Best Razor for Beard Shaping

I use a razor on an almost daily basis – at minimum every 3-4 days. I currently shave my head with a Headblade, but I don’t use the same razor for shaving my beard. It just doesn’t work the same on my face as it does on my head!

I go for a completely shaven head, but I do still maintain a pretty substantial beard. For a while, I tried to use the same head razor for my head as I would on my face. But, it just didn’t work well.

I switched out to the Gillette Fusion for a little while – and it worked just fine. But, it didn’t really work as well as I’d liked it to – yeah, I’m pretty picky. I was looking for something more crisp and clean, and this didn’t really do the job.

So from there, I’m going to give you two of the best different types of shavers to use to shape your beard. It really depends on what you want – do you want the sharpest finish, or do you want something that works for convenience?

Using a Straight Razor

For the very sharpest finish, you’ll undoubtedly want to consider useing a straight razor to shape your beard. This will give you the ‘barber’ look that you’re searching for.

I can’t speak for all the straight razors out there, but I found that the Parker Straight Razor worked well (yes, I actually use the products that I review!). I went for the Parker because it had the best reviews and to be honest, it looked pretty darn cool in comparison to some of the others.

The main area that I want a straight razor for is the sideburns leading into the beard. I hate shaving the definition fade between the beard and your head, which you’ll only understand if you’re a bald guy. I like going from completely bald to completely beard, so I need to shave the beard perfectly, otherwise it looks extremely tatty.

The straight razor was fantastic for that – creating a sharp definition between my beard and my head. It wa also relatively easy to use to define the beard and shape it easily, though I’m the first to admint that my beard isn’t the thickest.

I will say that using a straight razor isn’t the best if you’re concerned about cutting your face whilst shaving. To get a sharp finish, you’ll usually need to use a sharp razor – unfortunately, this will often end up in nicks. I was fortunate enough to avoid this, but it was pretty obvious that this may have been a risk whilst I was shaving.

Pros and Cons of a Straight Razor for Your Beard

There are a couple reasons that you might want to use a straight razor to shape your beard over other options. They are;

 Sharp Finish – You won’t get a sharper finish than using a straight razor. If you want a professional finish, you’ll need to consider using a straight razor.

 Meditative – You might be surprised to find out that using a straight razor is actually quite therapeutic. It forces you to take your time to avoid cuts, which allows you a few minutes to yourself.

 Relatively Cheap – A straight edge razor won’t set you back more than 10 or 20 bucks, so it might be worth trying.

Now, there are some drawbacks from opting for a straight razor. They are;

 Easy to cut yourself – Using a straight razor is a difficult choice. Because on one hand, you want as cleaner of a shave as possible, and to do this you need a sharp razor. But, this increases the likelihood you’re going to cut yourself. There’s no way to stop this, so it’s part and parcel of using a razor.

  Maintaining the blade – It’s not the biggest deal in the world, but if you’re using a razor you’ll undoubtedly need to main it properly. The best way to maintain your razor is by using a strop.

  Rashes – It’s a fact. Certain ways and methods of shaving work better for different people. Using a straight razor might be right for you, but it might not. It’s hard to tell without giving it a go.

My Alternative A Safety Razor Works Well Too

If you don’t want to use a straight razor, then I’ve found that a safety razor works pretty well too. Granted, it doesn’t give the same close cut that a straight razor does – but nothing will.

If you already use a regular razor for your neck, then it might be worth switching it out for a safety razor and using it from your beard too.

My favorite safety razor is the Merkur Futur. It’s one of the best safety razors on the market right now, and it’s worth considering if you’re looking for the best of the best. If you want a cheaper option, opt for the Weishi.

I’m one of those people who hates to have too much stuff. If I’m travelling or I’m busy, then the last thing that I really want is to be carrying my Skull Shaver, Headblade and a straight razor around with me. Call me lazy – I’ll admit it.

For these short term occasions where I’m away for less than a week, I’ll often just take a safety razor with me and use it everywhere. My head, my neck, for shaping up my beard – a safety razor is a great option for this, and something that you should undoubtedly consider if you’re as lazy as I am.

Plus, the cut that a safety razor gives is much better than what you’d find with a normal razor (in my opinion). I do have friends that prefer a cartridge razor, so it does come down to individual option to some degree.

Pros and Cons of Safety Razor for Your Beard

There are a lot of positives of using a safety razor. They are;

 Quick and Easy – Using a safety razor is a quick and easy option for shaving your beard.

 Multi Use – You can use the safety razor on other parts of your body, too.

 Very Cheap – With a safety razor, they’re so cheap when it comes to refills. You can pick up a lot of spare razors for a super cheap price.

Though, you will find a few drawbacks, too. So of the drawbacks of using a safety razor include;

 Not quite as sharp – You’re not going to get as sharp of a cut with a safety razor, that’s just a fact. Though unless you’re super grooming orientated, you’re unlikely to notice a difference.

  Some people find them awkward – Personally, I’ve had no troubles using a razor to shave my beard. But, there are those that find the handle awkward and difficult to use. Don’t worry if this is you; it will just take some practice to get used to it.

Conclusion

In conclusion, you can find options for both a straight razor and a safety razor. It’s difficult to find which of these will work best for you without trying it.

If you want the sharpest look, go for a straight razor – but be aware you’ll have to take time to learn to shave without cutting yourself. If you want the easiest way, then a good safety razor will likely be the best option for you.

 

 

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Can you stay permanently bald?

Shaving your head can either be an enjoyable experience or the bane of your life. For some people, myself included, shaving your head becomes almost therapeutic. If I’m using a razor to shave my head in the shower every other morning, I actually feel relaxed and pretty chilled – though I will add, you need to schedule for shaving your head. Shaving your head in a rush is in no way enjoyable!

But sometimes I do wonder what it would be like if you could stay permanently bald. I have friends who complain constantly about having to shave their head frequently – this is usually because they don’t have a great routine to stick with. Razor shaving your head needs time and practice to do it properly, and you need to find the right razor. But anyway, it’s interesting to know whether staying permanently bald is an option for those who hate shaving their head every day.

The answer is that yes, you can stay permanently bald. There are a few different options that you can take to achieve this, with the most common one being laser hair removal.

Hair Laser Removal for a Bald Head

To get permanent hair removal, you really need to get yourself a series of hair removal sessions on your scalp. Hair removal generally works by a highly concentrated laser permanently damaging your hair follicles. Over time, these follicles become so damaged that hair will not grow back. For this reason, you need to be 100% sure on this decision – it’s probably best suited for wet shave baldies as opposed to slightly thinning on top baldies.

The amount of sessions that you need will vary, but usually a specialist will recommend anywhere between 8-12 sessions to remove the hair completely. Over this period of time, you should be able to obtain full baldness if you stick to the correct schedule.

You’ll will start to see the difference after only one session, but it won’t be particularly effective and it will likely leave your scalp patchy. Have a look at this video for an update on how many sessions that this gentleman needed;

As you can see from the video, it can be successful and it can also look extremely good. If you do it properly, you’ll save yourself the hassle of shaving for the rest of your life. If you do it incorrectly, you could be in for a lot of trouble. For this reason, it’s important to see a licensed professional for this sort of treatment.

How much does hair removal on your head cost?

The cost of hair removal varies a lot depending on how much you’re getting removed, and more importantly, where you go.

After scouring the internet, the majority of hair treatments from reputable companies will run you back thousands of dollars. Sure, you could probably find somewhere to get hair removal on your scalp of a thousand bucks, but for 12 sessions at a reputable company you’re going to likely double or treble than one thousand dollar price tag.

