overandout
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I have finasteride 2% 30mL from wholesale hair products. How much should I dose to get the 1mg?
Hair Loss Prevention
About 50% of the human male population are genetically susceptible to Alopecia Androgenetica, also known as Male Pattern Baldness. Although the exact causes of male baldness are still unknown, most knowledgeable in this area would agree that strong androgenic substances like DHT and testosterone play a large part. If you are prone to MPB and are concerned about keeping your hair, then read on. There are some products that when used alone or especially in combination, can be very effective in halting or even reversing male hair loss.
First, let's take a look at what is known about the causes of MPB. Testosterone is converted to DHT by the 5AR enzyme, which in turn finds its way to your hair follicles and causes them to fall out. The are a few theories on how this occurs. One suggests that DHT causes a progressive miniturization of the affected hair follicles. Another says that DHT causes an autoimmune response, causing the body to actually attack the hair follicles as if they were a foreign body. This in turn causes an inflammatory response that causes the hair follicles to shed.
Either way, its a frustrating problem. A problem that can become greatly accelerated by the use of androgenic drugs, especially those with a high conversion rate to DHT. Testosterone, Anadrol, D-Bol...all of these end up increasing the amounts of DHT in your system. Some, like test, convert through the 5AR enzyme. Anadrol, on the other hand, is not converted to DHT through the 5AR method at all. 1-testosterone can also convert 'back' to DHT though the infamous 'unknown pathway'...in any event higher levels of DHT end up at the scalp when you're using these substances. And, if you're prone, this could spell rapid accelleration of genetic hair loss.
Any androgenic hormone molecule binding to the receptors in your scalp could advance hair-loss in someone prone to MPB. When using steroids, especially those with strong receptor binding characteristics like 1-test or Trenbalone, the actual steroid itself could be a contributing factor to your hair loss, in addition to any elevated levels of DHT in your system.
So now we know that we need to prevent high amounts of androgen molecules from affecting hair follicles at the scalp. This could be done by using oral medication, like:
Finasteride
Dose: 1-2mg /day
Mean terminal half-life is approximately 5-6 hours in men 18-60 years of age and 8 hours in men more than 70 years of age.
There are two types of 5 alpha-reductase (AR), type I and type II, that act as a catalyst in converting testosterone into DHT. Propecia is a 5AR inhibitor, but only effectively inhibits Type II. It has no known effect on type I. Finasteride works by inhibiting the Type II 5alpha-reductase enzyme that is responsible for converting testosterone to DHT. It is not clear as to whether only Type II 5AR is responsible for damage to hair follicles or if Type I is also to blame. It is estimated that Propecia inhibits 70% serum DHT and 38% scalp DHT at the standard, recommended dosage of 1 mg per day. For people suffering from natural hair loss or hair loss brought on by testosterone supplementation, oral 5AR inhibitors could work very well. 1
Initially I was apprehensive about using finasteride to combat hairloss. However, not being satisfied with the rate of regrowth from topical-only solutions, I decided to start implementing oral Finasteride at ~1 mg/day. Since Ive started using it (along with LLLT therapy, see below), my hair really started to thicken - even on the areas of my scalp that seemed to respond more slowly to the topicals. I have no negative side effects at all.
Read more about Finasteride pharmacology here:
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Dutasteride
Dose: .5mg /day
invivo half life is approximately 5 WEEKS.
Dutasteride ('Duta', 'Duagen'), also known as Avodart, is another oral 5-alpha-reductase inhibitor. It is known to be more potent than Finasteride in that it inhibits both type-I and type-II 5AR enzymes in the body. Dutasteride also has a much longer half-life than Finasteride so any side effects that occur from use will be sustained for a much longer period of time.
Some interesting facts about Dutasteride:
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However, a strong word of caution for those considering Dutasteride:
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Another important thing to keep in mind is that Dutasteride is metabolized by the CYP3A4 enzyme in the liver. So are SERMs. I have no idea whether or not using them both in conjunction could cause undue stress on the liver,as there is plenty of CYP3A4 (its the CYP enzyme that's presnt in the largest amount in the body) but its something to keep in mind until a clear answer can be found.
In my own opinion, people should be weary of using Dutasteride to treat hair loss. Especially if you've never used an oral 5AR inhibitor before. Glaxo, the company that developed it, halted research on Dutasteride for a hair loss treatment for 'unknown reasons'. It probably isnt health related, because its still used as a BPH treatment. However, know that when you use Dutasteride to treat MPB, you are doing so at your own risk. It uncommonly long half life and lack of human trials would make me think twice about it, for sure.
