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Nutrafol sells supplements designed to promote hair regrowth. We looked at its products to separate the hard science from the hype and see how Nutrafol stacks up against top competitors.
A note on language
You’ll notice that the language used to share information about Nutrafol products is pretty binary, fluctuating between the use of “male” and “female” or “men” and “women.”
Although we typically avoid language like this, we wanted to use the language the company uses to describe its products, as specificity and accuracy are key when reporting on products.
It’s typical to lose between 50 and 100 hairs every day. While new strands typically replace those lost hairs, this doesn’t always happen. Hair loss can be a gradual process that occurs over the years, or it can happen suddenly. It can be permanent or temporary, too.
It’s also extremely common. In fact,
Hair loss may affect people differently in their lives, and there are a few reasons why your hair may thin. Genes play a factor in pattern baldness for men and women. Other reasons include medical treatments, stress, age, over-styling, and certain health conditions. Some people may even experience temporary postpartum shedding.
But regrowing hair, or even slowing hair loss, is possible.
Nutrafol at a glance
Nutrafol is a brand that sells over-the-counter (OTC) supplements designed to relieve mild or moderate hair thinning due to age, stress, or genetics. It sells supplements and hair boosters, but unlike other hair loss platforms, it doesn’t prescribe common meditations like finasteride or minoxidil.
Nutrafol is most likely a good option for people who would like to see if they can use more natural hair growth products or want to target the direct cause of their hair loss.
Nutrafol is manufactured by Nutraceutical Wellness Inc., a company based in New York City that reports making 100% drug-free products.
The product was co-founded by Giorgos Tsetis, a former model and entrepreneur with an engineering background. Nutrafol is the fastest-growing supplement for healthy hair and hair growth.
There are many hair loss products on the market, but Nutrafol has been clinically studied and shown to improve hair regrowth. However, it’s worth noting that Nutraceutical Wellness funded these studies.
Nutrafol offers four supplements: Women, Men, Postpartum, and Women’s Balance, which are designed for peri- and postmenopausal women.
| Key ingredients | Who it’s for | |
|---|---|---|
| Nutrafol Women | collagen, ashwagandha | women ages 18–44 looking to improve hair growth |
| Nutrafol Men | saw palmetto, ashwagandha | men who want to restore hair thickness and scalp health |
| Nutrafol Postpartum | collagen, DHA omega-3 | women who recently gave birth and have experienced an increase in stress |
| Nutrafol Women’s Balance | vitamins A, C, and D; biotin; iodine; zinc | women who have experienced hair loss as a result of peri- or postmenopausal symptoms |
Pros
- All natural: Nutrafol contains 100% natural ingredients.
- Clinically studied: The supplements sold by Nutrafol have gone through clinical testing with mainly positive results.
- Recommended by holistic doctors: According to the website, some scientists and doctors personally recommend Nutrafol supplements.
- Different pricing systems: There are pricing plans available for users based on their hair goals and budget.
Cons
- Not 100% effective: If you have advanced hair loss, Nutrafol supplements may not work for you.
- Pricey: Single bottles are priced at $88.
- Lack of data: Although there have been some positive clinical results and reviews, many of the related studies had financial ties to Nutraceutical Wellness, relied on participant self-assessment, and didn’t always include a placebo group.
According to Nutrafol, the company uses 100% natural ingredients in its products.
Some of these include:
Research shows hair loss has multiple causes, ranging from your diet to hormones and stress. To find out what might be affecting your hair, Nutrafol recommends starting by taking the company’s Hair Wellness Quiz.
Nutrafol aims to restore hair growth by reducing your levels of stress and androgens — hormones that contribute to growth and reproduction in men and women.
Ingredients found in the supplements, such as Sensoril ashwagandha, help build resistance to stress by
Cortisol can also signal hair follicles to prematurely shift from growth to rest, when the hair can no longer grow. This means that chronic stress may have a hand in disrupting hair growth.
Nutrafol also claims that its supplements work by neutralizing free radicals and inflammatory molecules that affect hair growth.
