Beard growth experiment

[Koga]

Dear all,

Let me first introduce myself and give a little explanation about the situation I'm currently in. I've been using 1 ml (at night) minoxidil for 3 years now and 1 mg finasteride for 2 years. I seem to keep shedding a lot of hair and I'm always doubting whether my hair loss is stable or whether I'm still losing hair. Anyway, I'm currently 24 years old and a few months after starting finasteride my beard development stopped. How do I know this? Well, I have 'patches' of beard growth that are extremely dense and I have completely bare areas, also entirely asymmetric. It looks plain stupid and people keep commenting on it, even when it's only at stubble's length. However, I have used minoxidil in the past to increase beard growth and I had some decent success. Also, I've seen enough testimonies on tha interwebzz to believe there's some truth to it: minoxidil can absolutely increase beard growth, although there will always be exceptions: genetically limited people (beardwise) etc.

I'm very eager to try and start minoxidil on my face. I have only one fear. What if... What if a decent amount of minoxidil gets absorbed into the bloodstream and my existing scalp hair gets 'used' to the increased minoxidil dose. This could mean I'll go through another shedding, but - more importantly - this could theoretically also mean my existing hair gets 'dependent' on this increased minoxidil dose. So when I quit the beard growth experiment, I could lose hair on the top of my head. And to be perfectly clear: my beard ain't worth a single hair on the top of my head.

Can someone confirm or refute this hypothesis? Maybe a scientific base on which I can conclude this won't be a problem (or this will most certainly be a problem)?

Also, if minoxidil/rogaine is no option for the reasons mentions above, is there an alternative (that's safe for my scalp hair) that might be effective in rebooting my beard development?

Cheers.

 

[Dench57]

A lot of people using oral castor oil have reported increased/thicker beard growth. Imo that would be a better, and safer alternative to applying minoxidil to your face. And would also be good for your scalp hair too.

 

[Koga]

I don't know whether I'm really putting much faith in the oral castor oil hype that's going on. I mean, a tiny amount of castor oil will give me more beard coverage? Maybe the existing hairs will thicken up, but more growth? Doesn't really seem like a valid alternative to Rogaine.

 

[Captain Hook]

I don't know whether I'm really putting much faith in the oral castor oil hype that's going on. I mean, a tiny amount of castor oil will give me more beard coverage? Maybe the existing hairs will thicken up, but more growth? Doesn't really seem like a valid alternative to Rogaine.

It may seem like hype but you should take a closer look at SwissTemples' photos, he's even growing new hair on the tops of his fingers! The hypertrichotic side effects of oral castor oil aren't exaggerated. I wouldn't be surprised if it had a similar effect on beard growth. It's certainly worth a try. Like Dench said, it's not only safer but you may end up surprising yourself and growing some extra scalp hair too.

 

[I.D WALKER]

In general I would not put my faith in any hype either lol

especially any alleged hair growth remedies for that matter.

I've been following the current thread on castor oil and haven't really seen hype so much as some posters like myself giving a traditional medicine cabinet standard a last look based

on some more recent scientific findings (not referring to the user SwissTemples) showing c.o.' s potential promise at stimulating necessary prostanoid receptors for regeneration.

I've elected to use it orally/topically since early October with only minoxidil. for now. So far I've noted no improvement "hair-wise", aside from lessened seborrhea derm. symptoms.

Used in conjunction with at least an anti-androgen it MIGHT provide additional improvement but since MAYBE is still a big word I am suggesting that all current and/or prospective experimentalist's to advance with a some careful optimism.

 

[Koga]

It may seem like hype but you should take a closer look at SwissTemples' photos, he's even growing new hair on the tops of his fingers! The hypertrichotic side effects of oral castor oil aren't exaggerated. I wouldn't be surprised if it had a similar effect on beard growth. It's certainly worth a try. Like Dench said, it's not only safer but you may end up surprising yourself and growing some extra scalp hair too.

What's the theory behind oral castor oil anyway? How does it seem to increase hair growth on the entire body? And is oral + topical castor oil more effective than only one of these? And what's the recommended dosage? A teaspoon?

 

[mattblack]

Put some Grow Me Shampoo on it for 4 mins a day and you see a wicked result

 

[recedingyt]

What's the theory behind oral castor oil anyway? How does it seem to increase hair growth on the entire body? And is oral + topical castor oil more effective than only one of these? And what's the recommended dosage? A teaspoon?

It activates 2 of the 4 PGE2 receptors, and PGE2 is very beneficial to hair growth. Oral is more powerful than topical supposedly, but using both is ideal. Castor oil itself doesn't penetrate well, so it's recommended you use a carrier such as ethanol to increase absorption. You can use just normal castor oil with no vehicle but you need to leave it on longer to get decent absorption if you do it that way. The recommended oral dose is between 1-2mL. For topical, it depends on the size of the area you're trying to cover. I only use it on my temples so I use very little. If you were to do your whole head you might need quite a lot.