More info on Dutasteride pharmacology:
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A good page that compares Dutasteride vs. Finasteride with the pros and cons of each:
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Note: oral 5AR blockers should never be used with Deca-Durabolin. It can actually promote hair loss in this situation. Deca reduces via 5AR to a less androgenic molecule called DHN (dihydronandrolone). If you inhibit 5AR while on a cycle of DecaDuraBolin, the compound could actually negatively impact your existing hair loss issues
This brings us to the next weapon in the hair loss prevention arsenal:
The Topicals
Anti-Androgens
There are a few chemicals out there which have been shown to inhibit androgen and DHT molecules at the scalp itself, without showing any systemic side effects. These are:
Spironolactone
Spironolactone was originally used as a "Potassium Sparing Diuretic", that has been used for many years to treat high blood pressure and fluid retention. Recently, it has also been used orally as an anti-androgen (it blocks the androgen receptor itself).
For hair loss prevention purposes, it has been found that a solution of Spiro in a 2-5% concentration can effectively block androgens (both DHT and others) from effecting the hair follicles at the scalp when applied topically. You can read more detailed info about some other uses of Spironolactone here:
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Keep in mind that although Spironolactone is generally thought to be non-systemic when applied to the scalp, a few users have reported low-androgen related symptoms when using topical Spiro. IMO, it should only be used on cycle ,when a general androgen blocker is needed.
Azelaic Acid
Used as an acne medication, azelaic acid also has one important property when applied to the scalp:
It inhibits DHT up to 100% at the area of application Taking all of the above information into consideration, its obvious why we would want this as part of a hair-loss prevention system.
Read more about Azelaic Acid here:
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Nizoral Shampoo (2% Ketoconazole)
When used EOD, Nizoral shampoo can help block the formation of DHT in the scalp. A special version of Nizoral shampoo , 'Regrowth Treatment Shampoo', is available that contains 3% salicylic acid . The salicylic acid helps strip dead layers off the epidermis from the scalp, resulting in greater absorption of the 2% Ketoconazole.
Fluridil (Eucapil)
I haven't learned much about this one yet. Thanks to LCSCULLA for bringing it to my attention. Supposedly has a longer half-life than Spiro. Cost might be prohibitive to some, but if it works as claimed it would be very valuable to those trying to save their hair. Also a general anti-androgen.
Read up on Fluridil here:
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Ok, now we've covered treatments that can successfully block androgens and DHT at the scalp. For some, using these products alone might be enought to reverse MPB, prevent it during a cycle, etc.
For those of you who are definitely prone to genetic MPB, you will need something to assist the stimulation of new hair growth:
Hair Growth Stimulants
After blocking androgens from affecting hair follicles, the next step is to attempt to promote hair regrowth.
Minoxidil
That's right, good ol' Rogaine. Well, the active ingredient in Rogaine, anyway. It was originally used as a high-blood pressure medication and vaso-dialator. Someone discovered that it increased hair growth on various parts of the body when taken in high enough concentrations orally. I guess from there they tried applying it to the scalp. Id love to be able to tell you exactly how Minoxidil works to regrow hair, but no one knows. Knowing that it works and has no systemic side effects is enough for now.
A Note On Minoxidil Use
Of course, there is a drawback with using Minoxidil to regrow your hair. You'll have to use it daily, forever. Its been shown that a few months after Minoxidil use has ceased, any hair regrown with it will start to shed. If your going to lose your hair anyway to genetic MPB, its a small trade off. 5 minutes 2x a day and there's a good chance youll keep your hair, or at the very minimum slow down the inevitable.
In addition, in a small number of users, Minoxidil can cause some slight hair shedding when it is first applied. This is usually very minor and is actually a good indicator that Minoxidil is working for you. The hair that is shed eventually will grow back thicker, having been stimulated by the Minoxidil.
Retin-A
Retin-A, or Retonic Acid, can be used in combination with Minoxidil for a synergistic effect. Studies have shown that combined with minoxidil treatments it will regrow more hair faster than with minoxidil alone. It may increase the absorption of Minoxidil through the skin, it also may have some hair regenerative properties. Again, not much is known about its method of action, only that it has positive results.
Low Level Laser Therapy (LLLT)
Initially, the notion of firing lasers at your scalp might seem like something out of StarTrek, not a real-world hair loss treatment. However, studies are showing the biocell stimulation via laser light in a particular range can actually encourage the follicular cells to grow new hair. I wouldnt have believed it, unless I'd experienced it for myself!
