When you start looking into hair loss treatments, you’ll quickly run into Finast - a brand name for finasteride. It’s been around for decades, prescribed for both male pattern baldness and enlarged prostate (BPH). But it’s not the only option. And for many people, it’s not the best fit. Side effects, cost, or just not working well enough can push you to ask: what else is out there?
What Finast (Finasteride) Actually Does
Finast works by blocking an enzyme called 5-alpha-reductase. This enzyme turns testosterone into dihydrotestosterone (DHT), a hormone that shrinks hair follicles in men genetically prone to balding. By lowering DHT levels by up to 70%, finasteride slows or stops hair loss in about 90% of users. In about 65% of cases, it also leads to some regrowth over 12 to 24 months.
For BPH, it reduces prostate size by about 20-30% over six months, improving urine flow and reducing nighttime trips to the bathroom. The standard dose is 1 mg daily for hair loss, 5 mg for BPH.
But here’s the catch: finasteride doesn’t work for everyone. And for some, the side effects are real - sexual dysfunction, low libido, depression, and brain fog. These aren’t rare. Studies show up to 4% of users report persistent side effects even after stopping the drug. That’s why many look for alternatives.
Dutasteride: The Stronger Cousin
Dutasteride is often called the next step after finasteride. It blocks both types of 5-alpha-reductase enzymes (Type I and II), while finasteride only blocks Type II. That means dutasteride lowers DHT by up to 90% - nearly 30% more than finasteride.
For hair loss, studies show dutasteride leads to greater hair count increases than finasteride after one year. One 2019 trial found dutasteride 0.5 mg daily produced 20% more hair growth than finasteride 1 mg. For BPH, it’s FDA-approved and often used when finasteride isn’t enough.
But stronger doesn’t always mean better. The side effect profile is similar - and possibly worse. Sexual side effects occur in about 5-8% of users. It also has a longer half-life (five weeks vs. six to eight hours for finasteride), meaning side effects can linger longer after stopping.
Dutasteride isn’t approved in the U.S. for hair loss, so it’s used off-label. That means insurance won’t cover it for balding, and you’ll pay out of pocket. It’s also not recommended for women of childbearing age due to severe birth defect risks.
Minoxidil: The Topical Alternative
If you want to avoid pills entirely, minoxidil is the most proven topical option. Sold as Rogaine or generic solutions, it’s applied directly to the scalp twice daily. It doesn’t touch DHT. Instead, it opens potassium channels in hair follicles, extending the growth phase and increasing blood flow.
Results are slower. You need at least four months to see any change, and six to twelve months for real results. About 40% of men see moderate regrowth. It won’t work as well on the crown as on the front hairline, and you have to keep using it forever - stop for a few weeks, and you lose what you gained.
Side effects are mild: scalp irritation, dryness, or unwanted facial hair growth if it runs down your neck. It’s safe for women, and the 5% foam is FDA-approved for female pattern hair loss.
Many people use minoxidil alongside finasteride. Combining them gives better results than either alone. A 2020 study showed 94% of men using both saw improvement, compared to 65% on finasteride only.
Modern Alternatives: Laser Devices and Supplements
There’s a growing market for non-drug options. Low-level laser therapy (LLLT) devices - caps, combs, or helmets - are now FDA-cleared for hair loss. They use red light to stimulate follicles. Studies show they can increase hair density by 15-20% over six months, similar to minoxidil but without the mess.
Devices like the iRestore or Theradome cost $500-$2,000 upfront, but no ongoing costs. You use them 2-3 times a week for 20-30 minutes. They’re safe, non-invasive, and have no systemic side effects. They work best for early-stage hair loss.
Supplements like saw palmetto, pumpkin seed oil, and biotin are popular, but evidence is weak. Saw palmetto may mildly inhibit DHT, but studies show it’s far less effective than finasteride. One 2012 trial found saw palmetto improved hair count by only 11% over six months, compared to 35% with finasteride.
Biotin helps only if you’re deficient - which is rare. Don’t waste money on expensive hair vitamins unless your doctor confirms a deficiency.
Comparing the Options Side by Side
| Treatment | How It Works | Time to See Results | Effectiveness (Hair Growth) | Side Effects | Cost (Monthly) | Requires Lifelong Use? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Finast (Finasteride) | Blocks DHT production | 3-6 months | 65% see regrowth | Sexual side effects (4-8%), depression, brain fog | $10-$30 | Yes |
| Dutasteride | Blocks both DHT enzymes | 3-6 months | 70-80% see regrowth | Higher risk of sexual side effects, longer recovery | $20-$50 | Yes |
| Minoxidil | Stimulates follicles, increases blood flow | 4-12 months | 40% see moderate regrowth | Scalp irritation, facial hair | $15-$40 | Yes |
| LLLT Devices | Red light stimulates follicles | 3-6 months | 15-20% density increase | Nearly none | $10-$20 (amortized) | Yes, for best results |
| Saw Palmetto | Mild DHT blocker | 6+ months | 10-15% improvement | Stomach upset, rare allergic reactions | $10-$20 | Yes |
Who Should Choose What?
