Read the Label: Nutrafol Supplements, Women's Root Purifier Shampoo and Men's Active Cleanse Scalp Shampoo + Conditioner

Hair loss is common for both men and women. More than 50% of men over the age of 50 experience hair loss, mostly due to androgenetic alopecia, also known as male pattern hair loss. Drugs such as minoxidil and finasteride are available to treat this condition by controlling the hair growth cycle. 

For those who prefer a non-pharmaceutical solution, nutritional supplements are also available to address hair loss; Nutrafol is one example. A trademark of Nutraceutical Wellness Inc., which launched in 2014 as a natural alternative to hair loss drugs, the brand was acquired by Unilever in 2022 — at around the same time the brand launched its hair care line. 

Following, we review the regimen, including both the supplements and the hair care products, discussing the ingredients used and claims made, and consider the sustainability of the formula.

The Nutrafol Regimen

Nutrafol is based on nutritional supplements that consumers take four times daily. There are separate supplements for men and women, with the women’s supplement further segmented for younger and older ages; for those who have recently given birth; and for women who prefer vegan products. 

Subscriptions start at $79/month, with visible results not expected until several months after starting the regimen. To complement the supplements, in 2022, Nutrafol also launched a hair care line consisting of a shampoo, conditioner and serum. 

Clinical Efficacy of the Supplements

Many positive user reviews give anecdotal evidence that the products work — not unexpectedly, for a relatively expensive supplement. However, Nutrafol is also backed by fairly solid clinical studies demonstrating its effects.

On the product website, the company cites a single blind clinical study in male and female subjects of varying ethnicity. The study showed significant improvements in investigator ratings for hair coverage, density and volume after 12 and 24 weeks of using the supplement; in this study, there was no placebo.

Another double blind and placebo-controlled study examined female subjects who took the women's supplement. This study used investigator ratings as well, and showed significant benefits of the supplement at three and especially six months' usage.

It is worth noting that some dermatologists have questioned these results because they relied on investigator ratings. What's more, the investigators were Nutrafol employees; the results would be more convincing if they were reported by unbiased third party investigators. 

In addition, concerns for compliance, since the supplement must be taken four times daily, and potential side effects are worth considering.

Supplement Formulation and Ingredients

The supplements are formulated to address physiological stress; reduce the conversion of testosterone to dihydrotestosterone (DHT), since high levels of DHT are a cause of hair thinning; and provide hydration and antioxidants to the scalp. 

Key ingredients are:

• ashwagandha^a, said to be present as exosomes, that reportedly lowers cortisol levels to reduce stress;
• saw palmetto oil, which promotes the reduction of DHT levels; and
• the antioxidants curcumin, tocotrienol complex and astaxanthin. 

Other ingredients are marine collagen peptides and maca root, said to address hair thinning during menopause. With these ingredients, Nutrafol offers a solution for women who want longer and stronger hair, not just higher hair density.

Hair Care Products and Efficacy

Many of the supplement ingredients are also formulated into the Nutrafol hair care line. The purpose of these products is to support the scalp microbiome, which may affect hair growth, and to complement the supplements. 

The product line for men consists of a 2-in-1 shampoo/conditioner and a hair serum, meant to be rubbed into the scalp. For women, there is a shampoo, a separate conditioner, a hair serum and a scalp mask. 

The ingredients in the women’s and men’s products are mostly the same but the ingredient levels are different, as can be seen by their order in the INCI disclosure. The hair serums contain the ashwagandha exosomes, which per the company, have been shown to improve hair growth and hair health in various clinical studies.

Consumers generally like the topical products, although their opinions differ on the effectiveness. It is not clear whether the botanical actives in Nutrafol are more effective as nutritional supplements or as ingredients in a hair serum. 

Compared to the supplements, the probiotic hair care products appear to raise fewer issues. They have been shown to reduce sebum buildup and to maintain a balance of microbes on the scalp. They also have received microbiome-friendly certifications^b. 

One could question whether it makes sense to use relatively expensive botanical extracts in rinse-off products. Nutrafol could address this question by providing more claims support data.

Women's Root Purifier Scalp Shampoo Formula

Cleansing system: The women’s Root Purifier Scalp Shampoo for Thinning Hair ($44 for 8.1 oz) is based on a gentle cleansing system, featuring:

• sodium cocoyl sarcosinate and sodium C14-16 olefin sulfonate, both mild anionic surfactants, combined with
• cocamidopropyl betaine, a nonionic. 

These reduce the levels of sebum and other oils on the scalp, which are food for undesirable lipophilic bacteria and yeasts.

Botanicals: The botanical actives are at the end of the ingredient list on the product label (see below for full disclosure). First, alpha-glucan oligosaccharide is an oligomer of sucrose and maltose that is claimed to have prebiotic properties. On the scalp, it rebalances the microbiome, which has been found in an independent clinical study published in 2020. Other botanical actives at low levels are Syzygium luehmannii fruit extract and Tasmannia lanceolata fruit extract, both antioxidants.

Men's Active Cleanse Scalp Shampoo + Conditioner Formula

The Men’s Active Cleanse Scalp Shampoo + Conditioner ($44 for 8.1 oz) has the same ingredients as the women's product at different levels. In addition, it contains a high level of Lactobacillus/Punica granatum fruit ferment extract, an antioxidant and moisturizer.  

It also has a low level of Aspergillus ferment, a fungal ingredient thought to strengthen hair. Notably, this ingredient is present at higher levels in the women’s Strand Defender Lightweight Strengthening Conditioner for Thinning Hair ($44 for 8.1 oz) and the women’s Scalp Mask ($49 for 4 oz).

Finally, as noted, a key ingredient for Nutrafol's hair care is the Withania somnifera seed exo extract, also known as ashwaganda, which is a proprietary ingredient for Nutrafol. The company claims this ingredient is present as exosomes and supports the growth of visibly thicker, stronger hair. This ingredient is present in both the men’s and women’s hair serums as the last ingredient on the INCI list, indicating it is present at low levels.

Summary

In general, the Nutrafol products address a large unmet need for products to support hair health. As always, more transparency with claims support evidence is recommended so consumers can make informed decisions.

Acknowledgements: The author would like to thank the Nutrafol team for providing additional background information on ingredients and claims support tests.

Footnotes

^a Sensoril Ashwagandha root and leaf extract is a product of Kerry Group.
^b MyMicrobiome AG