21M — mild temple recession and reduced overall density compared to before, but still manageable and not noticeable if I style it right. I’m planning to start finasteride but unsure whether to take it orally or topically.
Where I live, topical finasteride is only available as 0.1% fin + 5% minoxidil. My dermatologist prescribed this, but I’m hesitant because I can’t see myself applying it twice daily for life. I’ve heard minoxidil causes an initial shedding phase and that any gains are lost if you stop. I also worry about the commitment and the possibility it could become less effective over time, leading to more hair loss.
My questions:
At my stage, is there any real need to start minoxidil now, or is oral finasteride alone enough to maintain my hair long-term?
Would starting both finasteride and minoxidil now actually help me save noticeably more hair in the future?
Are there people here who regret not taking minoxidil alongside finasteride from the start?
fin can be enough to maintain your hair, but adding min can boost density and growth. Starting both may save more hair in the long run. Some people do regret not using min early on, but it depends on how you respond to just fin. For more details, check out The Beginner’s Guide.
I was going to start with a 0.1% fin + 5% min combo solution, but now I’m not sure I can commit to applying it forever. So I’ve decided to first start with microdosing finasteride, gradually increasing the dose over 3–4 months if needed. Alongside that, I’ll look into microneedling, rosemary oil, castor oil, and ketoconazole shampoo as mentioned in the guide. If I see enough improvement, I’ll be happy sticking to just this one drug. After a year, if I feel I need more density, I might consider adding minoxidil. Thank you for your previous reply and guide. Does this sound like a solid approach, or is there anything I should change or add?
Have the exact same profile as yours, Norwood 2(not exactly mild), started oral min + fin and 1.5 months in I have maintained and seen slight temple regrowth. The biggest hurdle is how to get it prescribed but once you get over that ur chill forever dude. Im 20 btw
