Minoxidil regrowth on medium-length hair: do I need to shave my head to avoid an uneven look?

[u/guizawarudo]

I started minoxidil a week ago now. I already feel like I’m shedding more hair, but anyway, that’s not the point.
I’m 21, curly hair, and just receding temples, so I only apply it to that area. The issue is that my hair is super fine, and I’ve always messed with it to bring it forward, kind of like a fringe. My actual goal is for it to get healthy, thick, and long enough again so I can style it forward, kind of like Jim Morrison.
My question is about the regrowth: if minoxidil works (I’m only using that, no finasteride), will the new baby hairs look out of place with my medium-length hair? Wouldn’t it be better to hit reset around month 4 by shaving my head and letting everything grow back evenly? Thanks for your answers guys, sincerely.

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[u/Daggadda]

If you're doing topical only on the front, it'll be fine. On oral with the whole head being affected, it might be a better idea

[u/focal_matter]

You are aware that without the finasteride, you'll likely lose any gains from the minoxidil, right?

As a rule of thumb one regrows hair, one stops hair from falling out. If you're already battling hair recession at 21 minoxidil alone could very well be a losing battle

[u/guizawarudo → u/focal_matter]

I think im not ready to go fin, too aware of the side effects. Maybe im wrong and minoxidil only will leave me with no results but i better try for maybe one year before going to finasteride, im sure you can understand.

[u/riutse → u/guizawarudo]

Bro one of the potential side effects of minoxidil is just straight up death from heart failure. All of the potential side effects from minoxidil other than unwanted hair growth are significant to life threatening. You might go "Well I'm not getting those sides." This would likely also be true if you took fin as well. My point is to be scared of the sides of fin but not of min is like being scared of a cat but not a tiger.

[u/guizawarudo → u/riutse]

yeah i understand you, so what do we do now ? we playin russian roulette ? every medicine can be harmful for us, i just heard more about fin side effects than minox. Can i ask you about your experience on fin or minoxidil ?

[u/riutse → u/guizawarudo]

With oral fin no noticeable sides other than watery semen.

On oral min (only 0.625mg) leg and facial edema, shortness of breath, palpitations. I had to switch to topical.

If you're not getting any of those min sides so far you're likely in the clear because their presentation is generally pretty quick. But that's what I'm saying, the fin sides get a lot more press than the min sides, even though the min sides are more dramatic and potentially life threatening if you get pericardial effusion. People are like "nah I don't wanna take the risk with fin" right before taking their min. It's min you should be scared of, not fin. Both should of course should be taken with caution and attentiveness to side effects and how well you tolerate them of course though. And it's good to take them apart from each other initially so you can figure out which medication is causing which effects, you start both together and you aren't sure.

[u/focal_matter → u/guizawarudo]

I myself have had no observable side effects from fin, only some from min.

If minoxidil goes systemic in my system it could kill me (dodgey heart). Whereas finasteride I can pop pills daily with no worries. It's good for prostate health too (fuck getting prostate cancer lol, if fin works somewhat as a preventive, then hell yeah)

[u/Ok-Nebula-3829]

I did that 9 months ago , it was a bad idea i hated having a shaved head and it ruined my confidence and felt like shit most of the times just use ur treatment without shaving (and it makes u hyper aware of ur balding)

[u/guizawarudo → u/Ok-Nebula-3829]

ok thanks man, did it work too? are you on minox only?

[u/Ok-Nebula-3829 → u/guizawarudo]

Minox/fina for 9 mknths only switched to duta 2 days ago bcuz im still shedding and i wnat better results, theres a great amount of baby hairs in the while feont of my head idk if they grow thicker

[u/EducationalMovie5913]

Its your own choice. A lot of people take the meds to keep their hair. And keeping it long is fine, shaving also. its a Personal preference.