Saturated my head in Minoxidil for ~5 months, seemed to regrow lots of hair

[CEDeoudes59]

Hey guys, as a lot of you know, I've tried a lot of stuff through the years and blew a lot of money on crap that didn't work to try to control hair loss. The most effective thing to 'regrow' hair is a hair transplant procedure.
Here are my results after my 1st one: http://www.hairtransplantnetwork.com/blog
go to [select author] and then select [ChrisHT_by_DrCharles]

For a decade, I simply tried to control the hair loss while juicing. Some things work than others. Regrowth wasn't really on the map. In a nutshell, the best thing you can do is avoid highly androgenic compounds, take finasteride, a high quality minoxidil formula with azelaic acid and a ketconazole shampoo that also includes ingredients to reduce inflammation (and is designed for daily long term use, unlike Nizoral). I have a simplified and thorough discussion here - How to Significantly Reduce/Prevent Hair Loss From Steroids. The routine works super good to prevent further loss for most guys (I get lots of feedback via email and I appreciate it!).

For the past 4 or 5 months or so I have been trying something a bit different that has significantly regrown a lot of hair that was seemingly lost earlier in the year when I idiotically combined finasteride and Deca (and also used Melanotan, which seemed to make things worse). I was losing 200-250 hairs in the hair, for about 5.5 months. The results are really good and I'm putting off a previously scheduled hair restoration procedure that was to address the crown and specific frontal zones. Simply put, a lot more hairs are growing in and coming out. The net difference has resulted in a lot of added density, especially in the front on the hair line. You basically keep your head saturated in minoxidil all day. I haven't had ANY side effects, not even dry scalp.

Regrowth is super tough to get, but this combo has made my hair grow super fast and also minimized my hair loss in the shower. It's the best thing I've done and you might want to try it if you want a shot at some regrowth. At worst, it will really slow down your current rate of hair loss. Over the past 5 months it's important to note that I'm on a prescribed 200mg of test, every 7 days. So I don't have high levels of androgens in my system. I did a 4 week run of superdrol and noticed no increase in hair loss and no decrease in regrowth. Superdrol is pretty safe for most guys.

Anyway, here's what I do-

• 2.5 mg finasteride every 3 days (my doctor prescribes Proscar, insurance covers it. Costs 40$ for 3-4 months. I cut then into 1/2s. There was an Austalian study that showed taking finasteride every 3 days was 90% as effective as taking it every day.)

• 2-4 Applications of PI 15% Minoxidil with Azelaic Acid (if you haven't used minoxidil before definitely start with the 5% strength minoxidil) The idea is basically to keep your head saturated in minoxidil the entire day. It seems to work even better. I know the directions say 1 or 2 applications a day is sufficient, but I never got as much regrowth as I am now, applying it several times a day. For my specific recommendation on which product to use check out www.hairlossfromsteroids.com - if you want to try this but want to use a cheaper minoxidil, you can get a 5% generic minoxidil (but note: it won't have azelaic acid which inhibits scalp DHT). The generic Kirkland or Member's Mark minoxidil is legitimate and super cheap. The formula I suggest dries super quick and isn't oily unlike most minoxidil formulas I've used. Again, the idea is to have your head saturated in minoxidil all day.

• Use a quality ketoconazole shampoo daily or every other day. Make sure you pick ketoconazole formula that you can use every day or every other day (Nizoral is too harsh for most guys to use daily). You'll probably want to wash out the minoxidil residue so you'll probably be showering at least every two days. I shower 1 or 2 times a day and reapply the minoxidil each time (unless I'm going out).

• Use N2 Shampoo daily or every other day - this is seriously a good hair growth shampoo. It also has a lot of ingredients that will keep potential dry scalp issues (from minoxidil or ketoconazole) away. N2 is the shampoo from Need2BuildMuscle, here's my 6 week review on it, I've continued to use it: Going to review N2 Shampoo on my little website :)

HGH will also benefit your hair growth. I'm not using it now however.
I've been doing this routine for months now and I haven't had dry scalp or any issues.

