BeardedOne
Established Member
- Reaction score
- 8
Hello all, I'd like to share my experience with finasteride with you, so far so good - it took me about 3 years to decide whether to take that drug or not but I'm glad I finally came around to it. See pictures directly below and I've copied what I wrote on another website below for you to read, if you feel like it.
BEFORE pictures (August 2013)
AFTER 4 months on finasteride & minoxidil
The Background: I'm 32 now, I first started noticing thinning around the temples and at the vertex 7 years ago. Nothing major at all, in fact nobody noticed or said anything really until about 1 or 2 years ago. So I did my research of hair transplant surgeons, settled on a few different ones and proceeded with online and in-person consultations. I was originally dead-set against finasteride due to fear of sides but a leading hair transplant surgeon convinced me that it was the only way to go if I wanted to keep my hair. I'm very glad he did, as I think I'm beginning to see regrowth now. It's only been 4 months and I am probably moving slower than some other people on this site but I'm a bit older and nonetheless it seems to be working for me.
The Regime (began 21 November 2013):
Finasteride .875mg every day, in the morning.
Rogaine 2x per day, foam in the morning & liquid in the evening (I find it very difficult to get 2 applications per day still).
Ket 2% shampoo 2-3 times per week.
The difference: it's not like I'm able to style any of these new hairs yet, but I believe they do make a cosmetic difference, in terms of the 'shadow' of a hairline. Hopefully, hopefully, they thicken up a little more and become part of my actual haircut! When I run my hand over the vertex I can feel a lot of seemingly new hairs, about 1 inch or so, growing in, albeit softly. Further, I don't feel that male pattern baldness itch anymore - unless I drop out of a dose. I decided to cut down my dosage to just under 1mg a day (I cut a 5mg tab into 6), and the fact that I'm waiting for delivery of my next batch means I'm just trying to stretch out my last few tabs to make it over the line. It took a few months to actually realise but noticing that the male pattern baldness itch was gone was perhaps the best signifier that it's working for me. Also my hair just feels stronger and thicker. More robust.
The Emotional/Confidence difference: well, right now I'm doing everything I can. Seriously. In my line of work I am just not sure I will be able to get a hair transplant. So I take my finasteride, I apply my rogaine twice a day, I use a 2% ket shampoo a couple of times a week, and I take MSN and biotin. Already, this has done a lot for my confidence. I've mentioned before that it's not really about attracting girls or whatever, it's a deep down 'how I see myself' confidence, and I do think that doing what I can has worked. I feel just, better. Because I'm doing something for myself that requires discipline. I still get that hair anxiety from time to time, but more and more I am getting to know myself (my hair?) like this and accepting it.
The Sides: I have noticed, from time to time, that I've had slight ball ache. Nothing too serious. It's probably happened for a grand total of 4 or 5 days over the last 4 months, and only really slight, and only for a short period of time. I have possibly experienced a drop in libido at certain times (and definitely a rise in libido at the start), but I know how psychosomatic libido is so I'm just trying to ignore it. I'm in a steady relationship and, it sounds funny, but every time I get any sort of doubt I 'test myself' with my partner and so far all seems well! On the whole sensitivity thing down there - I have noticed too, sometimes, that it feels a little different. But it's not like that all the time, it's not bad at all and not very different. Besides, I reduced the dosage somewhat and feel better for it. So on the whole, and I hope I'm not jinxing myself, the sides have been easily manageable.
Overall: I'm happy with my progress so far. If it keeps up something similar for the rest of the year then I'll have transformed from a nearly NW3V to a NW1.5!! That's something to keep hoping for.
BEFORE pictures (August 2013)
AFTER 4 months on finasteride & minoxidil
The Background: I'm 32 now, I first started noticing thinning around the temples and at the vertex 7 years ago. Nothing major at all, in fact nobody noticed or said anything really until about 1 or 2 years ago. So I did my research of hair transplant surgeons, settled on a few different ones and proceeded with online and in-person consultations. I was originally dead-set against finasteride due to fear of sides but a leading hair transplant surgeon convinced me that it was the only way to go if I wanted to keep my hair. I'm very glad he did, as I think I'm beginning to see regrowth now. It's only been 4 months and I am probably moving slower than some other people on this site but I'm a bit older and nonetheless it seems to be working for me.
The Regime (began 21 November 2013):
Finasteride .875mg every day, in the morning.
Rogaine 2x per day, foam in the morning & liquid in the evening (I find it very difficult to get 2 applications per day still).
Ket 2% shampoo 2-3 times per week.
The difference: it's not like I'm able to style any of these new hairs yet, but I believe they do make a cosmetic difference, in terms of the 'shadow' of a hairline. Hopefully, hopefully, they thicken up a little more and become part of my actual haircut! When I run my hand over the vertex I can feel a lot of seemingly new hairs, about 1 inch or so, growing in, albeit softly. Further, I don't feel that male pattern baldness itch anymore - unless I drop out of a dose. I decided to cut down my dosage to just under 1mg a day (I cut a 5mg tab into 6), and the fact that I'm waiting for delivery of my next batch means I'm just trying to stretch out my last few tabs to make it over the line. It took a few months to actually realise but noticing that the male pattern baldness itch was gone was perhaps the best signifier that it's working for me. Also my hair just feels stronger and thicker. More robust.
The Emotional/Confidence difference: well, right now I'm doing everything I can. Seriously. In my line of work I am just not sure I will be able to get a hair transplant. So I take my finasteride, I apply my rogaine twice a day, I use a 2% ket shampoo a couple of times a week, and I take MSN and biotin. Already, this has done a lot for my confidence. I've mentioned before that it's not really about attracting girls or whatever, it's a deep down 'how I see myself' confidence, and I do think that doing what I can has worked. I feel just, better. Because I'm doing something for myself that requires discipline. I still get that hair anxiety from time to time, but more and more I am getting to know myself (my hair?) like this and accepting it.
The Sides: I have noticed, from time to time, that I've had slight ball ache. Nothing too serious. It's probably happened for a grand total of 4 or 5 days over the last 4 months, and only really slight, and only for a short period of time. I have possibly experienced a drop in libido at certain times (and definitely a rise in libido at the start), but I know how psychosomatic libido is so I'm just trying to ignore it. I'm in a steady relationship and, it sounds funny, but every time I get any sort of doubt I 'test myself' with my partner and so far all seems well! On the whole sensitivity thing down there - I have noticed too, sometimes, that it feels a little different. But it's not like that all the time, it's not bad at all and not very different. Besides, I reduced the dosage somewhat and feel better for it. So on the whole, and I hope I'm not jinxing myself, the sides have been easily manageable.
Overall: I'm happy with my progress so far. If it keeps up something similar for the rest of the year then I'll have transformed from a nearly NW3V to a NW1.5!! That's something to keep hoping for.
