The global hair growth supplement market size reached over $830 million in 2024 [1] and it is still quickly expanding. Products marketed as “natural” or “plant-based” are often appealing, as they promise the effectiveness of hair loss medication with fewer side effects. Nutrafol is one such supplement, marketed for hair thinning caused by hormones, age, stress, or vitamin deficiency-induced hair loss.
However, Nutrafol’s claims of clinically proven results are currently being disputed in court [2] and there are currently no independent studies that prove its effectiveness. So does Nutrafol really work?
This article will take a close look at Nutrafol ingredients and the available body of research, telling you all you need to know about this product, such as:
In recent years, a new type of hair growth supplement has entered the market called nutraceuticals. These involve proprietary mixtures of natural (mostly plant-based) ingredients with beneficial properties for hair [3]. One company, Nutraceutical Wellness, has developed a brand of natural hair growth supplements called Nutrafol.
Nutrafol contains a combination of 21 natural ingredients [3] that can be taken orally, as capsules. The recommended dose is 4 capsules per day. Both men and women can use this supplement, but there are separate male and female product lines, with slightly modified ingredient lists.
The Nutrafol website claims that these supplements can not only stimulate your hair follicles for growth but also curb and reverse hair loss by addressing the root cause of alopecia. However, no independent research can demonstrate these effects at this time.
The answer to this question is maybe, but independent clinical trials are needed to know for sure. Currently, the only publicly available evidence of Nutrafol’s effectiveness comes from a few clinical trials with small samples, all of which are sponsored by Nutraceutical Wellness.
According to these studies, taking 4 capsules of Nutrafol daily for 6 months can lead to improved visible and perceived hair growth, enhanced hair quality and reduced hair shedding. These effects were observed in both male and female participants. However, a meta-analysis performed on these studies revealed only a modest degree of effectiveness in promoting hair growth [4].
While Nutrafol claims its products are clinically proven, a 2023 class action lawsuit [2] alleges that this claim is misleading and constitutes false advertising. The main arguments are:
This does not necessarily imply that Nutrafol is ineffective. However, under these circumstances, independent clinical trials with a sufficiently large and diverse population are required to assess whether Nutrafol really works for hair growth.
At this time, all that can be gleaned regarding its potential effectiveness comes from its ingredient list. Some of its ingredients do, indeed, have beneficial properties for hair growth. However, since the formulation is proprietary, it is difficult to tell if the ingredient concentration is sufficient to produce the expected results.
Different Nutrafol products have slightly different compositions. However, the main ingredients in most Nutrafol products are as follows.
This component of popular spice turmeric has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. It can be beneficial in reducing oxidative stress on your hair and soothing your scalp.
However, when it comes to hair loss, there is very little evidence of its effectiveness. One 2007 lab study revealed that curcumin may inhibit the activity of one of the 3 types of 5-alpha reductase (the enzyme that transforms testosterone into dihydrotestosterone, or DHT), due to its antioxidant activity [9]. However, one 2012 study showed that this extract can only improve hair growth and reduce shedding in combination with Minoxidil 5%, but does not obtain statistically significant results in reducing hair thinning on its own [10].
Ashwagandha is commonly used in Ayurvedic medicine. Research shows that ingesting it can significantly lower a stress hormone (cortisol), reducing stress and anxiety that can cause hair loss [11]. This means it may be helpful in preventing stress-induced telogen effluvium. It also has antioxidant properties, which may help reduce oxidative damage.
However, while some researchers believe it may help improve blood flow to the hair follicles, no clinical trials show a direct impact in enhancing hair growth or curbing hair loss [12].
Saw palmetto is extracted from the berries of a dwarf palm tree. Research has found that saw palmetto for hair loss acts as a natural DHT blocker, reducing the levels of dihydrotestosterone in your blood [13].
Androgenetic alopecia occurs when DHT binds to androgen receptors on your hair follicles. This leads to hair miniaturisation and, over time, to male or female pattern baldness.
While saw palmetto may be significantly less effective than Finasteride in treating male pattern baldness, it is clinically proven to improve hair density and quality [14].
Tocotrienols are a form of vitamin E. They have strong antioxidant properties, which means they can help reduce oxidative stress that damages your hair.
One small study conducted in 2010 [15] revealed a 34.5% increase in hair count in the 21 participants in the test group after 8 months of daily tocotrienol administration (compared to a 0.1% decrease in hair count in the control group). However, the weight of their hair remained the same as it was prior to treatment. More evidence is needed to confirm the findings of this study.
Collagen is a protein that is usually found in connective tissue (such as skin and cartilage). Marine collagen for hair growth is extracted from fish and has many beneficial qualities. It can regulate your hair growth cycle, keeping it in the growth phase for longer [16]. This can help prevent or improve telogen effluvium.
Moreover, there is some preliminary evidence that marine collagen may also help treat androgenetic alopecia, but more research is needed to support this [16].
Nutrafol Women and Nutrafol Men have the same main ingredients, which suggests there may be some differences regarding the doses of certain components. However, the exact nature of these differences is not mentioned on the Nutrafol website.
Nutrafol Women
(marketed to women aged 18-44 with hair thinning)
Nutrafol Women’s Vegan
(marketed to vegan women aged 18-44 with hair thinning)
Nutrafol Women’s Balanced
(marketed to women over the age of 45 with hair thinning)
Nutrafol Postpartum
(marketed to women in the first year after childbirth)
Nutrafol Men
(marketed to all men with hair thinning)
Nutrafol Men + DHT inhibitors
(marketed to all men with male pattern baldness)
Nutrafol men ingredients (see above).