Should you consider hair removal on your scalp?

The only way that I would suggest hair removal on your scalp is if you truly hate shaving your head. This could be for a variety of reasons;

• Sensitive Skin – If you get red and itchy skin post shave every time, then this might be a reason to consider getting laser hair removal treatment. There are an abundance of different shavers and razors out there to try, but you might not be able to avoid a rash. Usually I use a aftercare balm which has helped me immensely with my routine, but this could be a reason to seek this sort of treatment.
• Horseshoe Haters – Some people, including myself, hate the horseshoe. By horseshoe, I mean the George Costanza look in which the top is completely bare, and you have hair around the back and sides of your head in the shape of a horseshoe. Not a good look for most guys. If you had this look or the five o clock shadow that remains when you shave, then this may be a good option for you.
• Those who just hate shaving – Some people really hate shaving. And I don’t blame you, it can be super time consuming. Getting hair laser removal treatment can reduce the time you’ll have to spend doing this.

These are just a few of the reasons why you may consider this type of treatment.

Conclusion

As you’ll know if you read the blog, this option isn’t really for me. But, I’d never blame someone for taking this option if they wanted to save time or go permanently bald! I’d definitely recommend this option and embracing baldness as opposed to getting a hair tattoo where you’re denying your bald genetics.

At the end of the day, it’s entirely your decision whether this procedure is right for you. Take your time before you go ahead with this; it’s costly and time intensive!

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Does Propecia Regrow Hair, or just stop further loss?

One of the more common questions when regarding Propecia is whether there’s any point in using it if you’re already experiencing a lot of hair loss. Are you ‘too far gone’ already to consider Propecia? Or, is there the possibility that Propecia will help to regrow your lost hair as well as stopping any further losses?

The answer is that whilst Propecia is not the catalyst for hair regrowth, it can reduce the amount of DHT circulating in your scalp – which allows your hair to grow back.

So Propecia doesn’t technically grow your hair back, but it does give your scalp a better environment which allows your damaged hair to revitalise itself.

What does Propecia really do?

• Pauses/slows down male pattern baldness – Male pattern baldness is essentially the process of your hair loss follicles slowly shrinking as you age. This affects the majority of guys at some point in their lifetime. Propecia stops this minimzation, which is why it is most effective in those who have experienced minimal hair loss already.
• Hair Regrowth – This area has far less extensive research that the pausing/slowing down of hair loss. Propecia stops your body converting testosterone to DHT, which in some cases allows your hair follicles to start growing hair again.
• Prostate – Not many people know that Propecia has an effect on your prostate – this is something that you should be aware of. Propecia has been found to decrease the size of a man’s prostate, which may sound like a good thing; but this isn’t always the case if you don’t want to decrease your sperm count.

The difference between Minoxidil and Finasteride is pretty simple. Finasteride prevents the conversion of testosterone to DHT in your body – DHT is the primary cause of baldness in men. DHT, or dihydrotestosterone, does affect women too in some ways, but it’s primarily an issue if you’re dealing with male pattern baldness. This is a natural thing for your body to do, which is why some take issue with the use of hair loss drugs.

So whilst Finasteride is made to prevent this conversion, Minoxidil works in a different way. Minoxidil helps to improve the circulation of blood in your scalp. This allows more stimulation in your hair follicles, which helps your hair to regrow where the follicle may have previous been impaired. With the increased blood flow and oxygen reaching your hair follicles, you have more chance of hair regrowth and help to mitigate any current losses you’re experiencing.

Propecia Regrowth Time

How long will it take for your hair to start regrowing after starting to take Propecia? Well, we can only go by individual accounts and it is usually different for different people. Most commonly, you won’t see any significant changes within the first 6 months.

This is normal – many people do not experience any changes in their hair within the first 10-12 months. For this reason, Propecia is certainly something that you have to commit to long term if you do decide to opt for it.

The majority of Propecia users state that they notice results anywhere within the first few months to within 12-18 months. This includes the stopping of hair loss, and in some cases, regrowth of hairs lost.

Should I use other products with Propecia?

It’s up to you. Many people experience good results with Propecia using it alone. Though there are those that swear by “the Big 3” – Propecia, Rogaine and Nizoral. The combination of these three hair loss products together is supposedly the next best thing to a hair transplant, so you may want to consider this.

People who should avoid Propecia

You should not take Finasteride if;

• You’re a woman or child – Propecia isn’t approved for women, although you will find some hair loss treatments for women that contain finasteride. It is down to you if you want to use this treatment. Do not use Propecia for children under any circumstance.
• Pregnant women – If you do decide to use a finasteride treatment, then you should stop immediately if you find out that you are pregnant. It can have an effect on your child’s growth.
• Those with low sex drives – Propecia is designed to lower the amount of DHT circulating in your body. DHT is a naturally produced hormone. This reduction is said to lead to lower sex drives and possible erection issues (the people who have reported this issue are minimal, but beware that this is still a risk of taking Propecia).
• Reduced prostate can mean less ejaculate – The reduction in prostate size can mean that you will produce less semen – though don’t worry, it’s not likely to have an effect on your sperm count though it has been linked in studies to infertility.

So does Propecia regrow hair?

The correct answer is that Propecia does not regrow hair, but allows your hair follicles the ability to regrow by reducing the amount of DHT circulating through your body. Yes, I know that sounds like Propecia regrows your hair, but it’s sort of a ‘knock on effect’ type of thing.

If you’re looking to use Propecia, then I advise that you thoroughly check all of the side effects beforehand. This is to make sure that you are willing to take the risks associated with using Propecia – don’t do anything that you’re uncomfortable with!

Conclusion

Whichever steps you wish to take, it’s usually a good idea to consult a doctor before you make any decision. Remember – going bald isn’t the end of the world, but you can take matters into your own hands if you wish to.

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The Big 3 Hair Loss Products that Actually Work

If you’re starting to experience hair loss, then you’ve likely scoured the internet for information on what you can do to slow down the process. Whilst there are different options for you out there, you’re probably going to come across ‘The Big 3’ for hair loss. But what are the Big 3, and why are they called this?

Well, the term The Big 3 usually refers to the main products used to help reduce, and in some cases reverse, hair loss. This is Minoxidil (Rogaine), Finasteride (Propecia) and Ketoconazole (Nizoral). Using these 3 products together are thought to be the optimal technique for fighting hair loss.

Do The Big 3 really work for hair loss?

Do they really work? Well, there are cases that have shown that these three products will have an effect on your hair loss – specifically finasteride and minoxidil.

Minoxidil and finasteride are proven to help with your hair loss. So yes, they do work. Ketoconazole research is harder to come by, but it is proven to support a healthy scalp and there are reports of it working effectively to minimize hair loss, which is why it is considered an important part of the Big 3.

Do you really need to consider taking all of these together? Well, it depends. If you’re looking for the optimal formula to contend with hair loss, then I’d say yes. By using them all together, so people think that they may stop the other one from working properly, though this isn’t the case. They work separately, and the best chance of you keeping your hair is to use them together. Lets have a closer look at each of the products and how they can help you with your hair loss issues.

Minoxidil

Rogaine is usually the first product that is recommended to people when considering hair loss. It is one of the only proven methods used to regrow your hair.

It’s commonly asked whether you should use minoxidil or finasteride, but if you’re going for the Big 3 approach, you can use both! There are no known reasons why you shouldn’t use both of these hair loss treatments together.

Minoxidil was actually originally used to treat high blood pressure, but from there it was realised that it caused excessive hair growth for some users. This is because there is an increase in blood flow, which helps to support the growth in hair follicles. It widens the hair follicles, which allows for easier growth.

