NUTRAFOL

The hair growth supplements are “nutraceuticals,” clinically tested pharmaceutical alternatives that are regulated by the FDA as dietary supplements rather than drugs. They promote healthier hair by addressing the root causes of hair loss and breakage, some of which can be lifestyle-related.

Nutrafol bills itself as 100% drug-free, instead relying on potent natural ingredients like saw palmetto—which helps block the DHT androgen hormone (or dihydrotestosterone) that shrinks hair follicles—and adaptogens like ashwagandha, meant to help you better handle  stress that can lead to thinning hair. That's important, as stress hormones can impact the hair growth cycle.

Dr. Scott K. Thompson, a facial plastic surgeon in Layton, Utah, says that “Nutrafol’s blend of botanical ingredients is what really makes this hair loss product stand out among competitors. Nutrafol is not only promoting healthy hair, skin and nails, with both biotin and keratin, but it’s also addressing additional factors that can cause hair loss.” 

The three core Nutrafol blends all contain the same 22 key ingredients (including biotin, amino acid-rich marine collagen, tocotrienol complex, and curcumin), but the amounts vary, to meet the unique needs of men’s and women’s bodies.

• Nutrafol Men has a larger amount of saw palmetto because men can be affected more by DHT. 
• Nutrafol for Women has higher amounts of adaptogens to help combat daily stress. 
• Nutrafol Women’s Balance is formulated for women experiencing menopause, addressing hormonal changes and the effects of aging with added saw palmetto as well as maca and astaxanthin.  

The blends’ ingredients support hormones, address stress, neutralize free radicals, and make up for nutritional deficiencies, creating better conditions for healthy hair growth. 

Dr. Thompson notes that “Nutrafol is shown to work best for individuals with mild to moderate hair thinning caused by either stress, age, or genetics.” 

You can take a "Hair Wellness" quiz on the Nutrafol website that will suggest a personalized GrowthPlan, including the core blend that’s right for you and additional “targeted boosters” that meet your specific lifestyle and health needs. Targeted boosters include vitamin B drops, for increased energy; tocotrienols, which reduce inflammation via the antioxidant vitamin E; a probiotic, for healthy gut flora; and a liver support supplement, with ingredients to help lower oxidative stress and neutralize toxins.

A one-month supply of a core blend usually costs $79 with a monthly subscription and $88 without. A GrowthPlan with targeted boosters costs more, depending on the number of additional supplements, and the targeted boosters are available only with a GrowthPlan subscription. Since results develop over several months—and maintenance is recommended for the best hair growth results—plan to have Nutrafol supplements as a recurring monthly expense.

Yes, it's recommended that you take the full recommended dose of four pills a day in a single dose, though it may be easiest to swallow them one at a time. Each bottle contains a monthly supply of 120 capsules.

The supplement is fat-soluble, so take the capsules with six or seven grams of healthy fat (like half an avocado or a handful of nuts) for best absorption.

You can expect to see increased hair growth after about six months of consistently taking a core blend, according to the manufacturer’s 2018 clinical trial in the Journal of Drugs in Dermatology. 

The first one to three months help lay the foundation to support healthy hair growth. Then hair begins to grow in months three to six, with continued growth beyond that (as well as an improvement in hair quality).

You'll know it's working if your hair is thicker, longer, shinier, and less brittle, with better texture and more volume. 

You’ll need to keep taking the supplements to maintain your results.

No adverse events have been reported in studies done to assess Nutrafol's efficacy. In fact, in the clinical study mentioned above, those taking Nutrafol for hair loss noted that it helped decrease anxiety and stress. 

As always, though, check with your doctor first before taking new supplements.