Daily Hair Care Routine for Thinning Hair

Building the Perfect Daily Hair Care Routine for Thinning Hair

Your daily hair care routine matters—not for dramatic regrowth (that's what finasteride/minoxidil do), but for optimizing scalp health, minimizing mechanical damage, and making your hair look its best while treatments work.

Morning Routine (10 minutes)

Step 1: Apply Finasteride (30 seconds)

Take your 1mg finasteride tablet with water, same time daily. Consistency > perfection.

Step 2: Shower & Shampoo (5 minutes)

Best practices:

• Use lukewarm water (hot water strips natural oils)
• Apply shampoo to scalp, not hair length
• Massage gently with fingertips (not nails)
• Rinse thoroughly

Shampoo choice: Ketoconazole 2% shampoo 2-3x/week (DHT-blocking effects), gentle sulfate-free shampoo other days

Step 3: Pat Dry (Don't Rub)

Vigorous towel-drying causes mechanical breakage. Pat hair gently or air dry.

Step 4: Apply Minoxidil (2 minutes)

1ml minoxidil 5% foam to dry scalp, focus on thinning areas. Let absorb 4 hours before next wash.

Step 5: Style (2 minutes)

Use volumizing products sparingly—matte clay or sea salt spray work best for thinning hair.

Evening Routine (5 minutes)

Step 1: Remove Product (If Applicable)

If you used heavy styling products, rinse with water (no need to shampoo twice daily unless very oily).

Step 2: Apply Minoxidil (2 minutes)

Second daily application, at least 12 hours after morning dose.

Step 3: Scalp Massage (Optional - 5 minutes)

Wait 4+ hours after minoxidil, then perform 5-minute massage protocol for mechanotransduction benefits.

Weekly Add-Ons

Microneedling (Sunday - 10 minutes)

1.5mm dermaroller once weekly, skip minoxidil for 24 hours after rolling.

Deep Scalp Cleanse (Wednesday - 5 minutes)

Clarifying shampoo to remove product buildup, or apple cider vinegar rinse (1:3 with water).

What NOT to Do

• Don't over-shampoo: Daily is fine if needed, but twice daily strips oils
• Don't use hot tools excessively: Heat damage compounds thinning appearance
• Don't obsess over shedding: 50-100 hairs daily is normal
• Don't check mirror 20x daily: Set specific weekly photo days only