Usually if you’re looking to grow your hair, then Minoxidil is the first product that many people will turn to. This is likely because it’s side effects are minimal, and it is proven to help increase hair growth. The only real downside of using minoxidil is the prolonged use – you’ll have to apply this twice a day, pretty much forever (or as long as you want to try and keep your hair). This puts many people off the idea – including myself.

Finasteride

Out of the big 3, Finasteride is likely the most famous in recent media. You’ll see stories of some of the biggest celebrites using Propecia – even the president is thought to have used Propecia to help slow down his accelerating hair loss.

Finasteride has a stupidly high success rate, with other 80% of people reporting that they found it helps to reduce their hair loss. It’s also relatively cheap if you compare it to a hair transplant, which is one of the reasons why it has become increasingly popular. Unlike minoxidil which you need to apply twice a day, with Propecia all you need to do is take a tablet. It’s ease of use is one of the reasons it has become so popular in recent years.

Unfortunately, there are a few drawbacks with Finasteride. You have likely heard about the side effects that you might experience from fin, and they’re no joke. Of course, they have only had an effect on a small amount of people, so the likelihood of you experiencing them too is extremely low; I’m just not sure I’d want to take that risk at all.

Ketoconazole

The third member of the Big 3 is ketoconazole – better known as Nizoral, which is just the most popular brand of ketoconazole.

Nizoral is primarily a anti fungal treatment, which has it’s main use as a dandruff combatant. It definitely helps to promote a healthy scalp. But in it’s use for decreasing dandruff, it was found that some people reported that it helped to mitigate their hair loss, too.

There are many different ways to take Nizoral – orally, through drops or more recently as a shampoo. Nizoral does not work as effectively as a shampoo for dandruff – it works much better if you opt for it in another form. Whereas for hair loss results are not as conclusive as with minoxidil and finasteride, which is why many people are not sure which is the best way to use ketoconazole (even doctors).

Conclusion

If you’re experiencing hair loss and you’re at the initial stages, then you really need to make a decision. With these 3 products, you do have the best chance at slowing down your hair loss – aside from a costly hair transplant. There are side effects that you might experience from using these products, so you should do your own due diligence and find out if they are right for you and you’re willing to take the risk.

Personally though, I just embraced my baldness and decided against this completely. I didn’t feel it was worth it for me – I don’t want to be applying minoxidil twice a day forever just to support my appearance. Though, I’d never judge someone who chose to do this, either. It really is a personal choice that you need to make yourself.

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Best Hats for Bald Guys – and some to avoid!

When you’re bald, the right hat can either make or break the look you’re going for. The last thing you want to do is look like you’re embarrassed about your bald head, so make sure it’s only as occasional thing and you don’t make a habit of wearing hats all the time. I’ve a friend who won’t go anywhere without his hat because he’s start to bald at the back of his head – and it’s stupid. There’s no need to be insecure about it by concealing your head with a hat all the time!

This is the main issue with wearing a hat as a bald guy. Insecurity. If you’re considering buying a hat to help conceal your bald head, then I urge you to think again and learn how to deal with going bald. Please don’t be the guy wearing a wooly hat even though it’s a scorching hot summer.

In saying this however, hats can be a fantastic accessory for a baldy. If you’re just looking to pick up some tips on how to stylise your look, then here’s some great options for you. Here are some of the best hats for bald guys.

1. The Fedora

It’s not just mobsters and hipsters who wear Fedoras nowadays. If you’re looking for a classic look, then the Fedora is one of the best options for you. You don’t need to spend big bucks to get a decent one and it can go with pretty much any summer outfit that you’ve got.

However, make sure you don’t do it like Neyo and get attached to it, or start using it to cover up your hairline.

2. The Heisenberg

If you’re – how do I put this delicately – a gentleman of a certain age, then a Heisenberg can actually suit you down to the ground. The Pork Pie look works well with those who dress to impress, as you need to have a certain level of style to pull it off.

In fact, it’s not just older people who can pull the Heisenberg off – if you have a quirky dress sense in general, then this can be a good look if you do it properly.

3. The Flat Cap

Again another look that suits the more dignified amongst us, a flat peak is great because it works as well with a t shirt as it does with a blazer. If you get the right flat peak, you can certainly wear it for a variety of occasions.

4. The Plain Jane

Please, pleaaase don’t assume by saying that caps are a good choice, I mean a New Era Cap. They’re not. If you want to look like you’re trying to recover your lost youth, then by all means go for a New Era. If you’re less than 30, an athlete or Floyd Mayweather, then you can consider a New Era Cap. If you’re not, then you’re better off going for a more mature look.

But if you’re looking for something that you can just throw on, then a plain cap can be a good option. Try not to go for anything with too much ‘going on’ and stick with a simple one or two tone that you can wear with a variety of outfits.

5. The Wooly Hat

Less of an option an more of a necessity for the majority of us bald guys, the wooly hat is as stylish as it is essential.

Again, try to keep it plain if you’re looking for a more sophisticated look, and match it with a scarf if you really want to look the part.

Conclusion

To conclude, these are only some of the issues that you could choose from if you’re looking for a hat as a bald guy. Though I have to reiterate; don’t use a hat as a crutch! The right hat can make or break your look, so be sure to choose wisely and find a hat that suits you.

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Nizoral Hair Loss Shampoo Review

If you’re dealing with dandruff and you’re considering using Nizoral, then look no further. This is a comprehensive review that will help you to learn whether you should consider using Nizoral specifically for hair loss.

What is Nizoral?

Nizoral is often defined as an anti dandruff shampoo, but it has many more used than just that. Its often given as a cream to treat fungal infections, too. You would have found it in tablet form, but that’s far less common than it has been in the past.

But for our interests, we’re interested in Nizoral Shampoo as a hair loss agent. I’ve even seen people talking about Nizoral used as an acne cure, so it’s really a multi use wonder drugs.

It’s true name is Ketoconazole – Nizoral is just the most common brand name of this. Much like Minoxidil is known as Rogaine, or Finasteride is known as Propecia. Speaking of which, these ‘Big 3‘ are often used in conjuction with each other to give optimum hair loss prevention results.

How Does Nizoral Work?

There’s a lot more research for how Nizoral works for anti fungal methods, with less concern for how it’s used to treat hair loss. But, there is research that suggests that the anti fungal elements in Nizoral helps promote hair growth.

I know what you’re thinking; so Nizoral works for dandruff and anti fungal stuff, but what about hair loss? Well, the idea actually comes from an experiment. In the experiment, Nizoral was tested on mice. The mice developed excessive hair growth, in turn showing that Nizoral can indeed stimulate hair growth.

The results on humans are less conclusive. There is little evidence that Nizoral Shampoo will have a massive effect on your hair growth, but there are some who swear that it has made a massive difference for them. In the study linked to above, the majority of participants had some positive effect on their hair growth, which at least makes Nizoral an option, although perhaps not the best.

Positives of Using a Nizoral Shampoo

There are a few reasons that Nizoral has become increasingly popular, especially as an options for those looking for a hair loss shampoo. These are;

Ease of Use – I think that this is the main reason that Nizoral shampoo has become so popular as a hair loss method. You really don’t need to change your current routine, and just replace your current shampoo with a Nizoral one.

Relatively Cheap – Nizoral Shampoo isn’t too much more expensive than regular shampoo. This makes it a pretty good option if you need something that has the potential to work without leaving your bank empty. Though Minoxidil is more proven to work, you’re likely to rack up thousands and thousands of dollars using it over the course of your life – this isn’t the case with Nizoral.

