holy
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ORAL FINASTERIDE
TOPICAL FINASTERIDE
- 0.5mg daily gives you about 90% of the dht suppression that 1mg does. even 0.25mg every other day can be effective for some people. start low. seriously. begin with 0.25mg daily or every other day. see how you respond after 3-6 months.
- take it at the same time daily. doesn't matter when, just be consistent. with food, without food, it really doesn't matter. whatever works for your routine. the key is building a habit so you don't forget doses and create fluctuations in your hormone levels. if you miss a dose, don't double up the next day. just continue with your regular schedule. obsessing over perfect compliance will drive you insane and probably cause more stress-related hair loss than the occasional missed pill.
- in months 1-3, there's possibly some initial shedding. this freaks people out, but it's often a good sign. weak, miniaturized hairs fall out to make room for stronger ones. don't panic and quit during this phase. in months 3-6, shedding should stabilize. you might notice less hair in the shower drain or on your pillow. this is when you start seeing maintenance effects. in months 6-12, this is when regrowth typically happens if it's going to happen. don't expect a full head of hair, but you might see some thickening in areas that weren't completely bald. and, last but not least, in year 2 and beyond, there should be continued improvement or stabilization. some people see continued gains for up to two years.
- the side-effects are mainly psychological. the internet (cough cough, r/tressless) has turned finasteride side effects into a fucking boogeyman that's way scarier than the actual data suggests. with sexual side effects, its reported in about 2-4% of men in clinical trials. the funny thing is that similar rates were reported in the placebo group. the nocebo effect is real and powerful. if you go into this expecting your dick to stop working, there's a decent chance you'll psychologically manifest some sexual issues. "post-finasteride syndrome" gets thrown around like it's a established medical condition. it's not recognized by major medical organizations because the evidence for persistent side effects after discontinuation is mostly anecdotal and poorly documented. no, that doesn't mean people aren't experiencing real symptoms, but correlation ≠ causation. now, with depression and brain fog, again, reported rates are similar to placebo in most studies. if you're already prone to anxiety or depression, obsessing over potential side effects and constantly monitoring your mood will probably make you feel worse regardless of the medication.
- your mental state going into finasteride treatment will largely determine your experience. if you've spent months reading horror stories and convincing yourself you're about to become a sexless zombie, you're setting yourself up for problems. stop reading finasteride forums. seriously. unsubscribe from r/tressless if it's making you paranoid. these spaces become echo chambers of anxiety and negative experiences because people having normal, uneventful experiences don't feel compelled to post about it. track objective metrics, not feelings. take standardized photos of your hair monthly. keep a simple log of any side effects with dates and severity. don't analyze every random mood change or morning wood situation.
- combine with minoxidil + microneedling. finasteride works best as part of a comprehensive approach. it should not act as a stand-alone miracle cure. lifestyle factors matter. fix your stress, sleep and nutrition. they all affect hair loss. finasteride isn't going to save you if you're chronically stressed, sleeping 4 hours a night, and living on energy drinks. do regular monitoring. get baseline blood work before starting (total testosterone, free testosterone, dht if possible). check again after 6 months, then annually. this gives you objective data instead of relying on how you "feel."
- quit if you experience persistent, documented side effects that negatively impact your quality
of life after giving your body time to adjust (at least 3 months) and if you're not seeing any benefit after 12-18 months (some people are non-responders, and that's okay. there are other options). don't quit during the initial shedding phase unless it's TRULY EXCESSIVE, because of temporary side effects in the first few weeks as your body adjusts, and because you read a scary story online or because you had one off day sexually.
- missing doses occasionally won't ruin your results, but chronic inconsistency will. set phone reminders, use a pill organizer, whatever it takes to build the habit. some people find that taking breaks ("finasteride holidays") helps reset their tolerance and reduce any side effects. this is controversial and not well-studied, but ANECDOTALLY, some guys report success with 5 days on, 2 days off schedules.
- if 1mg daily doesn't agree with you, try 0.5mg daily, or 1mg every other day, or even 1mg three times per week. there's no magic about the daily dosing, despite what the prescribing information says.
- generic finasteride is cheap as dirt now. don't get fooled by expensive "hair restoration" clinics pushing proprietary formulations. the active ingredient is the same whether you pay $10 or $100 per month. goodrx, costco pharmacy, online prescriptions, there are tons of ways to get this medication affordably. don't let cost be a barrier if you want to try it.
- take it at the same time daily. doesn't matter when, just be consistent. with food, without food, it really doesn't matter. whatever works for your routine. the key is building a habit so you don't forget doses and create fluctuations in your hormone levels. if you miss a dose, don't double up the next day. just continue with your regular schedule. obsessing over perfect compliance will drive you insane and probably cause more stress-related hair loss than the occasional missed pill.