'Hair Loss Clinics' have been using 'Laser Hoods':
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to treat hair loss for years, swearing up and down that it had a positive effect on regrowth. Im sure most people wrote them off as quack-jobs, until a company called HairMax developed a personal version and started marketing it for $700. I didnt hear about it until this DateLineNBC episode ran a segment called 'The Follicle Five', that documented 5 guys trying to save their hair via various methods:
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Oddly enough, the guy using the Laser Comb had some of the best results! After seeing that, I set off on some research and found that several people were actually building their own 'Laser Brushes' and reported similar results. After reading through a bunch of threads, I came to the conclusion I could build a LLLT unit myself and I did, for $50. With 6 650nm 5mw Laser Diodes mounted in a nice boar's bristle brush, Ive been using it for the recommend 10minutes 2x per week and honestly, my hair has never looked better.
Keep in mind that I also started using Finasteride around the same time, but Finasteride isnt supposed to kick in for a couple months, and I noticed an improvement within 4 weeks using the laser brush.
The 'Hair Loss Prevention Stack'
So if you're truly worried about losing your hair, you have to take action as soon as possible. In this case especially, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. If you're got some very mild thinning or if you're not that suseptable to androgenic hair loss, then Nizoral Shampoo EOD might be enough to stave off hair loss.
For others that are sure they're going to lose their hair, its best to attack the problem from all feasible angles as soon as possible. For this, there is what I like to call the 'Hair Loss Prevention Stack'![]()
My opinion is that your implementation of the various methods for combating hair loss should follow a level-based approach. Start small and work up. Keep in mind that once you start using a treatment, you have to keep using it. Forever. Studies show that with nearly any hair loss prevention treatment, discontinuing use will result in the person returning to his previous state of MPB within a few months.
With this in mind, start with a solution that isnt too intrusive, and easy to maintain.
Ive come up with a couple 'stacks' that could be implemented in a progessive manner. IE, if level 1 doesnt work, add level 2, etc.
Check it out:
Level 1:
Regrowth Treatment Shampoo & LLLT
Shampoo 3x per week
LLLT 10 minutes per session 2x per week
Squeeze a quarter sized amount into your hand, and shampoo your hair. Message it thourougly into your scalp, and leave in for about 5 minutes before rinsing. This shampoo dries your hair out, so its best to follow application with a good conditioner.
With the Laser Brush, hold it in place on your scalp for about 4 seconds at a time. Move it all around your head, trying to cover all the scalp evenly.
Level 2:
(Level 1 + ...)
Nighttime application:
Minoxidil 5%/Azelaic Acid 5%/Retin-A 2% Solution
Applied ED, at night before bed. Sunlight breaks down Retin-A and can cause it to irritate the scalp, so its really only to be used at night time. Apply 1ml to the affected areas of the scalp and message into the skin. If your hair loss in generalized, part your hair in several areas and apply the solution directly to the skin. Message into the skin.
Daytime Application:
Minoxidil 5%/Azelaic Acid 5% Solution
Minoxidil/Azelaic Acid is meant to be applied 2x daily. You should use the Minoxidil w/Retin-A at night, and a solution containing Minoxidil and Azelaic Acid during the day. Try to keep the applications close to 12hrs apart if you can. Apply to the scalp following the same method as outlined above.
The nighttime application of the Minoxidil solution that includes Retin-A is optional, and Ive found that it can irritate the scalp if used too often. If you choose not to go with the Retin-A, just use standard Minox/AA solution 2x per day.
Level 3:
(Level 1 + Level 2 + ...)
Oral Finasteride @ 1 - 2mg/day
You can get a script from your doc for the Finasteride, but it is also available from online vendors as a 'research chemical'. I prefer to keep the orals for last, as I'd rather not put another chemical in my body if I didnt have to.
I suppose you could keep going further here, and implement Dutasteride if the Finasteride wasnt working for you, but you get the idea.
The above products, when used in combination in a consistent daily regimen, have restored my thinning head of hair to a decently thick mane in the past 24 months. In fact, even on 200mg/1-test a day Ive had no shedding whatsoever.
There are stronger concentrations of Minoxidil and Spiro solutions for those that arent responding to the 2% and 5% stuff. Always start with the lower dose, however. I have used Dr.Lee's 15% Minoxidil solution and I found it to be quite effective. As always, YMMV.
A Final Note on Application
Some complain that these products can make the hair look greasy. I find that if I lightly towel-dry my hair, (not the scalp), my hair looks completely dry as if nothing were applied.
Where Do I Get This Stuff?
There are few places to get there products on the web, at decent prices. Ive had very good experience with Invalid Link Removed. In order to order from the site, you have to have an email consultation with Dr.Lee (the Dr. who runs the site and has developed the treatment methods). Its really a no-hassle deal and you'll be able to order within a week or so. They have the biggest selection and its the only place to get the Regrowth Treatment Shampoo. However, their Xandrox products, while excellent quality, are a bit on the expensive side.
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Ive ordered from this site many times, but Ive noticed at times their customer service can be shaky at times. I got a bottle of Finasteride from them that I found to have a concentration of 20mg/mL!! (supposed to have been 2mg/mL).