 Lack of extreme side effects  – Another reason that Nizoral has become increasingly popular is that the side effects that you might experiences are relatively mild. This is in comparison to other hair loss products on the market.

This doesn’t meant that using Nizoral is completely without risk, and there is the possibility of experiencing some side effects when using Nizoral.

Nizoral Side Effects

One of the good things about using Nizoral is that it doesn’t come with the same risky side effects that you’d find with other hair loss medications like Finasteride. There are however, a few side effects that you need to be aware of;

 Skin Irritation – This is the most common side effect of using Nizoral Shampoo. Whilst it’s generally a pretty mild feeling for most, sometimes certain products just won’t work for you. For most, Nizoral won’t cause irritation but there are some cases where people have reported irritation.

 Dry Skin – When you deal with skin irritation, you’re likely to notice that your skin is drying out too. The irony is that Nizoral is trying to hep the health of your hair, but some people have experienced dry skin from using Nizoral.

 Allergic Reactions – Like most hair products, there is the chance that you’ll risk having an allergic reaction to some of the ingredients that the product contains.

Overall, you can see that the side effects that you might experience from using Nizoral pale in comparison when compared to other hair loss products.

Conclusion

In conclusion, I wouldn’t consider using Nizoral Hair Loss Shampoo on it’s own. It doesn’t have the scientific backing that other hair loss products have – if you’re going to invest in something, surely you would something scientifically proven to give results?

Whilst Nizoral may have a positive effect on hair growth, this certainly isn’y definitely. The likelihood is that you won’t notice much of an effect from using Nizoral on it’s own, so if you are going to use it, pair it up with some other hair loss products for best effect.

 

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Why I’d Never Ever Ever Use Finasteride – Side Effects

Now, I’d never judge someone for trying to stop their hair loss. But, you should know the possibility of adverse side effects before using any kind of product, regardless of what it’s intended to do. Now, does Finasteride work for hair loss? The majority of people say yes.

But, there are some side effects that you just don’t want to run the risk of with a hair loss product in my opinion. Finasteride has a few of these side effects that to me, make it totally not an option if I was looking for a hair loss mitigator.

Let’s have a look at some of the reported side effects of Propecia and see whether you’re still convinced that this is the DHT blocker that can help to save your scalp.

What is Finasteride (Propecia)

Aside from Minoxidil, Propecia is undoubtedly one of the best known hair loss drugs in the western Hemisphere.

Now, what’s the difference between Finasteride and Propecia? Well, nothing. Propecia is just the brand name of the chemical drug Finasteride. Much like Rogaine is the popular name for Minoxidil, Hoover became the name for vacuum cleaners in the United Kingdom, or Band-Aid is what we call a adhesive bandage in the United States. It’s just a case of the brand name dominating the market so much that it becomes the popular term.

Now that’s out the way, Finasteride is a medication or a drug used to decrease the DHT production in your blood. How does it do this? Well,

How do you take Finasteride?

Initially, Finasteride was produced in small 1mg tablets, which is still the most popular method of taking Finasteride today.

Although in recent years, it’s become more popular to use Finasteride as an ingredient in DHT blocking shampoos, too.

Finasteride Side Effects

Now, remember that these side effects aren’t a guarantee, but they have all been reported by Finasteride users.

ED (Erectile Dysfunction) – If you’re looking at Finasteride side effects, then the likelihood is that you already know about the big one. ED is something that no man wants, although you’d be surprised by the amount of men that have experienced it. It’s the biggest side effect risk whilst taking Propecia, and it’s something you’ll want to consider before taking Propecia.

A Decreasing Libido – Continuing down the penis themed line, a decreasing libido is something that a small percentage of users reported whilst they were using Propecia. Although it’s not as common as actual ED, a decreased libido is another concern if you start using Propecia.

 Weaker Erections in General – Whilst life isn’t all about your penis, if you’re in good health with strong erections – is it worth the risk? Finasteride has been reported to give guys weaker erections in general. Okay, I’m done scaring your penis now.

 Fainting – There are some who have reported an effect on their blood pressure, with the occasional report of this making the user faint.

 Generally feeling dizzy and weak – Not just fainting, but feeling dizzy and weak has also been reported as a side effect of taking Propecia.

For me, the sexual side effects that you’re running the risk of inducing by using Finasteride are totally not worth it. There’s a lot of articles online saying that only 2-3% of guys found that taking Finasteride effected their erections negatively. Only 3%?! So what, there’s a 1 in 33 chance I’m going to lose the ability in my penis for the chance to grow some hair back? No, thanks.

It’s not just the idea of sexual dysfunction that scares me. It’s the idea that even if you stop taking Propecia, these sexual side effects can continue long after you’ve stopped taking the drug. Now, that’s truly scary.

I’m still interested in taking Finasteride

And good for you! You’ve done some extensive research and come to the conclusion that you’re still interested in trying Finasteride out, and that’s fine. Speak to your doctor about this before you take an action and they can usually ppoint you in the right direction.

Let’s have a look at why it is that Propecia and Finasteride has become so increasingly used amongst men.

Pros of Taking Finasteride

Now, I’ve already said that I wouldn’t take Propecia myself, but I understand why it’s so popular.

High success rate – In general, the reason that Propecia in particular has become so popular is that it has an extremely high success rate. Whilst I’ve read studies saying that 2 out of 3 people find positive results from using Propecia, I’ve also read others where in excess of 80% reported positive results by using Propecia.

 Easy to take – With Minoxidil and other hair loss products, you end up applying it twice a day when you’ve just got out there shower. Or with some shampoos and conditioners, you need to leave it in for ten minutes to see the full effect. With Propecia, you just need a 1mg

 Prescribed or Cheap – Whether you get your Propecia prescribed to you by an expert or you purchase it online, it’s relatively cheap in comparison to some hair loss products I’ve seen out there.

Conclusion

I’ve tried to stay impartial whilst having a look at Finasteride, but I just couldn’t! To me, I do not think that it’s worth running the risk of taking Finasteride. I’d rather be fully bald than run the risk of experiencing some of these side effects. But, ultimately it’s up to you to make your own decision on whether Finasteride is the right choice for you.

 

The post Why I’d Never Ever Ever Use Finasteride – Side Effects appeared first on Balding Life.

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Are there side effects from using a DHT blocker shampoo?

It’s commonly known now that DHT causes the hair follicles in your scalp to shrink – eventually causing baldness.

Now, it seems pretty simple to use a DHT blocking shampoo to combat this – but are there any side effects? Well yes, there are.

Whilst you’re not guaranteed to experience all of these side effects (or any of them), it’s important to know which of these ingredients may cause side effects for you. As you’re able to see below, there’s totally different levels of side effects depending on which ingredients are contained in your DHT blocking shampoo, so it’s important to be aware of the risks of each.

DHT Blocking Shampoo Ingredients and their side effects

To really know whether you’re going to get any side effects from using a DHT blocker shampoo, you must consider what ingredients the shampoo uses. There are different DHT blockers that you can use, some more natural than others. In general, if you’re using a natural DHT blocker then it’s going to have less risk of side effects – though you may be trading some effectiveness in exchange for this.

For example, Propecia (or Finasteride) is a DHT blocker that may have stronger side effects than other natural DHT blocking supplements. Let’s have a look at a few of the most popular DHT supplements and see how they may produce adverse side effects.

Propecia/Finasteride

Probably the most well known DHT blocker is Finasteride. It’s the most well known and possibly the most effective, but it also has some pretty extreme side effects that you should definitely be aware of.

For the most part, Finasteride isn’t found in shampoos and is taken orally. But, there has been some Finasteride shampoos bouncing around recently, so I thought I had better mention it – especially since it’s side effects are so strong.