For hormonal hair loss
Dihydrotestosterone (DHT) is an androgen hormone that is usually responsible for hormonal hair loss. DHT is more present in men, but women also make it. DHT causes the hair follicle to slowly shrink, a process called miniaturization. Eventually, DHT can make the follicles close so the hair can’t grow back.
Lifestyle factors like nutrition, metabolism, and stress levels may influence hair thinning, but hormonal changes from pregnancy, menopause, and stress are also significant contributors to a DHT imbalance in women.
Saw palmetto, an extract from the ripe berries of the American dwarf palm, is one ingredient in Nutrafol that may correct DHT sensitivity. In a
Stress-related hair loss
Nutrafol includes Sensoril ashwagandha, a medicinal herb that may help build resistance to stress by lowering elevated cortisol levels. A
Primary ingredients like vitamin E have shown improvements in correcting oxidative stress, or an imbalance between free radicals and antioxidants in your body that may contribute to health conditions like diabetes, high blood pressure, and heart disease.
As a
Metabolism-related hair loss
Your cellular metabolism provides energy for your hair follicles to grow. Inflammation, a high glycemic diet (foods that raise blood sugar quickly), a hormone imbalance, or a thyroid imbalance may all lead to poor metabolism, which can leave your body with less energy for healthy hair growth.
Nutrafol targets metabolism with curcumin, an anti-inflammatory compound found in turmeric. Curcumin has been used for thousands of years as a medicinal herb.
Some
Personalized recommendations
With a subscription to Nutrafol, you’ll get access to the company’s naturopathic doctors. Based on the results of your quiz, the doctors can make personalized recommendations about products and lifestyle changes to help with your hair growth.
Nutrafol has three payment options:
- Per bottle: Each bottle costs $88, but it is possible to find Nutrafol on sale occasionally.
- Monthly delivery: If you opt for monthly deliveries, it’ll come out to $79 a month. You’ll receive a 1-month supply and free doctor consultations. You can pause or cancel your subscription at any time.
- 3-month delivery: A 3-month supply of supplements is $225. You’ll receive 3 months’ worth of supplements on a trimonthly basis, along with free doctor consultations. With this subscription, you can also pause or cancel at any time.
While studies of Nutrafol have shown positive results, this supplement is best if your hair loss is minimal.
If you’re experiencing telogen effluvium (TE), a condition where your hair falls out after a stressful experience, Nutrafol could be a good option for you. This is because TE is temporary, and getting on track with your nutrition via supplements may be helpful.
Nutrafol’s website notes the supplement won’t change things overnight, but if you use the treatment regularly, you’ll likely begin to see some benefits.
It’s important to adjust your expectations, though. Nutrafol is not hair transplantation, a surgical technique that removes healthy follicles from one part of the body to another. However, some Nutrafol customers say they’ve experienced healthier, shinier hair after use.
As with any supplement, Nutrafol is not regulated by the FDA. Before starting a new supplement regimen, always talk with a doctor. Pregnant or breastfeeding or chestfeeding people should always speak with a healthcare professional before starting supplements.
Also talk with a doctor if you have allergies to any of the ingredients in Nutrafol or have preexisting health conditions before trying the supplement.
Nutrafol has a wealth of competitors that offer other services and products beyond supplements.
| What you can buy | Prescription needed | Getting started | Best for | Highlights | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nutrafol | supplements, hair boosters | no | Take the Hair Wellness Quiz to figure out what product is best for you, or purchase the supplement you’d like to try. | • men wanting to try hair loss supplements • women experiencing pre- or perimenopause | • different products available for different causes of hair thinning • products have been clinically tested |
| Keeps | medications (finasteride, minoxidil, and ketoconazole) shampoos, tinctures | yes, for finasteride | Take a quiz or fill out a questionnaire about your hair goals and concerns. A doctor will prescribe a plan based on your answers. Read our review of Keeps here. | receiving a doctor-recommended treatment plan | • can attach photos of your hair and scalp for a doctor to review • it’s a subscription service, so you’ll automatically receive more product |
| Hims | shampoo, conditioner, supplements, topical solutions, medications | yes, for finasteride | Set up an account, fill out a questionnaire, and receive word from a doctor about treatment. Read our review of Hims here. | trying out different treatment options | • offers other treatments and telehealth appointments • when signing up, you’ll receive a response within 24 hours |
Nutrafol’s website has several before and after photos of customers who have had positive results with taking the supplement. Most have slight thickening at the crown of the head or the part line.
