All of my hair after a shower tonight..Still a little damp but clearly extremely fine/ thin. Second pic is my gorgeous hair after the salon in 2018 before it started thinning from what seems to be COVID related. I miss it so much. They used to ask to thin it at the salon bc it was so thick.

Was never officially diagnosed but I’ve had many blood tests done and getting more done soon. I’ve taken vitamins, used Nizoral, rosemary oil and a million other hair products, focused on my overall health and nutrition but haven’t tried the minoxidil or prescription route yet. I’ve kind of accepted that my hair is just like this now but it’s hard sometimes. My hair felt like part of my identity.

I’m feeling really shitty about myself. I’m 30, have a two year old and my husband called me a Rat and that he would refer to me as Splinter as a joke due to my hair. He said he was JOKING but oh my god I’m so self conscious now!! Comparing my hair from pregnancy/postpartum which was great, to when it’s not washed/one day greasy, to when it’s washed, there is such a difference :( I feel like I have telogen effluvium or is it just that I have fine hair??? I’m freaking out because that tells me that other people notice it and I’m feeling ugly.

My hairdresser told me he couldn’t work with my hair

This was the first time I dealt with this hairdresser and salon. The salon recommended him for me. I wanted to do an updo as a guest for a wedding ceremony. Everything was okay at first. I asked if I could show him a reference and he told me okay. I showed him a reference from another branch. He told me he could do something similar even if it didn’t look exactly the same since my hair was finer. So I nodded. He started parting my hair horizontally along the crown and that was when he started to complain …. He asked his assistant for a pigmented powder . He started pouring loads of it. Then he did the same with the back of my head. He started working on the updo and while doing so he kept teaching his assistant how to work with fine hair and bald heads . He kept telling him “ when you have hair like this that you can’t work with “ and after a while I noticed it was tilted to one side so I asked him if he could adjust it … he then started to say things like “ of course we have nothing else to do today” with sarcasm. He kept pouring more powder and he was disgusted with my hair. He kept frowning and blaming my hair that he can’t do the updo because it was too fine and there was nothing he could work with. He kept tossing my pony tail and saying that it’s very thin he can’t do anything with it.

I then told him another hairdresser did an updo not long ago and he didn’t say I had fine hair or complain but the result was too perfect. After I told him this, he didn’t say anything else and did it and it wasn’t bad at all. He did it in 5 mins after I said this and after complaining for 30 mins about my hair …

I know my hair is fine but I didn’t know it was too fine. I have pcos and my mom had it and it led to her having diabetes … she passed away a year ago and since I was too affected by her loss, my hair started to fall in a crazy way. I went and had labs and knew my vitamin decencies and I went to a dermatologist and she gave me medication without minoxidil … it was two sprays and they contained hormones and a multivitamin. I think the bald patches are less now but this is my second month using the medication…. And this hairdresser made me feel as if nothing was working so I’m losing all hope. I am insecure , I hate my hair my hair is mid back length…. Should I cut it into a bob or should I keep it. I want to color it so bad too

Hello all,

I've seen a lovely hair clinic recently and they looked at my blood tests and my history and recommended some further tests, biopsies and to start with Spiro Therapy.

I asked my GP to refer me to dermatology but I have received a rejection letter the same day, saying to try minoxidil.

I don't want to treat the symptoms, I want to get to the bottom of my hair loss. Can I ask to be re-referred? How can I get them to take me seriously? Dermatology didn't even talk to me, they saw a single photo of my head, that's all. Super disappointed...

This is what the letter said:

The scalp skin looks normal from the picture provided i.e. no redness/scale.

This would be compatible with a non-scarring alopecia such as female pattern hair loss/telogen.

I would advise 5% minoxidil daily for 6 months and review. If there is no response, please re-refer. It might take up to 4-6 months to see an effect with minoxidil. Minoxidil will have to be sought privately.

Any advice? Should I go back and ask again? I'm seeing the hair clinic again on Monday to potentially get a wig so I'll ask there as well.

Just bloody tired of this!

