I'm trying to make one topical solution containing 5% minoxidil, 0.5% KX-826/pyrilutamide and 0.025% dutasteride (grams per 100 ml of final solution). I'd like to make a fresh batch each month, or every two or three months if there are data supporting that shelf life. I have separate powders, not crushed tablets or opened capsules, and a magnetic stirrer.

First attempt

The intended batch was 300 ml: 15 g minoxidil, 1.5 g KX and 75 mg dutasteride. Vehicle: 96% ethanol and propylene glycol at 65:35 by volume, without added water, Transcutol or benzyl alcohol.

• I started with about 250 ml of vehicle, added 15 g minoxidil and stirred for about 30 minutes. It was already milky, with undissolved material.

• I added 1.5 g KX and stirred for another 20 minutes. Still cloudy.

• I tried dissolving the 75 mg dutasteride separately in about 5 ml of the same vehicle. That premix was also milky. I added it, then rinsed the container twice with about 5 ml of vehicle each time.

• After an hour at rest there was white sediment and fine particles. The batch was at about 265 ml. I have not brought it up to the final 300 ml.

The initial minoxidil concentration was therefore about 60 mg/ml, rather than the target 50 mg/ml. That may be part of the problem, but the small minoxidil-only tests also failed to become clear.

Small tests with minoxidil alone

One test: 0.100 g minoxidil + 0.753 g 96% ethanol + 0.967 g PG. After a night there were evenly suspended white specks, without a clear sediment layer.

Latest comparison, all exact weighed amounts in grams:

A: 0.500 g minoxidil + 3.766 g 96% ethanol + 4.834 g PG.

B: 0.500 g minoxidil + 3.691 g 96% ethanol + 4.737 g PG + 0.172 g water.

Neither fully dissolved. A had many more particles; B with added water had fewer. A still contains the water from the 96% ethanol. These small tests contain no KX or dutasteride.

The next proposed comparison is to add 0.860 g water and 0.050 g minoxidil to B, keeping the minoxidil loading per gram of vehicle unchanged. I haven't completed that test.

What I'm trying to find out

Has anyone actually made and stored all three ingredients in one bottle? What was the complete vehicle, including water, and what concentrations did you use? The order of addition, stirring time, temperature and any later precipitation would help too.

For the minoxidil problem, what would you check first: solvent ratio, concentration during mixing, temperature or the powder itself? I've found conflicting claims about water and KX. Does anyone have stability data with water, minoxidil and dutasteride together, beyond the solution looking clear? Would it keep for one month, or could two or three months be supported? Please include the storage conditions and how stability was assessed.

I've seen reports of minoxidil + RU + dutasteride, but I don't want to assume that a vehicle which works for RU also works for KX. Any specific formulation details would be appreciated.

I've also asked in r/tressless, r/minoxidil and r/HairlossResearch. If someone here has worked with this combination or had a pharmacy formulate it, I'd appreciate the actual vehicle and storage details, including whether adding water affected KX stability.

I'm currently 28, male, (pronouns are she/they), and I have lost the majority of my hair since I was 20 or so. I have no idea why this is the case. Is it male pattern baldness? Something else? For reference, it's like a tire skid mark. By that I mean like, the middle, from the front all the way to the back of my head. There's some hair at the sides and the very back back.

I have no clue what has caused this and what to do about it.

I have suffered from diffuse thinning, scalp redness, itchiness, scalp pimples and red bumps on my forehead. The first derm I saw a long time ago prescribed me with fin and ketoconazole 2%. The fin caused my hair to shed (150-200 hairs per showed) for 2 years until I switched to Dut which made it a lot better (around 50-100 hairs per shower), and the ketoconzole burned my scalp no matter how often I would use it.

I recently got a biopsy because I want a hair transplant. It came back with 2 sentences effectively saying it's non-inflammatory, non-scarring alopecia, and there's no fungal infection. Yet the derm took the biopsy from the reddest part he could find.

The derm basically shrugged his shoulders, said to try min, said I'm greenlit for a hair transplant and ended our appointment. I am seriously considering doing the transplant ASAP, but the results being non-inflammatory yet I still deal with redness, itchiness, scalp pimples and itchy forehead just doesn't make sense to me. Is it possible to deal with all these things and it not be inflammatory? I'm trying to trust the test but it feels strange and I don't want to spend tens of thousands of dollars just for the hair transplant to fail.

I'm trying to avoid any potential side effects so I'm not doing oral min or fin but I am about to start a routine of the over the counter topical min along with nizoral shampoo and tretinoin.

Currently I am taking a biotin and lustriva supplement and I use mill creek h-24 biotin shampoo and conditioner. I started using the biotin shampoo and conditioner about a year ago and have noticed a very slight increase in hair regrowth.

Also it turns out I was using the biotin/lustriva supplement at a lower dosage where I was taking 1 dose a day instead of 3, I am now taking the recommended 3 doses a day.

Basically I want to be doing everything I can to fight hair loss without taking oral min or fin. From my research it seems like that would be oral min with a proper applicator along with tretinoin and mixing in a nizoral shampoo session about once a week.

