Minoxidil Research Update – A New Year
Hello fellow bloggers and lurkers alike!
It’s been quite a while since I last made a blog post, and I figured it was about time. Things have changed since we last spoke, and from the pictures below, you will definitely see what I’m talking about.
It’s been almost a year since I stopped using Minoxidil 5% to treat my hair loss. I stopped using it because it seemed to lose its effectiveness. Basically, I started shedding again even though I was using it regularly, and there seemed to be no point in continuing the usual rituals…twice a day every day. It just wasn’t working out for me; therefore, I discontinued use.
Last Saturday, I finally threw the towel in and shaved my head. I said “game over” and took it all off, and you know what? It actually wasn’t that bad. I used to be self-conscious about my hair…I mean…REALLY SELF-CONSCIOUS. However, I’ve finally accepted the fact that my hair is going to fall out no matter what. I still feel a little disappointed that at 23, I see so many older men with a full lock of hair, but oh well, I guess.
When my friends and family first saw the new shaved head, some said they liked it while others seemed kind of confused. They had this kind of look about them which spoke to me, saying “what happened?” As if they didn’t notice that I was losing my hair all along. I guess I’ve done a good job of hiding it, but now it practically hits you in the face when you look at me. Geez. I substitute teach, and today was the first day the usual kids I teach had seen me since the new due. One kid was like…”hey, why’d you just shave the front off???” Yeah, that’s it…I just shaved the front off. :/
You know, I’m actually considering going back to using Minoxidil for my hair loss. I mean, it’s been almost a year since I stopped using it. Who knows? Maybe it will have regain its effectiveness again. It could be that my body is no longer used to the drug and would respond pretty well to treatment. Heck, it worked pretty wickedly good the first time, so it’s possible. If not, I won’t be too upset or anything, but it’s worth a try really. I mean, why not? It would be an interesting experiment nonetheless and would bring back what this blog has been all about from the beginning: researching Minoxidil 5% for the benefit of other prospective users who are out there.
So, does anyone have any thoughts on this? Who would like to see me use Minoxidil again to see what effects it has on me at this point?
Minoxidil Not Working? Buy Nanoxidil!
For those who stay in tune with the most recent hair loss news, it’s not big secret that a new product entitled Nanoxidil has been hyped up recently. Last year, several news articles spoke of Divine Skin Inc. and their creation of a new molecule which was said to be a close relative to Minoxidil. Nanoxidil was said to be stronger and more beneficial to hair than Minoxidil without causing as many of the negative side effects Minoxidil is known to cause. Many have anxiously awaited the arrival of this drug, and to my surprise, it is finally out on the market.
I was very surprised to see that the product is already out on the market considering Divine Skin said clinical trials were needed before Nanoxidil would be available for sale. Apparently, the company has worked very quickly and put forth the necessary effort to get this stuff out in less than a year’s time.
Nanoxidil could be the next step for me as I continue to battle hair loss. I’m still debating whether or not I should try out Propecia or stick with using Minoxidil. My worry is that if I switch from Minoxidil to Nanoxidil, I may experience rapid hair loss during the transition. I’m also very worried about the sexual side effects Propecia is reported to cause. Who knows what I will do next. In any case, Nanoxidil sure does look pretty interesting.
Ladies and Gentlemen, I AM BACK! ***BIG ANNOUNCEMENT***
Wow, it has been so long since I have mad a post on my blog. First and foremost, I want to apologize to all of the commenters and followers of the blog who have been left in suspense from my temporary “retirement.” When I started this blog, I didn’t think anyone actually read my posts of kept track of my progress. It seems over the past several months, I have gained a few followers, and for this reason, I am very excited to inform you all that my weekly posts will be returning starting next week!
Before I tell you about the events to come, I want to first do something I have never really done before on this blog…tell you a little bit about myself. First and foremost, my name is Holden Harris, and I just turned 23 on July 5th this year. I am a psychology graduate, musician, and Christian from Louisiana. This is me ———->
For those who have missed out on my previous posts, I started taking Minoxidil 5% a year ago because my hair was receding at a rapid rate, and I wanted to do something about it. I was not happy with the fact that at 22 years old, I was already losing what used to be very thick and curly hair. Since I started taking the medicine, I have not stopped, and my achieved results while using have all been posted here.
