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Hair Restoration

The realistic hair-restoration timeline nobody tells you about

April 18, 2026 · 4 min read

Month-by-month expectations for a minoxidil + finasteride protocol, and how to tell if it's working.

Hair grows on a schedule you can't hurry. The most common reason patients quit a working protocol is that they measure it in weeks instead of quarters.

Months 1–3

Almost nothing visible. You may notice a small increase in shedding around week six — this is often the follicle cycle resetting, not the treatment failing.

Months 3–6

Baby hairs at the temples and along the part. Density is still hard to see in a mirror, but a monthly photo in the same lighting will start to tell the story.

Months 6–12

This is where the majority of patients report visible density change. Consistency is everything: an every-other-day habit will underperform a daily one by a wide margin.

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