My Zix Experience - How B6 And Zinc Have Saved My Hair

[ukrmd]

Zix either works or it doesn't, just like the big 3. The KEY is NOT to mess with the formula. Do not add anything additional to it. This has been shown time and time again to reduce the effectiveness of the formula. Even Joe, the inventor of Zix, has said this countless times.

My advice: use the standard formula and give it 6 months. If it doesn't help, move on.

My opinion on the best standard formula after YEARS on these sites: 3, 220 mg zinc sulphate capsules (yes, it has to be zinc sulphate), 3, 50 mg B6 (yes it has to be p-5-p B6) capsules or crushed tablets, and 120 ml of distilled water. If you want to add a little ethanol to this like Worm does, then go for it. Keep the mix in an opaque container--apparently sunlight can affect the B6.

Thanks mate, its very tempting to add stuff just to make things better/faster. i think ive been on the standard formula for a 6 months now.

Experiencing my first shed i believe. Scary but ill persist. Have others experienced this and then seen growth after?

I saw some great regrowth at first, since not much to be honest. i have stopped micro needling, which im tempted to start again

Are people using minoxidil once a day at 1 application's worth? (By 1 application i mean minoxidil suggest 1 application twice a day)

Also you mention 220mg zinc sulphate - my bottle says each 220mg only has 45mg of elemental zinc in it?

 

[ukrmd]

Read the thread, this has been brought up many times.

i wish we could have a sticky or FAQ for this thread, or even a section in its own right. Not grumbling because its free and helpful info. But boy its tough keeping up with this thread

 

[JWM2]

Thanks mate, its very tempting to add stuff just to make things better/faster. i think ive been on the standard formula for a 6 months now.

Experiencing my first shed i believe. Scary but ill persist. Have others experienced this and then seen growth after?

I saw some great regrowth at first, since not much to be honest. i have stopped micro needling, which im tempted to start again

Are people using minoxidil once a day at 1 application's worth? (By 1 application i mean minoxidil suggest 1 application twice a day)

Also you mention 220mg zinc sulphate - my bottle says each 220mg only has 45mg of elemental zinc in it?

Don't worry about it. Most zinc sulphate capsules say that. You're fine.

 

[adamhs]

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The HealthAId Zinc Sulfate people have posted in this thread looks to have gluconate in its ingredients, so probably not suitable?
I've been using it and its seems to work alright so far, but I'm gonna compare it with the PlusPharma version to see if there's any difference.

 

[kidcurry96]

lol this thread! baldies giving each other fake hopes! LOL

what happened?

 

[Bazza86]

Hi Everyone,

Ive mentioned it on a few threads here, to stop DHT, I use a mix of vitamin B6 (p5p) and Zinc (sulfate) mixed with ethyl alcohol (70%) and distilled water that I topically rub on my scalp. It was invented by a poster named Joe, dating back to at least 2005 that I discovered on the hairlosshelp website.

While I cant claim it's as effective as finasteride, in my personal experience over the last 11+ years of using it I am convinced it has stopped me me from going bald. I'll give you my story and I'll follow up by posting the formula.

++

My Story
--

I am 39 y/o, and started my losing my hair around 18 back in 1995, when i noticed my hairline which used to be a fortress of hair, looked a tiny bit thinner. I used to be that guy who was voted as having the best head of hair in my high school. Anyhow, I chalked it up to wearing a hat, until about a year later, when I began to get a crazy itchy scalp in my first year of university. At that point, being 19, I noticed my hair started shedding like crazy, 200 hairs, it would fall on my textbooks, my notepads, i would shake my hair out and 60 hairs would fall out with little effort - I was freaking out for months, staring at my hair for hours a day, I was compulsive. My first effort was to control the itch which was driving me crazy, tar shampoos, selsum blue, H&S, none of it worked. my scalp was red, inflammed, and was excreting puss which would dry into yellow crusts. I was totally depressed seeing my hair go down the drain. Eventually I found a hippy derm who recommended zinc (25 mgs gluconat), that helped me with the itch considerably, and the shedding decreased, even though i was still losing.

Eventually I found another great derm (who was experiencing hair loss himself), who put me on minoxidil + retin a, and eventually finasteride in 97 (I believe), which was not really known at the time. Eventually things stabilized, and by my 3rd year of university I had great hair again.