On Amazon, Nutrafol has thousands of reviews for all formulas. More than half are 4- or 5-star ratings. But many reviews say the product didn’t regrow their hair.
Here are two reviews for comparison:
One 4-star review on Amazon says, “I think this works for people who have experienced a sudden hair loss and still retain the follicles necessary for regrowth.”
Meanwhile, a 1-star review mentions, “I have purchased four bottles of this and have taken them religiously. Absolutely no effect to their claims.”
Nutraceutical Wellness currently has a B grade on the Better Business Bureau (BBB) and a score of 1.15 out of 5 stars as of March 2024. It has received more than 80 complaints in the past 12 months.
Some customer complaints listed on the BBB’s website say shipments weren’t received. Other customers mentioned they were overcharged and that customer service was unhelpful with these issues.
Hair loss is fairly common for people. It could also stem from a variety of causes, ranging from menopause to more serious conditions like cancer or a thyroid issue. If you begin to experience hair loss, it’s best to consult a doctor to talk through your symptoms and medical history to ensure it’s not a symptom of a larger problem.
You should especially consider talking with a doctor if you notice:
- a rash or pain on your scalp
- large amounts of hair loss
- itching or redness
- hair loss with other symptoms, such as heavy menstrual bleeding, fatigue, or swollen lymph nodes
- sudden or unexpected hair loss
- hair loss that affects your ability to live your everyday life
Reviews are largely mixed when it comes to the effectiveness of Nutrafol’s supplements. Although some clinical trials and reviews found the products to gradually work overtime, other users were unhappy with the results.
Nutrafol would most likely work for people experiencing minimal hair loss, as the supplements promote healthy hair growth and thickening.
Nutrafol is made with clinically backed, medical-grade ingredients. The supplements are free of drugs, hormones, and artificial additives. The products are also third-party tested for heavy metals, pesticides, chemicals, and microbiological safety.
Since formulas, ingredients, and supplements are all reviewed by scientists, no data suggest that Nutrafol products are unsafe. However, talk with a doctor before deciding to introduce the supplements into your diet.
The results are mixed. The manufacturer claims hair growth is bolstered by ingredients that work against factors that cause hair to fall out. Some studies show Nutrafol promotes hair regrowth.
The short answer: It’s unclear. Per Nutrafol’s website, you should take it regularly for 3 months, at which time you should start seeing results. If at this point you don’t see any results, connect with a naturopathic doctor before altering your regimen.
Nutrafol recommends speaking with a healthcare professional before taking any multivitamins or prescription medications with Nutrafol supplements. This includes other hair loss treatments you’re currently using or considering, such as Rogaine.
According to the company website, you should start to see results in 3 months, assuming you’ve been taking the supplements every day.
Because the FDA regulates prescription and OTC drugs, it doesn’t monitor Nutrafol, which are supplements. Nutrafol states on its FAQ page that it produces its supplements in an FDA certified facility, though.
Biotin (vitamin B7) can frequently be found in shampoos, conditioners, and supplements to support healthy hair growth and promote thicker, voluminous hair. However, there’s limited research to suggest that people who aren’t deficient in biotin can benefit from biotin-based products.
That being said, different solutions will work for people depending on several factors, such as the cause of hair loss, age, and the general state of the hair.
To choose the best hair loss treatment for you, talk with your doctor to determine the root cause and what’s most likely to help.
Hair loss is a common issue in men and women, and it can affect one’s self-confidence and mental health.
Nutrafol offers hair loss supplements to increase hair thickness and growth, and the company claims clinical studies have proven this. Some customers mention positive results with hair growth after using the product, while others say it didn’t really work for them.
If you’re experiencing hair loss or starting a new supplement to relieve it, talking with a dermatologist or another healthcare professional is a good first step.
Tracee Herbaugh is a writer and journalist who lives in the Boston area. She writes about culture, lifestyle, health, and family relationships. You can view her work online or find her on Twitter.