When I last gave an update on my Minoxidil progress, I reported that my hair seemed to be shedding a bit. The sad fact is that this shedding continued throughout my use, and have lost much of the progress I made. This isn’t to say that I have lost it all, but once I post pictures of my hair next week, you will surely notice the difference. The hair on my temples has thinned out once again. The dilemma I am facing is that I am not sure if this thinning is because the Minoxidil has completely lost its effectiveness of only some of it. I keep taking Minoxidil because I am worried that if I don’t my hair will thin out even more. At the same time, my Minoxidil use may not even be affecting my hair at all. Because I just don’t know, I keep taking it anyways. I had high hopes that I would keep seeing significant hair growth results for several years with Minoxidil, but it seems this is not the case. Tragic, I know, but read on…
Even though my progress has been halted, I’m excited to tell you that this war is not over yet. You know why? Because I’m going to keep on fighting. ”How?,” you may ask. Well, guess what? I’ve decided to take Propecia. Yes, that’s right. Starting in either August or September, I will begin taking Propecia alongside Minoxidil 5% in an effort to battle hair loss and re-ignite the follicles on my scalp once again!
Propecia is one of the staple drugs used to help regrow hair that is out there today. There is tons of information about Propecia here on my blog, and I suggest you dig through some of my older posts if you would like to learn more about it. As with any drug, there are side effects, good and bad, that I have carefully read over and am prepared to deal with. With all this being said…the game is on.
For year two of Minoxidil Research Results, we will see what the effects of using a Minoxidil / Propecia cocktail to battle hair loss can do for me. We’ve seen over the past year that Minoxidil can and will help grow your hair back. Now, what will Propecia do? Will it be cheaper? Will it be more effective? Will it be effective at all? These are the questions that I hope I can answer for you as I make weekly updates showing pictures of my hair and reporting my progress to you all.
Thank you to everyone who has shown support by commenting and following my blog. Seeing all the positive comments and encouragement from readers has given my a newfound inspiration and drive to do this all again. I have taken much from this experience, and I hope that everyone out there can learn something from this as well. If you are still out there, please let me know you are by messaging or commenting to show your love. Again, thanks everyone, and stay tuned as we work our way through year two of Minoxidil Research Results!
Minoxidil Research Update 1/23/12 – Week 26
Hello, all! I’ve been steady Minoxidiling as much as I can, so that the results will keep coming. I have a little bit of bad news this week…well, unsure news to say the least. I actually suspect that the Minoxidil may be losing effectiveness for me… 
. For a while now, I have been experiencing shedding every time I get a shower. I reported a while back that this had started happening, but I thought it would slow down. It hasn’t. It isn’t that the shedding has been too terribly bad, but it has been there. In addition, my hair seems to be extra fragile. For example, when I try to pull Minoxidil flakes from my hair, sometimes, I will end up pulling a few strands of hair out as well. The hair never hurts my scalp when it comes out…it just pulls right out like it’s barely in there or something.
I’m not sure exactly what is happening, but I hope to God that this stuff retains my hair. I do not want to end up back where I was anytime soon. I am 22 years old, and I would hate to be almost bald at this age. I know that the time will come at some point, but I just don’t want it to come right now.
I’m not sure if I am just self-conscious or not, but I feel like my hair looks noticeably thinner. Of course, it always looks a little thinner when it gets longer, but I am just not sure. I’m getting a haircut this weekend for my engagement pictures on Sunday, so I guess we will see how my shorter hair looks next week. Until then, peace out, and stay steady Minoxidiling.
Minoxidil Research Update 1/16/12 – Week 25
Shedding has been happening, but it is definitely not as much as when I was losing hair and receding at a rapid rate several months ago. As far as I can tell, my hair is looking that same as when much of it grew back. During showers or when I scratch my hair, some hair appears on my hand, but I am hoping this is nothing serious. I would hate for Minoxidil to lose effectiveness so quickly on me.
When I was younger, I seemed to mature much faster than those in my grade. I had a “mustache” on my upper lip when others had no sign of facial hair. I always thought that I went through puberty much faster and matured much faster than those who were in my grade. Of course, I naive and only 11-12, but who knows? I could be right.
Anyways, because of the light shedding I have experienced, I haven’t ruled out the idea that since I matured much faster than many that I could be adapting to Minoxidil much faster. In other words, I haven’t ruled out the fact that Minoxidil could be losing its effectiveness faster on me as compared to others. I hope this isn’t the case, but with a medication that affects everyone differently, you cant rule out such things.
Hopefully this isn’t the case, but happy Martin Luther King Jr. Day anyways. The mail didn’t run today, and for this reason, I didn’t receive the croquet set that me and my fiance ordered for our wedding. Oh well, happy holidays, and MINOXIDIL SAFELY! and furthermore…REASONABLY…
