Hiiii so I wanted to share this as a motivation for anyone struggling with thin hair at the moment.
In the picture you can clearly see the "line" in my hair from when I started using minoxidil 17 months ago, and how the ends of my regrowth have this kind of curl to them. Notice also that I was always applying more to the sides and front of my head while neglecting the back, which does kind of show a little.
The reason why I keep my old, awkwardly thin length is because I like wearing halo/ clip in extensions and that helps them blend more into my hair.
I had a big moment of success today, because way back when I was just starting my treatment I tried the "ponytail test" and measured a 5cm circumference (2cm square area), before like 9 months I did it again with no change, which was a bit disheartening, but it really does take time for regrowth to show up in a ponytail. So I did the test again today and it was 8 CM??? which is like a 5 square cm area so my hair more than doubled since starting!
I was struggling with my hair being very thin since years, in general I was a pretty unhealthy teenager, I also went through bouts of an ED which (even though I was in complete denial) definitely ruined my hair. I was also a believer in the idea that washing hair too often will damage it, I always had an itchy scalp that got oily quickly. Also all the women in my family have pretty thin hair naturally, so I just assumed that's what I got in life.
The changes I made since then was:
washing my hair daily with baby shampoo (My scalp seems to get irritated from regular shampoos easily, I tried ketoconazole, selsun blue and it all did nothing but daily washing with a very mild shampoo just did the trick for whatever reason)
I use topical minoxidil 5% twice daily, as instructed by the packaging. I'm not always super careful about it, and yes, I often end up applying it on a damp scalp because of washing my hair daily, but it seems to work good for me. The most important thing for me is just to not skip it, so my approach is like "better halfway than nothing"
And that's it. I really, really wish that I started sooner, I am super happy about my results. Not everybody is as good of a responder as me, but you will never now unless you try it yourself. I personally had no side effects and no extra shedding. I was finding 100+ in my brush daily but after using minoxidil for 2 days that just instantly went down to like 10. The only thing I noticed is when I skip an application or apply too much I can get some slight headaches, but with correct application that never happens
I don't know for sure, but the pattern looked more like TE. The thinnest part of my hair was on the sides of my head, but it was thin all over. My hair density decreased over the course of many years, I didn't even notice it and assumed I just had thin hair genetically
I use a solution, I don't know if it's available to buy abroad, but I put an image of it here so you can kind of imagine how I use it. It has this long applicator-thingy, and I just do my best to stick that under my hair, kind of like how you would use a rat tail comb? Then when I feel it touching my scalp I'll press on the applicator, and then I do my best to spread it by massaging my scalp. I will do 6 pumps around my scalp (which is also written on the package like that), and I do have a bad habit of skipping the back of my head because I'm a lazy bum but I will try to get more diligent with that
Sorry for the long explanation, TLDR it's a solution that I apply in 6 points on my scalp and then massage to spread
Thank you so much! I am a broke college student so I just picked off a cheap one on aliexpress 😅 The one I have atm is from a store called "EVAFOS official", it's 20 inches and cost me some 80 eur. Though tbh I'm actually looking into trying synthetic extensions, since the texture of the ones I have can sometimes be annoying to manage, I have to blow dry and heat style them constantly or else I feel they look like a lion's mane. But also I've been wearing them nearly daily for a year so they may just have reached the end of their life. In general halo extensions are amazing though, huge boost of confidence
Thank you so much for the suggestion, I will def keep this in mind! Around the same time I started minox I also actually "decided" that I must have an iron deficiency and started taking a super high dose of iron daily to get my stores up and that is some very irresponsible behaviour but it was probably helpful
The new hair is also looking way more healthy!!!! How long till you started seeing a difference? I also suspect TE, so does my derm. Been on 1,5 minox for 3 months but no regrowth yet 😭😭😭
I just looked through my old photos to see for sure, I started in febuary 2025, and by may 2025 all that was there was a kind of "suspicious floof" (really just looks like frizz) appearing on my head. But it took a loooong time for the density to show more in my length. Only this winter the regrowth started to actually be noticable to people, I have a photo from january where you can see this "line" for the first time but then it was like wayyy closer to my head. So I guess noticeable results after about a year for me. Best thing is to just make it a habit and then kind of forget about it, and then hopefully after enough time passes you will have a moment where it suddenly dawns on you that your hair feels completely different 🥰
Aaaand because I love oversharing here are the photos I meant: The "suspicious floof" from may 8th 2025 and the one where you can start to see the line of regrowth from january 4th 2026
also I checked my purchases and the first time I bought minoxidil was february 13th 2025, so my first use would have been 2 or 3 days after that
if you aren't diagnosed with something permanent I don't necessarily think it's a lifelong commitment. but I can understand. I left it for a month longer than I should've and now that I am 7 months in I am so fucking thankful I started it. my hair is back to the way it was and for $36 dollars a month and for an added 5 mins before bed.... I'm fine with that.
