There’s help for those who are experiencing hair loss. … You no doubt have heard of the two FDA-approved medications — Propecia and Rogaine — that are designed to help combat hereditary hair loss, but you don’t know which one is the most effective or best suited for you.

Propeciavs. Rogaine: Which Works Better?

Minoxidil is a medication that's commonly marketed under the name Rogaine, and finasteride is marketed under the label Propecia. You might use either Rogaine or Propecia to help treat hair loss. Talk with your physician before you use these medications for hair loss, because they both pose certain health risks, drug interactions and side effects.

Function
Rogaine and Propecia both inhibit hair loss while promoting hair growth, explains the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center.

Rogaine is an over-the-counter treatment used primarily for treating androgenetic alopecia, also called male- and female-pattern baldness, and alopecia areata, an autoimmune disease. Rogaine appears to make hair shafts thicker and increase the number of hair follicles, notes the University of Michigan Health System.

Propecia requires a prescription. It is used to treat androgenetic alopecia specifically in men. It affects male hormones that cause hair loss by blocking testosterone's conversion into dihydrotestosterone, or DHT.

Applications
Rogaine is a topical treatment that comes in the form of a foam, lotion or liquid spray. It is available in a 2 or 5 percent concentration solution that you apply to your scalp twice each day.

Propecia is a pill taken by mouth once daily or as directed by your doctor.

Timeframe
Rogaine topical solutions can take up to four months of daily use to show maximum effect, notes the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. If you don't see a significant change in hair loss or growth after six months of use, you might want to try a different remedy. Unlike Propecia, Rogaine might generate new hair growth that's much thinner and shorter than your regular hair.

Noticeable results from taking Propecia can occur in as little as three months or up to one year. If you stop using Rogaine or taking Propecia, your hair loss will likely resume, and new hair growth will stop, because these treatments don't usually have any effects beyond active use, the Mayo Clinic points out.
 
Side Effects
Both Propecia and Rogaine can cause some side effects. Rogaine can cause itching, dandruff and skin irritation, cautions the University of Michigan Health System. Also, women who use Rogaine could grow unwanted facial hair. Propecia can cause erectile dysfunction, low sex drive and other sexual-function problems in men. Propecia might also cause drug interactions, so talk with your doctor about any other medications that you're taking.

Warnings
Propecia poses serious health risks to women and children. Pregnant or breastfeeding women shouldn't take or even handle Propecia pills, and men taking Propecia should use birth control with their partners to prevent pregnancy while on the medication, warns the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. Propecia could cause serious birth defects. Women using Rogaine who also take estrogen-containing medications like oral contraceptives or hormone replacement therapy could experience enhanced hair growth, notes the University of Michigan Health System. If you're pregnant or breastfeeding, you should ask your doctor before using Rogaine.

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Here are some other links I found very informative.

Propecia vs. Rogaine: Which Works Better?

Male Pattern Baldness Treatments

Propecia Side Effects

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Curly girls are special people with special hair, and sometimes those crazy curls need some extra TLC! No, we can’t just shower and go. Yes, we sometimes wish we could. Trust me, as someone who has lived with curly hair all my life, I know the struggles. But I also know how beautiful curly hair can be! Don’t be discouraged ladies with curly hair, there are ways to hack your luscious locks. Try any of these brilliant tricks to keep your hair manageable, frizz-free, and looking fabulous.
 
Invest in a Wide Tooth Comb
I know that we’re taught that if we have curly hair, we’re not supposed to comb our curls. But, luckily, there is a time and a tool to comb those curls!
 
Right when you get out of the shower, put product in your hair and comb it all the way through, even to the roots. This will distribute product without you putting oil directly on your roots, and a thicker comb will be less likely to snap in thicker hair.
 
Try Plopping Your Hair
Drying curling hair with a regular towel is A BIG NO. The fibers in regular towels will mess up your hair, only causing frizz.
 
If you don’t want to avoid toweling off all together, dry your hair off with a t-shirt. The microfibers of a tee are much more gentle on curly hair. This technique, called plopping, is the best way to dry your hair without ruining the curls.
 
Avoid Triangle Head
The worst nightmare of curly girls everywhere: the dreaded triangle head. This conundrum happens when the bottom of your hair poofs out and the top stays flat – resulting in an unflattering triangle shape. The trick to avoid it?  Layers upon layers upon layers.
 
Figure Out What Curls You Have 
The best way to address your curls? 
Figure out what kind of curls you have! Use this helpful chart to figure out where your curls fall.
 
Deep Condition Your Hair
Once a week, you should deep condition your hair. If you’re not sure where to start on the road to deep conditioning, start with this coconut hair mask! It’s easy to make and will treat your hair to a spa-like treatment your curls will soak right up.
 
Use Hefty Hair Clips
Do you shower at night? That can make styling your curls for the next day difficult. Don’t just sleep on wet curls, pin them with these hefty clips. Twist each piece of hair before clipping and the morning you’ll have dry, full curls to work with!
 
Pineapple Your Hair
Speaking of nighttime routines, try a technique called “pineappling” with your dry curls. Flip your curls  upside down and secure so that your hair won’t get mussed up on the pillow.
 
Purification Shower Head
If you think water purification is just for drinking water, you couldn’t be more wrong! This special shower head purifies water and balances your pH, keeping your hair healthy and strong,
 
Grow Your Hair Out 
Curly girls can grow out their hair, too. You just have to figure out HOW to grow out your particular type of curls. Use this helpful infograph to figure how you should grow out your hair.
 
How To Style Curly Hair
This is the ultimate technique – I use it myself!
 
When you get out of the shower, put product on the bottom 3/4 of your hair and brush it through with a comb. Then flip your hair, loosen your curls, and scrunch. When the curls are starting to form, put a diffuser on your blow dryer and dry your hair upside down. When the curls start to dry correctly, flip your hair up and dry curl with the diffuser into the style you want. The result? Lovely, frizz-free curls.
 
Avoid Heat 
At all costs, avoid intense heat on your curls! Embrace your natural texture (it’s beautiful, we promise) and nix using straightening irons, curling irons, and even blow dryers, too frequently.
 
Do you have any tricks to keep your curls looking amazing?  Share them with me the next time you’re in the salon.

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