Need Help choosing the best Minoxidil Solution!!

[JohnnieBravo1]

Hi All,

 

I have recently decided to stop using a minoxidil + retin a solution i have been using for a few years now because i just cannot afford it anymore from the Sydney company i am getting this from (costs $300 Aus per month).

 

I am looking for some advise on what i should do now so i do not lose the hair that i have saved and regrown through my existing solution.

 

The below are the options that i have come up with.

 

1. Rogain & Kirkland's minoxidil

2. Minoxidil formula with Retin A (possibly from Dr Klein's website)

3. Minoxidil formula with Azelaic Acid (possibly from Belgravia Centre)

 

Obviously the first option is the cheapest, but i know that sometimes what you get is what you pay for and obviously like all of you out there i would like to choose the best option for maintaining my hair.

 

I would really appreciate your thoughts on what option you feel may provide with the best results for maintaining and regrowing my existing hair.

 

I have attached some pictures below to show you my current hair loss.

 

Appreciate your feedback and thoughts as it is quite scary (for me anyway!) to change formulas after a few years.

[hairmatek]

Excellent minoxidil products:with DHT blocker

 

MinoxidilPro and Lipogaine for men (links removed by moderator)

Edited July 3, 2013 by David - TakingThePlunge

[TakingThePlunge]

Personally, I would recommend using a normal 5% minoxidil solution like Rogaine or a generic. This is the product that has been clinically proven and FDA approved. As you've pointed it out, it's also quite economical.

 

You may also want to consider Propecia (finasteride) as it is, arguable, the most effective treatment for male pattern hair loss.

[JohnnieBravo1]

Thanks for the feedback. Do you think that I will be able to keep all the hair that I have regrown or saved if I switch to plain rogaine as it does not contain retin a?

 

Do you think there is any benefits to mixing minoxidil with retin a or azelaic acid?

 

I will be starting finestaride in a few weeks too.

[Calgacus]

Kirkland 5% Minoxidil.

 

Retin A isn't approved by governing bodies as a legitimate drug for the prevention of hair loss.

 

Minoxidil is.

 

Save your money ......as well as your hair.

[JohnnieBravo1]

Thanks Calgacus. In 2 weeks when my formula runs out I'll start using 5% minoxidil + start finestaride. I'll create a new thread where I will update pictures monthly over 12 months so everyone including myself can get a good insight into the results of 5% minoxidil with finestaride.

 

I'm excited!

[KO]

There is no reason to be paying 300/month for minoxidil, that is highway robbery. Take the kirkland or cheapest legitimate one, something that doesnt irritate your scalp etc.

[JohnnieBravo1]

I agree 100% KO. It's only when I started looking at trying to reduce my monthly expenses that I really looked into my hair solution costs. The reason I didn't do this before was mainly because the company in sydney would always say that if I stopped using their products I would lose any hair that I had gained and saved, which was a scary thought, so I just continued with their minoxidil solution. I'm relieved to hear that a normal rogain foam or a generic version can provide similar results.

 

Are there any recommendations with regards to shampoos and routines? What do you find works best for you?

[JohnnieBravo1]

Also what are your thoughts on dutastaride? Have been doing quite a lot of research and found that many sources feel as though it is more effective than proscar/finestaride...

[KO]

Shampoos and stuff do not really make a difference on hair, so use waht you're comfortable with, ideally something gentle.

 

Dutasteride is more effective than finasteride without doubt, but its side effect profile is more questionable. Think of Dut as Fin's big brother. Whether to use it or not depends on you. If you have maintained on fin, then staying on it would be a good idea IMO, but if you're losing ground, then it may be worthwhile to look into Dut.

[JohnnieBravo1]

Thanks for the feedback. I might try fin for 12 months with 5% minox and post monthly pictures. If I am not satisfied with the progress after 12 months then I might try dut for 12 months.

[bargario]

try higher than 5 percent if your not happy with the 5

[JohnnieBravo1]

Yeah I'll do that if I'm not satisfied after 12 months.

 

After quite a bit of research I've decided to do the following for the next 12 months and I'll be posting pictures each month to show any progress . I'll be starting this in approx 1 week.

 

Rogain foam minoxidil in the morning

Rogain liquid minoxidil in the evening

1.25 mg finestaride every day for 6 months, then reduce this to every second day

10% Azelaic acid cream every evening

Regenpure shampoo every second day

Volumising shampoo every other day

 

Hopefully this routine will produce noticeable results after 12 months

[JohnnieBravo1]

Ok, just purchased all the above for my 12 month challenge. Looking forward to updating you all with monthly progress pictures and brief summaries of how i feel it's all working! I'm going to get a haircut on Saturday and keep it at a similar length throughout the 12 months so we can more easily assess the results. Will be starting the new regime on Monday! Only thing I'm worried about at this stage is the massive shedding that awaits me from starting finestaride and changing to the new minoxidil formula. Time will tell! Thanks for all your input.

 

Johnniebravo1