It´s a bit late for me to be posting a reply in this post, but I just came across it. I began taking creatine about a year ago (I think it was about 5-10g) a day for about 3 months, and it did cause my hair to change. I noticed the change when I was about 2 months in, and it worsened the following months from there. My curly hair became soft, weak and lost it´s curl and my hair became thinner (I think it´s what happened). I think the anagen phase stopped (as the 5-a reductase enzyme causes DHT levels to rise, which inhibits hair follicles from appropriately absorbing nutrients). I think it has thinned here and there, with perhaps a slight change in my hairline. It was worse about half a year ago, and most of it has restored luckily, but not all (yet). I might need more time for it to restore completely., but I might be wrong. I took it for the same reasons you did (the cognitive and ergogenic benefits, of which the cognitive for vegans). I do think there is some genetic factor involved, Vegan Physique (YouTuber) f.e. takes about 5g daily and it does not seem like it has an impact on him. And there are many more people off course. But he and most of those who take creatine are also often about at least 200 pounds, I myself am slightly above 150, with nowhere near as much muscle mass as they do. I am very lean, so the lack of muscle makes me personally conclude 3g at most is a long-term safe dosage for me. I think the dosage I took was just way too high.
Next to the change of hair, I also most definitely felt the change in the gym. My arms were rock hard after doing some sets and it felt amazing. Now I don´t take creatine anymore I never have this same feeling anymore. I think my libido was also slightly higher, but it felt a bit ´forced´ and unnatural, and therefore a bit undesirable, but that´s just my subjective experience. I think it also gave me slight cognitive benefits.
As a result of my hair thinning etc., I began taking saw palmetto for a few months. I think it might have helped in the restoration of my hair, but off course I´m not sure as there was no control group. I now am considering pygeum for the last bit of restoration, as it comes with less side-effects. I suggest taking about 1-2.5g a day for a few months, and see where that brings you. Then you can also up the dosage from there. I know tomatoes, pumpkin seeds and a few other foods can slightly lower DHT, so you might want to add them to your diet!
You might also want to look into beta-alanine (for carnosine), carnitine and taurine, as they also might give a few benefits for vegans. I know carnitine might have the slight disadvantage side-effect of causing TMAO levels to rise, which in turn might increase cancer risk. But it´s also good for improving muscle soreness and sperm quality. As far as I know taurine and beta-alanine don´t have any serious negative side-effects.
I have a little bit of creatine left now and I´m not sure what to do with it; consuming the last bit or throw it in the garbage can as it just might not be for me. I think I first would like to see full restoration before consuming it again.
You don´t need vitamin K2 as your body can synthesize enough K1 into K2, as long as you are consuming enough vegetables (between 100-500g of green leafy vegetables/cruciferous a day). Then again, it´s also really expensive.
Edited by Leon93, 03 February 2018 - 10:47 AM.