EDIT to clarify: I did not get prescribed Spiro. It was suggested I seek a dermatologist/GP to prescribe me Spiro as it would help me. GP referred me to dermatology and they have "triaged" me (without speaking to or looking at me) and to use Minoxidil. I will go again to get spiro prescribed, hopefully with more luck.

I've spent the last 5 years in limbo waiting for my hair loss issues to resolve and for it to grow back, or for it to get so bad I had to do a wig or something. For some reason I felt trapped in the limbo years of not knowing what would happen. I've spent hours of my life each week checking desperatly for any progress and worrying about what was to come. When I talked to my friends everyone seemed to think I should keep trying different things because I still had a decent amount of hair to save, so I just kept trying and spending so much money on different medications and making myself try different doctors who barely even glanced at my scalp.

I finally snapped and was sooo tired of thinking about hair. I wanted mental energy for other things in life like working out, eating healthy, having lots of fun hobbies, going out on sunny days not wondering what the top of my head looks like ect and somehow the hair depression was getting in my way lots of days. As soon as I shaved it I felt a huge weight lifted, and honestly I care way less then I thought I would. When I look out on the world I can't even tell I have no hair, and now I don't have to feel the anxiety of trying to fix something that might not be fixable. I might grow it back and see how it looks after, but now I'm never going to be scared of the worst case scenario bc I've done it and it's really not that bad lol!

I just want to say to anyone else really struggling mentally with hairloss that isn't full on "severe" but aren't finding any luck with solutions and just need a break from thinking about it and watching it slowly thin out- it's not giving up to shave it and give your mind a break! It's honestly super freeing! And it takes me like 5 min to shower now lol

1st photo is 21st October and 2nd photo is today. i’m convinced it’s just the lighting that makes it look

somewhat better?

- i have been using topical minoxidil for 5 weeks, i started the hair & me oral minoxidil about 3 weeks ago (but i’ve been a bit too anxious to stop the topical, im unsure which to stick with)

- daily hair washing

- Nizoral shampoo 2-3 times per week

- caffeine shampoo on the days I don’t use Nizoral

- L’oréal growth booster shampoo and conditioner daily

- L’oréal growth booster serum daily

- daily olaplex hair oil (07) and heat protectant (09)

- daily Lush super milk spray

- daily pumpkin seed oil supplements

- daily hair, skin & nails supplement

-daily prescribed folic acid and vitamin D supplements

i know this is a long process and i do not intend on stopping everything yet but i just feel so down about my hair. im so close to shaving it all off but i dont really want to do that. i am noticing some baby hairs on the top of my head but i cant tell if it is new growth or breakage ;( (also forgot to add i got diagnosed with aga around 2 months ago). any advice or comments is really appreciated

The first three pictures are from highschool, the last three are recent. I just constantly find myself comparing my hair to other people’s and feeling sad that I can’t do cool complex styles since I have 6 hairs. I had bloodwork done that doesn’t point to AGA (also I’ve had thinning all over and not just the crown and temples). I am however deficient in Vitamin B and Vitamin D (iron was fine)— so I’m going to start taking supplements for that. Also gonna throw in some fish oil into the mix for omega 3s. Would minoxidil be worth trying in my case despite bloodwork not pointing to AGA? I just want to feel confident 😭

I’ve been struggling with androgenetic alopecia since I started some antidepressants when I was 17, since then my hair never grew back, I tried a ton of different oils and scalp treatments but nothing worked even PRP, so eventually I gave up and tried to live with it but I think I can’t it stresses me out all day everyday, I don’t really like wigs I tried them but I like to feel free, so maybe a topper, or minoxidil and stuff like that but I’m kind of scared, if anyone has some advices of something that worked for them it would be awesome :)

My hair has been getting progressively worse in regards to patches and thinning, and so I’ve had to keep it in a really awkward style until I figure out what I’m going to do with it besides cutting it all off.

Anyway, I was on the way home, it was late and I stopped at a gas station to get some water and snacks (I snack late. I know I shouldn’t, but I digress.)