If you’re young, in your 20s or 30s, and just starting to thin on top - finasteride is still the gold standard. It’s cheap, proven, and works for most. But if you’ve tried it and had side effects, or you’re worried about them, minoxidil is your safest bet. It’s non-systemic, so it won’t affect your hormones.
If your hair loss is more advanced, or finasteride didn’t give you enough, dutasteride might be worth discussing with a dermatologist. But only if you’re okay with higher risk and cost.
For those who hate pills, or want something for their partner, LLLT devices are a solid middle ground. They’re not as strong as drugs, but they’re safe, quiet, and don’t require daily application like minoxidil.
And if you’re over 50 and dealing with both hair loss and BPH, finasteride or dutasteride can handle both at once. That’s a big plus.
What Not to Do
Don’t buy unregulated “natural” finasteride alternatives online. Many are mislabeled, contain hidden pharmaceuticals, or are just sugar pills. The FDA has warned about fake products sold as “herbal finasteride.”
Don’t stop your treatment cold turkey. Hair loss rebounds fast. If you want to quit, taper slowly under medical supervision.
Don’t assume supplements will replace medication. No pill, powder, or oil has matched the results of finasteride or minoxidil in clinical trials.
Is finasteride safe for long-term use?
Yes, finasteride is safe for long-term use in most men. Studies tracking users for up to 10 years show no increased risk of cancer, liver damage, or serious health issues. The main concern remains sexual side effects, which are usually mild and reversible. If they persist after stopping, consult a doctor - rare cases of post-finasteride syndrome have been reported, but they’re not fully understood.
Can women take finasteride or dutasteride?
No. Finasteride and dutasteride are strictly for men. These drugs can cause severe birth defects if a woman is pregnant or becomes pregnant while taking them. Women with hair loss should use minoxidil 5% or spironolactone (under doctor supervision), not finasteride.
Does minoxidil work better than finasteride?
No, minoxidil is less effective. Finasteride stops hair loss in 90% of men and regrows hair in 65%. Minoxidil regrows hair in only about 40%. But minoxidil has fewer systemic side effects, so it’s often used alongside finasteride for better results - or alone if someone can’t tolerate finasteride.
How long before I see results from finasteride?
Most men start noticing less shedding after 3-4 months. Visible regrowth usually takes 6-12 months. If you don’t see any change after 12 months, finasteride likely won’t work for you. Don’t keep taking it hoping for results - it’s not magic.
Is dutasteride worth the extra cost?
It depends. If finasteride worked but didn’t give you enough hair back, dutasteride may help. But if finasteride didn’t work at all, dutasteride probably won’t either. It’s more expensive, not FDA-approved for hair loss, and has a higher risk of lasting side effects. Only consider it if you’ve already tried finasteride and are willing to accept the trade-offs.
Can I use LLLT instead of medication?
LLLT can help, especially in early hair loss, but it’s not as strong as finasteride or minoxidil. It’s best used as a supplement - not a replacement. If you want to avoid drugs entirely, combine LLLT with minoxidil for better results. But don’t expect miracle regrowth without medication.
Next Steps
Start by tracking your hair loss. Take monthly photos in the same light, same angle. Use a simple app like HairCheck or just a notebook. This helps you see real change over time.
Visit a dermatologist. They can do a scalp biopsy or trichoscopy to confirm the type of hair loss. Not all thinning is male pattern baldness - some is stress-related, nutritional, or autoimmune.
Try one treatment at a time. Don’t mix minoxidil, dutasteride, and LLLT all at once. You won’t know what’s working - or causing side effects.
Be patient. Hair growth isn’t fast. Most people give up before the 6-month mark. If you stick with it, you’ll know whether it’s working - and whether the trade-off is worth it.
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Comments
Susan Karabin
28/Oct/2025Been on finasteride for 3 years now and honestly it’s been a game changer for my hair but I swear my libido took a nap and never woke up
Still take it because I’d rather be bald than emotionally numb but damn
Wish there was a version that just worked on the scalp
Glenda Walsh
28/Oct/2025Okay, but have you considered that maybe your hair loss is just stress? I mean, I stopped obsessing over my thinning crown and started meditating and guess what? My hair stopped falling out in the shower. Like, literally. I didn’t even use anything. Just stopped caring. And now? It’s growing back. Weird, right? Maybe it’s not about chemicals. Maybe it’s about energy. Or vibes. Or something.