The one thing that got to me is the sides. I had trouble with words, felt tongue tied, I got depressed, felt mentally slow and confused (i.e. brain fog), . It was like I was watching my life through a window. I had soft wood and low libido, but sex still felt amazing. My muscle mass decreased and I felt feminine. But I had great hair, looked great and had no trouble meeting women. I never developed any significant facial hair even at 39 (which i should have according to my dad's side), and my body hair (legs and arms) thinned. I attribute this to finasteride messing with hormones during the last stage of me becoming an adult. Life wasnt great because I was depressed, but I had a good job and looked great. I relied on my good looks, which I knew were fleeting and unsustainable.

Fast forward to when I was 27; after getting dumped by my girlfriend that I lived with, I was on a business trip and forgot to take my finasteride with me. After a few days of not being on it, I felt like a cloud was lifted from my head. I knew, having experimented a little before, that it was due to a lack of finasteride. I felt the best I had felt in years (pre finasteride). It was at this point I said F' it, and that if after a month, my hair started to fall, I would jump back on finasteride. Sure enough after a month it started to fall and fast, but I felt so good, that I refused to go back to finasteride. I believe my depression and moodiness drove my ex away, so I was determined to feel good from that point on. I had more energy, thought much more clearly, and was wayyyyy happier. I gained about 10 lbs of muscle mass (over the months). While tempted, I refused to go back on. At which point the itching and shedding returned.

It was end 2004, and I used minoxidil which eventually turned into another mix, which ended up regrowing more hair than even before finasteride. It had major sides, and started giving me palpitations and screwing up my vision. After 6-9 months, I stopped and was back at square 1. Shedding, itching back. I just thought if I could just find something that could reduce this f'in itch and restore my scalp to a healthy state, my hair should stabilize.

It was at this point I discovered Zix, created by a poster named Joe (I'll post his site later). A lot of people were having success on it. It's made up of vitamin B6 and Zinc mixed with ethyl alcohol and distilled water. He quoted a study showing that zinc sulfate + B6 (p5p) reduces scalp dht. I said why not, I ordered the vitamins from independent store on amazon, and mixed up the concoction per his recipe (classic zix). Within a couple days, my itch was gone, it was a god send. The itch used to be so bad, I wanted to tear into my scalp with a fork. Anyhow, my scalp looked much like it did pre hairloss, white and healthy. Within a week or two, the shedding had gone down to next to nothing, and my hair recovered. It still was thinner than 9-12 months prior when I was still on finasteride, but my hair still looked really good.

Over the years (11 years since dropping finasteride, and 19 since starting male pattern baldness), my hair isnt perfect because I experimented with other things. For example, my scalp and ketoconazole do not mix, and my hair sheds less and is thicker not taking it. But on the whole, I have maintained most of what I had. I am probably a NW2 now, coming from a Norwood 1 since end 2005. I have lost density and some of my hairline, but at 39 y.o. I still have as much hair, if not more than most of my friends. By all accounts, I'd say this is a huge success. I would probably have more had i kept using finasteride, but I would still be a total mess due to sides. This has been the best solution for me, hands down.

+

I believe that my hair stopped falling because zix helped me maintain a healthy scalp. Whether this is a function of reducing DHT or reducing inflammation I cannot say as my science knowledge is effectively non-existent. But the lack of itching to me is an indicator that zix is truly effective. Not to mention, that over the past 11 years I still have most of my hair. I am confident I would be pretty bald, as I used to shed massive amounts of hair, and during the times I was without treatment, I lost a lot of ground.

I have changed my formulation from Joe's classic Zix, being that I doubled the concentration, and have put in twice the zinc sulfate (I believe that's 4x zinc). Joe has other formulations, which I have tried, but in the end I am sticking to what works for me.

Joe was quite active on hairlosshelp, but has since stopped. The people on hairlosshelp are vicious, resort to name calling and rip you apart if you deviate from the big 3, it's really quite ridiculous. And the moderator allows this to continue, which I suspect why he has way less posters than here. Anyhow, Joe backed away from the negativity. I couldnt stand it myself.

