Hair Update: February 28, 2025

In this hair update, I've been going with the same routine. Sorry, nothing too exciting going on with this one.

My Experience With Dr. FORHAIR Made for Hair Loss and Thinning Hair: Honest Thoughts After Disappointing Results

Hair loss and thinning are tough battles to fight, and like many others searching for a solution, I came across Dr. FORHAIR—a shampoo brand marketed specifically for people dealing with hair loss, scalp sensitivity, and thinning strands. With bold claims and plenty of glowing reviews, I had high hopes that this would be the game-changer I’d been looking for. 

 

Unfortunately, after consistent use, the results didn’t live up to the hype.  

Why I chose Dr. FORHAIR

I did my research. Dr. FORHAIR is a Korean haircare brand that’s gained a lot of attention for its Folligen line, which claims to: 

1. Strengthen weak and thinning hair

2. Reduce hair shedding

3. Improve scalp health with ingredients like biotin, panthenol, and niacinamide

I saw the product at Costco, and like most things in life, it is better when you buy it from Costco. There were some eye-catching claims on the bottle, which really helped sell me on it. Like thicker hair and so on, and all for a very decent price. Plus, I had many good experiences with Korean products so I let my guard down as soon as saw that.

What Happened After Using It

The issue? 

After months of consistent use, I saw little to no improvement.Hair shedding continued just as much as before, if not more on some days. No noticeable thickening or increase in hair volume. 

It’s not that the shampoo made things worse—it just didn’t do anything noticeably better either. For a product marketed so heavily around results, I was left underwhelmed.

To be fair, hair regrowth and restoration are complex. No shampoo is a miracle cure, especially when the root cause might be hormonal (like DHT sensitivity), genetic, or stress-related.

So I am not placing any blame on the product itself, it just did not work for me. But what did seem to make a difference and quite quickly was the Kérastase product line, I will talk more about that experience later. Another idea thanks to the good ol' girlfriend, she's been telling me to try it but I assumed it was another one of her fancy hair things which wouldn't work on me. Because she has a lot of hair and I obviously don't, so it might have been one of those things where if you had hair then it would make it even better. With the main catch being, you gotta have hair first.

Right now I am going to finish the product to see what happens, but I've been going at it for months and months and just not seeing anything.

Hair Update: January 7, 2025

Man, am I glad to finally see some good progress.

Luckily, I am too poor to move anywhere else. So nearly all of my pictures are from the same house, same bathroom, and with the same lighting. And it is under those super bright lights that you can truly judge whether you had made anything meaningful in terms of progress. Except for this one, which is in my car. But I tried to get the brightest lighting I could get.

 

You guys remember the phase where I decided to try taking Finasteride orally instead of as using it as a topical treatment? I ended up flip flopping again after seeing progress start to stall out, so I think around the end of December, I switched back to my original routine.

But you can see a difference in the density of the hair, especially the front portion where it was very bald. The only  new thing I tried was stabbing myself with a dermastamp daily. And this time, I made sure to stay consistent. I have to admit, it really made a difference in the speed and quality of my results.

So my routine change from using the Minoxidil and Finasteride mix once a day to basically twice a day, but with my green liquid for the second application. Then dermastamping twice a day as well before my liquid treatment, but since I am doing it twice a day, the sessions are extremely short at around 30 seconds just to quickly cover my scalp in some holes. I feel like going nuts with 5 minute sessions or longer and with that frequency would probably not be good for my skin.

I finally have enough hair to style and have a need for styling products. You truly don't appreciate those little things in life until you cannot do them anymore, even a cosmetic thing as basic as hair. For a long time, I really missed being able to style my hair. And I wished I could have truly appreciated having it when I was younger, I remember being so obsessed with those stupid little details. Being too afraid to experiment with my style and just sticking to what everyone else was doing. If I could go back to my early 20's, I'd for sure take preventative actions way sooner, I would also be rocking the styles I've always thought was cool but was too afraid to do. Slicked back mafia boss? Hell yeah! Asian mullet? Hell yeah! The perfect crew cut? Hell yeah!

My Experiment with Dermarolling Twice a Day for Male Pattern Baldness: A Personal Trial

Male pattern baldness (androgenetic alopecia) is a common condition that affects millions of men worldwide. As someone who has been grappling with thinning hair and a receding hairline, I’ve tried countless treatments—from minoxidil to biotin supplements—with varying degrees of success. 

