I noticed significant slowing of hairlose after around 3months of use. Where I noticed it most was that my hat wasn't littered with nearly as much hair as before, and instead of combing 40-50 hairs in the shower, I now am only combing around a dozen (sometimes as little as 2-3 it may seem or sometimes 20).
I still have had a few sheds on and off, but over all it seems to have slowed/stopped my hairlose, at least compared to the rate it was going before. I have to say I caught it pretty early, and my only lose was a bit along the hairline, but it seems to be working.
Alas, no regrowth along my hairline yet (nearly 8 months in), only a bunch of nasty miniturised beasties taunting me at the moment (little fuckers, they can read this I'll bet). I don't hold out much hope in reversing what has already been done, but I'll give it a nother year or so and maybe just add rogaine foam to the little areas affected so far and see if I get improvement.
no sides yet, i was about a nw2-- maibe 2.5
now i look like a 1.5-2.0
but when i get the right length i can easely hide it... have had a lot of thickening on the crown and the top back.. not that much in front.. but i do see alot of new hairs there too but they are alot shorter so.. i gues if i give them time and i get a haircut in a month or 2 they will catsh up and it will look alot better.
Are you trying to find motivation like me? I want to find as many people as possible who achieved finasteride regrowth without the aid of minoxidil. People who started with relatively thin hair.
It doesn't matter to me how long it takes for finasteride to kick in, as long as it kicks in eventually (not over 2 to 3 years of course) I'll be happy. I'm looking forward to significant regrowth every day.