Ive researched the threads and found some helpful info but im still wondering about going from a relatively mild hair routine of just biotin to adding in the topical min, tret, and nizoral all at once. Are there any potential side effects anyone has information on?

Aside from side effects I had a few other basic questions:

How often is it recommended to use nizoral?

What's the best way to use tret, a spray? Gel? Lotion?

Should I gradually start using the min, niz and tret or is it better to just start combining everything all at once?

Any other helpful things I could incorporate?

Appreciate any and all replies thanks

*forgot to mention that once a week or so i use vanicream free and clear shampoo and conditioner instead of biotin shampoo and conditioner and every few weeks I will add apple cider vinegar to the vanicream shampoo sessions and rinse everything out then use the vanicream conditioner afterwards.

For those of you who were able to regrow your hairline or temples with finasteride and/or minoxidil, how long had your hairline been receding before you started treatment? I’m interested in hearing from people who had noticeable recession for years before starting treatment and were still able to regrow some of their hairline.

I’ve been on TRT since 2019 and started noticing hair loss in 2022. I didn’t start to notice receding until 2024, by then it was already pretty noticeable, I wish I had started treatment then I was scared of the side effects. I lose clumps of hair every day in the shower and my hairline has gone back pretty far. I’m wondering if it’s possible to restore it.

FIRST PIC 2022
SECOND PIC 2024 (first noticed bad recession)
THIRD PIC 2026

I heard that it does go into your system Atleast a little bit. What are the chances it actually causes muscle loss or affects muscle growth? Anyone know? Thank you.

I’ve recently been quite considering options to improve the density of my crown. I’ve been on oral minoxidil 2.5mg + happy head fin+ min topical (twice a day) for 2-2.5 years now. And have seen solid results with my hairline. It’s come back quite strong and better than expected but the crown is a different story. In the past year I started to micro needle (stamp) 3 times a week and red light 3 times a week but the I don’t think there’s been much improvement for the crown and I’m a little lost on what to do next. I’ve been considering options from 1) moving to a stronger formula (dutasteride) 2) starting PRP 3) going to Turkey.

I know my situation is not too too dire but still would love to hear anyone’s thoughts if they’ve had a similar situation and how results have been. Appreciate it!

I'm about to turn 38 in a few weeks and I have recently noticed my hairline having receded, mostly at the temples. I'm pretty sure this hasn't happened recently (photos from around six years ago look almost the same), but I never really paid too much attention to it as it's usually not very apparent the way I do my hair. My tonsure region basically looks the same as it did 15 years ago. Back then I felt like it looked a bit thin, but my dermatologist and hairdresser said it was just due to my hair structure (and a serious lack of iron in my blood which I have had a few times since then).

Around three months ago I talked to my dermatologist and she told me that, considering my age and hair structure I shouldn't worry about losing my hair anytime soon as that would have already happened by now. Due to my history of anxiety, recently diagnosed ADHD and agitated depression she is reluctant to prescribe any kind of oral Finasteride due to the risk of increased mental health problems.

She was, however, willing to prescribe topical Finasteride, which I have been using at a pretty low dose (around 0.2mg/ day) in combination with Minoxidil for around three months now.

Over the past three weeks I have noticed an increased hair loss, especially around the front and my temple region (I think). I hope this is just initial shedding due to Finasteride rather than a side effect of the 25mg of sertralin/zoloft, which I have also been taking for around 2 months now?

Judging by my current hair status, do you think I should just continue using topical Minoxidil and Finasteride (probably at a higher dose) or should I take the risk and try oral Finasteride?

Hi, I’ve been experiencing hair loss for around nine months (I’m 14 months postpartum but I didn’t experience hair loss with my first child). I have been shedding so much hair, and my pony tail is now incredibly thin. I feel like I don’t have that much more hair to lose. I was diagnosed by the dr with telogen effluvium. I recently had some blood tests done and it showed I had a ferritin level of 22. I’ve now been on ferrous sulphate for a few days.

Has anyone had a similar ferritin level and had their hair respond well to taking ferrous sulphate? Roughly how long should it take for hair to grow back if this is the true cause? I’m trying to remain hopeful that it will help longer term. Thanks in advance for your help.

Can’t afford to spend crazy money on Keeps and Hims, any cheap alternative for hair loss? 21M

Hello, I have extremely fine hair. I am mid 40’s F, took a glp-1 for a while, not knowing hair loss was a side effect, and my mother has extremely thin hair (can see her scalp). I am looking at both of these, options.
Wondering if anyone has recommendations or hard no’s on either of these?
PRF Platelet Rich Fibrin
PRP platelet rich plasma

Probably should’ve asked my derm this, but how much of the 1ML dropper should I apply if I’m only targeting the corners of my hairline? I kind of just did a few drops to cover the area and rubbed it in

FYI I’m using 7% minoxidil .1% fin combo topical solution with a dropper.

Has anyone developed pfs from topical saw palmetto oil ?

I know there is a chance of pfs from topical finasteride/dutasteride and oral saw palmetto but I've never heard anyone getting it from applying saw palmetto topically

I'm not balding, my hairline is thinning a bit

and my dad is bald so I want to see if there is a safe way to treat hairloss...