I came across dermarolling as a potential solution for hair regrowth, combined with other mainstream and generally accepted treatments. Intrigued by the promising studies and anecdotal evidence, I decided to take the plunge and experiment with dermarolling twice a day. Here’s my story, the results, and what I learned along the way.

What is Dermarolling for Hair Loss?

Dermarolling, also known as microneedling, involves using a small device covered in tiny needles to create micro-injuries on the scalp. These micro-injuries stimulate blood flow, increase collagen production, and enhance the absorption of topical treatments like minoxidil. Studies have shown that dermarolling can be an effective complementary treatment for male pattern baldness, especially when combined with other therapies.

Typically, dermarolling is recommended once a week or every other week for hair loss, as the scalp needs time to heal between sessions. However, I wanted to see if increasing the frequency to twice a day would accelerate results. I tried a range of depths from 0.5mm to 0.75mm, with 0.5mm considered the most safe.

Why Twice a Day?

The idea behind dermarolling twice a day was to maximize the stimulation of hair follicles and improve the absorption of my minoxidil solution. I hypothesized that more frequent microneedling would lead to faster and more significant hair regrowth. 

While this approach went against conventional advice, I was willing to take the risk in the name of experimentation. 

Plus I just like seeing what happens.

As you may have already known, I started with your typical roller found all over Amazon then moved to a stamp style dermastamp. I like the stamping action much more, since it is less painful and I feel like I can better control the penetration depth.

The Experiment: Week 1

I began my experiment with a clean slate. Every morning and evening, I sanitized my stamp then did a quick 1-minute session, focusing on my hairline and crown. The process was slightly uncomfortable but not painful, I found the 0.5mm to be the most comfortable. After each session, I applied minoxidil to enhance absorption.

By the end of the first week, I noticed some redness and mild flaking on my scalp, which I expected. However, I also felt a slight tingling sensation in my scalp, which I interpreted as increased blood flow. I was optimistic but cautious, knowing that overuse could lead to irritation or damage.

The Experiment: Week 2

By the second week, my scalp had adjusted to the routine, and the redness had subsided. I continued with the twice-a-day stamp moving to a depth of 0.75mm, making sure to keep my tool clean and my scalp moisturized.

I figured, might as well start with the highest setting that I can comfortably use. The pain level shoots way up the deeper you go, plus I noticed a clear liquid coming out of my scalp. Which after a little Googling, I found to be lymph fluid. Or at least, I think so? It was shockingly hard finding relevant information.

And by this point, I noticed tiny vellus hairs (baby hairs) sprouting along my hairline. Much quicker than what I was getting with my previous routine. While they were barely visible, this was an encouraging sign that the treatment might be working. My scalp also felt healthier, with less oiliness and flakiness than before.

 

The Experiment: Week 3

By the third week, the tiny hairs along my hairline had become more noticeable, and my crown area seemed slightly thicker. However, I also began to experience some painful pimple-like bumps, likely due to the frequent needling. I realized that twice-a-day might be too aggressive for my scalp, so I decided to scale back to once a day.

The Results

After three weeks of stabbing my scalp twice a day, and moving back and forth between twice and once a day. Here’s what I learned:

1. Short-Term Gains: Doing it twice a day did yield some promising results, including the appearance of new baby hairs and improved scalp health. The increased frequency seemed to enhance the absorption of minoxidil, making it more effective. By the end of the period, my hairline moved down significantly. It was noticeable and quick, and I like quick.

2. Long-Term Risks: Overuse of dermarolling or dermastamping can lead to scalp irritation, dryness, and even scarring. It’s important to strike a balance between stimulating hair growth and allowing the scalp to heal. For me, I was most worried about building up scar tissue that would stop hairs from growing.

3. Consistency is Key: While I saw improvements with twice-a-day stamping, I realized that a more moderate approach might be the best long run approach. For your scalp and for the ease of staying consistent.

My experiment with needling twice a day for male pattern baldness was enlightening and humbling. While I saw some encouraging results, I also learned the importance of moderation and listening to my body (or in this case, my scalp). If you’re considering dermarolling for hair loss, I recommend starting with a once-weekly routine and gradually increasing the frequency if your scalp tolerates it. Always consult with a professional if you are unsure of what you are doing.

Hair loss can be a challenging journey, but with patience, consistency, and the right approach, it’s possible to see improvements.