liquid. 

Thank you for your question. I suggest you work closely with a board certified facial plastic surgeon to develop a hair regrowth treatment plan. You may be an ideal candidate for NeoGraft Hair Restoration, which can provide natural hair regrowth in a short recovery period. Always work with a boar certified facial plastic surgeon.
Best wishes,

Minoxidil was first brought to market as Rogaine over 30 years ago.  Its hard to believe that the same treatment is still available today, even though it is now very inexpensive and widely available.  If it really worked that well, why is everyone still going bald?
Interestingly when Rogaine was launched the company didn't even know how it worked.  They found that some fuzzy hairs grew as a side effect of the medicines' primary use as a vasodilator and incorrectly assumed that minoxidil was growing hair because it was taking more blood supply to the scalp.
However if you think about it and realize that if you have something inside your body in your bloodstream that is causing hair loss, like DHT perhaps, then taking more blood to the problem area long term is going to do the opposite of help.  This is why for some people Rogaine doesn't work at all, for others it makes it worse and for those it does help it is only for a short period of time (up to a couple of years).What they later found is that besides being a vasodilator Minoxidil also is a mild hair growth stimulant. So if that's what you are looking for, perhaps you should instead find a program with a strong hair growth stimulant that isn't also a vasodilator. And even better, pair it with something that is stopping the underlying cause or causes.
What you really need to do is find a Doctor who can perform a comprehensive specialized set of labs to understand all the different factors impacting your hair loss from nutrition and lifestyle to genetic factors.

Although the ultimate result wouldn't be different whatever version you use, liquid Rogaine may cause slight irritation indeed.
But we also recommend the foam for another reason; you have more control over the application. Foam is better in terms of direct application on the recipient area as it doesn't spill around like liquid, so you may consume less of it per session, meaning the bottle can last for a longer period. 

Hello and that you for your great question. Personally I prefer the liquid as its easier to apply directly to the skin.

If the minoxidil solution is applies correctly there should be little to no difference between the liquid form or the foam form in respect to hair growth results. The foam is generally easier on the skin with less irritable qualities. For the best results use as prescribed and for the medium to long term. Allow the treatment a chance to start working on the hair follicles to stabilize the hair growth cycle and promote healthier hair growth. 

No, the Minoxidil solution is not better than Minoxidil foam. Unfortunately many patients make the mistake to apply the spray solution or foam in the hair instead the scalp. The foam is less scalp irritant with better scalp absorption.  I always explain my patients how the solution or foam should be applied on the scalp. Good luck

In our practice we find better compliance with the foam over the liquid form. The main reason is that the foam tends to be less irritating to the skin, especially in patients with skin sensitivities. Use the version that you can incorporate into your your hair styling routines and minimizes skin irritation and itching. 

I believe that the liquid is more effective because you can apply it directly to the scalp while much of the foam ends up on the hair which is less effective