If you feel like Finasteride isn’t working as well as you’d hoped, we’ve put together some guidance on how you can maximise your progress and give your treatment the best possible chance of success. Whether you’ve been using Finasteride for a few months or longer term, the strategies below can help you optimize your results and stay on track.
Finasteride is one of two clinically proven, licensed treatments for male pattern hair loss (MPHL), alongside Minoxidil Spray. Finasteride blocks the main hormone behind MPHL, dihydrotestosterone (DHT) which means it is effective at stopping further hair loss. But studies have shown that results are better when Finasteride is used in combination with Minoxidil Spray. In a study, 80.5% of participants saw improvement in hair loss after 12 months of treatment with just Finasteride 1mg daily. This increased to 94.1% in those using a combined treatment of Finasteride and 5% Minoxidil Spray.
So, if you haven’t already, adding Minoxidil Spray to your daily treatment plan could boost your results. For those who struggle with the twice-daily application of Minoxidil Spray or experience irritation, Minoxidil Capsules may be a more convenient alternative. You can read more about Minoxidil Capsules here.
It might sound obvious, but the treatment won’t work to its full potential if you’re skipping days or taking breaks. Finasteride has a half-life of around 4-8 hours, which means a single dose has left your system within a few days. Without Finasteride in your system to suppress DHT levels, DHT can bind to hair follicles and cause miniaturization, which leads to thinning hair and hair loss.
To help stick to your treatment, we recommend attaching it to a daily regime so it becomes a habit. That might mean taking the medication at the same time every day, like after breakfast or when you brush your teeth. After repeating this routine enough, you won’t even need to think about it anymore – it’ll become second nature.
Deficiencies in certain vitamins and minerals can affect hair growth and hair quality. Certain nutrients, like iron, zinc, biotin, and omega-3 fatty acids are essential for hair growth – missing these from your diet can lead to hair loss. If you’re not getting enough of these from your diet, you can consider taking a supplement. Sons offer Hair Growth Complex which combines 9 natural ingredients that your hair needs to thrive. For example, zinc helps to support a healthy hair growth cycle and biotin supports the maintenance of skin, hair and nails.
A clean, healthy scalp is the foundation for healthy hair growth. A proper hair care routine can reduce breakage and split ends, which improves the overall appearance of your hair – which can help if you’re experiencing thinning hair.
Here are a few tips:
Avoid heat damage: use warm, rather than hot, water to wash your hair. Also, avoid using heat styling tools without applying heat protective products.
Use appropriate products: avoid shampoos, conditioners or styling products which use harmful ingredients, and instead select products which can support healthy hair and scalp. Sons Strengthening Shampoo & Conditioner do not contain sulphates or parabens, plus they use supportive ingredients such as Saw Palmetto (natural DHT-blocker), caffeine and argan oil to nourish the hair and scalp.
Be gentle: don’t roughly towel-dry your hair or brush roughly, as this can cause hair damage and impact the look of your hair.
Hair regrowth takes time, so patience is key.
Many people stop treatment early because they assume it isn’t working. A 2023 study found people were less likely to discontinue hair loss treatment the longer they used it. That’s because long-term use creates a helpful cycle of ‘improvement-satisfaction-adherence’. In other words, people see the treatment is working, feel satisfied with the results they’re seeing, keep using it, and then see good outcomes overall.
Understanding the expected timeframe can make all the difference. Most people begin to notice changes after 3 to 6 months, often starting with reduced shedding. With continued use, improvements can become more visible, such as thicker-looking hair or even some regrowth in thinner areas. However, results vary from person to person and depend on your starting point.
The first few months can be the hardest, as progress may not yet be obvious. To stay motivated, we recommend taking regular progress photos. Comparing these over time can give you a more objective view of your improvement and help keep you committed to your treatment plan.
We have a dedicated Aftercare Team who are here to support your hair regrowth journey.
If you’re not seeing the results you were hoping for, have questions about treatment options, or need help managing your subscription, you can get in touch by emailing hello@sons.ie, give them a call on +353 238 804 269, or even have a live chat on WhatsApp.
All of our blog articles are reviewed for medical accuracy by our Medical Director before publication.
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