Make sure you get cold pressed / unprocessed / food grade castor oil if you plan on using it.

 

[Koga]

Thanks I did read into castor oil and I started using it, 1ml a day orally. But let's get back on topic: the use of minoxidil on the cheeks is almost certainly gonna be a success, because I've had some in the past and I'm fairly certain that - without finasteride - I'm genetically predisposed of more beard growth than that which I have now. So, is it safe? I use 1ml minoxidil at night on my head, but I would add 0.5ml at night on my beard. Will the hair on top of my head shed or get dependent on 1.5ml? Or will this not have any influence?

 

[Captain Hook]

What's the theory behind oral castor oil anyway? How does it seem to increase hair growth on the entire body? And is oral + topical castor oil more effective than only one of these? And what's the recommended dosage? A teaspoon?

http://www.pnas.org/content/109/23/9179.full.pdf

Here's the study detailing what recedingyt has already told you. You can also use DMSO as a vehicle if you're so inclined. I'd personally just stick with oral use though as its effectiveness has only been proven in the medical literature via said route of administration.

 

[Koga]

Thanks! Any way to activate the other two PGE2 receptors? Does this mean any future medication that focuses on PGE2 activity will increase hair growth on the entire body?

- - - Updated - - -

No one having an opinion about the long term 'hair safety' of adding 0.5 ml minoxidil on my cheeks?

 

[Dench57]

Thanks! Any way to activate the other two PGE2 receptors? Does this mean any future medication that focuses on PGE2 activity will increase hair growth on the entire body?

- - - Updated - - -

No one having an opinion about the long term 'hair safety' of adding 0.5 ml minoxidil on my cheeks?

Exogenous PGE2 (dinoprostone) will be the best. Since it will be applied topically, directly to the scalp, that should lessen the chances of it going systemic and causing hypertrichosis.

As for applying minoxidil to your face, its not something I would do personally because of the possible systemic sides from minoxidil, the harshness of the vehicle on your skin, and the anecdotal reports of it ageing skin, causing dark circles, bloating etc. Each to their own though.

 

[Koga]

I would only do it temporarily to kick off my beard growth development. As there is no balding process on my cheeks the hair would stay there, even when I quit minoxidil after a few months. I've taken everything in account and I really want to try it, my only fear is that it will go systemic and the hair on the top of my head will get used tot 1.5ml instead of 1ml. So when I quit the beard growth experiment, I could lose hair on my head..

 

[Dench57]

I would only do it temporarily to kick off my beard growth development. As there is no balding process on my cheeks the hair would stay there, even when I quit minoxidil after a few months.

Why would beard hair not be minoxidil dependent like scalp hair? As far as I'm aware, the "balding process" (DHT) isn't the reason minoxidil scalp hair falls out upon discontinuation, its because its dependent on minoxidil for whatever reason.

 

[Koga]

Because min stimulates the beard, but those aren't minoxidil dependent hairs. They're hairs you would have gotten eventually. Min just kick starts the beard development as such.

Still the question remains, will the 0.5 ml min dosage on my cheeks interfere in anyway with the 1ml min I put on my head? Don't wanna risk any hair loss gains.

 

[Koga]

Bump.

So, is it safe? I use 1ml minoxidil at night on my head, but I would add 0.5ml at night on my beard. Will the hair on top of my head shed or get dependent on 1.5ml? Or will this not have any influence?

 

[shulk]

I have two previously bald faced 26yo friends who grew giant beards with minoxidil. "They're hairs you would have gotten eventually", i don't think this was really true for them. There are a lot of guys who don't grow beards, ever. Try googling some more on this subject, but i say prepare to keep using it when you want to keep your beard.

Greetings,

 

[Koga]

Well, it gave me giant beard boost in the past, even without staying on it. Anyhow, worst case scenario, I have a cool beard for a few months... I just want to know about the safety for my scalp hair. Can't really find anything on the internet about that.

So, is it safe? I use 1ml minoxidil at night on my head, but I would add 0.5ml at night on my beard. Will the hair on top of my head shed or get dependent on 1.5ml? Or will this not have any influence?

 

[Koga]

Another bump. Anyone?

So, is it safe? I use 1ml minoxidil at night on my head, but I would add 0.5ml at night on my beard. Will the hair on top of my head shed or get dependent on 1.5ml? Or will this not have any (significant) influence?

 

[shulk]

its not like the whole .5 goes directly to the top, i guess its dilated before it reaches that area. Personally i would think this is negligible. I would not worry too much about it. I dont think anyone has an answer for you really. You should decide yourself . (Btw, my friends say they need 1ml to cover the whole beard area)