Tanuja Santhanakrishnan
28/Oct/2025Hi everyone! I'm from India and my uncle used saw palmetto for 8 months and got amazing results! He said his scalp felt tingly like a gentle massage every day 😊
Also, he mixed pumpkin seed oil with coconut oil and massaged it in before bed - no side effects, no pills, just nature's magic!
Of course, it's slower than finasteride, but for those who want to avoid drugs, this combo is like a warm hug for your follicles 🌿❤️
Raj Modi
28/Oct/2025It is of paramount importance to underscore that the pharmacokinetic profile of dutasteride, which exhibits a terminal half-life of approximately five weeks, renders it significantly more potent in terms of DHT suppression than finasteride, whose half-life is measured in mere hours. Consequently, while dutasteride may yield superior quantitative outcomes in terms of terminal hair count, the prolonged systemic exposure elevates the risk of persistent sexual dysfunction, particularly in individuals with pre-existing endocrine sensitivity. Furthermore, the off-label status of dutasteride for androgenetic alopecia in the United States introduces significant regulatory and insurance-related impediments, which must be carefully weighed against potential benefits. A prospective patient should therefore engage in a comprehensive risk-benefit analysis with a board-certified dermatologist prior to initiation.
Cecil Mays
28/Oct/2025LLLT devices are legit!! 🤯 I got the iRestore and after 4 months I could actually see baby hairs popping up like little green shoots after rain 🌱
Yeah it costs a fortune upfront but think of it like a gym membership for your scalp 💪
And no weird side effects? YES PLEASE. I use mine while watching Netflix. Zero effort, maximum gains. Do it. You won’t regret it. 🤘
Sarah Schmidt
28/Oct/2025Everyone here is acting like hair loss is some tragic cosmic injustice, but let’s be real - it’s just biology. Men lose hair. Women don’t. That’s the design. The fact that we’ve turned this into a multi-billion dollar industry of desperation is pathetic.
Why not just accept it? Embrace the baldness. Look at Bruce Willis. Look at Dwayne Johnson. They didn’t fight nature - they weaponized it.
Finasteride? Minoxidil? LLLT? You’re all just buying into the fear machine. The real treatment is self-acceptance. And maybe a good hat.
Billy Gambino
28/Oct/2025The DHT paradigm is fundamentally flawed. The entire pharmaceutical narrative around androgenetic alopecia is a reductionist fantasy. Hair loss is not caused by DHT - it’s caused by systemic inflammation, mitochondrial dysfunction, and epigenetic silencing of follicular stem cells. Finasteride merely masks the symptom. It does not address the root. The industry profits from perpetual use, not cure. The real breakthroughs lie in stem cell therapies and Wnt pathway modulation - not in cheap generics you buy off Amazon. But they won’t tell you that, because they can’t patent a lifestyle.
Karen Werling
28/Oct/2025My mom used minoxidil for her thinning hair after menopause and it worked wonders - she said it felt like her scalp was waking up 🌞
She started with the foam, didn’t mess with pills, and now she’s got more volume than when she was 40. No drama, no side effects. Just consistency.
And she doesn’t even like talking about it. Just smiles and brushes her hair. Quiet confidence. That’s the real win.
STEVEN SHELLEY
28/Oct/2025FINASTERIDE IS A GOVERNMENT COVER-UP TO CONTROL MEN’S LIBIDO!!!
THEY WANT YOU WEAK AND DEPRESSED SO YOU’LL BUY MORE ANTIDEPRESSANTS AND STAY QUIET!!
THEY PUT FLUORIDE IN THE WATER TOO AND THAT’S WHY YOUR HAIR FALLS OUT!!!
I STOPPED TAKING IT AND NOW MY HAIR IS GROWING BACK NATURALLY BECAUSE I ATE ORGANIC CUCUMBERS AND DID SUN SALUTATIONS AT DAWN!!!
THEY’RE WATCHING YOU RIGHT NOW WITH THE HAIR APP!!!
Emil Tompkins
28/Oct/2025So you’re telling me I should spend $2000 on a laser helmet but I can’t just take a pill that’s been around since the 90s? Like… what? I don’t even know who I am anymore. I used to be a guy who just wanted to look decent. Now I’m a science experiment with a credit card and a YouTube algorithm feeding me doom. I miss the 2000s. Back then, if you were bald, you were just bald. No one cared. Now? You’re a broken product that needs a 12-step recovery program and a subscription box.
Kevin Stone
28/Oct/2025Interesting that you mention saw palmetto. The 2012 study you cited? It was funded by a supplement company. The real meta-analysis from 2020 showed no statistically significant difference versus placebo. You’re not being informed - you’re being marketed to. And yet you still believe in it. Why? Because it’s easier than accepting that biology doesn’t care about your hopes. That’s not science. That’s wishful thinking dressed in herbal packaging.