- in months 1-3, there's possibly some initial shedding. this freaks people out, but it's often a good sign. weak, miniaturized hairs fall out to make room for stronger ones. don't panic and quit during this phase. in months 3-6, shedding should stabilize. you might notice less hair in the shower drain or on your pillow. this is when you start seeing maintenance effects. in months 6-12, this is when regrowth typically happens if it's going to happen. don't expect a full head of hair, but you might see some thickening in areas that weren't completely bald. and, last but not least, in year 2 and beyond, there should be continued improvement or stabilization. some people see continued gains for up to two years.
- the side-effects are mainly psychological. the internet (cough cough, r/tressless) has turned finasteride side effects into a fucking boogeyman that's way scarier than the actual data suggests. with sexual side effects, its reported in about 2-4% of men in clinical trials. the funny thing is that similar rates were reported in the placebo group. the nocebo effect is real and powerful. if you go into this expecting your dick to stop working, there's a decent chance you'll psychologically manifest some sexual issues. "post-finasteride syndrome" gets thrown around like it's a established medical condition. it's not recognized by major medical organizations because the evidence for persistent side effects after discontinuation is mostly anecdotal and poorly documented. no, that doesn't mean people aren't experiencing real symptoms, but correlation ≠ causation. now, with depression and brain fog, again, reported rates are similar to placebo in most studies. if you're already prone to anxiety or depression, obsessing over potential side effects and constantly monitoring your mood will probably make you feel worse regardless of the medication.
- your mental state going into finasteride treatment will largely determine your experience. if you've spent months reading horror stories and convincing yourself you're about to become a sexless zombie, you're setting yourself up for problems. stop reading finasteride forums. seriously. unsubscribe from r/tressless if it's making you paranoid. these spaces become echo chambers of anxiety and negative experiences because people having normal, uneventful experiences don't feel compelled to post about it. track objective metrics, not feelings. take standardized photos of your hair monthly. keep a simple log of any side effects with dates and severity. don't analyze every random mood change or morning wood situation.
- combine with minoxidil + microneedling. finasteride works best as part of a comprehensive approach. it should not act as a stand-alone miracle cure. lifestyle factors matter. fix your stress, sleep and nutrition. they all affect hair loss. finasteride isn't going to save you if you're chronically stressed, sleeping 4 hours a night, and living on energy drinks. do regular monitoring. get baseline blood work before starting (total testosterone, free testosterone, dht if possible). check again after 6 months, then annually. this gives you objective data instead of relying on how you "feel."
- quit if you experience persistent, documented side effects that negatively impact your quality
of life after giving your body time to adjust (at least 3 months) and if you're not seeing any benefit after 12-18 months (some people are non-responders, and that's okay. there are other options). don't quit during the initial shedding phase unless it's TRULY EXCESSIVE, because of temporary side effects in the first few weeks as your body adjusts, and because you read a scary story online or because you had one off day sexually.
- missing doses occasionally won't ruin your results, but chronic inconsistency will. set phone reminders, use a pill organizer, whatever it takes to build the habit. some people find that taking breaks ("finasteride holidays") helps reset their tolerance and reduce any side effects. this is controversial and not well-studied, but ANECDOTALLY, some guys report success with 5 days on, 2 days off schedules.
- if 1mg daily doesn't agree with you, try 0.5mg daily, or 1mg every other day, or even 1mg three times per week. there's no magic about the daily dosing, despite what the prescribing information says.
- generic finasteride is cheap as dirt now. don't get fooled by expensive "hair restoration" clinics pushing proprietary formulations. the active ingredient is the same whether you pay $10 or $100 per month. goodrx, costco pharmacy, online prescriptions, there are tons of ways to get this medication affordably. don't let cost be a barrier if you want to try it.
TOPICAL FINASTERIDE
- liquid minoxidil penetrates better, works faster, and is cheaper. the downside is it contains propylene glycol, which makes some people's scalps itch like fuck and can leave your hair looking greasy and flat. foam minoxidil was developed to address the cosmetic issues with liquid. no propylene glycol, dries faster, doesn't make your hair look like shit. the tradeoff is it's more expensive and may not penetrate as well. start with foam if you have sensitive skin or care about how your hair looks during the day. switch to liquid if foam isn't giving you results or if cost is a factor. some people alternate: liquid at night, foam in the morning.
- 5%. always. this is the sweet spot for most people. proven effective, well-tolerated by most users, widely available. this should be your starting point unless you have specific reasons to go lower or higher.