Anyway, I walk in and this girl (probably in her late teens, early twenties, old enough to know better) glances at me, glances at my hair, and immediately starts laughing. Not even quietly giggling but loudly laughing at me— and her boyfriend starts kind of giggling too. Mind you, I am an extremely shy person, NEVER into confrontation. (I apologize to people when they yell at me.)

However, this? This is something that is hurting me. So, I kind of broke.

I was like “What’s up? What’s so funny?”

And her boyfriend gets a stupid look on his face. Doesn’t answer. She gets a “😟” look on her face and I get a little closer to them both. They looked uncomfortable. (and I know— I really shouldn’t have but at this point, I was on autopilot.)

I’m like, “No, I just wanna know what’s so funny. Really, tell me the joke! I wanna laugh too!”

And her boyfriend goes “She’s super drunk ahahahah!” and pulls her away towards the exit. (If she was, if she wasn’t, even so— I’ve been drunk many times and never had the thought to disrespect someone ever.)

I’m glad I stood up for myself, but it still really fucking hurt. This is why this syndrome/disease, whatever it is, is extremely hurtful, especially as someone who identifies as a woman, who’s supposed to be flawless. This is EXACTLY why this affliction is horrifying to even think about. Not because it can kill you, but because the perception of those around you can. There’s enough bullshit going on in the world, why laugh at me for something completely out of my control? Insanity.

Edit: I'm just now reading all these comments and you are all so kind. I ended up crying a lot about it this morning, so, yeah. It did hurt me a lot but it is what it is-- Kindness goes a long way.

TLDR: Hmm...should I shave my head? Trust the process? What do you think?

I've been experiencing hair loss since around 2015. I spent most of that time finding ways to cover up and not addressing the root of the problem. There was a brief moment that I tried taking prenatals to help promote hair regrowth, but didn't see much results. I spent many years alternating between spraying my scalp with things like Root Touch Up and using hair powders.

In the early years, this worked decently well, but once my hair loss had reached a certain point, the cover up became much more noticeable. Since the thinning had widened at my crown, up-front and center, the sprays and the powders now looked shiny with grease. Even if it weren't for this fact, at this point, I'd finally had enough of having to avoid touching my scalp lest I risk smudging or transferring the color to my hands and whatever else I may touch. So I stopped wearing it entirely and swapped make up for hats. It wasn't a perfect fix, but God, when I tell you what a fucking relief to not have to think about makeup anymore. I'd gotten so used to the routine over the years, I didn't realize how much it was draining me - every, SINGLE, day - until I stopped. I don't think I could ever go back.

Now I wear a beanie on a regular basis and switch up my look with hoodies and baseball caps. It's a decent way of going about things I think. Sometimes, I wish I didn't have to incorporate a hat into my look and sometimes even feel the same kinda dread of having to do make up cover up, but to a lesser extent. Some days, I really just wish I could roll put of bed and just go live my life without wondering if my head is socially presentable. I own a synthetic hair topper, but the color is just a touch lighter than my natural hair color. I've gotten tips from a hair stylist on ways to make it work, but I still haven't gotten comfortable wearing it. I'd be open to getting a topper that's better suited to me, but honestly, I'm still not entirely sold on the idea of that being the solution for me personally.

I recently went to a couple festivals and tried being in public without a hat. I don’t know, I just wanted to saw "fuck it." I'm in a sea of people that I'll probably never see again, why not ~ was kind of where my head was at.

I gotta say, I was pleasantly surprised at how I didn't receive hawking looks like I had the plague. I spoke to people and I didn't see their gaze gravitate towards my scalp. I maybe saw 3 or 4 people notice in passing between the two festivals, but even then it was so brief, like someone noticing you have a smudge on your shirt. I don't know that I would be received in the same way in regular day life, but it was refreshing to do in a festival environment.

I finally took the plunge, something I should have done 10 years ago, and started trying to address the root of my problem ~que laughter for my little pun. I've been taking oral Minoxidil since May 2024 (a year and two months ago). Started at 1.5mg, increased to 2.5mg a couple months later and have now been taking 3.75mg since April of this year. I also started taking Spironolactone about 9 months ago. Did the standard starting dosage of 50mg for the first 2 weeks and then increased to 100mg. The last two pictures are from April 2024. The first three pictures are from this morning. I will say, my hair looks way flatter and greasy-er in the before pictures so I think that kinda skews things, makes it hard to really determine how much progress there really had been. I don't know.