Most guys think that they aren't getting results from minoxidil. I certainly thought that in the past. The newer formulas are a ton better than the old oily crap that was overpriced. Although I never saw too much regrowth from minoxidil - I did seem to notice that I lost way less hair in the shower. The usual 40-50 hairs became 15-20 hairs. I always reference this study from the "International Society of Hair Restoration Surgeons" that shows the guys that used minoxidil for a year reduced their hair shed in shower from a median of 69.7 hairs to 33.8 hairs (over a 50% reduction). So it works, you gotta use it consistently though.
source: ISHRS Study: 5% Minoxidil in Treating Male-Pattern Hair Loss

I work at home mostly so I don't mind have my head saturated in minoxidil or my hair not styled, the PI formula dries real quick anyway (5 minutes). Again this might not be for everybody, but if you want to MAX out and want the best opportunity for regrowth you may want to give it a shot.

if you have any questions - ask away, I'll try to answer them for ya. This is also posted in the hair loss prevention thread, but there's like 3000 posts in that and its easy to miss

[Kagigi]

Wow..nice info thanks for the website and your trial and error

[jaydollars]

This guy has some good info, here is what I do:

5% minoxidil/azelaic am followed by spironolacatone cream

15%minoxidil/azelaic pm followed by spiro cream again

Everytime I wash my hair I use ketoconazole shampoo at 2%

All this could be ordered on amazon

This works, I am regrowing hair and no more shedding

[CEDeoudes59]

This guy has some good info, here is what I do:

5% minoxidil/azelaic am followed by spironolacatone cream

15%minoxidil/azelaic pm followed by spiro cream again

Everytime I wash my hair I use ketoconazole shampoo at 2%

All this could be ordered on amazon

This works, I am regrowing hair and no more shedding

Awesome man, I'm happy it works for ya.
I never had luck with the spiro cream, but some guys do

[CEDeoudes59]

Alright, over the past ~3 weeks I've changed some stuff up since the FDA has decided to take away our right to purchase 15% minoxidil with 5% azelaic acid.
So far so good, it's been 20 days and I'm still getting a lot of regrowth. The 10% azelaic acid seems to be working on the hair line. Apply the AA first, rub it in, give it a few minutes, then apply the minoxidil

I look like a total moron in the still frame of the video haha

[jaydollars]

Alright, over the past ~3 weeks I've changed some stuff up since the FDA has decided to take away our right to purchase 15% minoxidil with 5% azelaic acid.
So far so good, it's been 20 days and I'm still getting a lot of regrowth. The 10% azelaic acid seems to be working on the hair line. Apply the AA first, rub it in, give it a few minutes, then apply the minoxidil

I look like a total moron in the still frame of the video haha
YouTube Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7g5YclC5m8Q&feature=pl ayer_embedded

When did this happen? You can buy all this stuff on amazon

[CEDeoudes59]

When did this happen? You can buy all this stuff on amazon

yup, last week, unfortunately the FDA required the discontinuation of 15% minoxidil and seemingly SHUT DOWN Perfect Image LLC (they made GREAT products) in the process. A guy that had been following my same routine saw that 15% minoxidil was no longer available and emailed me in a panic. If he's on this board too, I appreciate the email... I don't think anyone should panic however.

[jaydollars]

To be clear the FHA never approved any of these items, so they gradually have been shutting different companies down, you can still find various brands for sale, I'm going to stock up, I love my now full head of hair

[CEDeoudes59]

To be clear the FHA never approved any of these items, so they gradually have been shutting different companies down, you can still find various brands for sale, I'm going to stock up, I love my now full head of hair

I hear ya, it's the same at the dietary supplement industry. Unfortunately the FDA's crusade, in this case, has taken away a lot of products that have really helped a lot of guys (what's new though?). In some cases such Dr. Lee @ minoxidil.com, the DEA got involved. I don't know all the details but they slapped him with "intent to distributed illegal drugs," he probably got a warning and continued his operation though. At the end of the day were just talking about hair loss remedies. It's a bummer.

[phatmike0704]

sick stuff man. did u experience any libdo loss while on fina? also are u basically gonna hav to keep using these the rest of ur life to keep the hair u've gown?

[CEDeoudes59]

probably but it's really pretty inexpensive overall-

here's my take on finasteride:

Understandably so, I get a lot emails about guys that are worried about the potential side effects of Propecia, while there is legitimate potential I don't think Propecia is any more 'dangerous' than any other Rx drug.


