My Experience with Nutrafol: A Personal Journey

Three months after my son's birth, I began to experience severe postpartum hair loss, far beyond the usual 50-100 strands considered normal by the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD). Large, distressing clumps were falling out, leading me to brush my hair outdoors to prevent a mess indoors.

Many other mothers experience the same issue. The Cleveland Clinic posits that heavy hair loss begins about three months post-births and lasts for approximately six months. To address this, I was thrilled to trial the latest product from Nutrafol: a vegan hair growth supplement for women.

Nutrafol is a hair supplement company established in 2016. The company's founder, Giorgos Tsetis, wanted to create science-based alternatives to prescription hair loss treatments such as Propecia, after experiencing undesirable side effects. Now, Nutrafol has numerous products including a Women’s Vegan formula.

Nutrafol's Core Formula range includes five hair growth supplements, one of which is the Vegan Women’s product. Other iterations include a non-vegan women’s formula, one for women aged 45 and above, a postpartum formula created with an OB/GYN formulated with breastfeeding-friendly ingredients, and one designed for men. Besides these, the brand also offers scalp and hair care products and various other supplements made specifically for hair health.

Nutrafol’s products are drug-free, featuring a blend of plant extracts like ashwagandha, curcumin, and saw palmetto, combined with vitamins known to combat different types of hair loss. The vegan formula does not contain any animal byproducts and does have slight variations in comparison with the original Nutrafol Women’s formula.

However, note should be taken of the fact that the vegan formula is not recommended for breastfeeding women. Despite this, all Nutrafol products undergo clinical testing to verify their efficacy in promoting hair growth, with numerous reviews supporting these claims.

Purchasing from Nutrafol is simple and convenient. The vegan product can be selected and paid for within ten minutes. It's recommended to take their Hair Wellness Quiz to identify the best Nutrafol product for your individual needs. I trialed the product for six months and my orders were easily arranged and delivered, with shipping being free for all orders.

Here's a useful tip for saving money: When I attempted to cancel my subscription, stating it was "too costly," I was immediately offered a $60 discount for the next three months. The cancellation process was both straightforward and swift.

I was pleasantly surprised by how fast Nutrafol was delivered: I ordered it on April 20, it was shipped on April 21, and it was waiting for me at my doorstep by April 23. The packaging was a small, square cardboard box.

What I valued was the eco-friendly packaging; it included a reusable glass jar filled with a month and a half's supply and a bag full of extra vitamins. This arrangement meant I could refill the jar from the bag as required.

The packaging of each vitamin pack had content details and serving sizes written on the back, much like a nutritional label.

Consuming Nutrafol is similar to taking any other supplement, except that four pills need to be taken at once (along with a meal). To me, that seemed a tad too much. The pills were quite large, similar in size and shape to Mike & Ike candy.

It's worth noting that there could be minor changes in pill color as the primary ingredients are plant-based, which aren't necessarily uniform. The progress was slow but consistent. Initially, I didn't observe notable changes, but after about six weeks, I noticed less hair fall in the shower.

Even though the new hair growth sticking out of my ponytail was somewhat annoying, it looked glossy and thick.

While using Nutrafol, I mostly avoided my multivitamin. However, after discussing it with Jillian Kubala, a registered dietician and nutritionist, I might reconsider. Kubala adds, "When contemplating replacing a daily multivitamin with any specialized supplement, it's crucial to compare the nutrient profiles of both. Nutrafol primarily focuses on hair health, implying it could be high in certain vitamins and minerals that stimulate hair growth but might be deficient in others provided by a comprehensive multivitamin."

She suggests consulting with a healthcare professional or dietitian to ensure you're not missing any vital nutrients.

I initially contacted Nutrafol's chatbot to confirm if my subscription was active. The chatbot test passed successfully, leading me then to email support with a more challenging enquiry: Is the Women's Vegan Formula safe for breastfeeding? Customer service replied promptly via email, directing me to one of their naturopathic doctors to best answer my query.

I proceeded to schedule a call with the doctor, with customer service providing an answer to my inquiry in the meantime.

The doctor consultation was a highlight of my Nutrafol experience. I appreciated the included free consultation with my purchase. The doctor reached out promptly as promised, asked me about my hair condition and diet, and provided other insightful health queries.

The doctor mentioned how conditions like eczema and other inflammatory skin ailments can irritate the hair follicle, possibly leading to hair loss. After our call, she personalized a detailed email, offering me additional guidance.

Should you not see any improvements after six months, you're also eligible for a free Hair Mineral Analysis. This analysis assesses "27 essential minerals and metals in your hair and crucial nutrient ratios." The process is simple: just cut a small hair sample, mail it to an indicated lab using Nutrafol's provided kit, and wait for the doctor's call to discuss the results and next steps.

My overall experience with Nutrafol has been satisfying, apart from some minor issues worth considering. Investing in Nutrafol is a significant decision, making it crucial to weigh the benefits and drawbacks before deciding if it's the right fit for you.

I have been taking Nutrafol daily (well, almost daily—sometimes I forget) for just under four months. My hair is falling out less, but it’s hard to say whether that would have happened anyway due to hormonal changes or if it’s the vitamin. I am starting to notice new growth around the temples and overall I think my hair is growing quickly. I usually get my hair cut in February and again in August (every year I get the same haircut, then ask for three inches off), and this year my hair is definitely longer than it has been in years past. By six months, I’m hoping that my hair will feel thicker and softer.

I have definitely noticed that my hair is less oily and flaky—I mentioned this to the naturopath. She said that while the company doesn’t specifically study Nutrafol’s effect on scalp health, anecdotally, she’s heard this from many people.

While it may not be a fit for everyone, based on my personal experience, I recommend Nutrafol to anyone experiencing hair loss if you can justify the cost. I’m now on month four of using Nutrafol daily, and I’ll say this: I’m brushing my hair inside again.