Weak Erection/Erectile Dysfunction – Probably the most commonly reported side effect of using Propecia is erectile dysfunction and having weaker erections in general. I don’t know about you, but no DHT blocker is worth losing my erections! Impotence has been linked with using Propecia in many studies, which is enough for me to steer clear of using it.

 Decreased Libido – Propecia doesn’t just decrease the power of your penis – it can effect your interest in sex entirely. It can cause lots of sexual problems from a lack of interest to difficulty ejaculating, which is enough for me to avoid it entirely!

 Dizziness and Weakness – Another possible side effect that you might experience when using propecia. This is pretty scary, and it’s still unknown why propecia can cause these side effects. Many people don’t even start to feel these side effects until years after they have started using them, which is even scarier!

There are various other side effects that you may experience when using propecia like headaches and rashes. It’s important to do some thorough research before making the choice whether propecia is right for you.

Saw Palmetto

Saw palmetto is another popular DHT blocker that has some side effects, though they are reported to be far less extreme than what you may experience with finasteride.

Dizziness – One of the more common side effects of saw palmetto is dizziness, though this is a pretty standard side effect that you’re likely to chance experiencing with any sort of pill or medication.

Nausea – Another general problem that you may experience when taking the majority of medications  is nausea. If you do experience nausea from taking saw palmetto, then consult your doctor.

Liver Problems – There are rare cases of saw palmetto causing liver problems, though these are very rare and not common occurences.

Stinging Nettle Extract

Another good option if you are looking for a natural DHT blocker is stinging nettle. Stinging nettle has been used or many years for a wide variety of different health issues, so it’s no surprise that it can be used if you’re experiencing hair loss.

 Irritation – Of course, one of the main side effects that you’re likely to experience if you use stinging nettle.

 Kidneys – The use of stinging nettles is likely to increase the amount of urine that you’re produce. Of course, this will effect you if you already have issues with your kidneys. You should consult a doctor if you’ve previously experienced any issues with your kidneys before using stinging nettle as a DHT blocker.

 Low Blood Sugar – Another common issue that is sometimes experienced with using stinging nettle is a lowering in blood sugars. If you’re a diabetic, you should consider whether to consult your doctor before using this kind of treatment for hair loss.

Green Tea Extract

The main impact that you’re going to see from green tea is that it is anti inflammatory. It’s filled with anti oxidants, so it can be a great addition to many peoples diets whether they’re dealing with MPB or not.

It is however, very hard to link DHT to either an increase or decrease in testosterone – there are studies that tend to support both. It might not be the best or most impactful decision to start drinking green tea in regards to DHT, but let’s look at some of it’s side effects anyhow.

 Weight Loss – The main side effect, which we’re pretty much all aware of, is that drinking green tea can make you lose weight more rapidly. This isn;t a concern when you use small amounts of it in your shampoo, though.

 Cancer?! – I’m not one to write random studies on the internet, but I didn read one relating green tea in an increased risk of cancer. Now from what I’ve read, there are far more links between green tea and a decreased risk of cancer, so I wouldn’t consider this one too much.

Pumpkin Seed Oil

So, I know you may not have thought of pumpkin seeds as the saviour of your scalp, but they’re actually a great choice if you’re looking to inhibit the conversion of testosterone to DHT. This is because they are filled with Beta Siterol.

Aside from running the risk of bloating and gas if you eat too many pumpkin seeds, there aren’t too many issues with their side effects – especially not when you’re just adding a tad to your shampoo.

Conclusion

Essentially, it’s pretty easy to see that the more natural that the DHT blocking ingrediets are, the less side effects that they tend to produce – it’s a pretty direct correlation between side effects and natural. For me, I would never run the risk of using Propecia due to the adverse side effects you can see above, but it’s entirely your own choice. If I was to choose a hair loss product, I’d probably opt for Rogaine as the side effects tend to be less extreme than what you’d find with Propecia – I’d rather have no hair than no libido!

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Nioxin vs Keranique – A Comparison

Whilst Keranique and Nioxin commonly known products that you can use for your hair loss, they aren’t one and the same. There are a few differences between the two which make them different, and you’ll want to know these before you decide which one you want to spend your hard earned money on.

The main difference between Nioxin and Keranique is that whilst Keranique is designed help the circulation in your scalp, Nioxin focusses more on cleansing your head and promoting a health area for your hair to replenish itself.

The Keranique technique focusses of microcirculation, and whilst they do want to cleanse your scalp like Nioxin does, this isn’t their main focus. How do we know this? Well, you can tell this by looking at the ingredients of Keranique and determining which ingredients are meant to do what.

Ingredients

Keranique is full of the ‘K’s’ – Keravis Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein, Keratrix Seed Extract and Keratin. These ingredients are there to help strengthen the hair and are filled with good amino acids to help replenish any hairs that you might have lost.

To contrast this, Nioxin is filled with other ingredients like Ensulizole, which is actually one of the main ingredients used in sunscreen and helps to protect and cleanse your scalp thoroughly. For this reason, these two products are slightly different than each other (yes, this makes Nioxin the best choice if you’re looking or something that will take care of your scalp and protect it from UV rays).

Both of these shampoos are free of all the nasty stuff that we don’t want – parabens, sulfates and unecessary fragrances.

Pros of Nioxin

Easy to apply – You don’t need to make any drastic changes in your hair routine to incorporate Nioxin – it works the same as pretty much any other hair loss product.

Cleanses the scalp – Nioxin is great for helping to cleanse the scalp due to it’s ingredients, which are specifically designed to do so.

 Cheaper than Keranique – Whilst I don’t think Nioxin is pretty cheaper, it is much cheaper than Keranique in this circumstance.

Pros of Keranique

Minoxidil – Whilst many other hair loss products don’t have anything in them that’s FDA approved, Keranique has the only thing that is; Minoxidil, or Rogaine.

 Easy spray – Whilst I don’t really like the idea of having 4 different products to use for hair loss, I guess I can’t moan too much when it’s just a bit of spray, right?

 Results in a short time – On average, people see results in a far shorter time with Keranique than they do with Nioxin, which you need to apply religiously over many months. If you don’t get results with Keranique within 120 days, you can get a refund!

Results – The Verdict

Of course, some of this may sound like jargon to you, and you probably want to just know which will give you the best results. Now let me say; it depends.

For the average person, I would definitely recommend Nioxin over Keranique; and here’s why.

Nioxin is far simpler to use – it’s just a slightly more expensive shampoo that helps to cleanse your scalp and help to promote hair growth. Whereas with Keranique, you get 4 products that you need to apply all the time, which to me is a bit of a nightmare (this might not bother you as much as it does me, however).

Secondly, Nioxin has a far better track record than Keranique. Any product that’s been around for 30 years has stood the test of time. Keranique is relatively new, so you can’t really compare them in that sense, either.

Thirdly, you get the option of various different scales of product if you opt for Nioxin – this can’t be said for Keranique, however. Keranique doesn’t work too well for thinner and dry hair, so bare than in mind before you make a decision to opt for it. Check out the different scales of Nioxin to find out which one is best for you.

Fourthly and finally, the ingredients in Nioxin just speak out to me more. I spend a lot of time studying and checking out different ingredients lists, and I have to say that I’d undoubtedly pick Nioxin’s formula over Keranique. Why? Well, I’m not a massive fan of Minoxidil, which is one of the primary ingredients in Keranique.

So, there it is – but that’s only my opinion! Be sure to do some research and make your own mind up before you make a purchase. Don’t wate your hard earned cash without doing the research first! If you want a more established user review of Keranique, check this out.

