Starting Propecia and Nizoral... Wait to add minoxidil?

[rigs03]

Hey guys. 27 years old, and until now had a very slowly receding hairline, however recently have noticed rapid shedding. My hair is everywhere- the sink, the shower, on books i read, papers i work on, etc. If i rub my head over the sink it will basically fall out until i stop.. I mean to the point where I can't even count them. SCARY.

So, I have decided it's time to start finasteride. I ordered online until I can get a prescription, which I have an appt scheduled for. In the meantime I have started nizoral 2x a week. I wash it with a very mild shampoo, rinse, and then apply nizoral and leave it in for 3-5 mins before rinsing it out. I also bought a tea tree conditioner to help not completely dry me out that I was going to use every now and then on "off" days...

1) Should I use the conditioner directly after the nizoral or should I just use it like I described above (on off days when i'm not using any shampoo)?

Finally, I am committed to starting finasteride and stay on for the long haul until I see results.

2) Should I prepare to even MORE shedding than I'm already seeing?! Because it is A LOT right now.

3) Is there any reason not to start minoxidil now? Or Should I wait until I am on the fina for a while (if so, how long?)

 

[andyoyo]

i'm in a pretty similar position mate....i second question no 3

- just started finasteride. my temples been going back for a while but this year really noticed thinning on top (even though my hair is quite thick, its pretty obvious when wet etc) shedding some hairs pretty regular too. scared me into doing something about it so here i am...

question is should i hold back on minoxidil for a rainy day (e.g if finasteride doesnt work / i want to come off finasteride), and also to minimise risk of crazy shedding from minoxidil which i dont like the sound of!

but if minoxidil likely to do loads of good and might not be just short term then should i just start now!??

opinions from knowledgeable ones appreciated please!

 

[zzzzz]

There is no harm in waiting to add the minoxidil if you decide to do that. But you wont get the best possible results until you do start it

 

[Theedge]

I tried nizoral for the first time bit to be honest I can see why people stop using it. After you wash your hair it feels like you have nothing left its like you have no oils left feels super dried out
or it thinned some how .NOW it know its not the case after one but I'm all set with waiting for something to go wrong .

 

[maticabhi]

I tried nizoral for the first time bit to be honest I can see why people stop using it. After you wash your hair it feels like you have nothing left its like you have no oils left feels super dried out
or it thinned some how .NOW it know its not the case after one but I'm all set with waiting for something to go wrong .

*After you wash your hair it feels like you have nothing left its like you have no oils left feels super dried out *

exactly.thats why i am thinking of mixing oil with nizoral.

 

[AnberlinFan84]

I tried nizoral for the first time bit to be honest I can see why people stop using it. After you wash your hair it feels like you have nothing left its like you have no oils left feels super dried out
or it thinned some how .NOW it know its not the case after one but I'm all set with waiting for something to go wrong .

As a guy with super oily hair this is actually a big plus for me.

 

[JonnyKid]

The Ketoconazole in the Nizoral will dry out your hair. Try Regenepure DR or Revita. Both I have tried and are very good alternatives. I also use the Regenepure Minoxidil Spray

 

[Theedge]

I went the Target today Dove for men makes three new shampoos thats are kick ***
one is for dandruff or dry hair
another wakes up your head menthol . and clears away the grease build up ( that will help Rogaine get into the scalp better
) last one i actually can't recall but those were the best two lol Dove makes quality shampoo .
All three smoke nizoral which in my opinion is complete BS as far as helping hairless in ANY way . No to mention that junk cost 18.00?

 

[SoDangSlippery]

A little info on shampoo which I think applies: the main ingredient (besides water) is a type of chemical called a surfactant (called that due to its relationship with surface tension). Everyone knows surfactants by a much more common name: soap. Surfactants are pretty interesting molecules, because they can bond with both oil (fatty acid) and water at the same time. Most people know that oil does not normally mix with water, but surfactants actually permit this to happen. In shampoo, surfactant's only role is to surround dirt and oil, and allow water to carry it away from your hair and body.

When a shampoo will not sud very well, it is a sign that oil still remains untrapped. In other words, there is not enough surfactant to trap all of the oil on your head. So, you add some more shampoo to your head, and it foams like crazy. All of the oil has been trapped, and the unused surfactant foams up in water (due to its effect on surface tension). In an effort to make max money and to satisfy most people's desire to have oil-free hair, shampoo makers use very powerful/ economic/ efficient surfactants (sulfates like sodium lauryl ether sulfate, sodium laureth sulfate, etc). They work so well that some people feel that they remove too much oil. nizoral uses this type, as does Dove and most every other major brand. To counter this effect, Dove and the others include chemicals that soften or retain the water within the hair. The well known brands likely just contain more or better versions of these than nizoral (don't forget that nizoral is more dedicated to fighting fungus than to producing nice clean hair or countering mbp). Either way, your hair's natural oil is gone for the time being.

With all this said:

1) I use nizoral 3 times a week and basic t-gel the rest (no conditioner). It does not dry my hair or make it feel weak, and if it does that to you absolutely use the conditioner of your choice.
2) You are likely to shed some more before the good stuff happens. Accept this possible reality if you want to have improved hair in 1-2 years from now.
3) Use Min asap, as I personally don't feel you will have a "double-shed" that it seems you are afraid of. These treatments seems to eject any hairs that belong to follicles that are in the process of dying, thus they need to fall out to get better.

It's rough. We all know and sympathize. Now start. Peace