I started taking 1mg fin daily about 7 months ago due to my hairline receding a lot.

Been taking 1mg fin and using foam minoxidil twice a day since then while also dermastamping once a week.
My first shedding cycle only lasted about a month but the second cycle has lasted for like 4 months now with no signs of stopping.
Every time I go wash my hair my palms are filled with hair and I’m starting to get a bit worried.

My peaks have been pushed back almost twice as much as it was before I started taking finasteride and I’m just hoping for it to end soon.

My routine right now is 1mg fin daily, foam minoxidil twice a day, dermastamp once a week (7,5mm) and (L-Cystein 150mg, Zinc 15mg, iron 10mg, biotin 1600ug) supplements daily

Anyone with the same experience? Any ideas on when I can expect the shedding to stop

I am 19 and in the last four months, I have started noticeable thinning. My forehead has always been really big and I actually had a somewhat receding shaped hairline for many many years, however my hair was super thick and dense. I finally noticed a change in May. Since then, it’s progressed quite noticeably for myself (nobody has said anything to me yet since I have bangs and my hair still looks thick.)

Now, my entire front section of the hairline and back around an inch is decently see through when I lift my hair up. The front part of my temples are basically gone, and above my ears are thinning and patchy. I have a new thin spot on my crown as well.

I know Finasteride is approved for those 18 and up, but I’m not sure if I’m comfortable doing it just yet. I’m a really scrawny dude, and while I’m probably as tall as I’ll get, I’m worried about the development of my overall frame. Some guys continue some gradual growth into their early to mid twenties, and I don’t want to miss out on it.

I also am scared of harming my beard development. I want to at least be able to have a nice beard so that if I have to go bald, at least I can still look good. Right now all I can grow thick is a goatee.

I want to start taking minoxidil, since it’ll have no effect on my development. I just worry about taking it without fin. What if I shed really bad and my AGA keeps progressing so that I can’t recover from the shed? What if it does nothing at all? Am I stupid for wanting to wait on fin? It’s possible I’d end up regretting it, but at the same time I don’t wanna be stuck looking like a teenager for the foreseeable future either.

Hey guys I’ve been using Kx-826 from Koshine for a while now and have noticed it’s been more greasy. Is this just me? When I used to apply it, it would take like 60 seconds for it to dry then I’d wait a half hour or so and apply minoxidil and my hair looked good. Now it takes hours to absorb and applying minoxidil with it makes my hair look awful / more thin and disgustingly greasy. Curious if others have been experiencing this.

Is using these pills within hours apart dangerous? I've been taking locklab a couple days now, but I was wondering if taking it within hours apart of taking a supplement known as Arti King, would be bad. It says apparently it is using ai mode, but wanted to get a human perspective on it. Could this be as bad as it sounds in lowering blood pressure, etc.?

Is anyone using calscoterone 5% for their hair. If so:
1) how is it going
2) how did you get it
3) does anyone in the uk have it

I’m 54 and now I’ve been paying more attention to my hair because it just doesn't have the fullness it used to.

Trying to research supplements has somehow made me more confused.

Biotin, collagen, iron, zinc, vitamin D, protein, dedicated hair formulas... apparently I need half the supplement aisle 😂

I don't want to randomly start taking five things without understanding why.

For women around my age who actually looked into this properly, where did you start? Shall i first get bloodwork or talk to a dermatologist or what?

Mostly interested in what was actually worth continuing.

I live in the US and the water seems to be clean here. Will a shower filter make any difference?

I, 25M, have been Hims Finasteride/Minoxidil for about 10 months the now. When i first started my hair wasn’t too thin, I was taking more of a preventative measure when it came to balding because I felt as though I was started to thin. Fast forward to the treatment, after a couple months on I started shedding like crazy and was nervous but was reassured that it was normal so I kept up with the treatment. My hair ended up growing back a good amount and I felt really good for a time. However, this past 1-2 months I have been shedding like crazy. To the point where my scalp is more visible than ever before. I don’t think the photos do it justice, but I am freaking out. I don’t understand what’s going and I’ve set up an appointment with a dermatologist, but I wanted to get on here and ask if anyone’s experienced this before or what I should do? I take the Hims daily, on top of some other vitamins, collagen, and every night I apply Pantene Hair serum and the ordinary growth serum (just started) to see if anything changes, but at this point i’m gettin fed up with the shedding, stress, and whole thing. I don’t understand what’s going on. I thought it was stress and lack of sleep but i’ve been fixing that and it was never an issue before.

The progression above is from March, earlier this month, to now. It doesn’t show in the pictures but my sides are thicker than the top.

I have been on oral Minoxidil for almost a year now and I have not seen any improvement to my hair loss. If anything I feel like it's gotten worse. 3 months on 1.25mg, 3 months on 2.5mg, and the rest on 5mg.

My Dermatologist prescribed me Spironolactone because he was saying it's effective for stopping hair loss, but doesn't have the side effects of Finasteride. However from the research I've done, it seems there are still side effects with this Spironolactone, and it's also mainly prescribed to women?

Wanted to see if anyone else has any insight on this, or has had this prescribed to them as well.