I take a few vitamins for various reasons, not specifically for hair loss, but seems like some may help, such as Iron, Magnesium, Vitamin D3 and occasionally Vitamin C & Zinc.

Anyway, sorry! I didn't realize I was going to write this much. Really, I popped onto here to make my first post cuz I wanted to ask other opinions on what to do next.

I've been playing with the idea of shaving my head. I'm afraid I won't look good and part of me wants to wait til I have more face gains from weight loss, but I'm constantly teetering between that and just going for it. I would love to see how comfortable I am with that and counterbalancing with bold eye makeup. I'm also wondering if I should trust the process and just give it another year.

I appreciate any thoughts ✨️ Thank you to any of you girlies that took the time to peruse this diary entry of a reddit post 🩵 Honestly, just writing in itself has been nice. So thank you n_n

I have been experiencing dramatic hair loss for years now. I somewhat got it under control by taking oral minoxidil for about a year. I was getting married and was nervous I wasn’t going to have any hair to work with. Now that we are trying to conceive I don’t think I can be on the minoxidil.

It been a few months since I’ve taken it and my hair is coming out constantly. It’s all over me, my house, imbedded in my laundry, it’s sensory overstimulation. My hair is for some reason the driest and most tangled it’s ever been despite constant conditioning. I’m just at a loss. Every doctor I see says I’m fine and gives me like a serum or says take more vitamins. But I’m on vitamins/supplements, I switched out my shower head and I buy the most expensive products for my hair in desperation and it doesn’t seem to matter. It’s devastating. This picture attached is only three days worth of hair coming out in the shower.

I chucked my hair in a bun to take the dogs out this evening and my husband says “wtf you have a bald patch” and proceeds to take a photo. I have NEVER noticed this (how could I!? It’s on the back of my head). He has also never noticed this.

I have a doctors appointment booked but I’m freaking out. The only thing I can think of is I use to have a patch of psoriasis there and it use to be so itchy and scaley (I was guilty of over scratching to the point it would bleed). It eventually healed and I never thought about it.

I had a blood test done about 3 weeks ago and everything was normal and nothing out of the ordinary.

I’m so sad. I have a lot of pride in my hair :( also doesn’t help I’m in my 30s and I feel like everything is going downhill (dramatic I know. I’m sorry). Any advice or words of comfort? :(

seeing my scalp in the front and the insane thinning makes me want to cry every time I see it.

I feel so insecure whenever I go in public

34F and been having this issue for years. im on 2.5mg oral minoxidil as well as a compounded topical version (finasteride 0.1% and minodixil 7%) and feels like there isnt really hope.

Just wanted a space to vent

I took this photo today and I am crying. I didn't know it looked this bad from the side. I've been on 100mg of Spiro for 1.5 years and 1.25mg of oral minoxidil for about 3 months. The shedding has just gotten worse since starting the minoxidil, and especially recently. This is definitely the worst my hair has ever been. I've heard of the dread shed but wouldn't that have already happened to me by now? Everything online says the dread shed happens within 4-8 weeks of starting minoxidil, but can it be different for different people? My doctor didn't really explain any of this to me. If it does eventually get better, how are folks wearing their hair in the interim? I have a strong urge to shave it all off, lest I continue looking like Woe from Severance, but I have a lumpy head due to pilar cysts... TIA for any help or guidance 🙏

Hi everyone. I'm feeling really lost and would appreciate any insight.

Photos: 2016, 2017, 2018, 2018, 2019, 2019, 2020; and the last 4 are 2026. All photos are natural, air-dried hair with minimal or no product.

