My advice from my experience,
I went on minoxidil first just because I was afraid of symptoms of finasteride, I was on minoxidil for about 4 months and didnt really notice a huge difference, alittle difference, but not much. After being on minoxidil for 5 months and finasteride for about 1 month, I have already notice a huge difference in that 1 month.
My advice is to go all out, get finasteride, minoxidil and nizoral and start them all the exact same day, be healthy.. take multi vitamens and vitamen C everyday. You will or will not get a shed either way no matter which you start to be honest.
If I had started finasteride the day I started minoxidil id probably be alot better off then right now, which IS alot better, but it could be better, hell.. I am still waiting on my nizoral too
I don't cut my pils, I take 1mg a day so I dunno about cutting, probably best to go with a 0.25 if you're worried about it, but the risk is worth the reward to me.