Regaine/Minoxidil users support thread

[MargotMoon]

I've just started my second month's supply of Regaine 2% and I'm trying to hold my nerve because the shedding over the last couple of weeks has been a bit alarming, although I was expecting it.

I'm using the liquid and applying once a day at bedtime but using double dose, as can't apply morning and evening as it makes my hair so greasy. Have ordered the foam to try next month to see what that's like, but that's a once a day formula anyway.

Please tell me it will get better!

Current state - stupidly forgot to take a pic before I started. This is taken with very wet hair so looks pretty bad, but I style with side parting and when it's dry it's not as noticeable.

Oh thanks for doing this op, it's very interesting! I have thin hair (thyroid issues) and am keen to hear about all possible helping treatments.

Minoxidil is only for androgenic alopecia as far as I'm aware. Basically hereditary hair loss (my dad, aunts and uncles are all bald!)

This is what it looks like dry and styled. I thought taking this would make me feel better but it's still looking pretty thin there!

Hi Margo my hair was much, much worse than yours when I started using minoxidil. I was in agonies at the hairdressers when my pink scalp was showing through. I knew the decision to start meant it was for life though and I "dreaded the shed". I started in January. I use the 5% foam which I've got used to applying. After 5 months I noticed a difference. At six months I returned to the hairdresser and didn't have that horrifying moment in front of the mirror.
It's now December and I couldn't be happier. I can go out on windy days, swim in the pool and I've got my life back.

Here's mine, it has really thinned over the last year especially at the front. I've been trying 5% foam for 2 months so far. No worse or better, but know it will take at least 6 months to start to see any improvement 🤞

Ds(15) has been using the foam, prescribed, for 7 months and while his hair is still thin we do notice it much less so think it has improved it..

@Sargassoseas Thanks, it's good to hear a success story! So you use the men's formula? Have you noticed any other effects like facial hair? I get enough lip and chin hair at the moment to deal with, not sure I could handle any more! And how long did the shedding phase last? Mine seems to have slowed down these last couple of days

@BrokenWing Good that it's not got worse! Didn't you get much in the way of shedding then? Shame that your DS has to use it at such a young age My DD thankfully seems to have her father's excellent head of hair.

Margo no it's the women's foam. I tried to really prepare for it shedding by buying lots of headbands etc. To be honest it would shed all the time anyway and there would be piles of my hair all around the house it was very depressing.
The last straw before I started using the foam was that I cleared out the plug hole and there was so much hair it was like a full thick pony tail.
I was expecting to get little new baby hairs but it didn't work like that, it just seemed to get fuller. No extra facial hair!
Really give it 7 months at least.

I use 5% foam, have done for several years.
I also have highlights (blond through mousy brown/ grey hair) because I find it much more forgiving than the all over brown colours I used before.

Sargasso that's great that it has grown back fuller! I'm keeping everything crossed

Speed I have a highlights appointment booked for Jan

Which foam exactly have you all been getting? All the women's ones I have looked at say 2%

For those the foam has worked for, can I ask what age you are?

I am 51 and Dr says sometimes hair just thins with age and there is little can be done...😕

I am also on medication for high blood pressure which they say isn't related, but I am not too sure as it seems to shed pretty soon after I started that. Trying another medication now too (and hair vitamins!)

44, androgenic alopecia (GP referral to Dermatology, diagnosis from there). It's not miraculous but I have had regrowth and my hair isn't too bad now, really.

I buy any 5% foam. The men's one is often cheaper and it's the same, only the instructions differ as it's once a day for women, twice a day for men.

Ah I see @SpeedofaSloth so you buy 5% but just use once a day instead of twice? So effectively it's 2.5%. Didn't realise men's is cheaper! Good tip, thanks

TBH my dermatologist told me to go straight to the 5% foam, and that the brand didn't matter. If you buy a package branded for women the instructions will say apply once daily, the one branded for men will say twice daily. It's the same product.

My 2% says twice daily, so assume the dose would be 1% + 1% so I just use twice as much once a day.

Anyway, I've now ordered some 5% for next time and will just use half whatever the dosage says

Argh, the shedding is still really bad and my scalp is so noticeable today!!

How long does this stage last?? It seems to be going on forever and getting worse, not better

I know I need to carry on but it just feels like I'm on a hiding to nothing at the moment

Wednesday woe. Losing so much hair, this lot in the shower this morning when I washed my it.

No idea if anyone is reading this but going to use this as a log of what's going on and hopefully in a few months will look back and be glad I stuck with it! Nearly finished the liquid, will start on the 5% foam soon so must be about 8 weeks in

How are you getting on now @MargotMoon? Another week made any difference?
I have to say it took about 5 months to start seeing a difference.
Don't be downhearted- just think that you're doing something about it now.
I'm not sure the women's foam is the same as the men's. I buy the women's and there's warnings all over it for men to not use it so I assumed it was different.
Once you start with the foam don't try to mess with the dose or anything- just follow the instructions and keep going.

Hi @Sargassoseas thanks for asking

Well the shedding seems to have slowed down, but only to pre-Minoxidil levels so no improvement as such, and on the days when I wash my hair a lot is still coming out.

I'm nearly out of the 2% liquid so about to start on the foam which is the men's 5% foam but planning to apply only once a day instead of twice.

Haven't noticed any other changes yet but at two months in I didn't expect to - early days, just keeping my fingers crossed 🤞

On to month 3 and using the 5% foam which doesn't feel like it's going on to my scalp as easily as the liquid. I bought a 3 month supply (for men) so I'm stuck with it for 6 months!

3 months in and still looking the same...wish I hadn't started taking the kids with wet hair for comparison, it looks so bad!

Haven't updated for a bit. Think this is about the end of month 6 and can't see any difference whatsoever! I've got 3 months' worth left so may as well keep going until that has been used up.

Hi my hairloss is bad and has been since I was 18 now 30 years old and still not good been back and forth to the doctors who have done all the necessary checks my thyroid has been overactive borderline a few times but the doc didn't think it was necessary to treat as my only symptom is hairloss. I have tried minoxidil as a liquid and found that I had lots of facial hair developing too however did help my hair lots I then switched to the foam but again had problems with facial hair and itchy head I have now decided to try again as I'm tired of using powders to disguise the hairloss not really appropriate for when it's raining or swimming or even the summer as I feel self conscious as the sun beams on my scalp it makes me feel as though the powder is more noticeable also good for if you have crown balding however mine is fine all over and not so good with parting balding as much harder to disguise which means having to have my hair half up half down or in a ponytail most of the time also other problem with the powder is when somebody touches your head applying hairspray helps but doesn't always keep all the fibres in place so it comes off on husbands shirt when cuddling on pillow etc I would upload a picture but have tried and cannot find the right icon that does it.
Anyway trying this again and hope this will help I guess I'm now at the stage where I would rather have facial hair if it happens and just pluck as apposed to being very fine on my head as people stare at my scalp instead of me and as mentioned above the hairdressers is a horrible chair to sit in when you have hair loss as the mirrors make it look far worse.