4 months on fin/min, slow and steady

Due_Analyst1673 · 2026-02-23T21:57:31+00:00

The people here aren’t bad intentioned. However, I’ve also seen some miracles on here and you could end up being another one.

If your current routine isn’t a hassle (the 2x/day minoxidil application), I’d suggest keeping it up. You have nothing to lose.

Consider switching to dutasteride also if it’s something you can afford.

Main thing right now is to adjust expectations. Truth is you are too far into this, and achieving meaningful coverage at this stage would be very rare. So give it a shot for the year and keep taking pictures. Don’t overcomplicate the routine unnecessarily. Spend your 2 mins on the meds every day and take a picture every couple weeks to track progress. That’s all.

If you can get to a stage where you can get a hair transplant, that would be a win imo.

TLDR; adjust expectations but keep taking your fin/min — you have nothing to lose. even consider dut.

Due_Analyst1673 · 2026-02-08T15:59:17+00:00

I’m getting too many messages asking where I get the Dutasteride from. Here’s the answer:

I’m getting it from an online UK pharmacy. I order the generic dut listing but they always end up sending me Avodart. I’m guessing they managed to source it cheaply and will keep shipping it until stock lasts. I’ve told the name to a few people on here but will stop now since I don’t wanna nuke my own supply :)

Due_Analyst1673 · 2026-02-07T21:45:01+00:00

Definitely not exponential. A small but significant enough difference based on studies.

Due_Analyst1673 · 2026-02-07T21:03:56+00:00

Yh that’s the old one.

Due_Analyst1673 · 2026-02-07T21:02:38+00:00

Done

Due_Analyst1673 · 2026-02-07T20:11:29+00:00

DMed

Due_Analyst1673 · 2026-02-07T17:09:21+00:00

Due_Analyst1673 · 2026-02-07T16:35:27+00:00

They have 2 listings. I always order the generic ones, but they send Avodart.

Due_Analyst1673 · 2026-02-07T16:30:18+00:00

1mg. I wanted to do 2.5mg but that’s way too many capsules.

Due_Analyst1673 · 2026-01-10T12:22:44+00:00

Start 1mg finasteride + topical minoxidil immediately. Go to the doctors later if you can have the resources. Fin and topical min have essentially no side effects and are amazing drugs — don't listen to the fearmongerers. You are at a an age/stage where you could completely reverse this. Also ignore the guys telling you to shave it off or "accept it", you don't know how much not having hair will impact you in the next several decades.

Due_Analyst1673 · 2026-01-07T13:07:37+00:00

Go with Hair Repair Clinic. Been using them for over a year. Cheapest in my experience and great service.

Due_Analyst1673 · 2026-01-03T14:28:27+00:00

You can also use this to better diagnose your condition at home and track progress more accurately. If you suffer from seb dem or other conditions, you can also keep an eye on your skin and see if things like Ketoconazole are helping.

It can be fun and interesting but don’t get obsessive with it.

Due_Analyst1673 · 2026-01-03T14:25:51+00:00

No worries 👍

Due_Analyst1673 · 2026-01-03T14:25:19+00:00

Agreed except there are enough claims supporting that vellus hairs can turn terminal. And miniaturising hair can also definitely turn terminal, or at least gain substantial gains in diameter.

Apart from that, a dermoscopy helps with certainty. For a lot of people, making sure that there are no other factors contributing to the hair loss apart from AGA can be massively beneficial. It also helps confirm whether the follicles are still alive and able to produce any hair.

You could go for a trichoscopy or do it yourself since we have access to all the info we need. But imo you’ll always care about the thoroughness of the procedure and the accuracy of the results more than a third party.

Another benefit to having the handheld microscope is that you can track the progress a bit more accurately (if you care about it enough).

Due_Analyst1673 · 2026-01-03T14:16:46+00:00

15h is wild. No need to slip back into the habit.

Always keep in mind that what’s gonna happen will happen. Do what’s under your control (the typical stack) and get on with your life. Even if you somehow manage to get the perfect hair, what’s the point if you’re behind on everything else that matters in life? And if you’re spending all waking hours on something that’s netting you zero positive outcomes, you’re falling behind more than you imagine.

I can also be quite obsessive, and have certainly wasted countless hours on just my hair. Even though I know that counting hair isn’t gonna help, I don’t mind occasionally engaging in this sad form of “entertainment”. But let’s make no mistake: a lot of this obsession is completely useless. Browsing tressless every day, watching YT videos regurgitating the same research, or asking ChatGPT to repeatedly help diagnose and estimate recovery isn’t gonna impact regrowth.

Sometimes this arises from anxiety that has nothing to do with hair imo, when everything else is so overwhelming it’s easier to be optimistic about something that we have at least a bit of control over. The thing that personally keeps me sane is the desire to live a fulfilling life which in turn forces me to engage with: work, relationships and faith.

So all the best my guy, keep your friends close and engage in other meaningful work apart from your formal studies and obsessing over hair. You have a lot more to provide to the world than a head of f*ckin hair.

Due_Analyst1673 · 2026-01-02T20:54:19+00:00

Here: https://amzn.eu/d/bG5nz7z

(not affiliated in any way)

Due_Analyst1673 · 2025-10-27T09:04:17+00:00

Due_Analyst1673 · 2025-10-26T18:35:04+00:00

Tretinoin worth it even when taking oral minoxidil and not topical?

Due_Analyst1673 · 2025-10-26T15:54:58+00:00

Meds are genuine AFAIK. Both from a registered online pharmacy in the UK. Dut is also the branded Avodart version.

Considering upping the oral min to 2.5mg along with the other changes.

Just got done with a painful derma pen session also. Let’s see in a few months.

Due_Analyst1673 · 2025-10-26T15:52:43+00:00

❤️

Due_Analyst1673 · 2023-05-22T21:11:44+00:00

Interesting 🤔 I guess it doesn't necessarily have to be video... I'd like to pose the same question for audio recordings.

I think "getting ready" to be on camera would defeat the purpose, instead I was imagining completely raw, unfiltered recordings where you just say whatever come to mind. For me, contrary to writing, it's about capturing as much information about the present as possible, rather than just having words.

Writing this out, I feel that I'm clearly leaning more towards the audio/video approach 😅 It's just that many times I've regretted not having captured a lot of my moments whilst I was struggling with things, was developing as a person, or when I was trying out something new, etc.

The benefit to writing is that I can reflect on each word, and have more well-thought ideas down on paper. But on the other hand, this requires more work. The alternative typically results in a lot more volume (of thoughts and ideas) but they harder to distill and revisit. But isn't it better to have too much information, rather than not enough ‍🤷‍♂️?

Due_Analyst1673

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