Joe was a godsend for me and my hair, and I cant thank him enough.

I still hope to regain some density, and am holding high hopes for brotzu's lotion, but until then, I believe zix is the best solution for me.

Quite a few have asked for the formula, of those I know @Quest is using it and is reporting wayyyy less shedding. I have zero financial interest in this as you can go to any vitamin store and buy the ingredients on your own. it costs about $2 per month i estimate.

I hope for those who are in desperate need of a solution, this helps you. I would be inclined to add it even if you're taking finasteride.

With respect zinc and B6, as anecdotal evidence, I know there have been a few formulas out there who use both in their mixes, for example i know regenepure and lipogaine both do, as well as some others such as revivogen. Here are it's ingredients, you'll see they use p5p and zinc sulfate.

+
SD Alcohol 40, Purified Water, Gamma Linolenic Acid, Linoleic Acid, Alpha Linolenic Acid, Oleic Acid, Saw Palmetto Extract, Ethyl Laurate, Beta Sitosterol, Caffeine, Octyl Gallate, Dodecyl Gallate, Pyridoxal 5- phosphate (Vitamin B6), , Tocopherol (Vitamin E), Procyanidin B2 (from Grape Seed or Apple extract), Azelaic Acid, Zinc Sulfate, Menthol, EDTA, Perfume

+

If I were to add anything I may try taking a SPalmetto supplement internally to boost the anti dht. I tend to be constantly tinkering, and havent found the right time or motivation to do so.

One last thing, zix adds cosmetic density, and gives your follicles a bit of a boost, making your hair look thicker. I find it amazing for styling, as it give a dry natural look while helping to keep your hair in place.

My formula is in the next post.

Cheers!

@worm

First of all I gotta say that was one hell of a post !!

Secondly , it's pretty crazy timing as I watched a video on YouTube earlier today of a man who swears by the exact thing that you just described for hairloss except he used ZMA and he showed before and after pics of other people who had used it for hairloss.

Now could I just buy some ZMA capsules and rub the powder into my head with some kind of carrier oil or water ??? Thank you in advance .

 

[kidcurry96]

First of all I gotta say that was one hell of a post !!

Secondly , it's pretty crazy timing as I watched a video on YouTube earlier today of a man who swears by the exact thing that you just described for hairloss except he used ZMA and he showed before and after pics of other people who had used it for hairloss.

Now could I just buy some ZMA capsules and rub the powder into my head with some kind of carrier oil or water ??? Thank you in advance .

Can you share youtube?

 

[ukrmd]

Guys, i have question about how long it takes to see results?

right now i think im going through the 6 month minoxidil shed, although im not shedding much, just hair is less on the head. i would have thought atleast some new regrowth. my regrowth so far has been from microneedling as it seems.

im still failing to see many success stories, not sure if this is because people fail to reply because they are succssful, or just it is nonsense?

lots of questions, lots of non direct replies.... can someone answer the question, does this work?

i feel my perisistance is futile

 

[vandun3]

Guys, i have question about how long it takes to see results?

right now i think im going through the 6 month minoxidil shed, although im not shedding much, just hair is less on the head. i would have thought atleast some new regrowth. my regrowth so far has been from microneedling as it seems.

im still failing to see many success stories, not sure if this is because people fail to reply because they are succssful, or just it is nonsense?

lots of questions, lots of non direct replies.... can someone answer the question, does this work?

i feel my perisistance is futile

zix works to reduce shedding somewhat. but what i've found is that the longer im using it, the less effective it gets. like if im not using it for a few weeks i shed a lot, then i go back on it and the shedding is cut by 90%. but then it goes back to about 3/4 of what it would have been without zix. overall, somewhat helpful but if you have aggressive balding and shedding it will just slow it down a bit

yeah minoxidil kinda sucks. most have good success with it in the first year or two and then regress to worse than baseline at year 3-4. not to mention it ages your face by reducing collagen production... not worth it imo

 

[kidcurry96]

Guys, i have question about how long it takes to see results?

right now i think im going through the 6 month minoxidil shed, although im not shedding much, just hair is less on the head. i would have thought atleast some new regrowth. my regrowth so far has been from microneedling as it seems.

im still failing to see many success stories, not sure if this is because people fail to reply because they are succssful, or just it is nonsense?

lots of questions, lots of non direct replies.... can someone answer the question, does this work?

i feel my perisistance is futile

Started Zix 2 days ago. Will post in about 3 months.

