What are Nutrafol hair supplements, and do they work?

Tuesday, February 18, 2025

Hair thinning can be a tricky topic to navigate. You might only notice a subtle change in your hairline at first, so much so that you might not think of it as “serious” hair loss. But it can impact your confidence, appearance, and how you generally feel about yourself.

That’s why products like Nutrafol have become so popular. These natural supplements contain vitamins for hair growth and promise healthier, thicker hair within a few months—without the need for stronger prescription hair loss treatments. But are these hair growth supplements worth the hype?

If you’ve seen Nutrafol’s hair growth pills pop up in your social media ads and are wondering if it’s right for you, we break it down here.

What is Nutrafol UK?

Nutrafol is a dietary supplement designed to support hair growth by addressing factors that contribute to hair thinning, such as hormonal imbalances, stress, inflammation, and nutrient deficiencies.

Their hair growth supplements are based on the idea that hair thinning is often a symptom of underlying imbalances in the body rather than a condition affecting only the scalp. Therefore, the pills are packed with natural ingredients like plant-based extracts, minerals, and vitamins for hair growth shown to help with hormone regulation, oxidative stress, inflammation, and hair follicle health.

There are currently four different Nutrafol UK formulations to choose from (1):

Nutrafol for Women: For women aged 18 to 44 experiencing hair thinning.
Women’s Vegan: For women aged 18 to 44 with plant-based lifestyles.
Women’s Balance: For women 45+ experiencing hair thinning.
Nutrafol Postpartum: For women in the first year post-birth.
Nutrafol for Men: For men aged 18+ experiencing signs of hair thinning.

What is Nutrafol made of?

Nutrafol’s supplements for hair growth combine 21 ingredients in total (2):

Sensoril® ashwagandha
Marine collagen peptides
Tocotrienol complex (vitamin E)
Curcumin (from turmeric)
Saw palmetto
Moldavian dragonhead
Shatavari
DHA omega-3s (from algae)
Apple polyphenols
Stinging nettle
Collage-OSA
Theanine
Maca
Astaxanthin
Kelp minerals
Resveratrol
Horsetail
Keratin
Pea sprouts
Bacillus subtilis DE111® probiotic
Sea buckthorn

The exact ingredients and their quantities depend on which Nutrafol hair growth vitamins you take. For example, Nutrafol for Men contains a higher concentration of saw palmetto to help reduce DHT, which plays a key role in male pattern hair loss. Nutrafol for Women has ingredients that focus more on stress, nutrition, and hormonal fluctuations.

How does Nutrafol work?

Hair loss happens for various reasons: hormonal imbalances, high stress levels, inflammation, nutrient deficiencies, physical trauma, bacterial or fungal infections, genetic factors, and even environmental factors (3).

The vitamins, minerals, and botanicals in Nutrafol work to address four of these root causes directly:

1. Corrects Hormonal Imbalances

One of the most common causes of hair thinning in men and women is elevated levels of a hormone called dihydrotestosterone (DHT) (4). This hormone shrinks hair follicles over time, leading to thinner, weaker strands and, eventually, hair loss.

Nutrafol fights hormonal imbalances by using saw palmetto in its supplements. This ingredient inhibits an enzyme called alpha-reductase and blocks the conversion of testosterone into DHT, lowering the levels of DHT in the body. Its effectiveness is clinically proven, and it was found to provide a 60% improvement in hair quality and increased hair density in 83% of patients (5).

2. Reduces Stress Levels

Stress (more specifically, the stress hormone cortisol) impacts the hair growth cycle (6). The more stressed you are, the more cortisol you have in the body. These raised cortisol levels cause hair follicles to shed sooner than they should do, leading to hair thinning.

To counteract this, Nutrafol uses a botanical called ashwagandha, which has been clinically proven to reduce cortisol levels in the body (7). In the study, research participants taking ashwagandha also reported they felt less stress, showing that this ingredient can lower physiological markers of stress and emotional feelings of stress.

The hair loss pills also contain amino acids, marine collagen, hyaluronic acid, and organic kelp, which are all involved in stress response and hair health (8).

3. Reduces Hair Follicle Inflammation

Inflammation can damage hair follicles and disrupt their ability to produce healthy hair. In fact, it’s been identified as a component in most types of hair loss (9), including conditions like alopecia areata and androgenetic alopecia (10)(11).