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Keranique – Is it worth the price?

If you’ve looked at Keranique and wondered – is it a scam? Then don’t worry, you’re not alone. I don’t know if it’s the feel of their website or what, by the Keranique online presence really needs some work as they do appear to be like a product sale or something.

Now, I’m not one to judge a book by it’s cover, which is why I’ve held my judgement for Keranique until now- where I’ve spoken to someone who’s actually used the product! I know, a real review on a product online – what a shock! Anyway, I’ll take a back seat and let you speak to Angela, who’s used the Keranique combination before and has a lot to say on the matter!

What is Keranique?

Keranique is an array of hair growth products that work together to help not only mitigate your hair loss, but actually make it grow back (this is what it says on the website). It does contain Minoxidil which is proven to help your hair grow back, so there is some scientific basis in which they base their research.

Whilst many hair loss products only look to help stop your hair loss or help your current hair look thicker, the 4 pack combination of Keranique claims to do both.

What’s Included in the Keranique Package

If you purchase Keranique, you’re going to get 4 different products that will help with your hair loss. This includes;

• A Hair Stimulating Shampoo – The shampoo in my opinion, is the worst pick of the lot. Just my opinion, but it’s not too much different from other shampoos. I guess it helps to clear your scalp in preparation for the other products, which is great.
• A Hair Volumizing Conditioner – Like most conditioners, this Keranique one is made to help the condition and volume of your hair be it’s optimum. If you don’t like heavy conditioners, then this is probably the best bet for you, as you don’t need to worry about it weighing down your hair.
• Keranique Hair Regrowth Treatment (Spray) – This treatment spray is fantastic for those who are happy with using Minoxidil. Of course, there are those that say Minoxidil comes with it’s own side effect, so be sure that you’re willing to use this before you purchase this package,
• Keranique Lift and Repair Spray – The Lift and Repair Spray is ideal for those who are looking for something that will help them to increase the volume in the hair that they have left. This is important for your appearance, as it will help give your hair that finished ‘salon’ look that so many of us desire.

 

Pros and Cons

It works – This stuff actually uses Minoxidil, which is proven to work. Other shampoos and systems don’t, so it kinda sets it apart from the rest there.

 Hair feels fuller – For me, I noticed a difference after less than a month. My hair appeared fuller and thicker, and this progressively go

 120 money back guarantee – If you’re like me, you don’t like buying stuff online. With Keranique, you get a 120 day money back guarantee, so you don’t need to worry about this too much.

 It takes a while to kick in – You’re going to need to use this for a month or two before you see any real results, which is bad if you’re impatient like me!

 Not cheap – It’s not as cheap as the hair loss shampoo that you’d pick up from your local salon or supermarket.

 Hassle – I’m not sold on using the four products – when are they gonna invent something I can just spray on my hair and it all grows back?!

Keranique Ingredients

Of course, there are many different ingredients that make up the Keranique mixture. Let’s narrow it down a little to make things easier.

• A Hair Stimulating Shampoo – One of the standout ingredients in the Keranique shampoo is Panthenol, which you may already be familiar with. It’s also known as Pro Vitamin B5, and is pretty well known for helping keep your hair healthy.
• A Hair Volumizing Conditioner – Looking at the ingredients here, there really isn’t much different than what you’d find in a regular volumizing conditioner. As you’d probably expect, it’s filled with keratin, which is one of the commonly used ingredients to spur on hair growth.
• Keranique Hair Regrowth Treatment (Spray) – This is primarily made up of Minoxidil, or Rogaine. This is FDA proven to help your hair grow back.
• Keranique Lift and Repair Spray – This lift and repair spray is filled with goodies like Biotin, which is one of the hot topics when it comes to hair loss and hair regrowth. It’s a good spray, and there are various other ingredients in here that are good for your hair.

How to use

Whilst there is no set ‘way’ or order that you need to use the majoirty of the Keranique products, it’s obvious that you’ll need to use the conditioner after the shampoo (duh).

For me, the best order to use these products was;

1. Apply the shampoo and wash your hair as normal. If you want to follow the Keranique instructions, then you should wait a little while before washing it out (around 3-5 minutes is the best amount of time for this).
2. Condition your hair as you usually would with any other conditioner out there.
3. After you’ve dried your hair after you’ve got out the shower, apply the Lift and Repair spray to help volumize your hair.
4. Apply the actual Hair Regrowth Treatment whenever you get the chance, really. It’s best to do it twice a day, so for me I did it after i got out of the shower, and in the evening before bedtime.

 

Where to Purchase

If you want to purchase Keranique, your best bet is to head over to their website. DON’T buy it off of a second hand reseller – I’ve seen tons of cases of people selling their own version of Keranique and branding it the same, so please be careful!

Is Keranique a scam?

I’ve seen tons of stuff online calling Keranique a scam. I can only give you my honest opinion; Keranique works pretty well for me. That’s right; I’m still using it today, and I’ve seen noticeable improvement in the hair on my head. Say what you will about the website and their selling methods, but it works for me.

My Personal Verdict

So yep; there’s my personal verdict on whether Keranique really works. I found it to work pretty darn good! I mean, to be honest I think that the Minoxidil is the main ingredient that works in this, which I always assumed was just for bald guys – but it works pretty well for me here. Make your own minds up, but I don’t see what’s wrong with giving it a go!

The post Keranique – Is it worth the price? appeared first on Balding Life.

source http://baldinglife.com/keranique-review/

Nioxin vs Rogaine – Which works best?

Nioxin and Rogaine are two of the most popular hair loss products around, and you’ll like find people that are on both sides of the argument. It’s not easy to know the difference between the two, so here we’ll have a look through what the best one will be for you.

Nioxin vs Rogaine – A Quick Roundup

The main difference that you’ll want to consider between these two products is that Rogaine is great for those experiencing male pattern baldness, whilst Nioxin is better for those experiencing thinner hair.

It’s a common misconception about Nioxin that it works well for male pattern baldness, but if you head over to their website then they make no such claim! Nioxin is aimed at those experiencing temporary and thin hair; not permanent hair loss.

Rogaine, or Minoxidil as it’s known scientifically, is designed to help prevent male pattern baldness. This means that it’s a great option if you’re a guy, but it isn’t targeted at those experiencing temporary hair loss at all.

This is the main difference between the two, but there are several other differences and we’ll have a closer look at what the real differences are between the two.

Nioxin

Like I mentioned, Nioxin is used for those experiencing hair thinness. You shouldn’t just opt to use it if you’re experiencing hair loss; you could consult your salon or barbers beforehand to see what type of Nioxin you see.

Type of Nioxin, I hear you ask? Well, yes actually. There are various different types of Nioxin, which vary dependant on what you hair is currently like. For example, Nioxin 1 is ideal for those with thin and wispy hair, whereas Nioxin 6 is better for thick and coarse hair. If you want to know a little more about the scale of each Nioxin, then have a look here.

If you have fine hair, then Nioxin may be the option for you. It’s a pretty simple option for a hair loss solution that you can try without the adverse side effects that are sometimes associated with other hair loss products. I think it’s important to note that Nioxin are a relatively old brand, with over 30 years of experience in the market. This could indicate that this brand really helps to improve the thickness of your hair. I mean, if they were a shoddy brand, would they really have lasted this amount of time and been bought by major corporation Proctor and Gamble over 10 years ago? I very much doubt it.

