Initial shedding is very common with most hair treatments or surgeries.
I've mentioned what I've been doing in a few threads now (I think in the one Bari Jo linked in particular), but no harm going over it again.
I've seen solid results so far from minoxidill + finasteride + ketoconazole. I have only been on them a few months, but I have a lot of wispy hairs that are darkening everyday. I use the generic and cheapest versions of everything, such as buying the costco brand Minox off of Amazon for 20 bucks for 6 months. Finasteride I get Proscar and quarter it (a few bucks a month versus 100 bucks a month for Propecia, and its the same exact thing, Proscar is actually the original they spun off into propecia after recognizing the hair effects). Ketoconazole shampoos have been clinically shown to help with stopping dht bonding to follicles, though in theory if you are on HRT this is not needed. However, it also helps to sooth the scalp from the irritation/dryness that repeated minox use can cause. (And it's cheap, so you know, why not?
The non prescription 1% brand is Nizoral, but there is a 2% prescription solution too that is supposed to be more effective.)
My results: I began with seemingly barren crown (MPB) and thin hair on top due to genetics (not MPB) as well as severe damage from scalp psoriasis, all hair lost or damaged mostly within the 2-7 year window that is often cited as the upper limit on "reviving" follicles. My front hair line was fine, so can't speak to effect on it. 2 Months of minox led to a ton of near invisible wispy growth, particularly on the crown and on top. Seeing this, I ran out and got the other two. Now, about two months later my hair is notably thicker on top with a lot of stray hairs on crown and even more of the translucent hairs (just touching my head it doesn't feel bald at all, you just can't really see it). Nowhere near full coverage by any means, and doubt it ever will be, but still a major improvement in just 2 months while you aren't even really supposed to be seeing effects for at least 4-6, and not full effects for a year to two. I add the caveat that much of this hair may been the follicles that were impacted by psoriasis and not actually regrowing of hair lost to MPB, which would explain the uncommon speed of some of the results.
My goal is not full coverage, that's a pipe dream unless hair loss is extremely minor when starting, but to make transplants more feasible/effective (and cheaper).