The main ingredient in Nutrafol working to improve scalp health is curcumin. Found in turmeric, curcumin is an anti-inflammatory that blocks specific singalling molecules (inflammatory cytokines) that normally trigger inflammation in the hair follicles. Blocking these messengers reduces scalp itching, redness, and inflammation (8).

Curcumin also has a double action: it reduces the number of androgen receptors on the follicles, which are overexpressed in people with androgenetic alopecia (12). By cleverly blending ingredients like piperine into the formula—known to boost the levels of curcumin in the blood by 2000% compared to taking curcumin alone (13)—Nutrafol has made these benefits as strong as possible.

4. Corrects Nutrient Deficiencies

Hair is made up of keratin, a protein that relies on a steady supply of amino acids, vitamins, and minerals to grow. Nutritional deficiencies, particularly in vitamins A, B, C, D, E, zinc, iron, and selenium, can lead to brittle strands and slower regrowth (14).

Nutrafol supplements provide several essential hair growth vitamins from natural ingredients like pea sprouts and kelp minerals. The hair loss pills also contain marine collage peptides, which provide the essential protein building blocks for healthy hair, and horsetail, a natural source of silica that may promote hair growth.

Gut health and hair health are closely related (15); for these nutrients to help with hair thinning, you need a healthy gut microbiome so that the body can absorb them. To ensure you extract all the goodness from Nutrafol’s supplements, their formula includes a bacillus subtilis probiotic.

Do Nutrafol hair supplements actually work?

So, the big question: Does Nutrafol deliver on its promises? Nutrafol is backed by several clinical studies, suggesting they are effective hair growth pills (16). For example:

80% of women said their hair was thicker: A 2018 study published in the Journal of Drugs in Dermatology looked at women experiencing thinning hair. Participants who took Nutrafol for six months saw a 10.4% increase in hair density compared to those who took a placebo, with 80% reporting improved hair growth (18).
Shown to be effective on various hair types: A recent study looked at whether Nutrafol worked for individuals of different ethnicities (African American, Asian, Hispanic, and non-Hispanic) and thus different hair types. All ethnicities saw less shedding after two months and thicker, more shiny hair after taking Nutrafol for six months (18).

However, it’s important to remember that results vary from person to person. It’s also not an overnight fix, and you will need to take Nutrafol for several months before seeing any results. Even when your hairline has improved, you must keep taking Nutrafol to maintain your thicker, healthier hair.

The effectiveness also largely depends on the cause of your hair loss. While Nutrafol is marketed as a natural alternative to pharmaceutical hair loss treatments and may work for hair thinning, it is not a replacement for clinically proven hair loss medicines like finasteride or minoxidil.

Is Nutrafol right for you?

Nutrafol could be a good fit for you if:

You’re experiencing mild-to-moderate hair thinning.
You’re looking for a natural, long-term solution.
You’re committed to taking it consistently over several months.
Stress, nutrient deficiencies, or hormonal imbalances could be the reason for hair loss.

However, if you’re experiencing noticeable thinning, it’s worth exploring other options. Many people don’t realise that caffeine shampoos and drug-based treatments like Regaine (minoxidil) are also available over the counter and can be highly effective.

Alternative treatments for hair loss

If you don’t think Nutrafol hair growth pills are right for you, don’t worry. There are several other hair loss treatments that may be more effective or budget-friendly, all available through our online pharmacy:

Finasteride: Finasteride is a hair loss tablet that blocks DHT, the hormone responsible for male pattern baldness. You will need a prescription for finasteride, which can be requested from the Oxford online doctor service.
Minoxidil: Minoxidil is another drug-based solution. It’s available over-the-counter as a topical lotion or foam, which you apply directly to the scalp, or on prescription as Minoxidil hair loss pills. You can find generic minoxidil or branded versions like Regaine.
Caffeine shampoos: Caffeine shampoos like Alpecin and Plantur are a great option if you’re looking for a non-drug hair loss treatment. They help stimulate hair growth at the root and directly deliver nutrients like zinc and niacin to the scalp.
Vitamins for hair growth like Perfectil: Perfectil can help strengthen hair and nails, making it an option if your hair is thinning due to breakage. Like Nutrafol, it’s a natural blend of vitamins and minerals but with a more affordable price tag.

At Oxford Online Pharmacy, we offer all the above hair loss treatments. With an easy online service, you can get expert advice and access natural over-the-counter solutions or prescription-only hair loss pills from the comfort of your home.

Explore your options today on our hair loss treatments page.