Further, I just want to suggest that nothing with this drug is permanent and not to let a less than 1% chance of lasting side effects make you paranoid.



DHT eats on (progressively miniaturizes) hair that are genetically prone to hair loss (areas most prone are the crown and hair line)

propecia lowers DHT levels, if you lower them too much, your libido will lessen (or not exist)



for 99% of guys when you stop taking it, your DHT levels go back up (thats why its a lifetime commitment)



for the guys that have 'permanent' side effects, their DHT levels are too low to get/sustain erections



simply giving them HRT (hormone replacement therapy) corrects this problem, synthetic testosterone gets their DHT back up

while being on HRT is not ideal for some guys (1 shot of testosterone every 10-14days), it's not the end of the world and it will negate any problems or hormonal imbalances that propecia has caused



my point is - the side effects from propecia won't be permanent. they are treatable with HRT if worst comes to worst



if you're already dealing with side effects, it would be wise to discontinue propecia



the guys that had their DHT permanently hindered likely experienced several short term side effects but continued taking the propecia



if you aren't experiencing side effects, you won't wake up one day and your dick with cease to work



propecia is basically like Arimidex - but works on DHT. If you stop taking Adex you estrogen will return to its natural levels. Same deal with Propecia.



i just want to assure you guys that the 1% chance is unlikely and if it does happen, it's reversible.



-chris

[Outstanding]

I liked your update on the website talking about the FDA can ban pre-made Minox/AA, but they can stop us fron buying the ingredients separately. I apologize if you've already mentioned this, but is there anywhere to purchase raw Minoxidil so I can make my own 15% (or even higher, wink) mixture?

[CEDeoudes59]

I liked your update on the website talking about the FDA can ban pre-made Minox/AA, but they can stop us fron buying the ingredients separately. I apologize if you've already mentioned this, but is there anywhere to purchase raw Minoxidil so I can make my own 15% (or even higher, wink) mixture?

good question, that's true - While 5,10,20% Azelaic acid is available, 15% minoxiidil isn't available it seems. I'll be on the lookout though and I'll let you know as soon/if I find out!

[jaydollars]

Well I just searched amazon, these products are toast, and the companies that used to sell them are shut down as per their websites

Really sucks, I re-grew so much hair using minoxidil with azelaic azid, regular rogaine was not working \

Wtf

[Outstanding]

good question, that's true - While 5,10,20% Azelaic acid is available, 15% minoxiidil isn't available it seems. I'll be on the lookout though and I'll let you know as soon/if I find out!

Thanks so much! I saw on another thread, the super-long main hair loss thread, that someone else said minoxidil can be purchased raw, should be pretty easy to mix into solution.

[slimguy]

I see that you can buy it raw from alibaba, but would it be legal to ship to the us? I even saw one listing that looked like a perfect image bottle.

Its super cheap in the raw form, just don't know if it is considered a drug that needs to be purchased by a manufacturer.

Any input on this?

[CEDeoudes59]

I see that you can buy it raw from alibaba, but would it be legal to ship to the us? I even saw one listing that looked like a perfect image bottle.

Its super cheap in the raw form, just don't know if it is considered a drug that needs to be purchased by a manufacturer.

Any input on this?

i believe it would be legal. don't quote me... but for 'research' is you know what I mean...

Alibaba is good? I've wanted to buy a few things on there

[CEDeoudes59]

Well I just searched amazon, these products are toast, and the companies that used to sell them are shut down as per their websites

Really sucks, I re-grew so much hair using minoxidil with azelaic azid, regular rogaine was not working \

Wtf

yeah i know.. sucks man... I've seem to have equally as good success with my routine now
http://www.hairlossfromsteroids.com/...That-Work.html

[Outstanding]

i believe it would be legal. don't quote me... but for 'research' is you know what I mean...

Alibaba is good? I've wanted to buy a few things on there

I've been curious about this as well (Alibaba)

[slimguy]

I recently saw that even on ebay they are selling smaller amounts of minoxidil powder and azelaic acid powder and the guy is from vegas.

The only thing that concerns me is how do you know it is what it suppose to be. I mean the prices are cheap like 7 bucks.

Getting almost out of the Perfect Imagine and will have to go to kirklands 5%, is that a good product?

Thanks