- 2x daily, 12 hours apart if possible. morning and evening work for most people. consistency matters more than perfect timing. 1ml per application covers the entire top of your head. most people use too much. more ≠ better, it just makes your scalp goopy and increases side effect risk. apply to dry scalp, not wet hair. part your hair in sections and drop the solution directly onto the scalp, not the hair itself. use your fingers to spread it around, but don't massage aggressively. let it sit for at least 4 hours before washing your hair. overnight application is ideal because you're not worried about how it looks. if you apply in the morning, give it at least 1 hour to absorb before styling.
- shedding will happen to about 60% of users in the first 2-8 weeks. your hair will fall out more than usual, sometimes dramatically. this is actually a good sign that the medication is working. minoxidil forces hair follicles to enter a new growth cycle. similar to fin, weak, miniaturized hairs fall out to make room for thicker, healthier ones. the shedding usually peaks around week 2-4, then gradually decreases. don't quit during the shedding phase. this is where most people fuck up their minoxidil journey. power through it. take progress photos so you can see the regrowth when it starts. in weeks 1-8, shedding, possible scalp irritation as you adjust. no visible improvement yet, possibly looking worse temporarily. in months 2-4, shedding stops, early signs of new growth start appearing. fine, light-colored hairs (vellus hair) begin showing up in previously sparse areas. in months 4-8, new hair starts thickening and darkening. this is when most people see real improvement and start getting compliments. in months 8-12, continued improvement, hair density increases. some people see their best results in this timeframe. and, in year 2+, maintenance and possible continued improvement. some users report continued gains well into the second year.
- there are side effects, but u can mitigate them. for scalp irritation, switch to foam, reduce application frequency, or try a different brand. don't suffer through severe irritation, it's not necessary for results. for unwanted hair growth, wash your hands after application, be careful about dripping, and consider using foam which is less likely to run. for heart palpitations (rare as fuck but possible, especially if you use too much or have underlying heart issues), stop using it and see a doctor. for scalp acne (usually resolves with continued use), try reducing application frequency or switching formulations.
- combining with microneedling. use a 0.5-1.5mm dermaroller once weekly, then apply minoxidil 24 hours later.
- minoxidil only works as long as you use it. miss a few days and nothing terrible happens. miss a few weeks and you start losing ground. stop completely and you'll lose everything you gained within 3-6 months. this is the biggest psychological barrier. you're committing to twice-daily applications for the rest of your life, or at least until you don't care about hair loss anymore. factor this into your decision making. some people try to wean down to once daily after getting good results. this works for maybe 30% of people. most need to stick with twice daily to maintain their gains.
- with brand name rogaine vs generic minoxidil, the active ingredient is identical, but inactive ingredients vary. some people respond better to different formulations due to absorption differences or skin sensitivity. with alcohol-based vs propylene glycol-based minoxidil, different carriers affect how the medication penetrates and how it feels on your scalp. if one doesn't work or causes irritation, try a different base.
- give it at least 6 months before declaring failure. some people don't see significant results until month 8-10. if you're not seeing any improvement after a full year of consistent use, you're probably a non-responder. try switching formulations before giving up. liquid to foam, different brands, adding tretinoin or microneedling. some people need these modifications to see results. consider that your hair loss might be too advanced for minoxidil alone. it works best on thinning areas, not completely bald scalp. if you have a chrome dome, you need more aggressive treatments or a hair transplant.
- generic liquid minoxidil costs about $20-30 for a 6-month supply. foam costs 2-3x more but still reasonable. costco, walmart, amazon all carry cheap generics that work just as well as brand names. compound pharmacy formulations with additives can cost $100+ monthly. only worth it if standard minoxidil isn't working and you've tried other modifications first. some people make their own by buying pure minoxidil powder and mixing with propylene glycol and ethanol. this is cheap but risky if you fuck up the concentrations.
- liquid minoxidil can leak and stain clothes. foam is more travel-friendly but takes up more space. plan accordingly for trips. if you workout a lot, morning applications might not work due to sweating. night-only application is better than skipping doses because of lifestyle conflicts. hair styling products can interfere with absorption if applied too soon after minoxidil. wait at least an hour, preferably longer.
- results take months to appear and years to fully develop. most people give up too early because they expect dramatic changes in weeks. take monthly photos from the same angles, same lighting. your daily mirror checks won't show gradual progress, but photos over time will. consider minoxidil a tool for buying time while you figure out other treatments. it can maintain and improve what you have while you save for a transplant or wait for better treatments to be developed.
