About Nutrafol
Did you know that about 35 million men and 21 million women nationwide suffer from hair loss? It’s true. By the age of 35, about 2 in 3 men will experience hair loss; by age 45, nearly 2 in 5 women will be affected. Losing your hair can severely affect your confidence and quality of life in a culture that puts a high premium on longevity and youthful appearance.
That is why several hair growth treatments exist to stop the early loss of hair and stimulate new growth and protection. Many of these supplements make wild claims, but only a few stand up to the test of evidence.
Today, we will talk about Nutrafol, a trendy hair growth supplement whose manufacturer claims can help you grow thicker, healthier hair through its proprietary blend of biotin, keratin, ashwagandha, and vitamin E.
Nutrafol has some advantages over other supplements, one being that a licensed dermatologist designed it.
Our Nutrafol review covers its pros and cons, where to buy, how much it costs, and most importantly, whether or not it’s worth the purchase. Keep reading our review to see if Nutrafol lives up to the hype.
What Is Nutrafol?
Nutrafol is a hair growth supplement designed to address thinning hair and strengthen and thicken existing follicles. The supplement comes in a convenient pill and should be taken 2-4 times daily.
This hair health vitamin contains a lot of ingredients that are proven to promote healthier hair. The biotin and keratin content stimulates the production of new hair, while ashwagandha, bio-curcumin, and palm oil extract boost hair health and quality.
Nutrafol is primarily marketed toward women, but the company has several versions of its products designed specifically for men.
Each bottle comes with 120 capsules so at four pills a day, that comes out to just about a month’s supply. Although it is designed for men and women experiencing early-onset hair loss, anyone can take Nutrafol, even those who want thicker hair. It can be helpful to take hair vitamins before you experience signs of thinning if you want to keep your hair healthy.
Nutrafol takes about 3-4 months of usage before you start to see results and about six months before you notice less shedding. This is common with hair supplements. You can’t regrow hair, decrease hair thinning, or improve scalp health overnight. Your hair goes through different growth cycles, and this product is designed to enhance the quality of new hair growth.
A quick note, though: Nutrafol is not designed to treat hair loss arising from some underlying condition, disease, illness or as a side effect from some medication (e.g., cancer treatments). It is also not recommended for those who are pregnant or breastfeeding or those with blood clotting issues.
It should also be noted that there are a variety of causes of hair loss, and this product may be more effective at treating some than others.
Who Makes Nutrafol?
Nutrafol was founded by an entrepreneur-trio of Giorgos Tsetis, Roland Peralta, and Dr. Sophia Kogan. The trio was inspired to create vitamins for hair after their own experiences with hair loss and subpar products. Nutrafol also employs a team of “naturopathic” and board-certified physicians who are trained in hair regrowth and treatments.
What exactly does “naturopathic” mean?
Naturopathic physicians traffic in all kinds of quasi-medical and pseudoscientific treatments and explanations. They are legally allowed to call themselves “doctors,” but naturopathy is usually viewed with skepticism by practitioners of evidence-based medicine.
Naturopathic “physicians” learn a lot of the same basic medical knowledge as those in traditional medical schools but include pseudoscientific treatments like homeopathy and folk remedies. Naturopaths also do not complete residencies and do not have strict licensure requirements like MDs and physicians do.
The inclusion of naturopaths on the company’s team of scientists makes us hesitant. At the very least, their scientific advisor board seems to be made of adequately licensed and credentialed experts. None of this is to say that Nutrafol is bogus, only that you should be a bit skeptical of their so-called “expert’s” credentials.
That being said, the product has a lot of positive reviews from users vouching for its efficacy. Many users claim that regular use of Nutrafol resulted in stronger, longer, and thicker hair.
How Does Nutrafol Work?
Nutrafol works in two major ways: it stimulates the growth of new hair and thickens and strengthens existing hair. The ingredients work by rebalancing stress hormones, combating inflammation, and neutralizing free radicals. The blend of biotin and keratin serves as the raw materials for creating new hair.
At the same time, ingredients like ashwagandha and palm oil address the underlying causes of hair loss, such as hormone imbalance, stress, oxidation, toxins, and UV exposure.
Nutrafol says its products have been clinically tested for efficacy, but we could not find links to these studies.
That said, the hair supplements industry is unique. While haircare is a multibillion-dollar industry, no supplements are proven to regrow hair and/or reverse hair thinning. This isn’t to say that nothing works. It just means that there is insufficient research and verified data to back a particular supplement or remedy solidly. That said, certain ingredients look promising.
Let’s take a closer look at the supplement to see whether or not it can deliver the desired results.
Nutrafol Ingredients
Nutrafol has all kinds of ingredients, and we don’t have the space to cover them all in-depth here. Seriously, we’d have to write a full-length research report. Instead, we will explain the basics of each ingredient and how it may improve your hair.
Here are some of the primary ingredients:
- Biotin: A vitamin that helps break down fatty acids and helps hair keep its strength and flexibility.
