Finasteride Gave Me Hair—But Took My Libido: What I Did to Get Both Back

 Let me start by saying: I’m not writing this as a dermatologist, influencer, or Reddit “expert.” I’m writing this as a guy who was slowly going bald and mentally unraveling because of it.

Hair loss messes with you in ways most people don’t talk about. It’s not just about vanity—it’s about identity. About watching your reflection change, younger-than-you-should-be, and feeling helpless to stop it.

So I did what everyone in r/tressless eventually does: I started finasteride.

And it worked. My hair stopped falling out. I even started seeing regrowth at my temples.
But something else started fading—something much harder to talk about.

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💔 The Side Effect No One Wants to Admit

Within 6 weeks of daily 1mg finasteride, my hair was stabilizing. I should have been thrilled.
But I wasn’t.

I started noticing I wasn’t “in the mood” as often. At first, I blamed stress. Or screens. Or diet.
But then came the real red flag: no morning wood. Like, at all.

I felt numb.
Not just sexually—but emotionally.

I wasn't depressed exactly. Just… dulled. Like someone had turned the brightness and contrast down on life. My motivation dipped. My drive waned. It was subtle—but consistent.

And that’s when I knew: this wasn’t just in my head.

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🧠 What’s Really Going On?

Finasteride works by blocking DHT (dihydrotestosterone), a hormone that causes hair follicles to shrink. But DHT also plays a role in:

• Libido

• Mood regulation

• Cognitive sharpness

• Energy levels

So when you reduce it too much, some guys—like me—feel it.

Doctors will say these side effects are rare. Maybe.
But here’s what’s more true: they’re real for some. And that “some” feels a lot bigger when it includes you.

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🛠️ The Pivot That Changed Everything

I was faced with a choice:

• Stay on finasteride and have hair but feel like a hollow version of myself

• Quit and watch my progress fall apart

But then I discovered a third option.

Microdosing.

Instead of taking the full 1mg daily, I started cutting my pills into quarters and taking 0.25mg every other day.

Sounds like a joke, right? But within 2 weeks:

• My libido bounced back

• Morning erections returned

• My mood and focus sharpened

• Hair? Still holding strong

It was like switching from sledgehammer to scalpel.

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📉 Why Lower Doses Still Work

Here’s something most guys don’t hear from their doctor:

Dose	DHT Reduction
0.2 mg/day	~55%
0.5 mg/day	~65%
1 mg/day	~70%

So yeah—cutting your dose doesn’t mean cutting results. You’re just reducing the side effects risk curve.

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🧩 What I Combined With Low-Dose Finasteride

Hair loss isn’t a one-drug problem. I started stacking smart:

• Topical minoxidil (daily)

• Microneedling (weekly)

• Saw palmetto (natural DHT buffer)

• Ashwagandha + magnesium (libido and mood support)

I treated my hair holistically, not just hormonally.

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💬 What No One Tells You

1. You don’t need the “standard dose” to get results.

2. Side effects can be managed—but only if you listen to your body.

3. There’s no shame in adjusting your protocol. You’re not weak—you’re aware.

4. Hair loss is emotional—and so is libido loss. It’s not all physical.

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🎯 My Current Protocol (That’s Working)

Product	Frequency
Finasteride 0.25mg	Every other day
Minoxidil 5% foam	Daily
Microneedling (1.5mm)	Weekly
Zinc + Vitamin D	Daily
Ashwagandha	Daily (PM)

✌️ Final Thoughts

I got my hair back. And I got my sex drive back too.
But I had to go through some uncomfortable months to get here.

If you’re a guy considering finasteride but terrified of the side effects, or if you’re on it and feel like you’ve lost a part of yourself—you’re not crazy. And you’re definitely not alone.

Sometimes the answer isn’t quitting.
Sometimes it’s tuning.