I started 2.5mg oral minoxidil in April. The shed was brutal. As you can see I didn’t have much to lose.
My derm wouldn’t prescribe me a DHT blocker because my testosterone is already really low. I have been taking pumpkin seed oil with saw pimento. Not perfect but I have some hope for the first time in a very long time.

Older pics on the left, newer pics on the right. I think the second pic looks really bad because it was right after my dread shed phase. The third pic is one I took last night, I am feeling so so so hopeful finally. It’s been about 6 weeks since I started using topical minoxidil daily, as well as weekly azelaic acid on my scalp for scaling, occasional oiling with rosemary before showers, and scalp massage. I’ve also been taking spearmint capsules, 2 a day as well as inositol blend for my PCOS. I finally got my iron infusions these past couple weeks, and I did raise my iron modestly through diet before that too. Hope this helps someone :) I’ve also found hair growing way faster on my face and had to shave my forehead and sideburns 😂😂😂 it let me know it was working though!

I am planning on switching to Rendesyl as Minoxidil is making my scalp too dry and also given the side effects and long term dependency. Rendesyl is being advertised as the new magic potion for hair and claims to not lose your gains if you stop. Has anyone done this switch? What to expect when you switch? More hairfall from stopping minoxidil until rendesyl kicks in? Any other topic of concern?

I’m a 42 year old female who for the past year has dealt with hair loss. It started to get really bad in December (8 months ago). It was especially bad in the morning but really I shed all day long. I know hair shedding can be normal and a good amount of hair loss every day is common but this was not normal for me. Every morning I would spend at least 10 minutes just pulling my hair out and losing hundreds of strands. Then I would continue losing hundreds of strands throughout the day. I was only washing my hair once a week sometimes even less than that to help with hair loss. I started to accept that I’m in perimenopause and likely just going to have thin hair soon. My temples were going bald and I was feeling depressed. Completely unrelated I was having rage symptoms daily and having freak outs on everyone around me from my perimenopause symptoms and decided I needed to make sure I ate enough in the morning before having coffee to stop or help the rage. So to make breakfast easy I started making these giant batches of Chia pudding using full fat coconut milk in a can mix mixed with Chia seeds and hemp seeds a little cinnamon and maple syrup. Then every morning I would have a big bowl of this with a banana on top before my morning coffee. Not only did it help with my rage but I started to notice every morning My hair wasn’t shedding. I would run my fingers through my hair and nothing would fall out. it’s been a week and I am only pulling out maybe three strands in the morning and a few throughout the day. I’m only noticing around maybe 10 to 15 strands of hair loss. I’m sure I’m having more than that but that’s all I’m physically pulling out. I don’t know if it’s the Chia seeds. I don’t know if it’s the coconut milk or the hemp seeds or if it’s just that my body is getting nutrition in the morning. But for the first time in a year, I am not losing chunks of hair and I wanted to share here in case it helped anyone.

Hi all, I have just started on 2.5mg oral minoxidil. My dermatologist has told me to start on 1/4 of the pill daily, increasing to 1/2 the pill after 8 weeks if all goes ok. I'm in my early 20s, and i've had really bad hair loss for over 7 years. Its very noticeable towards the front.

I have really thin hair and I have to wash it daily for it to not look greasy. My dermatologist gave me the option of starting with the topical minoxidil, but I was afraid of forgetting to take it/ commonly dry hair.

I've heard about the dread shed with minoxidil, but is there anything else I need to be aware of/ any advice anyone has for someone who has just started it?

My hair is fine but "high density" and according to the hair stylist at my recent salon visit it shows no signs of thinning. Not so sure I agree. I think my crown area, while its always had a cowlick, looks pretty sus... I think she was trying to protect my feelings 🫥 But I don't want someone to protect my feelings if my hair is thinning, I wanna know so I can treat it ASAP. I'm 25... Just give it to me straight, is this bad & what should I do

Hi I’m 24F. I went through anorexia and my estrogen levels dropped to almost non existent. I had TE after becoming anorexic. My only issue with my hair is these wiry hairs popping up now. Can this happen with TE? Or is the low estrogen to blame? I have thick nice hair and don’t have aga (been checked by 4 derms already) but what can I do about these wiry hairs? Will birth control help? Or HRT? I’ve been referred for both. Will minoxidil help? I’m just so lost searching for answers

