21M - Minoxidil is working for my crown, but should I add Finasteride? Worried about sides

Hi everyone,

​I’m looking for some advice regarding my hair loss journey. Here’s the breakdown of my situation:

​Family History: Interestingly, there’s no history of actual baldness in my family. Most of my relatives just have some general thinning or fine hair as they age, but nobody is fully bald.

​The Journey:

Around age 20, I noticed that my crown was starting to look a bit sparse. At the time, I wasn’t familiar with Finasteride or Minoxidil, so I didn’t take it too seriously and tried to fix it with just vitamins and supplements.

​By the time I turned 21, it became clear that the thinning at the crown was progressing. That’s when I discovered this community and started Minoxidil. I’ve now officially completed 4 months on Minoxidil, and I can say with confidence that my crown has improved. It’s definitely not back to 100% yet, but compared to when I started, the progress is visible. My temples haven’t seen as much regrowth as the crown, but there is still some slight improvement there too.

​The Dilemma:

Even though Minoxidil is working, I feel like my hair isn’t as thick as it should be. From what I’ve researched, I know that Minoxidil is just a “growth stimulant” and doesn’t address the root cause, which is DHT. I’m considering starting Finasteride to actually stabilize the hair loss and protect my gains.

​However, I’m feeling really conflicted about the side effects. I’ve read so many polarizing stories—some people say it’s a miracle drug with zero issues, while others describe some pretty scary side effects.

​My questions for you guys:

​Given that I’m seeing results with Minoxidil, is it the right time to add Fin?

​For those who were hesitant about side effects, how did you decide to take the plunge?

​Any advice for a 21-year-old in my position?

​I’d really appreciate your insights or any personal experiences you can share. Thanks!

You could always try topical fin. I’ve been using topical min + fin and I’m seeing initial results. It has been 5 months only, and the first 3 were .005%, last 2 at .01% (2ml applied so .2mg). No sides.