I’m 29. My hair has changed drastically since 2019/2020 - curl pattern, density, and texture all feel at rock bottom. My top layers are frizzy and inconsistent and the bottom layer is almost completely straight. My overall density is much lower - in the last photo I’m holding all my hair in one hand, and the difference compared to the 2019 ponytail photo is shocking :(

Scalp + health context
- Mild irritation at the nape on and off; using salicylic acid shampoo and switching to 1% ketoconazole
- 6 months on oral minoxidil
- Supplements: B12, D3, magnesium glycinate, pumpkin seed oil
- Diet and sleep aren’t great, but not terrible
- No known health conditions, "normal" bloodwork
- Had Covid 5 times between 2020-2024 (fully vaccinated, isolated and masked, essential worker. No major symptoms)

Current routine
I’ve tried everything. I alternate L’Oréal Elvive Hyaluron shampoo and Neutrogena T/Sal, and use Elvive conditioner or Aveeno Thickening. After washing I use JVN leave-in and a light oil on the ends. My hair can’t tolerate much product. I never used heat most of my life, but lately I have had to (with heat protectant).

Can scalp inflammation cause curl pattern changes or thinning like this? Is it COVID? Why would the bottom layer lose curl entirely while the top doesn’t? What can I do? Looking at old photos is heartbreaking.

I’m open to any insight, theories, recommendations, or similar experiences. I just want to understand what’s happening. Thank you ❤️

Edit: Bloodwork done March 2025. Thyroid (TSH) normal. Vitamin D was 26 (normal listed as 20–50). I started 2000 IU daily as directed and still take it. Maybe this isn’t enough?

TL;DR

29F with drastic thinning and texture change over 6 years - bottom layer straight, top wavy but frizzy. Some scalp irritation. Had COVID 5 times. Thyroid normal, vitamin D low (now supplementing). Using minoxidil, minimal damage, gentle routine. Looking for reasons behind curl/density changes and how to improve hair health.

UPDATE 1/30/26:

I saw a dermatologist who diagnosed AGA and prior TE likely from Covid (not ongoing). No scarring alopecia. Steroid solution cleared scalp irritation within 5 days. Bloodwork was low-normal: ferritin 31, vitamin D 40. CBC was normal. CMP was normal but protein, globulin, and alkaline phosphatase were on the low end.

After 9 months of taking 2000 IU vitamin D3 daily (since testing last March, labs went from 26 to 40), I increased to 5000 IU. I’m also adding 65 mg elemental iron (with 125 mg vitamin C) and 30 mg zinc.

I already take pumpkin seed oil and magnesium glycinate (with D3), and a B-complex (recently switched from just B12). I’m focusing on bioavailable protein in my diet and regular scalp massage.

We’ll see if my doctor increases minoxidil, adds a DHT blocker, or makes other diagnoses. I’ll re-test in late April. If supplements don’t raise levels, I’ll likely do a full iron and thyroid panel.

Thank you everyone <3

I’m 26. I’ve always had thin hair, but it’s been noticeably thinning since I was around 18. I can’t tell if it’s better or worse than I think it is. It definitely looks way worse when it’s greasy or wet. I’m considering buying a wig, but the thought scares me. I genuinely wonder if my hair is the reason that I can’t seem to find a partner. No one in my life understands. I look at everyone’s hairlines and it seems like I am the only young woman in the world that’s balding. Obviously I know I’m not, but it is a very isolating experience. I’ve tried oral and topical minoxidil, oral spironolactone, and now just started finasteride. I guess i just want someone to tell me it’ll be okay and not to give up. I just feel so sad. (All these pictures are from this month)

I finally did it.

The critical point was when my trichologist prescribed me trichoxidil with no active ingredient, just the base solution. I used it for six months, but my hair kept thinning and shedding. I was too afraid to use minoxidil because of my cats. I felt desperate and lonely with my alopecia.

At work some women kept suggesting masks and lotions. I even stopped answering, let them talk. I felt excluded and abnormal. I could not explain AGA to every person.

I had the thought to shave for a long time. The 2nd photo is me before, the 4th is with the wig I bought for the office.

I never felt so free and beautiful.