- Ashwagandha: This well-known herb lowers the amount of cortisol, the stress hormone which has been linked to hair loss.
- Keratin: Keratin is the main structural protein of your hair. By including this ingredient in its formula, Nutrafol ensures you have the necessary tools to build strong, healthier hair.
- Cayenne pepper extract: Cayenne pepper reduces the adverse effects of stress and helps produce proteins.
- Resveratrol: Absorbs free radicals that cause oxidative stress and hair loss
- Collagen: Collagen is one of the main proteins that make up hair and skin. Nutrafol uses marine collagen to support a healthier head of hair and environment.
- Horsetail: Horsetail is a good source of silica which helps strengthen hair strands.
- Japanese Knotweed: Japanese knotweed is rich in resveratrol, which has demonstrated potency in improving hair growth.
- Curcumin: Curcumin is an antioxidative bioflavonoid extracted from turmeric. Curcumin prevents oxidative damage to body cells and supports a healthier system.
- Saw palmetto: Saw Palmetto is a plant-based ingredient known as a “DHT blocker.” DHT is thought to shrink the hair follicles, which leads to thinning and shedding. However, there is inconclusive evidence to support saw palmetto’s benefits in combating hair loss.
This is the full label for the Nutrafol Women product:
The men’s version of the product uses a slightly different formulation. The main difference is the inclusion of slightly higher amounts of the Synergen Complex and Nutrafol Blend.
Here is the complete nutrition label for the men’s version:
Is Nutrafol Safe?
Each ingredient in the supplement is safe and not known to be associated with severe side effects. The only mention of side effects we could find were those who complained that the product made their hair too shiny and oily.
Where To Buy Nutrafol
You can buy Nutrafol directly from the company website or third-party online retailers like Amazon.
How Much Does Nutrafol Cost?
A 30-day supply (120 capsules) costs $88.00 (a bit expensive, in our opinion). You can sign up for a monthly subscription and save 10%, which brings the price down to $79/month. You can also click this link and use code “GROW25” for 25% off a Nutrafol subscription now!
Does Nutrafol Work?
We say, yes, Nutrafol does work. Are we saying your hair will grow overnight? No, probably not, but the supplement does include ingredients such as biotin and keratin, which have been proven to stimulate hair growth precisely in deficient people. They also claim to have been clinically tested.
Remember, this isn’t an immediate fix but a long-term supplement for those looking to stimulate better hair growth or those experiencing hair loss.
Remember also that no supplements have been proven to regrow hair; however, an effective supplement can reduce shedding and keep your existing hair healthy. Taking Nutrafol may be a proactive approach to keeping your hair healthy and preventing further shedding.
If you want to increase the supplement’s effectiveness, you should tackle hair health from multiple angles. This may include:
- Eating healthier
- Getting more sleep
- Choosing a better shampoo/conditioner
- Using minoxidil and finasteride (for hair regrowth)
Does Nutrafol Regrow Hair?
If you’re looking for a product that will restore your thick flowing main to its youthful brilliance, it doesn’t exist. Sorry to be the bearer of bad news.
Once a hair follicle is dead, it can no longer produce hair. There are no supplements on the market that can reverse this. That said, visible hair loss doesn’t always mean the follicles are dead. You may have baby hairs or thinner hair that can be revived.
Taking vitamins for the hair can make these baby strands appear healthier and thicker, leading to a healthier scalp and fuller head of hair. For this reason, it’s essential to start taking Nutrafol when you first begin noticing hair thinning instead of waiting until you are entirely bald or patchy.
If you are already entirely bald, this product will not regrow your hair, and you are better off saving your money.
How Long Does it Take Nutrafol to Work?
The product takes about 3-4 months to start showing visible results. During this time, the product works to repair existing hair and start strengthening your hair follicles.
Is Nutrafol Worth the Money?
By this point in the review, you should know that Nutrafol is an effective hair supplement that can improve your hair health, reduce shedding, and strengthen your existing hair. The company has shown proven results, and the ingredients are well-formulated. The question is, “is it worth the money?”
There’s no doubt that $79/month is a steep price to pay for a supplement. To determine whether or not the supplement is worth it, we need to consider a few things.
First, what stage of hair loss are you at?
- If you are in the early stages of hair loss, a product like Nutrafol may help you prevent additional shedding and help thicken your existing hair.
- If you still have a full head of healthy hair, you’d be better off paying for a cheaper hair vitamin.
- If you are already completely bald or balding, Nutrafol isn’t likely to work for you.
The next thing to consider is the results. $79/month seems steep, but if this product can give you more confidence, it is well worth it.
Lastly, we want to compare this product to other hair vitamins. Nutrafol is definitely on the more expensive side. Supplements like Viviscal can be purchased for half the price.
That said, value is tied directly to results. If a $20 product does not work and an $80 product does, the $20 product is a waste, and the $80 product is a good deal.
We recommend trying to Nutrafol for yourself to see how effective it is. The results vary by individual. You can get started with a 1-2 month supply and keep up with the regimen if you see results. If you don’t, stop taking the product.