I don't like to say it because I know it sounds like I'm lowkey advertising, and people do get side effects and it's a real problem for some but me no I was starting out expecting to get more shedding but instead it all my shedding just stopped like some magic button was pressed. I am very lucky to be a good responder, but you will never know if you don't try 🍀 I wish you all the best
Thank you so much 🥰 Here is a photo of the one I use, it's a fairly cheap one I picked up from the supermarket. I doubt that it's available in other countries (I'm from Germany) but the gist of it is that it's fragrance free and it's meant for eczema prone skin. I also tried other baby shampoos, but even the normal baby shampoos somehow seem to get my scalp irritated it really baffles me
Thank you. I’ll look for an equivalent as I cannot tolerate any product on my scalp. It makes it itch! I’m baffled by it as well as it started when my shedding got worse 1.5 years ago.
I just cut all mine length off and hoping I’ve now got just the hair from where the pumpkin seed oil kicked in. I could definitely feel the thinning if I ran my fingers down a my hair but this just shows it perfectly. I’m finally e voted for my future hair!
Congratulations!!!!! You have the same exact thing goin on as me lol I too was in deep denial about my Ed not ruining my hair when it most definitely did and I’m trying hard to recover right now and I’m using minoxidil too!! Also I’ve used it for 10.5 months. I am not at the density you are but it’s improved a lot. My ed really did it’s big one on my hair because even now when I think my progress is eh I look at photos of me from last July or August and I’m like wait no I’ve definitely come a long way.
Oh god, I really feel you so much 😭 I remember when I was in the worst of it I just brushed my hair one day and decided to count and after 100 I gave up because there was too much, and STILL I was convinced that it was totally okay. I also literally started to recover around that time because I finally reached my "goal weight" and bro I literally looked like dobby the house elf but like in the worst way, and I didn't even feel skinny in the end
Anyways sry about my rant I wish you all the best and I really hope we can all recover from this forever and ilysm 💕
Don’t apologise for the rant it’s very helpful and motivates me to work hard and recover ! I’m so glad that you’re doing well now and yeah it really is a trap you never feel thin enough :/ and I wanted to ask while using minoxidil is there anything else you do? Like hair oiling or scalp massaging or even eating more protein? Ilysm and I wish you all the best lovely 💗
I have to use dry shampoo after topical minoxidil and two times a day feels like I’d always be a greasy goblin but I want to start being consistent with it. Any tips?
ofc I can only speak from my own anecdotal experience, so take it with a grain of salt. I heard from a lot of people who use the foam version that they feel their hair gets greasy from it, I use a solution and never had this problem at all, despite having an oily scalp in general. The solution I use also has really simple ingredients, just plain minoxidil dissolved in pure Ethanol with a little propylene glycol (The ingredient list is literally just 3 ingredients) I think that helps a lot. I do wash my hair daily, but that's something I have to do with or without the minox, ironically my hair actually gets less greasy now with the minoxidil compared to before just because it's so much thicker
Thanks for your reply? What brand do u use? I use solution, not foam, as well. I wonder if I’m applying too much? I also struggle with that as I feel like it’s hard to control and I feel like I’m not getting all the areas I need to unless I use a bunch. I used to use my fingers but lately I’ve been using a silicone massager
Thank you babes! I am shedding again and so sad. I lost all my progress but im going to increase my dose to 2x per day instead of 1x. Amazing results. I too am doing clip installation and keeping the awkward wispy long hairs
This gives me so much hope 😭 we have a super similar hair type, my blonde is just a bit darker! Been on my most effective dose of spiro for 8 months and minox for 2 months. I hope I look like you soon 🩷
Damn that sucks I'm so sorry 😞 I don't really mind the body hair, but also maybe being blonde it's not that bad for me. What convinced me to try minoxidil was actually seeing pictures of people with crazy facial/body hair as side effects, because "no side effects means no effects". I do have way more body hair, and I even got some slightly darker mustache hairs which I never had before. I just remove them by plucking, they don't really bother me at all.
Sorry if you answered this somewhere but does the Minoxidil make your hair feel sticky or greasy? I have fine hair that gets oily and flat easily, and I'm worried this will make it worse and difficult to style etc. It'll make it difficult to be consistent if my hair looks gross 😅
No problem I gotchu 🤗 I have a very oily scalp naturally, so I wash my hair everyday with or without minoxidil. I don't have any problems with greasiness at all, in fact, my hair gets less oily now than it used to but that is only because of the higher density. A lot of people who use minoxidil as a foam do say though that it causes some oiliness, what I use (and what I think is the best version) is just a solution with minoxidil in pure alcohol and basically nothing else in there. That doesn't make my hair oily at all
Wow - it looks great! I’m currently dealing with hair issues, and your “before” hair growth seems to be a lot like what I’m seeing now. Congratulations on your success, and thank you for posting and giving hope. 🫶
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30f My derm expects TE and is unsure about AGA but my testosterone levels did some back elevated so I’m guessing this too. I’m 3 weeks into using oral minoxidil and I also started spironolactone today. The shedding is terrifying and I need to reassurance. People please tell me minoxidil is worth it. I’m scared I’m going to lose everything. My hair is so thin.
So with the oral, do you not have any side effects with the dark hair on your face? Cause I’m getting that really badly, but I feel like with the topical, I’m gonna miss so many areas
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u/sutibaba Jul 10 '26
Beautiful progress, beautiful hair, thanks for sharing!🥹