 

[Oknow]

zix works to reduce shedding somewhat. but what i've found is that the longer im using it, the less effective it gets. like if im not using it for a few weeks i shed a lot, then i go back on it and the shedding is cut by 90%. but then it goes back to about 3/4 of what it would have been without zix. overall, somewhat helpful but if you have aggressive balding and shedding it will just slow it down a bit

yeah minoxidil kinda sucks. most have good success with it in the first year or two and then regress to worse than baseline at year 3-4. not to mention it ages your face by reducing collagen production... not worth it imo

I don’t think it works alone

it’s a good treatment if you combine it with another - for me LLLT

 

[vandun3]

I don’t think it works alone

it’s a good treatment if you combine it with another - for me LLLT

What do you use for LLLT?

 

[kidcurry96]

What do you use for LLLT?

Low-level laser therapy - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[lostandfind]

Could be interesting to add melatonin to zix:

https://www.hairlosstalk.com/interact/threads/this-has-worked-for-me-try-it-for-7-days-and-send-me-your-results.134819/

Good finding. Topical melatonin is metioned from time to time. Although there's been few people trying it out with major success so far, this new melatonin post deserves attention if it does help with stopping hairloss. Will keep an eye on it. Btw, how's arginine working for your hair since you added it to zix till now? Any hairloss decrease or hair regrowth?

 

[kidcurry96]

Apart from pigeon and worm, any other folks that zix has helped. I can definitely attest to the thickening effect of Zix but cannot say much about stopping hairloss. I feel like I am losing same amount but I have only been on Zix for 1 month so maybe time will tell...

 

[lostandfind]

Adding arginine didn't do anything for me so far.

That's a little discouraging. I see why you mentioned melatonin to add. I just started to add a low dose of 500mg arginine not long ago. But I usually apply zix twice everyday. Too early to evaluate.
If arginine still doesn't make any change, are you gonna to replace it with melatonin or just add melatonin while keeping arginine? It seems how many does of melatonin to add is a question.

 

[Oknow]

Apart from pigeon and worm, any other folks that zix has helped. I can definitely attest to the thickening effect of Zix but cannot say much about stopping hairloss. I feel like I am losing same amount but I have only been on Zix for 1 month so maybe time will tell...

me

 

[lostandfind]

Maybe arginine will work for you though. Try it 6 months and evaluate. I don't know how much melatonin to add, you should check the thread.

I will. Thank you.

 

[GabberHead]

Apart from pigeon and worm, any other folks that zix has helped. I can definitely attest to the thickening effect of Zix but cannot say much about stopping hairloss. I feel like I am losing same amount but I have only been on Zix for 1 month so maybe time will tell...

I have mixed results after 8 months. Some vellus hairs along my temples are growing longer, and there are a handful of new hairs. But they are still thin and wispy so it's not a big cosmetic difference. In the middle of my hairline, at the forlock, I am actually below baseline. Also, for a few years I've had an itchy scalp which is gone now, it starts to come back when I don't apply it for a few days. Not sure if it's related to Androgenetic Alopecia though.

For most of the time I was using just one 220mg zinc capsule in 120ml. Since this month I am making smaller batches of 60ml with 4 capsules, and I added 400mg arginine.

 

[lostandfind]

I have mixed results after 8 months. Some vellus hairs along my temples are growing longer, and there are a handful of new hairs. But they are still thin and wispy so it's not a big cosmetic difference. In the middle of my hairline, at the forlock, I am actually below baseline. Also, for a few years I've had an itchy scalp which is gone now, it starts to come back when I don't apply it for a few days. Not sure if it's related to Androgenetic Alopecia though.

For most of the time I was using just one 220mg zinc capsule in 120ml. Since this month I am making smaller batches of 60ml with 4 capsules, and I added 400mg arginine.

Currently my 60ml of zix contains 2 caps of zinc 2 caps of B6 and 1 cap of arginine. On my scalp I apply only zix and Rogaine foam.