Nutrafol Review: Promising OTC Treatment for Hair Loss

What Nutrafol Gets Right

• Clinically tested to show effectiveness and safety for treating hair thinning & shedding.
• Offers a comprehensive and targeted approach to hair health.
• Includes consults with naturopath doctors for product advice and to promote lifestyle changes.
• Contains all-natural ingredients.
• Thousands of positive reviews on Amazon.

Things You Should Consider

• It takes time to see results (3–6 months).
• More expensive compared to other hair growth supplements.
• These supplements may not suit everyone, especially those experiencing progressive hair loss.
• Contains allergens (fish-derived collagen), which those with allergies should avoid.
• Nurafol’s ingredients are generally safe. However, the products contain a lot of ingredients. Because everyone is different, some side effects or drug interactions are possible.
• You will be required to take 4 capsules daily, which may be inconvenient for some.

Nutrafol in a Snapshot

Nutrafol by Nutraceutical Wellness is a line of clinically tested, OTC hair growth nutraceutical supplements targeting the underlying causes of hair thinning.

Research shows that various factors, such as hormonal changes and nutritional deficiencies, can profoundly impact your hair growth cycle, leading to thinning hair. (1) Nutrafol aims to address that by offering comprehensive products that target several factors contributing to hair loss, including stress, environment, hormones, nutrition, and metabolism.

Nutrafol offers five core products that use the same clinically-studied formula. However, because the factors contributing to hair loss vary between life stages, Nutrafol customizes the formula in each of its product lines to optimally support hair health in each stage. The formula differs slightly between men’s and women’s products for different needs.

Nutrafol’s products are:

• Women: Designed for women ages 18–44
• Women’s Vegan: For women ages 18–44 who follow a plant-based diet
• Women’s Balance: Intended for women in the menopausal stage of life
• Postpartum: Designed for women after childbirth
• Men: Ideal for men 18 years and older

How to Take It

Product directions state to take four capsules once daily with a meal to maximize the absorption of fat-soluble ingredients.

The capsules are medium-large in size. This may be an issue for those who dislike swallowing capsules. Some reviewers on Amazon also stated that Nutrafol capsules were difficult to swallow (although many still found the product effective).

Taking Nutrafol for a minimum of 3–6 months is recommended for optimal results. Ongoing maintenance beyond six months is also recommended.

Starting Your Journey: Quiz and Growth Plan

An ideal way to start with Nutrafol is by taking their AI-based quiz, which will help you get a personalized plan for better results. The quiz takes about 3 minutes to complete and assesses whole-body wellness based on hormones, environment, stress, nutrition, and metabolism.

At the end of the quiz, you’re given results that suggest which root causes may be contributing to your hair loss and how these factors could be addressed using one of the core Nutrafol products. Based on your quiz results, you may also get recommendations for up to two boosters to address areas that require extra support, like gut health or stress.

While these boosters may help increase the intake of specific nutrients, they are not required. You can take Nutrafol core supplements without the boosters and still have healthier hair. The boosters are not sold separately but are included as add-ons to the core supplements.

Your quiz results are presented as a GrowthPlan subscription, which will help document your progress and keep you on track.

When we took the quiz, we were recommended the Nutrafol Women formula and the Stress Adaptogen booster to address stress levels. Unlike quizzes from other brands, we felt that Nutrafol’s quiz offered meaningful and relevant product recommendations without being too pushy in selling us other products.

Take The Nutrafol Quiz

Consultations with a Naturopathic Doctor

Subscribers also get access to 1-on-1 consultations with naturopathic doctors for further advice on improving their hair health. Naturopathic doctors (NDs) are licensed healthcare professionals specializing in holistic medicine.

Our appointment was 20 minutes long. We discussed ways to improve our diet to support hair health and tips on using the product. It felt nice to get human interaction and product support. You can schedule additional appointments when necessary, which could be a good way to keep you on track or get help if you are experiencing issues. The guidance of a naturopathic doctor goes beyond what most supplement companies provide.

Buying Options

Nutrafol is available online from the brand’s website and Amazon. Pricing depends on your subscription duration and the inclusion of boosters.

If you purchase the core supplements only, pricing is as follows:

• One-Time Purchase: $88, one-time delivery of a 1-month supply
• Monthly Delivery: $79, refills delivered monthly, includes doctor consults
• 3-Month Delivery: $224, refills delivered every 3 months, includes doctor consults
• 6-Month Supply: $422, refills delivered every 6 months, includes doctor consults

Boosters are only available to be purchased as add-ons to core products. If you purchase supplements with a single wellness booster, pricing is as follows:

• One-Time Purchase: $110, one-time delivery of a 1-month supply 
• Monthly Delivery: $98, refills delivered monthly, includes doctor consults
• 3-Month Delivery: $280, refills delivered every three months, includes doctor consults

You can pause or cancel your subscription at any time. If you are not 100% satisfied with your purchase, you can return the product in its original packaging and get a full refund or exchange up to 30 days from the date of purchase.

While the pricing is higher than other hair growth supplements, Nutrafol's clinically-research formulas and included doctor consults give it significant value. Based on the results of the clinical study as well as insights from thousands of consumer reviews, you will need to take Nutrafol for at least 3–6 months. We recommend factoring the cost of using the product into your decision and getting the option that fits your budget.

