Nutrafol Review: Does This Hair Growth Supplement Work? (2024)

Summary

• Intended use: Nutrafol offers clinically-backed, hair growth nutraceuticals tailored to different bio-specific needs and life stages, including postpartum and menopause.
• Cost: Starting at around $80 for a one-month supply, Nutrafol’s products are available both as a one-time purchase and as a subscription.
• Side effects: While rare, excessive biotin, one of the ingredients of Nutrafol, may cause an upset stomach.

What we liked

• Nutrafol has a board of scientific advisors who help develop the company’s formulas.
• Nutrafol supplements are considered “nutraceuticals,” meaning they are comprised of medical-grade, bio-optimized botanical ingredients.
• The efficacy of Nutrafol’s products have been clinically evaluated.

What we didn’t like

• Nutrafol’s products are more expensive than other over-the-counter hair-growth supplements.
• Many of Nutrafol’s supplements require a hefty dose of four capsules per day.
• Like all supplements, the safety and efficacy of Nutrafol is not regulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the same way that medications are.
• Some of Nutrafol’s products contain high amounts of vitamins and minerals that may be dangerous to certain individuals, according to some doctors.

About Nutrafol

Co-founders Roland Peralta, Sophia Kogan, M.D. and Giorgos Tsetis launched Nutraceutical Wellness Inc. in 2016. Nutrafol offers a suite of products providing 100% drug-free hair-thinning solutions to men and women, according to the company.

“We wanted Nutrafol to be the leader defining a new category of hair health—showcasing that all-natural ingredients are effective and proving that scientific standards are necessary,” says Peralta.

Nutrafol’s team of physicians and scientists have established innovative formulas containing pharmaceutical grade botanicals, Peralta says. Their products, featuring high-quality ingredients sourced from around the world, are third-party tested for purity and are clinically tested.

Both one-time purchase and subscription offerings of Nutrafol’s products are available. Subscription offerings range from monthly to every six months, and products start at $88 for a single bottle.

Nutrafol takes an individualized approach to hair thinning, and features an online quiz on its website designed to help users find the right product combination for their hair needs. Hair thinning can come at any point in life due to both internal and external factors, Peralta says. Whether your hair loss or thinning is a result of hormonal changes, diet, stress or other factors, your responses to the hair wellness quiz will determine what Nutrafol hair growth supplement and booster combination is right for you.

Hair Growth Supplements

Nutrafol offers the following hair growth supplements, each currently priced at $88 per bottle, $79 monthly, $224 for three months and $422 for six months.

• Nutrafol Women: This supplement is designed for women ages 18 to 44 who are not breastfeeding, pregnant, peri or post-menopausal. It contains medical-grade, natural ingredients including collagen and saw palmetto to promote thicker, fuller hair.
• Nutrafol Men: Designed for men over 18, Nutrafol Men is made with medical-grade, natural ingredients including saw palmetto to target the root causes of hair thinning, without affecting sexual performance, according to the company.
• Nutrafol Postpartum: Formulated by OB-GYNs, this supplement is geared toward women in their first year postpartum. Made with clinically effective, natural ingredients, Nutrafol Postpartum decreases postpartum hair shedding caused by physical and emotional stress, hormone changes and nutrient depletion, according to the company. It includes ingredients like DHA-omega 3s.
• Nutrafol Women’s Balance: Designed for women ages 45 and up who are perimenopausal, menopausal or postmenopausal, Women’s Balance is boosted with additional hormone-supporting ingredients like maca.

(Note: Product details and prices are accurate as of publication and are subject to change.)

Boosters and Topical Offerings

The following products are available based on your individual needs. Each product is sold along with a Nutrafol hair growth supplement, starting at $98 for a one month supply:

• Hair serum (men and women): A patent pending, lightweight and fast-absorbing hair serum, this formula boosts cell renewal with ashwagandha for thicker, stronger hair.
• Gut Microbiome Hair Growth Duo (Nutrafol + Hairbiotic): Hairbiotic is a probiotic formulated with 20 billion CFUs of seven probiotic strains, including L. reuteri, to improve hair quality and support beneficial gut bacteria. It can be purchased as a bundle with one of Nutrafol’s hair growth supplements.
• Toxin Cleanse Hair Growth Duo (Nutrafol + Toxin Cleanse):This supplement contains herbs that support liver health and combat free radical damage with ingredients such as artichoke, milk thistle and yellow dock. These substances naturally reduce toxins in the body to promote an environment that is conducive to hair growth, according to the company.
• Energy Hair Growth Duo (Nutrafol + B-Energized): This booster, consisting of naturally-flavored liquid drops, contains all seven B vitamins in a complex designed to reduce hair loss caused by stress.
• Hormone Support Hair Growth Duo (Nutrafol + Hormone Support): This supplement includes saw palmetto to control the production of the hormone DHT, which impedes the natural hair growth cycle when in excess.
• Strengthening Hair Growth Duo (Nutrafol + Collagen Infusion): Developed with marine collagen peptides, this anti-aging booster replaces key amino acids that cause thinning to nourish your scalp and strengthen your hair.
• De-Stress Hair Growth Duo (Nutrafol +Stress Adaptogen): Stress is a cause of hair loss, and this supplement, made with plant adaptogens, is designed to balance the body’s stress response to promote healthy hair growth.

