starting my regimen, want your opinions! w/ PICS

[25 going on 65]

Uh... I really don't get the advice about not starting a regimen unless I use fin... Thanks but, no thanks 25 going on 65. I will try all of the things I mentioned. Fin scares me, a lot of people saying bad sides, and if I do fin, as I said in my OP, I would use lower than prescribed doses, and I think alone that wouldn't be enough.

My opinion was mostly based on the assumption you want to stop losing your hair
Also if the established safety profile of fin scares you, you should not even consider using experimental/alternative treatments. (Forum anecdotes should have the least weight in your research by far.)
Good luck with whatever you decide. If you pass on fin, minoxidil and ketoconazole can probably buy you some time.

[Dan26]

The difference between fin and some of the experimental stuff is there is a small amount of evidence suggesting fin could **** your shit up for a long time, whereas we are not sure with the experimental stuff lol.....

[Tracy C]

About what evidence is convincing me that RU works. It is simply the many threads and numerous hairloss forums of people reporting their results.

This does not qualify as evidence.

Uh... I really don't get the advice about not starting a regimen unless I use fin...

This is because if you are unable or unwilling to take the medication that is proven to stop hereditary hair loss in males, anything else you do to treat it is going to be such an uphill battle that it is almost pointless to bother trying.

As for the Nizoral, I ended up buying regenepure, it is really expensive, so I might consider switching later on. And about the sulfates in the shampoo, I noticed that my normal shampoo also has sulfates, so maybe it is a good idea to stick to regenepure to give my scalp a break from them ever couple days?

It would be best to replace your regular shampoo and conditioner with sulfate free shampoo and conditioner - or a 2-n-1. Aveeno makes an excellent sulfate free shampoo, conditioner - and a 2-n-1 for you guys who don't want to fuss with using two separate products.

Regenepure is unjustifiably expensive no matter where you buy it. I would only use it if it were the only shampoo available on the market that had Ketoconazole in it. If you only use Nizoral once per week, as you should, your exposure to the sulfates in it is insignificant.

[chrisis]

If you're thinking finasteride or minoxidil, then surely it makes sense to go with minoxidil first. I really struggle to understand why people routinely recommend going on a hard drug first, before something that is topical and a lot safer?