Hey bro,

Good to hear from you and see an updated picture. You look just like I'd expect you too at this point.

Use minoxodil at your discretion at this point, however, I do recommend that if it irritates your skin, that you postpone its use until a little more healing.

Keep using the Aloe...that should help aid healing as well.

The waiting phase has truly begun.

By the way...I'll send you an email too...but maybe we can plan something for this coming weekend if you and your finance are available to get together.

Falc

Falc,

Hey! I will drop you an email to catch up. It was a busy week! Two of the nights this week was dedicated to the wedding planning. You know all about that part

I see now you are a candidate for a potential H&W inforcomercial. You could steal some of LeBron James thunder. However, aren't your married???

I would consider hitting Long Island for RTC's BBQ but it is a hike to get up there. We'll have to discuss it in person.

I have been using the minox lightly. I had a couple more pimples this week. Is that normal?? Why am I getting pimples???

Hairfree,

Oh...I just sent you an email....so we can talk more about the BBQ if you are interested. It is indeed quite a hike...but depending on WHEN they are having it, I might be going.

Pimples are ingrown hairs...sign of activity below. Typically a few weeks to a month after the pimple goes away, hairs begin to break through the surface - or shall I say, they become visible...they may break the surface before that.

Look forward to hearing from you bro.

Falc

Hi Hairfree-

Keep looking forward to the sprouts, my friend. Next month or so will likely be slow-going but after that, watch out!

One question.........how'd your scar look shaved down to a 1 clip?

Hairbank,

Good question. Sometimes we tend to focus on the front and top of the head and forget about the scar in the back. It is still pink and I can see hairs growing through. It is a little less noticable now. My hair is grown out a bit more since the 1 clip buzz and the scar is pretty much unoticable. If I go out I will put Dermatch on it for coverage. I don't plan to wear it at 1 clip once the hairs grow in. Lately I have been checking to make sure that the scar isnt stretching.

Falc,

I plan to respond to your email shortly! Thank you for answering my question about the pimples. I was getting worried and even did a search on ingrown hairs on this forum and it was a big help. I was worried that it was a sign of an infection and it appears that everything is perfectly normal. I got plenty of ingrown hairs in the past two weeks and now it is clearing up. I have a few ingrown hairs left and I guess I should expect more of them for another few weeks. I feel like a teenager again!

I am not sure if its new growth yet but I can see very small hairs coming through the scalp in places where I didnt have hair before. They are just breaking through the skin. Only a few here and there. You can barely see them with the naked eye. They could be just hairs growing back from the proscar or shockloss.

I am just waiting for my scalp to go back to looking more normal. It is still slight pinkish and irritated by the ingrown hairs. I am still hiding under the hat. I know now what it feels like to be in the fun doldrums...

I will post some pics of my scar with the month 2 photos. I am at 6 1/2 weeks.

Hairfree,

At 6.5 weeks, seeing any new growth is highly unusual...BUT, it's not impossible. If you are seeing a few new whiter hairs, they very well could be the transplanted hairs. Typically, many will grow like that and slowly thicken and mature over time.

The doldrums suck, but you'll get through them...have faith and soon you will be a hairy beast

Falc

I just posted my Month 2 photos. Not much difference from Month 1 in the photo. I can see many fine white hairs growing in the mirror and I think that they are my native hairs responding to Minox. I see a few darker hairs growing in and I believe they are the transplanted hairs. They are very sparse and hardly visible to the naked eye. Before I thought the peach fuzz was the new transplanted hairs but now I believe that they are hairs responding from Fin and Minox.

I just purchased the Rogaine Foam a couple days ago and two weeks ago I started applying the Rogaine twice a day. So far my scalp has been handling it well. I am still applying Aloe at night before bed. I am also still getting pimples (ingrown hairs) but not as frequently as before, and I have one large egg shape pimple that is slowly going away at the center of my hairline. A couple weeks ago was so large without a white head that I didn't bother to pop it and its improving.

The doldrums suck. I am keeping busy reading postings and trying not to look at my head for new growth every day. I can't wait to get out of this phase.

Hairfree,

Good to hear from you.

I know you want to be out of this phase, but keep the faith brother. You are where you should be for 2 months. 2 months is WAY too early to see if you have any new growth sprouts. Normally I wait until at least month 3 before I start scrutinizing myself in the mirror . Even then, it's way too early.

Of course, it still appears that your scalp is pretty red at 2 months. I know my scalp was a bit red after my second HT until month 4 which I wasn't a fan of. Consider asking Dr. Rahal if he recommends anything for scalp redness.

Hope to hear from you soon brother,

Falc

Hey Hairfree,

Thanks for posting the update. 2 months is a very tough time...................waiting sucks, no doubt. Especially when you're not starting to see much growth but definitely par for the course.

Nice thing is, though the pimples/ingrowns are a pain, it means you'll be experiencing mucho action very, very soon. I'm guessing even by months 3/4 your're going to start seeing those little guys popping up right and left!

Hang in there,

Hey Falc and Hairbank,

Thank you for putting things into perspective for me. I am looking for growth way too early and only setting myself up for disapointment in the early stages. I liked Spex's thread about how we have to be patient during the growing process. He made a good point. If we look in the mirror every day we won't notice anything!!

Falc,

I think the redness looked worse on camera because I had just applied the Rogaine before the shot. Lately I have been able to go out in the evenings without a hat and no one comments the redness and those who don't know I had a HT even comment how good the buzz cut looks. The redness is improving. I am still using the Aloe and its working! This weekend I will be in South Beach for a few days of fun with my friends. I will post some photos from Miami for everyone to see some real life shots. I will be back on Sunday and maybe we can get together for a BBQ next week at my place with the ladies. I will be in touch!

Hairfree,

Glad to hear the redness was amplified in the photo due to minox.

I'm up for the BBQ thing bro. Just let me know and we'll plan it. Have fun in South Beach...I'm jealous! I'm hoping in a few weeks to be able to at least go down to the shore (Ocean City NJ) for the day...probably June 23rd if one of my best female friends is available to go.

Falc

I just returned from vacation at the Jersey shore. July 4th was my 3 month mark. I just posted my 3 month photo.

I am very happy and excited about the results so far. I have been going out more now without the hat. I have been keeping it shaved down to a #1 clip and in the past few days I let it grow out. I plan to let it grow from this point on. My fiance' keeps bugging me to let it grow out. I got to have some hair for my weddding on Oct 27th!

The Month 3 photo is the 22nd picture in the gallery.

Hairfree,

Wow dude...you are seeing tremedous amount of growth for just 3 months! How exciting. I can't wait to see it in person!

Let's make some plans to get together soon.

Falc

Falc,

Sounds good! I will drop you a text.

Hairfree,

Things look awesome for 3 months. I like the position of the hairline and it looks like there is going to be some pretty decent coverage. It's all good from here on in.

Keep the photos coming.

NN

P.S. Aren't people seeing the scare when you clip with a #1-2??

NN,

I just updated the gallery with a couple scar photos at this length. 5 days ago I buzzed it down to #1. I am still getting a few pimples on the scar line from ingrown hairs growing thru. I am happy that I am able to cut to this length and not much is showing. I was applying dermatch to conceal the scar and lately I haven't been putting any on. I am going to let it grow out a bit longer. I love my hair at this length. No need for a hairbrush

Hey Hairfree,

Those scar pics are amazing. I think your case will turn out great!

Hey thanks Baboon. Good to see you on this forum. When is your surgery date??

Very impressive.. You seem to be a quicker healer and grower!!