Anyone else here have thinning hair with a plan of attack? Checking if I'm missing any unconventional tips!

I use:

• 5% Minoxidil once daily

• 200mg Spironolactone (this is a huge dose for a cis woman, a lot of people get awesome feminizing effects including breast growth. In my case, my monthly 'period pimple' on the chin went away, and maybe my body hair grows in slower, but that could be placebo. Overall, not much effect :/ )

• The Ordinary hair serum a few times a week

• Check Vitamin D and iron levels yearly, supplement 10000mg/week to keep levels up

• Just bought a Dermapen, so I'll be starting microneedling 1mm each week.

I've tried:

• Biotin and/or Hair/skin/nails supplements.... the research doesn't support that it works for people without a Biotin deficiency (the vast majority of people).

• Spearmint: this is obsolete if you're taking Spironolactone, but if you can't get it covered by insurance, Spearmint is an alternative that actually seems to have some research behind it. Note that it is not a way to avoid Spiro's side effects, it works the same way so the side effects will be the same.

• Ketoconazole shampoo: The classic brand that contains this, Nizoral, is pretty drying. I'm assuming the ingredient itself is drying, and needs a formula to counteract it, but there are almost no Ketoconazole shampoos on the market.

• Hair fibers (basically makeup for your hair): These work like a charm and are a must IMO, kinda itchy though.

• Very Short haircut: I had a buzz cut in college. I actually got a lot more male attention when my hair was shorter....

OK quick tangent. This is an interesting example of how leaning into a specific "look" can make you more attractive IRL, even if on paper you're fostering a less attractive trait. Not only do you stand out more in general, but when you specialize in a certain subculture, men of that subculture find you more attractive.

In my experience as a just-OK-looking chick, there are few things dudes go crazier for than the possibility that you might possibly listen to their preferred kind of music etc. On a subconscious level, they are comparing you with just the other women of your 'type' rather than every woman on earth, improving your odds. Want to experience being the most attractive woman in a room? Get into a male-dominated subculture... or at least pretend to.

This classic OKCupid study all but confirms this theory: https://www.gwern.net/docs/psychology/okcupid/themathematicsofbeauty.html. Essentially they found that women with more polarizing reactions (lots of high and low ratings) got more male attention than women with lots of medium ratings, even if their average rating was the same. Back to the post.

I haven't tried:

• Castor Oil: I've heard this works, based on the fact that it blocks 5-alpha-reductase in the scalp, and seems to have a lot of anecdotal recommendations.

• Replacement hair: Toppers don't appeal to me at all, despite knowing all celebs do it. This is probably the true looksmaxx, though.

• Extensions: Curious to hear more from anyone who has extensions. Do they add any volume or density to the top of the head? Not concerned about the rest of the hair right now.

• Permanent Makeup/SMP: Just found out the salon down the street offers scalp micropigmentation. It's $250/hour, and most likely has to be redone yearly. Is this worth it?