- 5%. always. this is the sweet spot for most people. proven effective, well-tolerated by most users, widely available. this should be your starting point unless you have specific reasons to go lower or higher.
- 2x daily, 12 hours apart if possible. morning and evening work for most people. consistency matters more than perfect timing. 1ml per application covers the entire top of your head. most people use too much. more ≠ better, it just makes your scalp goopy and increases side effect risk. apply to dry scalp, not wet hair. part your hair in sections and drop the solution directly onto the scalp, not the hair itself. use your fingers to spread it around, but don't massage aggressively. let it sit for at least 4 hours before washing your hair. overnight application is ideal because you're not worried about how it looks. if you apply in the morning, give it at least 1 hour to absorb before styling.
- shedding will happen to about 60% of users in the first 2-8 weeks. your hair will fall out more than usual, sometimes dramatically. this is actually a good sign that the medication is working. minoxidil forces hair follicles to enter a new growth cycle. similar to fin, weak, miniaturized hairs fall out to make room for thicker, healthier ones. the shedding usually peaks around week 2-4, then gradually decreases. don't quit during the shedding phase. this is where most people fuck up their minoxidil journey. power through it. take progress photos so you can see the regrowth when it starts. in weeks 1-8, shedding, possible scalp irritation as you adjust. no visible improvement yet, possibly looking worse temporarily. in months 2-4, shedding stops, early signs of new growth start appearing. fine, light-colored hairs (vellus hair) begin showing up in previously sparse areas. in months 4-8, new hair starts thickening and darkening. this is when most people see real improvement and start getting compliments. in months 8-12, continued improvement, hair density increases. some people see their best results in this timeframe. and, in year 2+, maintenance and possible continued improvement. some users report continued gains well into the second year.
- there are side effects, but u can mitigate them. for scalp irritation, switch to foam, reduce application frequency, or try a different brand. don't suffer through severe irritation, it's not necessary for results. for unwanted hair growth, wash your hands after application, be careful about dripping, and consider using foam which is less likely to run. for heart palpitations (rare as fuck but possible, especially if you use too much or have underlying heart issues), stop using it and see a doctor. for scalp acne (usually resolves with continued use), try reducing application frequency or switching formulations.
- combining with microneedling. use a 0.5-1.5mm dermaroller once weekly, then apply minoxidil 24 hours later.
- minoxidil only works as long as you use it. miss a few days and nothing terrible happens. miss a few weeks and you start losing ground. stop completely and you'll lose everything you gained within 3-6 months. this is the biggest psychological barrier. you're committing to twice-daily applications for the rest of your life, or at least until you don't care about hair loss anymore. factor this into your decision making. some people try to wean down to once daily after getting good results. this works for maybe 30% of people. most need to stick with twice daily to maintain their gains.
- with brand name rogaine vs generic minoxidil, the active ingredient is identical, but inactive ingredients vary. some people respond better to different formulations due to absorption differences or skin sensitivity. with alcohol-based vs propylene glycol-based minoxidil, different carriers affect how the medication penetrates and how it feels on your scalp. if one doesn't work or causes irritation, try a different base.
- give it at least 6 months before declaring failure. some people don't see significant results until month 8-10. if you're not seeing any improvement after a full year of consistent use, you're probably a non-responder. try switching formulations before giving up. liquid to foam, different brands, adding tretinoin or microneedling. some people need these modifications to see results. consider that your hair loss might be too advanced for minoxidil alone. it works best on thinning areas, not completely bald scalp. if you have a chrome dome, you need more aggressive treatments or a hair transplant.
- generic liquid minoxidil costs about $20-30 for a 6-month supply. foam costs 2-3x more but still reasonable. costco, walmart, amazon all carry cheap generics that work just as well as brand names. compound pharmacy formulations with additives can cost $100+ monthly. only worth it if standard minoxidil isn't working and you've tried other modifications first. some people make their own by buying pure minoxidil powder and mixing with propylene glycol and ethanol. this is cheap but risky if you fuck up the concentrations.
- liquid minoxidil can leak and stain clothes. foam is more travel-friendly but takes up more space. plan accordingly for trips. if you workout a lot, morning applications might not work due to sweating. night-only application is better than skipping doses because of lifestyle conflicts. hair styling products can interfere with absorption if applied too soon after minoxidil. wait at least an hour, preferably longer.
- results take months to appear and years to fully develop. most people give up too early because they expect dramatic changes in weeks. take monthly photos from the same angles, same lighting. your daily mirror checks won't show gradual progress, but photos over time will. consider minoxidil a tool for buying time while you figure out other treatments. it can maintain and improve what you have while you save for a transplant or wait for better treatments to be developed.