A Look at Nutrafol’s Core Products

All Nutrafol supplements contain ingredients intended to address hair health throughout various stages of life. These include well-researched vitamins and minerals (iron, zinc, niacin, selenium, vitamin D, vitamin A, vitamin E, folic acid, and biotin) that may support hair growth and hair quality if you are deficient in them. (2)

The supplements contain marine collagen peptides (except in the vegan version). Collagen is a critical protein in the body responsible for the structure of your hair. (3)

Finally, saw palmetto is used in all the product lines that research shows may help with hair growth. (4)

Below is a breakdown of each of the product lines and additional research.

Nutrafol Women

Nutrafol Women is formulated to improve hair growth, thickness, and strength for women ages 18 to 44.

A 6-month clinical study showed that women taking this supplement started experiencing significant improvements in hair growth and hair quality after 90 days and continued seeing improvements until the end of the study compared to placebo, with no serious side effects reported. These women also reported significant improvements in anxiety, self-esteem, and feelings of attractiveness. (5)

Furthermore, this product is formulated to combat hair loss triggers such as stress and nutrition. The blend contains saw palmetto, curcumin, and ashwagandha to support healthy stress levels, which can benefit hair growth by decreasing stress within the hair follicle. (6)

Nutrafol Postpartum

Nutrafol Postpartum targets the root causes of thinning hair, including nutrient depletion and stress, in the first year postpartum. Postpartum hormone changes, such as a sharp decrease in estrogen and progesterone, may play a role in postpartum hair loss.

Nutrafol Postpartum is meant to be taken after childbirth through the first postpartum year, but potentially longer if you continue breastfeeding after the first year.

The formula includes shatavari, an herb from the asparagus family, which is safe if you’re breastfeeding. Research has shown it may improve hormonal imbalances and lower the effects of stress on the body, which supports the phases of hair growth. (7)

The supplement also contains theanine, an amino acid clinically shown to decrease stress. (8)

In addition to its stress-lowering ingredients, this supplement contains larger quantities of its key ingredients to support postpartum recovery and breastfeeding, such as vitamin C, A, D, and B-complex vitamins and omega-3s.

Nutrafol Women’s Balance

Nutrafol Women’s Balance is designed to address hormone-related hair loss in women who are 45 years or older and currently experiencing, about to transition into, or have already gone through menopause.

This supplement contains slightly more saw palmetto and stinging nettle than Nutrafol’s regular women’s formula, which supports balancing hormones and decreasing hormone and stress-induced hair loss. (6, 9) Maca is added to this supplement to provide additional hormone support during the menopausal and postmenopausal stages.

A 2020 study on hair growth in perimenopausal, menopausal, and postmenopausal women found that Nutrafol Women’s Balance significantly improved hair growth and reduced hair shedding by over 32% compared to placebo after six months of use, with no serious side effects reported. (10)

Nutrafol Men

Nutrafol for Men is formulated to support hair growth and hair quality while also addressing hormonal imbalances that may contribute to male pattern hair loss. The formula in this supplement contains many of the same ingredients as the original women’s version but has larger amounts of saw palmetto, marine collagen, ashwagandha, curcumin, and more.

Nutrafol has published a small but promising 6-month clinical trial demonstrating men experiencing stronger hair growth after 24 weeks of use. (11)

Safety Considerations

Nutrafol is considered generally safe. However, some users reported side effects such as nausea, diarrhea, constipation, and skin rashes. Nutrafol is not recommended to anyone under 18, and it is inappropriate for anyone pregnant or trying to become pregnant. It is best to wait and supplement with the Postpartum supplement after birth.

These supplements also contain saw palmetto, which may cause mild side effects, including abdominal pain, diarrhea, nausea, fatigue, headache, decreased libido, and a stuffy nose. (12)

Finally, these supplements contain collagen sourced from North Atlantic cod, which may trigger existing fish allergies in some.

If you are on prescription medications, specifically blood-thinning drugs, or have other underlying conditions, consult your physician before taking Nutrafol.

How This Brand Stacks up to Its Alternatives

Nutrafol is one of the few brands that offer a high-quality, clinically-tested hair growth supplement. Nutrafol’s key difference from other brands is that its formulas were designed to target the various root causes of hair loss throughout the different stages of life.

Nutrafol is also the only brand that offers the support of a naturopathic doctor in their subscription service to help you achieve results. The downside of Nutrafol is that it’s more expensive than its competitors. Still, as we showed in this review, we believe there is enough value to justify the price.

For additional perspective, here’s how Nutrafol compares to two popular, well-rated brands:

Nutrafol Vs. Rogaine

Rogaine is a well-known, FDA-approved, safe hair growth topical treatment for both men and women. Unlike Nutrafol, it is not an all-natural supplement. Instead, Rogaine is made from the drug Minoxidil.

In clinical trials, both men and women increased their hair count after using Rogaine. (13) Like Nutrafol, you must use Rogaine for at least 3–6 months to see results. However, the cost of Rogaine is significantly lower, with monthly supply varying from $17–$29.

If you are looking for a topical solution instead of swallowing capsules, or a more affordable product, Rogaine is an effective option. However, it contains a drug, so Nutrafol may be better if you are looking for an all-natural solution.

Get Started with Nutrafol

Nutrafol offers a promising line of hair loss supplements to help with the hair-thinning needs of men and women. It’s backed by clinical trials and includes consultations with a naturopathic doctor.

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