The DHT inhibitor contains nettle extract, reishi mushroom fruit, African cherry bark extract and magnolia bark extract
Nutrafol Men + Hair Serum
The serum contains tea tree leaf water, caffeine for hair, soluble B3 vitamin (niacinamide), panthenol, maca root extract
It is difficult to discern the effect Nutrafol ingredients will have on your hair since there is no independent evidence to prove its effectiveness, and the quantities of each ingredient are undisclosed. However, based exclusively on their individual properties, Nutrafol might bring your hair the following benefits:
However, independent clinical trials are required to determine if Nutrafol does create these benefits and to what extent.
According to the Nutrafol website, some users see visible results as early as 3 months into using the product daily. However, it will normally take about 3-6 months for Nutrafol to work.
Since the exact formulation used in Nutrafol products is not publicly available and multiple ingredients are involved, it is difficult to independently assess this information. However, noticeable progress would likely take several months of daily use.
One of the main selling points of Nutrafol is that it contains all-natural ingredients. However, it can still create unwanted side effects. The clinical trials (all of which are sponsored by Nutraceutical Wellness) reveal either no side effects at all [5] or infrequent, temporary digestive issues [8][7].
However, a 2024 independent case study report [17] reveals that several main or supporting ingredients in Nutrafol have various degrees of potential for liver toxicity (e.g. saw palmetto, ashwagandha, kelp minerals, resveratrol). In one case, a woman experienced reversible liver damage that the authors attributed to 5 months of daily Nutrafol use. They warn against potential liver issues caused by long-term use of this supplement. So if you have a history of liver disease or digestive problems, it is a good idea to seek advice from your GP before taking Nutrafol.
Moreover, if you are trying to conceive, pregnant or breastfeeding, you should not take any other Nutrafol supplement than Nutrafol Postpartum. That is because the other options contain saw palmetto, which is not recommended for expectant or lactating mothers (it is suspected to cause foetal malformations, though more evidence is needed) [18].
If you are a healthy person who wants to improve your overall hair qualities, you may benefit from using Nutrafol. It may help treat and repair damaged hair or speed up recovery in temporary conditions such as telogen effluvium or traction alopecia.
However, if you are experiencing significant hair thinning that hasn’t improved in 3-4 months, you are likely better off seeing a trichologist. They can give you an accurate diagnosis and a personalised recommendation for effective, evidence-based treatment.
If you are uncertain about trying Nutrafol, here is a list of pros and cons that may help you decide whether Nutrafol is a good choice for your hair needs:
Most of the Nutrafol products come at the same price:
The more expensive options are men’s products that include a DHT inhibitor or a hair serum alongside the base Nutrafol Men. These cost approximately £80 to £100 per bottle.
However, Nutrafol costs more than comparable quantities of either Minoxidil or Finasteride, the only MHRA-approved hair loss medications. In the UK, one bottle of Regaine (brand-name Minoxidil) costs, on average, about £40, while one month’s supply of Propecia (brand-name Finasteride) costs, on average, about £50. And the effectiveness of these medications is established by plentiful evidence [19][20].
If you are experiencing hair loss and have a preference for all-natural treatments, take a look at some of the best proven ways to grow thicker hair naturally. And if you are open to trying effective pharmaceutical hair growth medications and therapies, consider these non-surgical hair restoration treatments that really work.
However, all these treatments and therapies are temporary solutions to your hair loss problems. If you would like to put baldness behind you, a hair transplant may be the procedure you need. This involves harvesting healthy hair follicles from the back of your head and implanting them in your thinning areas. Since the newly-implanted grafts are less sensitive to DHT, androgenetic alopecia will not make them fall out. So you will be able to enjoy the result of your hair transplant after 10 years or more.
With so many hair growth treatments and supplements available on the market, it can be hard to tell which ones really work to curb and reverse hair loss. This is where the experts come in. Book a consultation today with our top-tier hair doctors. They will run state-of-the-art diagnostic trichology tests to understand exactly what your hair needs. Then they will work with you to find the best personalised treatment that works for your alopecia.
Tired of trying supplements? Our stellar hair transplant surgeons can determine whether you would make a good candidate for a natural-looking hair transplant. We at the Wimpole Clinic have a 50-year legacy of successful hair restoration surgeries. Check out our before and after hair transplant gallery to get an idea of the amazing results we can achieve for your hair.
If you still have questions about Nutrafol, you may find the answers you need right here.
Since Nutrafol is a dietary supplement, it does not require authorisation from either the FDA or the MHRA. These agencies supervise product safety and marketing practices, but there’s less regulation when it comes to dietary supplements.
Hair loss medications Minoxidil and Finasteride are both FDA and MHRA-approved for hair loss.
The Nutrafol website claims that this product produces no unwanted sexual side effects and the studies they sponsored report no such adverse reactions. However, independent research is needed, as saw palmetto may cause sexual side effects (though this is also yet to be proven) [21].
The best thing to do is to ask your trichologist whether it is a good idea to combine any hair growth treatments, especially prescription-based medications such as Finasteride. While combining these treatments may not harm you, it may be unnecessary for hair growth, as Finasteride works sufficiently well in reducing your DHT levels.
At this time, there is no known cure for baldness. The closest you can get is a permanent hair transplant. However, hair growth medications and supplements only work for as long as you are constantly taking them. So if you experience hair growth after taking Nutrafol, you will need to keep taking it to preserve this effect, or the hair shedding will soon return.
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