A year in review

jonsie150

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So I apologize for not having pictures. And I'm sure this "success" story isn't as awe-inspiring as the rest. But I felt that, being a year into my regiment, I owe it to the forum to give an update. And I think that every little bit helps to boost morale.

Anyway. I was disappearing at the temples, and growing thin in the general crown area. I imagined that at the end I would have an island or tuft of hair sitting above my forehead. definitely not good. I'd stopped cutting my hair, and I wore my cap everytime I went out. The cap came to symbolize me; as everyone saw me as "the guy with the cap and glasses."

I'd been taking propecia for 2 years. Maybe it helped slow down the process, maybe it didn't. Who knows. But by March of last year, things had gotten to the point where I couldn't ignore it anymore. I jumped on rogaine and nizoral, so I was on the big three now. There were huge gains in the first 3 months. It got to the point where I stopped wearing my cap. I could even take a buzzclip and cut my hair down to one inch.

THEN, a couple months later, I noticed that my gains were reducing. My hair was getting thin again. I panicked. I considered dutasteride. I considered "needling." what I did instead was jump on liquid minoxidil. And then for some reason I decided to do a combination of foam AND liquid. Somehow this seemed to work. I never truly got back to the form when my success was highest, but it held steady. I could no longer buzz it down to one inch. But the way I see it, the only times I need to wear a cap is when I'm out in intense sunshine, or some place with really bright lights. My hairline is OK. The problem is that I have too many vellus hairs. And my hair feels weak in general.

But, considering that hair gain is a very imperfect science, and that the big 3 doesnt work for everyone, I'd say that my case has been a success so far. I've read many stories about people who've held their ground for 1-2 years, and then lose everything in a snap. So I've been thinking about what to do if/when that happens. Maybe I'll do dutasteride.

ANYWAY. There's my story. I should note that the one interesting thing about my case is my juggling of minoxidil. My experience has led me to believe that if one type of minoxidil is failing for you, you should try adding/supplementing another one. Like you can try foam and liquid, or a Kirkland and Xandrox. No, I don't know why this should work. It's just that it's worked for me, and I thought I'd share it.
 

yankee

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Hey Jonsie, Do you mind giving your age?

I've been on finasteride for 13 months without much improvement. I have been considering jumping on minoxidil/kirkland but am really concerned about the shed. How did things go for you as far as shedding?
 

jonsie150

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yankee said:
Hey Jonsie, Do you mind giving your age?

I've been on finasteride for 13 months without much improvement. I have been considering jumping on minoxidil/kirkland but am really concerned about the shed. How did things go for you as far as shedding?

I'm 24 right now. I think you should just jump on the minoxidil. Some people have claimed that it led to a unrecoverable shed, but my theory is this:

1. the minoxidil urges your hair to grow. meaning it sheds the old follicles
2. BUT, your male pattern baldness is so progressive that it can't grow new hair
3. so it seems like the minoxidil caused you to grow balder. but what happened was that it urged your hair to grow, but your male pattern baldness was just too strong to continue the process

so, in conclusion, those hair follicles would have fallen out sooner or later anyway. and no new hairs would have grown.

even if my theory is incorrect. i still think you should just go on minoxidil
 
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