Happen to come across this thread.
I had minor hair loss for years too, esp during my time in army. I managed to recover quite well by using minoxidil.
Initially, I was recommended 2% by polyclinic doctor, but hair loss still continue. After that I stop using mino and went on to try jackie chen endorsed shampoo, Ba Wang. The product has no use for mine blackie hairs.
Everyday I lose hairs, esp during my time in outfield when ah boys like us who can hardly bath or even take shower during outfield training, the hair loss is even more. Whenever I scratch my itcy head, there were always hairs leftover on my palms.
End up, I came across toppik and after hesitation, I decided to try out toppik hair fiber where I bought from carousell, to cover up my thinning hair and patches of botak. Initially I don't believe in this thing. Where got sure thing as instant hair grow. If there is, nobody in the world will have hair problem liao loh. But still I choose to go ahead, given the limited choice I have. I managed to meet up with the seller to get a bottle of toppik. When the seller turn up, he asked me if I have any idea of how to use toppik. I told him no. He is very steady. He open up the bottle and on the spot demonstrated to me how to use toppik to style my hair. I was suprised that the result of using is very good. He explained to me that, toppik is like many other normal hair fiber, they are temporarily and the fiber is make of hort life keratin, and not very waterproof. Once it get wet, the fiber will be wash off and the miracle effort will go back to normal.
I share with him my story and he laughed. The reason why minoxidil does not work. He told me that in order to have good result with minoxidil for men or women, minoxidil 5% has to be used twice daily and leave it on for 4hrs after apply. Our hair follicles work in cycle just like people wake up in the day and sleep in the night. The hair follicles also have cycles, when they sleep on a month and get active again in another month. He even show me a forum known as hairlosstalk forum, where people form all walks of life post successful story from hair loss using minoxidil. You can google, hairlosstalk forum, and click on image tag to see all their images and links to their thread. I have learnt alot from him, about hair fibers, minoxidil, biotin, vitamin E, tocotrienols, keratin. You can also google on all this terms to have a brief knowledge on them. This knowledge will help you a long way. Now my hairs feel full, recovered quite well and still have room for improvement.
So in summary, minoxidil works. But you must use the correct percentage, anything less than 5% is not useful. I must say I have try diy hair loss management and saved a huge bucks, which is way much cheaper than going to lousy beijing 101.
You can also use hair fibers to rebuild your confidence, give your head a full hair look, while you goes on your journey for long term hairs recovery.
Feel free to ask me anything. I will try to help if I have the answers.