Nutrafol’s hair growth supplements are made with a patented Synergen Complex, a proprietary blend of concentrated plant ingredients, says Peralta. The Synergen Complex is a blend of stress adaptogens, DHT-targeting botanicals and antioxidants formulated to target the internal imbalances that lead to hair thinning and shedding, promoting a healthy hair growth cycle.

Nutrafol’s active ingredients may include (depending on the formula):

• Curcumin
• Sensorial Ashwagandha
• Saw Palmetto
• Tocotrienol Complex
• Marine collagen peptides
• Resveratrol
• Kelp minerals
• Horsetail
• Selenium
• Keratin
• Vitamins A, C and D
• B vitamins
• Biotin
• Zinc
• Cysteine
• Lysine
• Black pepper
• Capsicum
• Maca
• Astaxanthin
• Stinging nettle
• Sea buckthorn
• Pea sprout extract

Third-Party Testing and Certifications

Nutrafol is committed to leading the hair health industry forward through regulation, says Peralta. “We clinically test our formulas with third-party research centers to prove efficacy. To ensure purity, Nutrafol’s products are third-party tested for heavy metals, toxins and for microbiological safety, ” adding that they are formulated without gluten, shellfish, soy or binders.

When it comes to hair loss, it’s essential to address multiple factors, says Alan J. Bauman, M.D., a hair transplant surgeon at Bauman Medical in Boca Raton, Florida. Aging, genetics, hormones, stress, inflammation and free radicals are all important components to consider, says Dr. Bauman.

Nutrafol is the first nutraceutical combination that targets these main triggers for hair loss, before the follicle is beyond repair, says Dr. Bauman, whose practice sells Nutrafol supplements. “Nutrafol is a powerful weapon in the arsenal against thinning hair, working as an adjunct with or as an alternative to other medically prescribed treatments,” he says.

According to Andrea Paul, M.D., a medical advisor at Illuminate Labs, Nutrafol is a high-quality supplement brand. “Their products are well-formulated for the most part, and they have an impressive team of scientists and advisors with medical credentials,” says Dr. Paul.

Though Nutrafol Postpartum has a clean formulation without harmful filler ingredients, according to Dr. Paul, she warns that it has relatively high doses of vitamins and minerals that exceed the recommended Daily Value (DV).

“I recommend that women speak to their doctor about a postpartum supplement that fits their unique nutritional needs,” says Dr. Paul. “Nutrafol Postpartum may have too high a dose of several vitamins and minerals for women without a documented deficiency.”

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Nutrafol Men For Proactive Thinning

• Created for men with excess shedding and decreased scalp coverage who want to take a proactive approach to hair thinning
• Formulated to target multiple root causes like hormone imbalances, stress, and poor nutrition
• Drug-free, medical-grade ingredients that don't work to compromise sexual performance
• Bio-optimized for better absorbency and efficacy

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On Nutrafol's Website

Among almost 2,000 Amazon reviews of Nutrafol Men, 77% rated the product at least 4 out of 5 stars. One reviewer praised the product, noting that after three months, “my hair is fuller and definitely showing growth.” Another wrote, “If you stick with it you’ll notice thicker hair that doesn’t fall out.” Other, less satisfied reviewers, “saw no major improvement” or “zero difference” after taking the supplement as indicated.

Amazon reviews of Nutrafol Women were mostly positive, with 82% of almost 8,000 users rating the product at least 4 out of 5 stars. One person said that after using Nutrafol Women for one month, they noticed “more volume, dramatically less shedding and hair loss.” Another stated that after three months, the product “helped with my shedding and regrowth.” People who used the product but noticed little improvement called it “overpriced.” Others experienced hair growth in unwanted areas, such as “on my forehead, my cheek bones and on my neck.”

Nutraceutical Wellness, Inc. was Better Business Bureau (BBB) accredited in 2023. To date, the company has received 176 complaints, most due to issues with customer service and difficulty canceling subscriptions. It has a B rating with the BBB.

Nutrafol may help to reduce hair thinning and promote hair growth, but it won’t work for everyone. Talk to your dermatologist or doctor for advice before using Nutrafol or any other hair loss supplement or medication to determine the best course of treatment for you.