Here's that thread:
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A big bonus for me - but pretty alarming for obvious reasons, and after contacting them they had no idea that their product (which they get from another distributor) had such a high concentration.
These things aside, they ship very quickly and the minoxidil products cost about 50% less than those at Dr.Lee's site, and they do work well. Fast shipping and quick response to emails too.
Currently, Im using the 'Level 3' solution and experiencing excellent results. It took ~2 years to work my way into using oral finasteride, however. After you start a treatment, you really need to give it 2-3 months before you know if its working or not, sometimes longer. Some people have inhibitions about using topical treatments, but honestly, its not a big deal at all.
Also, one thing I didnt mention here is actual hair replacement surgery. This is a permanent solution and might be the only option for a non-responder to any of the above treatments. There's tons of info about this out there on the web, I suggest you read up on it if you're interested.
Hope that helped!
BigVrunga
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I am in month 3 of using Taco-8 and about two months of Revita shampoo and my hair loss have virtually stopped, I have noticed no new hair growth yet. I am giving this combo a try for a least 6 months....
Primordial Performance Thanksgiving Weekend Sale
Just wanted to let you guys know that Invalid Link Removed will be 20% off, only $23.96.
Hey all. I tried searching, but couldn't find an answer. Wanna know if spiro pills can be added to Keto shampoo, for a home brew. It's fine if not entirely efficient. If it works, how many 100 mg pills for a 120 ml bottle of Keto shampoo. Thanks in advance.
no offense guys, I am scared of losing my hair too. I recently buzzed my hair, ive gotten alot more attention from females...just my .02
Hi there!!
Does anyone know if Finasteride is really efficient when it comes to M-Drol?
Does anyone know if it is effective of just a waste and I shouldn’t even bother to use it?
so it doesn't work in reducing hairloss/shedding or helping hair re-growth?M-Drol (Superdrol clone) is 5a-reduced, so finasteride can't react with it
so it doesn't work in reducing hairloss/shedding or helping hair re-growth?
Originial photos at #1253, at pg. 42.
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I tell her "I don't need no stinkin' viagra, babe. I just follow the Big Vrunga protocol"
There's hope, at least for those that intervene early.
now that you started the minoxadil arent ya gonna have to use it for lyfe?Honestly, I have tried everything. I can't pinpoint what reversed my hair loss but I am almost certain that a combination of saw palmetto and topical minoxidil with az. acid applied every night has done wonders for my hair line; opposed to just plain finasteride. I backed off the finasteride because there are too many arguments about its side effects etc. Truthfully, I was tired of seeing the bitching and whining and decided that it wasn't worth the effort for the massive amount of research that it took to weed through all the so called experts that are only regurgitating information that they've read in outdated text books.
Originial photos at #1253, at pg. 42.
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I stopped taking the finasteride 6 weeks ago. I am now using Azaleic Acid Cream 20% morning and night, Minoxidil 5% morning (with .1% Retin-A) and night, and Nizoral (2% Keto) Shampoo EOD. Been on this regimen for a month, and I think it's making a big difference.
When I began this regimen, my fiance was strident that my hair was not thinning. After a month, she praises my thicker head of hair regularly, and asks how it grew so fast ("that's what she said"). I tell her "I don't need no stinkin' viagra, babe. I just follow the Big Vrunga protocol"
There's hope, at least for those that intervene early.
I wish others similar good fortune. Special thanks to Big Vrunga!
I think it would feel better for someone to say hey man looks like your hair is growing back than hey you been working out? LOL
Nizoral shampoo will help. rogaine increases hair growth but the hair it regrows falls out after you stop using it.
sounds good man...Agreed. I've been using topical minoxidil for 4 years now and have actually been able to strengthen my hairline, which is supposed to be impossible. I quit taking finasteride and dutasteride and stick to saw palmetto, sal. acid shampoo, and topical minoxidil.
Ive never used anything, Im just following along encase I start tooHas no one used this stuff??????
on the wholesalehairproducts.com how much of the liquid finasteride do you use? How many ml would be considered 1mg of finasteride?
depends waht the concentration is
Finastride is the way to go generic version of propecia. Prevent conversion to DHT. However my finastride perscription is 5mg. Not like it really makes a difference however because i believe the drugs studies show that taking more than 1mg at a time is no more effective than taking 5mg.
However if you wanted to be savy you get a prescripition for the 5mg tablets and break them down into 1/4 giving you a 1.25 mg dose of the stuff for litterly 1/4 the cost.
That being said i just take the 5mg and let me long hair flow in the wind.
But hey i am only starting medical school wtf do i know.
Has anyone used the perfect hair solutions 5 minox and aa?