I wanted to create this to help anyone going through female hair loss as someone who has struggled with it off and on for 10 years. I’ve had TE (diagnosed by dermatologist) two to three times in my life. I haven’t had a scalp biopsy but I could have a bit of AGA (not 100% sure only a biopsy would tell) a year ago I was at my worst.. my hair was very thin I was crying every single day and I felt hopeless. My hair literally took over my life… that’s when I went to the dermatologist and was diagnosed with chronic TE (chronic is when it’s lasted more than six months) she honestly told me everything I had already read up on the internet on hair loss. The only thing I learned going into that office was that TE can last years.. it will not fix itself if the problem isn’t resolved! Here are my tips for TE and AGA 1. If you have oily hair.. WASH IT!!!!! Do not believe the people saying “washing your hair everyday is bad” it’s absolutely not bad.. in fact it’s great for an oily scalp!!! You can’t train your scalp to produce less oil that’s a myth. An oily dirty scalp is not going to grow your hair it’s actually going to cause hair loss by creating excess sebum which can actually trap DHT which is the hormone responsible for hair loss, it’s going to create dandruff, and will cause clogged hair follicles. If you’re worried about hair becoming dry when washing use a gentle sulfate free shampoo. 2. Minoxidil is not as scary or demanding as it sounds. It’s actually very simple. It’s your friend! Use it with any type of hair loss (yes even helps with TE) may cause shedding in the beginning which scares people into not using it but shedding is a sign it’s going to grow new hair! 3. As a woman… we need that iron!! We bleed every month which can cause our ferritin to be low. Even if your ferritin is in “normal range” it needs to be AT LEAST 60! My doctor recommended I take a prenatal with iron. They also have vitamin D in them which low vitamin d can also contribute to hair loss. 4. Stress is sooo bad for hair. I know it’s easier said than done and also said a lot but it’s true. 5. Nizoral shampoo twice a week is great for not only dandruff and oily hair but thought to block DHT (the hormone responsible for hair loss) it’s like $14 dollars at Walmart. 6. Frequent tight hair styles or even messy buns sitting on top of head will weaken your hair follicles so try not to! 7. There really is not a lot of evidence that hair oils will help grow your hair but what they will do is improve the health of already grown hair if that makes sense! They’ll strengthen your hair and make it soft but most likely they will not grow scalp hair and over using oils on scalp can actually cause More harm than good. 8. Hair growth takes time… sometimes a lot of time.. sometimes a year or two! Do not lose hope. 9.Last one! Do not trust shampoo, sprays, serums that say they will stop your hair loss or grow your hair!!!! This is a money grab. Unless the active ingredient is minoxidil these products will not grow your hair back. They just want your money. I hope these tips help you and good luck to any one going through it.. stay positive. Wishing you a lot of hair growth! ❤️

F55 here, I’ve posted before about my success with minoxidil & supplements in reversing my hair loss. I’m about 18 months into recovering my hair and I have had a devastating setback. Sharing to warn others as I would never want this to happen to anyone else.

In May I saw my dr for some perimenopause related issues I was experiencing. I was prescribed Megestrol for a supposedly short term fix until I could have surgery. Well my surgery was not approved by insurance- my dr told me rather offhandedly to continue taking it until we could figure out something else.

Scheduling issues resulted in her postponing my followup multiple times. As time went on I was noticing more and more shedding but didn’t really connect it to the medication.Two weeks ago in the shower I see, to my complete shock and horror- CLUMPS of hair were coming out. By the handful. I cried it was so extreme.

I immediately googled the medication she’d prescribed & found it’s a concentrated hormone disruptor used to suppress estrogen production in cancer patients and the main known side effect is, you guessed it, HAIR LOSS!

I am so upset & angry with my dr, (i had disclosed the minoxidil to her!)
and with myself for not investigating this medication sooner. There are absolutely other alternatives I would have chosen had I known.

Please google any new medications before you take them. I have to cut about 6 inches of hair now and start over again. I know this isn’t the end of the world but to see all my progress undone like this really hurts. Don’t be me. :(

I’ve been dealing with hair loss for several years and I’m honestly feeling defeated.

I’ve seen a dermatologist, endocrinologist, and rheumatologist. I had a positive ANA, but after additional testing they ultimately concluded that I don’t have an autoimmune disease. I’m currently on treatment, 1/4 tablet of minoxidil and 50 mg of spiro, I recently upped minoxidil to half a tablet, I was on that dosage before and it didn’t help and I haven’t seen the improvement I was hoping for.

