Starting to notice some thinning at your temples, or at the back of your head? Spotting more hair than usual coming out when you brush your hair? You might be dealing with male pattern baldness, which affects half of all men by their fifties. If you’ve started searching for solutions, you might be overwhelmed by the sheer number of options out there. The truth is, some work better than others. Wondering when and where to start? We’ve got you covered.
Finasteride and Minoxidil are both clinically proven and licensed for the treatment of male pattern baldness. Plus, they’re shown to be most effective when used together.
Timing is also key when it comes to tackling hair loss. Starting treatment sooner rather than later will improve your chances of holding on to the hair you’ve got.
But what will the timeline look like? How long will the results take? We break down a month-by-month timeline of what to expect when you start using Finasteride and Minoxidil.
Months 1-3
Finasteride kicks in right away in the background by lowering DHT (dihydrotestosterone) levels - the most common cause of male hair loss.
Some guys are more genetically sensitive to the hormone DHT, which leads to something called ‘miniaturisation’, where hair follicles shrink and produce thinner, weaker hair until they eventually stop growing altogether. Finasteride blocks the enzyme (5α-reductase) which turns testosterone into DHT, helping to slow or stop miniaturisation. A studyy by the University of Oklahoma showed that 1mg of Finasteride cuts scalp DHT levels by 64% after just 42 days.
Minoxidil, on the other hand, might give you a scare as you start using it. It is normal to experience an increase in shedding when you use Minoxidil for the first time. While it might feel like things are getting worse, this is actually a good sign that the treatment is starting to work. Minoxidil is thought to shorten the telogen (resting) phase of old ‘club’ hairs (those which have reached the end of their life cycle), encouraging the follicle to re-enter the anagen (growing) phase so a new, healthy hair can grow in its place. Shedding should subside after 2-8 weeks of consistent use.
Don’t panic if you’re not seeing visible changes yet - hair grows slowly, at about half an inch a month. Many people give up too soon because they don’t feel the treatment is working, without giving it a proper chance to work. It’s still early days, stick with it.
Pro tip:
We recommend taking clear photos of your scalp before starting treatment, and then every 30 days. It’s the best way to spot progress that might otherwise go unnoticed in the mirror.
Months 3-6
Now we’re getting somewhere.
Once you hit the three-month mark, you might notice less hair falling out in the shower or on your pillow. This is a sign that the Finasteride and Minoxidil are working to slow down or stop hair loss, with no further visible thinning. By this point, you might be able to see some improvements around your temples and crown area.
It’s still just the beginning, but you should start to see signs that things are moving in the right direction.
Months 6-12
After using Finasteride and Minoxidil consistently for 12 months, results should be more obvious. In a study of over 1500 men, by month 12 65% of patients saw an increase in hair count and reported feeling better about how their hair looked, compared to the placebo group, who continued to lose hair.
Ideally, you should have the same, if not more, hair on your head as when you started the treatment 12 months ago. Patients using Finasteride found their hair was thicker, longer, and grew faster with continued use. If you’ve taken breaks or had a ‘stop-start’ approach to treatment, this is likely to slow your progress. But getting back on track now with consistent use can still lead to great results in time.
If you’re curious about how others have done, you can check out how some of our customers got on with Finasteride and Minoxidil in our Testimonials
Long-term
Finasteride and Minoxidil are long-term commitments if you want to keep the benefits. In a five-year study, 90% of men taking Finasteride saw no further hair loss, while 75% of the placebo group kept losing hair. The results from Minoxidil will also stick around as long as you continue using the medication every day.
Keep in mind that everyone responds differently. Your mate might see results faster than you, or the other way around. We recommend sticking with treatment for at least six months before deciding whether it’s working for you.
If you’re thinking about starting your hair loss journey with us, check out the Sons Promise - a results-based money-back guarantee. Although our treatments are clinically proven to halt hair loss in 94% of men, they might not work for everybody. That’s why you should stay in touch and track your progress with us, and if after six months you’re not seeing the results you hoped for, we’ll give you your money back.
All of our blog articles are reviewed by our Medical Director before publication.
