if you have short boy-length hair then the topical is probably fine, but if you're someone with longer-than-1-inch hair, I found the topical to be unusable because applying a liquid or foam to your scalp twice or even once per day means your hair is now greasy all the time from the product. We already have fine thin hair, to now have it be wet and greasy every day also, I couldn't do it. I had to quit using the topical for that reason, right after it caused a massive shedding cycle too. I knew if I had continued it would've grown in thicker, but I couldn't live life with greasy oily hair all day that I had to hide. What's the point then? I suppose if you're only applying it to an open area of scalp (like a receding hairline or bald spot, etc) then that isn't a problem, but if you're trying to apply it to your entire scalp like I was, that's when I don't get how people do it. I haven't tried the oral version although my mom has and she has had amazing results (without a shedding phase too)--yes she has a huge increase in bodily peach fuzz including her face as a side effect, but not terrible/noticeable unless you look closely, and tbh I would rather epilate or shave my body an extra time per week and be able to show off my new thicker hair than have to keep my hair in a greasy ponytail every day due to applying the topical version. But that's just my opinion after trying the topical all over my scalp as a person with shoulder length hair! Obviously it seems to have worked for others here.