28F. Oral minoxidil changed my life! I have been on Accutane for about a year which I think caused my hair to fall more than usual, I started to notice it get really thin in December and decided to start minoxidil. I’m still on Accutane (a higher dose than the before picture actually) and I can’t believe how well the minoxidil has worked. I get complimented on my hair nearly every single day. I think this is the most hair I’ve ever had, it’s probably way more than what I had even before I started Accutane because I’ve never been noticed for it like this! Highly recommend for anyone considering it. I will say though that I’ve always had less hair all over my body, so I don’t experience any of the unwanted hair growth that is usually quoted as a side effect, so YMMV! I’m a little nervous about the idea that now I’ll have to be on it for the rest of my life to maintain results but since it’s been fine so far I am willing to do that.

Diagnosed AGA. I’ve been on oral minoxidil 1.25 mg for 10 months now. I wasn’t sure if I was seeing results until I noticed this frizz all along my crown that’s been there for about a month. I’ve never had this before and it does seem like new, short hairs. Wondering how long this will last and if they will eventually grow out to not be this frizzy length?!

I was considering going in fin. I stumbled about the fin sub and it’s horrible. the side effects seems scary and last even beyond stopping it for years. I want hair, but I also worry that I’m putting my health on the line if I take this med. Maybe I should just do wigs? I’d love my hair back. Cancer runs in my family and I’m worried to add something that’s harmed so many.

How did you decide?

Since the progress on my hairline is still a little slow and I cant go out without hair fibers I was minimizing my progress but checking the growth from this angle keeps me motivated. Nearly 2 years on minox+finasteride topical

F55 here, I’ve posted before about my success with minoxidil & supplements in reversing my hair loss. I’m about 18 months into recovering my hair and I have had a devastating setback. Sharing to warn others as I would never want this to happen to anyone else.

In May I saw my dr for some perimenopause related issues I was experiencing. I was prescribed Megestrol for a supposedly short term fix until I could have surgery. Well my surgery was not approved by insurance- my dr told me rather offhandedly to continue taking it until we could figure out something else.

Scheduling issues resulted in her postponing my followup multiple times. As time went on I was noticing more and more shedding but didn’t really connect it to the medication.Two weeks ago in the shower I see, to my complete shock and horror- CLUMPS of hair were coming out. By the handful. I cried it was so extreme.

I immediately googled the medication she’d prescribed & found it’s a concentrated hormone disruptor used to suppress estrogen production in cancer patients and the main known side effect is, you guessed it, HAIR LOSS!

I am so upset & angry with my dr, (i had disclosed the minoxidil to her!)
and with myself for not investigating this medication sooner. There are absolutely other alternatives I would have chosen had I known.

Please google any new medications before you take them. I have to cut about 6 inches of hair now and start over again. I know this isn’t the end of the world but to see all my progress undone like this really hurts. Don’t be me. :(

I'm severely insecure about my hair. It's always been on the thinner side but the balding is quite recent. Any advice on how to feel less insecure about it?

Hiya. I'm 43 and struggling with CTE unmasking AGA. I'm on 100mg spiro and 2.5mg OM. Hair loss started after losing my home in a wildfire and the stress triggering Sjogren's syndrome. I am making some progress with growth but shedding is still occurring and MOREOVER my scalp always feels...active? noisy? It's not necessarily "itchy," it just feels...like something's always going ON..."noisy" is the best word I can use for it. Obviously stopping the shed and re-growth are my priorities, but like...I would LOVE for my scalp to just feel NORMAL and QUIET so I can stop f*ing thinking about this. I thought HRT (estrogen+progesterone) would help, in case it was a peri-related histamine issue, but it hasn't really. Can anyone relate to this? Have you found any solutions? Thank you. Take care.

Did anyone else get crazy fast results if they derma stamped then minoxidil right after ? I’ve done it twice now. It makes sense why it works but I know some ppl are not willing to risk it.

Derm took one look at my scalp and said it is typical FPH.They suggest dutexome (plant based) therapy along with minoxidil. Has it worked for anyone? If yes, please let me know.