Rogaine (Minoxidil)

Whilst I commend Nioxin for being in the hair loss industry for a super long time, you also have to consider the same things about Rogaine. It’s over 20 years old, and has really stood the test of time, which speaks volumes about the product itself. Another thing to consider is that the Rogaine name is essentially the same as Minoxidil, although Minoxidil is the chemical term for it, many people just refer to it as Rogaine nowadays anyway.

Anywho, Rogaine is a more permanent solution for hair loss that you’ll want to consider if your shedding hair is the result of genetics.

Side Effects you may experience

The good thing about both of these products is that the side effects are pretty minimal. This is especially true if you consider them with a hair loss product like Finasteride (have a look at why I’d never use Finasteride here!).

Minoxidil Side Effects

• Inflammation – Some people experience redness of the scalp when they try Minoxidil for the first time, or inflammation. If you do experience this, then you should stop using it immediately.
• Headaches – One of the less common side effects of Minoxidil is headaches, which is reported by a very small amount of users. This is likely because of the increase in blood flow that your body isn’t necessarily use to.
• Weight Gain – Again, it’s hard to be sure on which of these side effects are actually caused by Minoxidil and which are just a circumstance of living or caused elsewhere. Personally, I wouldn’t imagine that Minoxidil has the ability to make you gain weight, but that’s my personal opinion.

Nioxin Side Effects

• Flakes/Dandruff – A flaky head and dandruff are the most commonly reported side effects of using Nioxin, which are relatively mild when you compare them to some of the side effects of other products.
• Itchy Scalp – It seems that some people just tend to react to Nioxin negatively, leaving them with an itchy red scalp after prolonged use.
• Remaining Hair becomes dry – When you’re using Nioxin, it’s best used on those who have minimal hair loss as you’re not going to be growing any hair back. Some users report the issue of their remaining hair becoming dry, which is probably because the Nioxin eliminates a lot of oils from your scalp.

 

Application

It’s really hard to compare these two, as they’re not really made for the same

Conclusion

To conclude, comparison Rogaine with Nioxin is kind of like comparing apples and oranges – you use them both for different things. If you have thinning hair, you’ll want to opt for Nioxin. If you’re experiencing male pattern baldness, then you’ll definitely want to look at Rogaine or another alternative. If you’re going to go for Rogaine, then you should definitely go for the real product and not for something like a minoxidil shampoo, which has no real proof that it works.

 

 

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Nioxin vs Nutri Ox – What’s best for hair loss?

If you’re losing your hair or it’s thinning for whatever reason, then you’re in the right place. Hair loss can be a disturbing thing, and it’s important to understand why you’re starting to lose your luxurious locks. Only then can you determine the best way to combat this, and decide whether Nioxin or Nutri Ox is the best option for you.

Whilst many of the hair loss products featured here are very different, this can’t be said for these two. They’re extremely similar in their ingredients and results, so ultimately it’s down to you which you decide to opt for. 

Nioxin vs Nutri Ox – The Main Differences

Pricing

Traditionally, Nutri Ox is considered as a cheaper alternative to Nioxin. The big powerful brand behind Nioxin enables them to charge whatever price they really want, which is pretty much how anything works. Nutri Ox do not have the big name brand behind them that Nioxin do (Nioxin is owned by P&G, the biggest corporate company worldwide).

Nioxin is often twice the price or more of Nutri Ox, depending on where you go to buy these products. For this reason, Nutri Ox is the better option for budget buyers.

Application

Both Nioxin and Nutri Ox are applied in in a completely different way. Whilst you apply Nioxin through shampooing your hair, Nutri Ox is usually applied by a few sprays after you’ve showered.

It’s hard to say which of these methods is more convenient. I mean, you’re going to be showering and washing your hair anyways, so that’s not going to be an issue. But, you can’t really complain about a few sprays after the shower too much either, so I don’t really think either of these methods is particularly inconvenient.

Ingredients

Whilst they do have some of the same ingredients, there are some differences between the two. The main two ingredients in Nioxin are both primarily used in sunscreen – this is because they’re designed to help protect your scalp and help cleanse it. In Nioxin’s case, this is so your hair has a nice environment to grow in.

Nutri Ox however, is made up of many of the top ingredients that we associate so commonly with hair growth formulas nowadays. Yep, this means the usual suspects like Nettle Extract and Lacryma-Jobi Ma-yuen Seed Extract (yes, this is a common found ingredient in hair loss products!).

Results (which is best!)

Now I know what you’re thinking; you just want to know which one of these two you should buy! Well, it’s a pretty easy decision for me to say, but it does depend on your circumstance.

As these two shampoos are strikingly similar, the obvious choice is to go for Nioxin – if you can afford it, that is. Nioxin has stood the test of time, and has been around for more than 30 years since it was first incepted. Much like Red Bull has dominated the energy drink market, Nioxin has been one of the front runners in the hair loss shampoo market for many years now. You don’t do that unless your product really works.

In saying this, Nutri Ox is a cheap alternative to this that you might want to consider. Whilst it doesn’t have the same branding as Nioxin, it is available at a fraction of the price –  so if money’s an issue, you may want to opt for Nutri Ox over Nioxin.

The post Nioxin vs Nutri Ox – What’s best for hair loss? appeared first on Balding Life.

source http://baldinglife.com/nioxin-vs-nutri-ox-whats-best-for-hair-loss/

Nioxin Shampoo Review from someone that actually used the product!

If you’re on the internet looking at Nioxin, then the likelihood is that you’re experiencing some form of hair loss. But how can you really trust what random people are saying on the internet? They’ve probably not even used the product.

Here though, we only deal in real reviews of products. As you can see if you look around the site, I’m a happily bald guy. So, I can really talk about products like Nioxin and give you guys an honest review. So, I reached out online to see if I could get someone to give us an honest Nioxin Shampoo Review and luckily, I managed to find someone!

What is Nioxin?

First, let’s have a quick look at what Nioxin is. You might have heard of Nioxin before, you may not have. But you’ve undoubtedly heard of Proctor & Gamble (or P & G), who you may known are the corporation behind Gillette and other massive brands.

Why am I telling you this? Well, Nioxin wasn’t always owned by P & G. It was developed in the 80s by mother Eva Graham to help with the loss of her thinning hair after she had her child. This in itself helps us to understand one of the best use cases for Nioxin; temporary hair loss. 

I say this because I see people confusing Nioxin with use for MPB (Male Pattern Baldness), and it just isn’t how it works unfortunately! Nioxin is more like a special shampoo that you’re likely to splurge a little extra on as opposed to a magical hair loss treatment growth system like Minoxidil or Finasteride.

Nioxin User Review

So, I used Nioxin for a while and I have to say, I did notice a difference in the thickness of my hair. It wasn’t breathtakingly world changing, but it was pretty substantially thicker than it was previously. This isn’t to say that it will work for everyone however.

I used Nioxin 1, which is deliberately made for thinning hair (I’d just given birth to my first son, like the founder!). This means that I personally can’t speak on the other 2-5 Nioxin treatments, but if you want to find out a little more about them and which one is right for you, just click here.

I used my Nioxin for a few months, but I not longer continue to use it as I saw all the regrowth that was necessary for me. Now, Nioxin usually say that you need to keep using it to ensure that it works properly, but this wasn;t really the case for me. I found that my hair grew back pretty quickly and once I stopped using Nioxin, I didn’t lose any hair from there. I’d have no trouble recommending Nioxin to a friend.

Usually I would say “just try it!”, but there are a few reported side effects that I’ve read about online that you might experience if you’re using Nioxin (I didn’t experience any of them, however).

