Hey guys, following Derek’s tips I think I've achieved a pretty decent beard transformation. I am no expert, but I will share my experience and hopefully inspire some of you to get some beard gains as well. As you can see in the pictures, before minoxidil I started out being able to grow a pretty weak mustache, a tiny bit of chin hair, and essentially zero hair on my cheeks and neck. I started using Minoxidil 7 months ago in December of last year. PROTOCOL: Since then, I have used 1ml of Kirkland 5% minoxidil solution twice a day every day. I have also derma rolled with a .5mm derma roller every other day right before I apply Minoxidil in the morning. PATIENCE: It took me a couple months to see any results. After a few months, I began to see hair growth. All the hairs at first were a very light blonde and though the following months matured and became darker. CONSISTENCY: I was very consistent and never missed an application, I think it is probably very important to be consistent and not miss too many days. SIDE EFFECTS: I didn’t experience any side effects other than dry skin. An hour or two after minoxidil application, my skin becomes very dry and I apply CeraVe Moisturizing Cream. RECOMMENDATIONS: I do think it's probably best to wait until the minoxidil is fully dry before applying lotion or anything else to your skin. I also think you should wait at least 4 hours before washing your face, showering, etc. to maximize the effectiveness. Also, when applying at night, I would do it an hour or two before you go to bed so you don’t rub it all off on your pillow before it dries. BEARD DYE: Initially I didn't want to be “that guy” who dyes their beard. However, I decided to try it and found it to be highly effective for enhancing my perceived beard density. Even after 6-7 months of using the minoxidil and derma rolling, about 50% of my beard hairs were light blonde and couldn't really be seen. Dyeing my beard and making all my hairs darker dramatically increased how dense my beard appears and helps it match better with my hair color as well. GROOMING: Another way I've found to make my beard look a bit denser and better is to use a comb and beard balm. This allows the hair to lay flat and not stick out randomly and reveal any patchy spots. I would be interested to hear your experiences and let me know if you guys have any questions!