I have the typical male pattern baldness (U-shaped). If I remember correctly it started receding from the forehead but I sort of just accepted the fact. Four years later I decided I want hair back. My goal is to have just enough hair to fashion the Gavin Rossdale piggytail-comback- style.
I used minoxidil 5% on and off for well over a year. I stopped for a while because the baby hair that minoxidil did manage to bring back never grew back to normal looking hair. For over a year all I saw was for Vellus Hair. Then I started using a product called Nuhair (has zinc, saw palmetto) and saw those baby hair become a little longer but I had to stop Nuhair because the testicular pain was a bit uncomfortable. That was when I learned about DHT blocker and thought about a substituate, but the Purador shampoo that I ordered from Amazon took forever to come (it was during Christmas time).
Biotin and fish oil came on time so I started taking them along with Minoxidil. I also drink 4 cups of green tea a day. I've seen a lot of regrowth in the past month. I can see the baby hair on my forehead maturing. Bald areas starting to darken as well. I prefer treatment to be as natural as possible. There's something about hormonal changes that scares me.
Based on my experience, I believe Minoxidil stimulates hair growth and will only grow baby hair for those who are late users (I was in mid-stage of hair loss before I started treatment). Then you need to provide the baby hair with sufficient nutrients for it to grow - which biotin provides.