Hair system wearers who also use finasteride should track native density separately to measure treatment efficacy. Without tracking, the hair system conceals what is happening to your natural hair underneath. You may be losing ground without knowing it, or your treatment may be working better than you realize. myhairline.ai provides a structured protocol for documenting your native hair status during every system maintenance session.
Why Tracking Matters for Hair System Wearers
A hair system solves the cosmetic problem immediately, but it does not stop the biological process of androgenetic alopecia. Your native hair continues to thin (or stabilize, if you are on treatment) beneath the system. Knowing your native hair status matters for several reasons:
- Treatment evaluation: If you take finasteride or minoxidil, you need density data to know if the medication is working
- System adjustment: As native hair changes, your system base size, density, and attachment method may need updating
- Future planning: Native hair density determines your candidacy for hair transplant surgery if you decide to transition away from a system
- Donor area health: Even the donor area (back and sides) should be monitored for any changes
Without tracking, you are flying blind. The system looks great, but you have no idea what is happening underneath.
Step 1: Establish Your Photography Schedule
The best time to photograph your native hair is during your regular system maintenance and reattachment sessions. Most hair system wearers remove their system every 2 to 4 weeks for cleaning, scalp care, and re-bonding.
| System Type | Typical Maintenance Interval | Tracking Frequency |
|---|---|---|
| Tape-attached | Every 2 to 3 weeks | Every maintenance session |
| Glue-attached | Every 3 to 4 weeks | Every maintenance session |
| Clip-in | Daily removal | Monthly (choose consistent day) |
| Lace front | Every 2 to 4 weeks | Every maintenance session |
Use each maintenance session as a tracking opportunity. This gives you density readings every 2 to 4 weeks without any additional scheduling effort.
Step 2: Prepare the Scalp for Photography
After removing the hair system, your scalp needs preparation before an accurate density photo can be taken.
Remove adhesive residue: Tape and glue residue can obscure the scalp surface and distort density readings. Use your regular adhesive remover and clean the scalp thoroughly.
Allow the scalp to rest: Wait at least 30 minutes after removal. This lets any compression marks from the system base settle and allows the skin to return to its natural state.
Wash and dry: Clean the scalp with a gentle shampoo to remove oils, adhesive remnants, and any product buildup. Pat dry. Do not apply any styling products before photography.
Step 3: Photograph All Critical Zones
Your native hair exists in distinct zones, and each needs separate documentation.
Zone 1: System Coverage Area
This is the area where the hair system base sits. It may have the least native hair (that is why the system covers it), but tracking any remaining hair here shows whether loss is progressing or stabilizing.
Photograph from directly above, holding the camera 20 to 30 cm from the scalp. Consistent framing is essential since even small angle changes affect how density appears.
Zone 2: Perimeter Blending Zone
The area where the system edge meets your native hair is the most visible transition point. Native hair density here determines how natural the blend looks and whether your system perimeter needs adjusting.
Photograph the front hairline perimeter, both temple zones, and the back perimeter separately.
Zone 3: Donor Area (Back and Sides)
Even if you are not planning surgery, the donor area represents your hair "reserve." Tracking donor density confirms that the back and sides are maintaining their DHT-resistant status. In rare cases, donor area thinning can occur.
Photograph the occipital (back) and parietal (side) zones at each session.
Step 4: Track Treatment Response
If you are on medical treatment, your tracking data reveals whether the medication is working beneath the system.
Finasteride Tracking
Finasteride halts further loss in 80 to 90% of users and produces regrowth in 65%. For hair system wearers, the relevant questions are:
- Is my native hair stabilizing? If density readings remain constant across 6 to 12 months, finasteride is doing its job.
- Am I getting regrowth? If density is increasing, especially in the system coverage area, you may eventually need a less dense system or a smaller base.
- Should I continue? If density is declining despite 12+ months on finasteride, the medication may not be effective for you, and your dermatologist should reassess.
Read more about finasteride progress tracking for detailed medication response analysis.
Minoxidil Tracking
Minoxidil (40 to 60% moderate regrowth) can be applied to the scalp during the period when the system is removed. Some wearers apply minoxidil daily and wait for it to dry before reattaching their system.
Track density at each maintenance session. Be aware that minoxidil takes 4 to 6 months to show results, so early readings will not reflect the drug's effect.
PRP Tracking
Platelet-Rich Plasma therapy at $500 to $2,000 per session can be administered to the scalp while the system is removed. Schedule PRP sessions on maintenance days for convenience, and photograph before the PRP injection to capture your true native density (PRP causes temporary scalp swelling that affects photography).
Step 5: Evaluate System Fit Over Time
Your tracking data also informs system maintenance decisions.
Expanding coverage area: If native density in the perimeter zone is declining, your system base may need to increase in size to maintain a natural blend. Catching this early prevents a visible gap between the system edge and thinning native hair.
Improving coverage area: If treatment is producing regrowth, you may be able to reduce the system base size or switch to a lighter density system. This is a positive outcome that tracking quantifies.
Stable coverage area: If native density holds steady, your current system specifications remain appropriate. Continue the current treatment and system maintenance protocol.
Step 6: Plan for the Future
Tracking native hair density under a system gives you options.
Option A: Continue with System
Your native hair is stable or declining slowly. The system provides the cosmetic result you want. Continue treatment to maintain what you have and track to monitor any changes.
Option B: Transition to Transplant
Your native hair has stabilized or improved enough on treatment that you are considering a hair transplant. Your tracking data provides the surgeon with months of objective density measurements for both the recipient and donor areas. Typical graft requirements depend on Norwood stage:
| Norwood Stage | Grafts Needed | Estimated Hairs (at 2.2 per graft) |
|---|---|---|
| Stage 3 | 1,500 to 2,200 | 3,300 to 4,840 |
| Stage 4 | 2,500 to 3,500 | 5,500 to 7,700 |
| Stage 5 | 3,000 to 4,500 | 6,600 to 9,900 |
| Stage 6 | 4,000 to 6,000 | 8,800 to 13,200 |
FUE recovery is 7 to 10 days with 90 to 95% graft survival. Your donor area tracking data confirms whether you have sufficient donor supply.
Option C: Hybrid Approach
Some wearers use a smaller hair system after a transplant to cover areas that could not be fully restored. Tracking native density, transplant growth, and system coverage together provides a complete picture.
Use the hair loss treatment tracker to log all treatment variables alongside your density readings.
Start Tracking Your Native Hair
Get your baseline native hair density reading at myhairline.ai/analyze during your next system maintenance session.
This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Consult a board-certified dermatologist for diagnosis and treatment of hair loss conditions.