How much time with Rogaine

[Mike2013]

I had a thread awhile back mentioning how I was loosing a lot of hair when I started Rogaine. I've been on it for a little over four months now and after the first month I noticed I was shedding a lot of hair. It stopped sometime in January, but I was really upset about this. Over four months later, I still haven't noticed any difference aside from the whole top of my head being a lot thinner then when I started. I believe a couple of you from here mentioned it could take 6-12 months to notice a difference. Yet, I came across a lot of online reviews of Rogaine- places like Amazon, etc, and so many people seemed to have noticed improvement within three months. Although I feel this is a really fast time to see hair re-growth, I am starting to get nervous this isn't the right solution. But I thought I would at least check on here to see how long it took people on average to see any improvement. Is 3 months average? Or does it really take longer, closer to a year.

I have a full head of hair, it's just that I noticed a little thinning of the years- but no baldness or bald spot. So I decided to try Rogaine based on a conversation with my DR. I have also been using Nizorol twice a week, and sulfate free shampoo and conditioner. Lately I just feel the whole top of my head is so much thinner, and really regret going down this road, because I was not losing or thinning anywhere close to what I have been like after starting Rogaine.
Thanks for any advice or suggestions.

[mmmcoffee]

it honestly takes a lot longer than 3-4 months to see real results for a majority. some people may see some results at 3-4 months but its really not likely. Those who see results at 3-4 months are also the most likely to right a glowing review about the product. There are also probably people paid by rogaine to write good reviews on sites like amazon.com

You're looking at more like a year + to see real results.

The reason rogaine says 4 months to see results is rogaine pushes your DHT weakened hairs into "sleep mode", part of your normal hair cycle. Your hair generally stays in that phase for around 8 weeks before the follicle starts producing a new strand of hair, which is hopefully thicker. Then it takes a while for your hair to grow and become the same length as the rest of your hair, as the average hair grows 1/2'' a month. but, its going to take many of these cycles to truly thicken up hair

[Mike2013]

Thanks for the response. I guess I just needed reassurance. I am also kind of panicky, because I felt I lost so much from a shed after starting it, and I don't know if I am going into a second shed. I don't know what I would do if I lost as much as I did the first time around.

[Tracy C]

Thanks for the response. I guess I just needed reassurance.

Generally, it takes four to six months of use as directed before a man will know if Rogaine is working for him (8 to 12 months for a woman using 2%). It takes much longer before you will know how well Rogaine is working for you. About 12 to 18 months.

[PatientlyWaiting]

I can't say this enough, Rogaine by itself will not single handily stop your hair loss, regrow your hair, and maintain it just like that. It's just not going to happen. Rogaine by itself=2 steps forward, 1 step backward. I forgot which doctor I read that from, but he's 100% correct.

[PatientlyWaiting]

My Rogaine foam and liquid shipment will hopefully arrive this week. I am already on 1.25mg/day of fin [4 years] no side effects, and i'm switching to dutasteride 0.5mg. For the past 3 years I haven't used minoxidil and I have slowed down my hair loss in that span with fin alone. Rogaine can not do that. I hope Rogaine gives me a good boost though, I will use foam in the day and the solution at night.

TBH Rogaine by itself is a waste of money.

[WarLord]

I can't say this enough, Rogaine by itself will not single handily stop your hair loss, regrow your hair, and maintain it just like that. It's just not going to happen. Rogaine by itself=2 steps forward, 1 step backward. I forgot which doctor I read that from, but he's 100% correct.

Several years ago, many doctors claimed that fin stops working "after 3-5 years". Now, when we have fresh 10-years' data of its efficiacy, they suddenly changed their opinion. Which means that their opinions are worthless. They extrapolate from few cases that they encounter in their clinical praxis, and sometimes show complete inability to understand written words.

[WarLord]

Generally, it takes four to six months of use as directed before a man will know if Rogaine is working for him (8 to 12 months for a woman using 2%). It takes much longer before you will know how well Rogaine is working for you. About 12 to 18 months.

This is deceptive. By "working" you mean "hair regrowth". But if you mean "stopping hairloss", then the result should be apparent within 2-3 months. There are many guys, who start with the treatment too late and expect miracles. I jumped on minoxidil very early, immediately after I observed the first signs of balding, so at NW 1.5, I didn't need any regrowth. And the stuff has been working with the same efficiacy for 16+ years.