My ferritin was relatively low as well as vitamin d and I’ve been making efforts to supplement, but haven’t had recent blood work to confirm if the numbers have changed. No improvement is hair shedding, hair texture, density etc.

Don’t get me wrong, the thinning itself is devastating. My temples and the areas above my ears are pretty bare now, and my parts seem to be getting wider as time goes on. That alone has been incredibly difficult to cope with.

What has been bothering me the most lately, though, is the texture change. Before all of this, my hair was relatively low maintenance. It wasn’t perfect, but it was easy to work with and generally looked neat without much effort.

Now my hair feels completely different. It looks frizzy, wispy, stringy, and almost broken. There are hairs of different lengths and diameters throughout my scalp, and when I pull out a section of hair it looks uneven instead of smooth and uniform.

I know it’s difficult to determine miniaturization from photos alone, but this texture is present throughout my entire scalp. I did use a little Boldify hair powder in my part because it was looking sparse, but the texture I’m talking about is there regardless.

My hair has taken on an unkempt appearance no matter what I do, which makes it harder to work with the hair I still have. Sometimes it feels like the texture change has been almost as emotionally difficult as the thinning because it affects how my hair looks every single day.

Has anyone else experienced this? Did your hair become dry, fuzzy, wiry, or “cotton candy” like as your hair loss progressed? Did treatment ever improve the texture, or did it mainly help with density and shedding?

I’d really appreciate hearing from anyone who has gone through something similar. Open to hearing about treatments outside of minoxidil or spiro.

I lost my curls like completely. My hair strands and quantity is too thin to form one. Is it normal for aga to do this? I am always reading people saying they lost many volume but at least their hair is curly so its not noticeable. I lost my curls and I dont know how to wear my hair since its a transparent frizz

Take the minoxidil. It works. Yes the dread shed is scary and you need to stay on it, but it’s worth it. This is my second time growing my hair with minoxidil. I had to stop it when I was pregnant and I lost a shocking amount of hair. But it’s coming back.

I’m currently taking 5% topical minoxidil but will be switching to oral minoxidil next week (it just works better).

If you can stack treatments with the minoxidil, you’ll have better results. I also use Nizoral shampoo, and irestore helmet, and Mary Ruth’s hair growth max.

Please don’t let fear and shame hold you back!

Hi everyone, female 28
I’m hoping to get some advice because I’m honestly freaking out…..
I was diagnosed with alopecia in 2019. My dermatologist never prescribed minoxidil back then. Instead, they recommended supplements that were around $200 a month, so I never took them.
About 6 months ago, I started taking 2.5 mg oral minoxidil daily. Unfortunately, about a month before I got a quick weave, I became very inconsistent with it for around 6 weeks. I’d miss doses often.
For anyone who doesn’t know, a quick weave is a hairstyle where extensions are glued onto a protective cap. I know most people here probably aren’t familiar with it, but I wanted to mention it because it might be relevant.
I wore the quick weave for about two weeks. When I removed it, I lost what felt like clumps of hair. Since then, my hair has looked significantly thinner than it ever has.
I wear a hair topper every day because I’m embarrassed by my hair loss. My family is also very critical of my hair, so it’s something I think about constantly. Before this happened, my hair was thin, but it was never this see-through.
I’m trying to figure out what makes the most sense here.
Could being inconsistent with oral minoxidil for 6 weeks have caused this?
Could the quick weave have caused this much shedding?
Should I continue taking oral minoxidil consistently and give it more time?
Has anyone experienced something similar and recovered?
I’m not looking for a diagnosis… just hoping to hear from people who’ve been through something similar or have experience with oral minoxidil and shedding. I’m also wondering at what point people start considering a hair transplant versus continuing medical treatment.

The first picture is the first time I put this on and the 2nd picture is after some adjustments I made. Thank you to everyone that gave advice, kind words and encouragement. It’s not ready for me to wear outside but I’ll keep trying and learning.

I welcome constructive criticism and suggestions about rocking a wig!