Nioxin Side Effects

There are a few commonly known side effects of using Nioxin, which are pretty much part and parcel of using this type of product. The main issues that you’re likely to experience are;

• An itchy, red scalp – Probably the most common side effect that I’ve seen people experience when using Nioxin is issues with their scalp. Most commonly is that they find their scalp to be super itchy a few hours after they use the product. Not ideal, but it isn’t the end of the world and your scalp is likely to get used to this after using it for a prolonged period of time. An itchy scalp is pretty common when you start to use a new hair shampoo, anyways.
• Flakes – As someone who experienced a lot of dandruff when they were younger, the idea of a flaky scalp makes me cringe. This is unfortunately one of the side effects that you’re likely to experience if you’re using Nioxin.
• Dry Hair – As we know, Nioxin works best for those that still have some of their hair remaining. For this reason, it’s pretty likely that you’re going to have a significant amount of hair on your head when you’re using Nioxin. It can often leave your hair dry, which can be super annoying.

These are the main side effects of Nioxin, though they say on their website that there are no major side effects to using their product (I don’t know about you, but a flaky head is pretty major to me!).

Nioxin and Dandruff

I’ve read a few people online that have dealt with dandruff after using Nioxin for a few weeks. This makes sense, when you read that some of the most common side effects of Nioxin are a flaky scalp and an itchy head.

To combat this, you either have two options; Avoid using Nioxin altogether, or try it and see. The likelihood is that you’re not going to experience this, as Nioxin has many great reviews online with minimal reviews concerning dandruff. But if you’re prone to a flaky scalp, I thought that I had better mention it just in case (I like to give an impartial take on things, even if the product worked for me!).

Nioxin Ingredients

Anyone who knows me knows that I’m a stickler for the ingredients. I mean, you’re putting these products on your hair and your skin, you should know what’s in them right?! Anyways, there’s nothing particularly alarming to me when I read the ingredients list for Nioxin.

The main ingredient in Nioxin is Ensulizole, which is pretty commonly found in the shampoos and other products, namely sunscreen. Yup that’s right – the main ingredient in Nioxin is primarily found in sunscreens, which kinda makes sense – Nioxin will protect your scalp as well as helping to thicken your hair.

Another ingredient you’re going to find in Nioxin is Sulisobenzone – another commonly found sunscreen agent! Whilst the guys at Nioxin don’t give you a full analysis of how their product really works, it’s safe to say that taking care of your scalp and hair follicles leads to the health of your hair in the long term.

Aside from these ingredients, you’re going to find a lot of the usual suspects in Nioxin – things like Biotin and a wide array of other B vitamins. These are to help the strength of your hair and help it grow thickly.

How to use Nioxin to get the best results.

After you’ve determined which scale of Nioxin is best for you, you can then proceed to use the product as it was intended. In fact, i think that this is one of the best things about Nioxin compared to other shampoos and hair loss products. You really don’t have to change anything about your current hair routine.

This is something that made me decide to use Nioxin in the first place! I hate the idea of holding my head over the sink for 45 minutes to let it sink in, or having to apply 6 drops of whatever to my scalp 24 times a day. Okay, that’s an exaggeration but you get my point.

So, Nioxin is for thinning hair?

Yes, exactly. If you take anything from this, I hope that this is it! It was designed for people with thinning hair, so it is understandable that this is it’s primary use.

So, can I use Nioxin for Genetic Hair Loss?

Whilst you’re likely to find some reports on the internet of people using Nioxin for genetic hair loss, this isn’t what it is intended for and the brand have made no such claims. You can try it if you’re experiencing this, but you’re likely better going for a stronger solution like Minoxidil.

The Reality of Nioxin

Many people look at Nioxin as if it’s a saving grace and going to turn them from George Costanza to Danny Zuko. I can promise you, this really isn’t the case.

If you’re experiencing temporary hair loss – whether that be post pregnancy, alopecia or hypothyroidism – Nioxin can help you in this type of scenario (I mean come on, it’s what the original creator made it for!). It’s incomparable with other hair loss treatments, because it isn’t meant to reverse your genetics. But if you’re looking for a good solution to thinning hair, then it’s worth giving Nioxin a pop.

The post Nioxin Shampoo Review from someone that actually used the product! appeared first on Balding Life.

source http://baldinglife.com/nioxin-shampoo-review/

Nioxin 1 vs 2 – What’s the difference?

If you’re looking at using Nioxin for the first time, then the likelihood is that you’ve seen the different types of Nioxin that there are. But what does Nioxin 1 vs 2 vs 6 even mean?

Well, essentially the difference between these numbers is just the type of hair that you’re going to be applying it to. For example, Nioxin 1 is for normal-to-thin fine hair, whilst Nioxin 2 is for considerably fine hair. It’s just a scale to differentiate between how damaged your hair really is.

So with that said, how many different levels are there? You might know already – Nioxin runs from 1 through to 6, meaning that there are a wide range of different products which may help to improve the health of your hair in the long term.

These different levels of Nioxin are designed for different types of hair, so it’s important to know which types of Nioxin will work best for you. Let’s have a quick look at the different types of Nioxin and how they’ll effect your hair.

Nioxin 1

Nioxin 1 is made to help the texture of your hair thicker and more luxurious. It’s ideal if you have thinning hair, which isn’t necessarily damaged already. You can also look to use Nioxin 1 if you’re just tarting to experience slight hair loss and you want to get in early and mitigate any future loss that you might experience.

Nioxin 2

Whilst Nioxin 2 is extremely similar to Nioxin 1, they are designed for different types of hair. Whilst Nioxin 1 is for thinning hair, Nioxin 2 is made for people with even thinner hair. In fact on the website, it’s defined as “noticeably” thinning hair, so make of that what you will.

Nioxin 3

Now, Nioxin 3 is a little different than the first two for one main reason; it’s specifically designed for those that have damaged their hair through overuse of other chemicals. The main example of this is those that have dyed their hair again and again (no judgements!) and have now started to see their thinning somewhat. If this is you, then you should probably consider opting for Nioxin 3.

Nioxin 4

Like Nioxin 3, Nioxin 4 is also designed for chemically treated hair. Remember that chemically treated hair doesn’t necessarily mean hair that is dyed – even going to your salon regularly, you may consider yourself in this group depending on the types of products that your beauty specialist uses.

Nioxin 5

I know, I know – it’s getting confusing. But stick with me, we’re almost done looking at the different types of Nioxin.

Nioxin 5 is specifically made for those who are somewhere in between thinning hair and those that have extremely coarse hair. It’s a sort of middle of the road option for those that aren’t dealing with significantly thinner hair than what they may have started with.

Nioxin 6

Nioxin 6 is ideal for those with coarse hair. What do I mean by this? Well, coarse hair usually refers to those with hair that is a specific type (check here for a cool article explaining it). It’s important to remember that coarse hair doesn’t necessarily mean thick and curly, which is probably the most common misconception that people make when defining “coarse” hair.

How do I know which one I need?

If you really are struggling to know which type of Nioxin that you need, remember that you can always ask your hair stylist or barber! They are likely to have a better idea of whether you have ‘noticeably’ thin hair or just slightly thin hair, though it should not be too difficult to see the difference yourself.

Remember that if you’re only experiencing thinner hair, then you should look at something like Nioxin. If you have male pattern baldness, then you’ll want to look at another method like Rogaine.

Conclusion

Overall, it’s pretty important to get the right Nioxin for you, but it really isn’t that difficult to do. Nioxin can be a great option if you’re looking to mitigate hair loss at the very beginning, but from people I’ve spoken to personally, it isn’t the most effective hair loss solution out there.

The post Nioxin 1 vs 2 – What’s the difference? appeared first on Balding Life.

source http://baldinglife.com/nioxin-1-vs-2-whats-the-difference/