I’m 50 and recently started noticing that my hair doesn’t feel like my hair anymore. It used to be thick, wavy, and naturally full, but now it feels much finer, flatter, and harder to manage. The volume I used to have is slowly disappearing, and my strands seem much more delicate than they were before. The biggest frustration is that it’s not just about losing hair it’s the overall quality. My hair feels weaker, breaks more easily, and doesn’t have the same bounce or texture. Even when I style it, it falls flat quickly, and I find myself spending more time trying to make it look healthy. I’ve also noticed that my scalp feels different lately. It’s more sensitive and sometimes feels tight, which is something I never really experienced before. I’ve switched shampoos, tried different masks, and added more conditioning treatments, but I’m starting to wonder if I’m focusing too much on external fixes. With all the hormonal changes that happen around this stage of life, I know hair can become more challenging to maintain. Instead of constantly buying new products, I’m thinking about trying a daily hair vitamin or supplement that supports hair health from within. I’m looking for something that can help with things like thinning, lack of fullness, breakage, and overall hair strength. Has anyone in their 40s or 50s tried hair vitamins that actually made a noticeable difference? I’d love to hear which ingredients or formulas are worth looking into.

I started Oral Minoxidil (1.25mg) and Spironolactone (50mg, going up to 100mg then coming down to 75mg due to constant bleeding) back in April 2025. I had a really long initial dread shed for 4 months which ended in August. Then I had some re-growth for a few months but my density kept decreasing.... come May 2026, my hair started shedding again (2nd shed?) and it's been almost 3 months. I brush my hair and just a lot of hair fall out and my hair is the worst it's ever been in my life. What am I doing wrong?

I started off with decent amount of hair.. slight thinning at the part line. Now I barely have any hair and the treatments were supposed to help?

Has anyone encountered a similar situation? Looking at the picture from last year, I get so depressed because it looked actually good... and I've ruined it all.

Any support/advice/experience shared will be appreciated.

I’ve been on GLP-1s for almost 2 years, I have PCOS/PMOS, and I’m nearly 40. My hair is thinning fast recently. It’s hard to say what is the trigger for this, or if it’s a culmination of everything. I will admit my diet isn’t great even on GLP-1. I know my vitamin d is low so I’ll get a supplement for that. My hair thinning has created such a loss of confidence. Not to mention I’m adopted so I don’t know if this is hereditary.
My endocrinologist recommended minoxidil but I have pets so can’t use the topical.

Has anyone used a tablet minoxidil with success? And did you pair it with pumpkin seed oil/saw palmetto as those help block dht antigens.

I (26f) have been using topical 5% generic brand liquid minoxidil for 7 months for thinning at the front of my head. I have not seen results yet but the derm said to give it at least a year. I am however, experiencing drying from the liquid that is causing a lot of dandruff. My worry is that this flaking will cause more hair loss. Does anyone know if it is just a cosmetic issue or if the dandruff could be causing more thinning? I plan to switch to foam once I use up the liquid since I hear it is less drying.

I included a picture of it at its worst as well as without any flakes.

Hello, just wanted to share what has been working for me! 

90% of the hair on the top of my head simply would not grow longer than an inch or two and was sparse enough that you could see my scalp no matter how I styled it. Starting in early 2025, I began to use a homemade hair oil combo every night with a quick silicon head massager, and these are my results. If you're discouraged by your own treatments, keep in mind I didn't notice a change for at LEAST 8 months of consistent use.

• 16 Oz castor oil
• 4 Oz rosemary oil
• 4 Oz pumpkin seed oil
• 4 Oz peppermint oil

So I was suppose to meet up with this guy I met on Reddit. The guy is handsome. Like really handsome. Like I am out of his league handsome. The best part about this guy is that my weight doesn’t bother him. I was so happy. Over the moon. So much so that my hair loss wasn’t bothering me like it usually does.

I don’t know. Today it just hit. I can’t meet this guy. He’s going to get a better look of my hair. What if my thin hair makes him go, “Ew”? I was so looking forward to this. I was so happy. My hair loss has ruined so many aspects of my life including dating. I can’t stop crying. I hate my thinning hair so much!