I've been taking finasteride for four years straight to combat hair loss. This was me before and two years after the treatment.
Temple and crown recession at age 20.
Regrowth of my hair, 2 years taking finasteride.
You might think it's a pretty impressive success story. However, last summer, I experienced a massive new shedding, especially around the temples. It was time to step up my game, so I added three more treatments: topical minoxidil, derma roller, and ketoconazole shampoo. I'll go week by week over the results of these treatments and give you my honest opinion about them.
Applying Minoxidil:
First, let me briefly explain when and how I used these treatments. This is the routine that worked best for me. Every night, I applied 1ml of minoxidil to my hairline, targeting only the thinning areas. I never applied it to the rest of my scalp because once you expose healthy hair to minoxidil, it becomes dependent on it. If you stop using minoxidil, you'll lose all the hair you regrew, so I saw no reason to apply it to areas where the hair was still fine.
I applied minoxidil once a day at night for a reason. Even though manufacturers recommend using it twice a day—morning and evening—it's not strictly necessary. The product has a half-life of 22 hours, so applying it once a day works just as well. Initially, I applied it in the morning after showering, but I found that inconvenient. Sometimes, you don't have the time to let it dry, or it makes styling your hair difficult. I discovered it's much more practical to apply it before bed. Personally, I apply it around 8 p.m., but that's just my preference. I'm sure everyone has their own routine.
Derma rolling my scalp:
Now, let's talk about the second treatment. Once a week, I microneedle my hairline with a needle depth of 1.5 mm. Previously, I applied minoxidil 24 hours after microneedling, but now I do it immediately afterwards. I haven't experienced any serious side effects like headaches or heart palpitations. However, I did notice some flaky skin from using the Dermapen, which was quite annoying at first. Over time, though, my skin has become more resistant, and the flakiness has reduced. It's not a dealbreaker because the skin returns to normal after a few days.
Washing the hair with ketoconazole shampoo:
Now for the third treatment—Ketoconazole shampoo. I use it once a week. I could use it more often, but I don't think it's necessary. To be honest, while Ketoconazole shampoo helps, it's not a game-changer for regrowing hair like finasteride or minoxidil. However, where it really helps is in reducing scalp itchiness, which is common for those experiencing shedding or balding. Its anti-inflammatory properties have been helpful for me. That said, I wouldn't use it more than once a week because it's expensive—around $30 per bottle. I see it as a nice addition to my routine for that extra boost and peace of mind.
The hair results:
Okay, let's cut to the results. This picture is from the day before I started treatment, showing significant hair loss in the temple area.
1 day before starting the new hair treatments.
For the first two weeks, nothing happened—no shedding. By the fourth week, however, I experienced a big shed.
Week 4 after starting the new treatments (big hair shed).
It may not be obvious in the photos, but I was finding hair everywhere: in the shower, on my bed, and especially in the sink. It was terrible because, at that point, you don't know if the treatment is working, and you're shedding before regrowth or if you're just continuing balding.
Fortunately, after about three more weeks, the shedding stopped, and regrowth began—not just the hair that had recently shed but also hair I'd lost four or five years ago.
Week 8 after starting the new treatments (hair regrowth is starting).
Hopefully, you can see the difference in this picture. All that hair wasn't there before, and it's an amazing feeling to see it come back. And I don't think it stops here. By the way, here's a before-and-after picture that really highlights the big change in just two and a half months.
Before-After hair growth results with the big 3.
I'll keep posting updates on my regrowth journey, so don't lose faith—just hang in there!
Also, click on the video below, where I explain in more detail my crazy 10-week journey with finasteride, microneedling, minoxidil and ketoconazole shampoo.
Until next time, I wish you all the best on your hair journey. Bye!
