The day you swore would never come is finally here — you’re seriously considering a toupee. Your hair loss has gotten to a point where you no longer look or feel like yourself. Plus, the transformation videos the algorithm keeps bringing to the top of your feed look pretty convincing.
Stop doom-scrolling and get serious about finding a longer-lasting hair loss solution than an industrial-strength adhesive. Modern science, time-tested research, and easy-to-access medicinal solutions make handling hair loss easier. Learn about three types of medication and how they can support your hair regrowth goals without the glue.
1. March Your Receding Hairline Forward With Finasteride
The family photo wall at your childhood home may have given you a hairline preview, but little can prepare you for reality. You dad’s hair steadily retreated year by year, and now yours looks to be following suit. No matter how much you want to deny genetics, they typically surface eventually, and your shifting hairline is no exception.
Hormonal hair loss typically appears along the hairline and at the crown. The hair follicles located there are to blame, as they’re susceptible to hormonal changes. While changing your hormonal makeup may be out of the question, using medications designed to block hormones is possible.
Oral finasteride is a prescription medication that’s taken daily. Once in the body, it blocks the hormone responsible for male pattern baldness, dihydrotestosterone. By blocking DHT, the drug can help your follicles stay intact, slowing new hair loss. And with DHT out of the way, some patients may see hair regrowth in previously thin areas.
Results typically follow after several months of consistent use, as it takes time for DHT to clear out. Then new growth must start at the root, eventually appearing after the threat of DHT is gone. To retain results, you’ll need to keep taking finasteride long-term.
2. Reverse Thinning at the Crown With Minoxidil
Hair loss at the crown can sneak up on you, especially if you’re tall or wear your hair mid-length. When you deploy a hand-held mirror, you may discover thinning or, even more surprising, a bald spot. Don’t let an innocent shoe-shopping trip be the first of many times a wall of mirrors reveals your scalp. Reverse the thinning you’ve discovered with one of the most popular treatments, minoxidil.
Topical minoxidil is proven to be effective on hair loss at the crown. Available in an easy-to-apply foam or liquid solution, minoxidil helps promote new growth in just months. This medication can spur improved hair density and has been shown to further slow new hair loss.
Fans of the foam formulation find it absorbs faster than the minoxidil solution, making it a practical addition to your morning routine. Layer this medication with hair care products featuring its active ingredients, if your provider agrees it’s wise to do so. Application is recommended twice daily, so you can use the foam in the morning and the solution at night.
As with finasteride, you’ll need to keep using minoxidil to continue enjoying results. Apply carefully, as a haphazard application may spur new growth where you don’t want it. After about six months of consistent use, you can see regrowth and better hair retention.
3. Restore Hair Density by Combining Minoxidil and Finasteride
The sudden realization that you can see a large swath of your scalp is hard to take. Overall thinning is common and, if your hair and skin contrast with one another, the stark difference is especially noticeable. Don’t let your thinning hair look like a bad “after” photo of a ’90s hair plug job. Do something about your thinning hair with the right medication and treatment.
When you have two hair loss issues at play, you need a two-part solution. A newer topical solution combines the hair regrowth power of minoxidil and the follicular retention capabilities of finasteride. This one-two-punch medication is easy to use and stick with, thanks to its combination formula.
Working together, this paired medication stimulates regrowth and slows new hair loss. Hair follicles can better hang on to those precious hairs thanks to the finasteride’s blocking of DHT. New hair growth is encouraged to fill in gaps in your scalp with the support of the active ingredients in minoxidil. Plus, by doling out the proper dosage of each active ingredient, you can be confident you’re applying the right mix.
Individuals using this combination formula can see improvements in hair density across the scalp, crown, and hairline in months. Just as with minoxidil or finasteride alone, you’ll need to continue using the gel to maintain results. Commit to your restored hairline, and yourself, by enrolling in auto-shipments of your medication right to your door. This simple step can help you stay consistent and hang on to the results, and those newly regrown hairs, without the hassle.
Regain More Than Just Your Hairline
The instant gratification of a toupee is great to daydream about, especially if your hair loss is significant. However, hair regrowth solutions that will stand up to your lifestyle will bring you greater rewards and satisfaction in the long run. Choose proven medicinal treatments to start regrowing your hair, no matter where or how long you’ve been losing it. Before too long, you can start looking and feeling more like yourself with thicker, fuller hair.