When I was around four months postpartum, I was washing my hair in the shower when I noticed a hefty chunk of hair strands wrapped around my fingers. As I kept rinsing out my hair, more kept shedding in a way I’d never seen before. It was then that it hit me: I was experiencing that dreaded postpartum hair loss.
As someone who has always had thick, long hair, I wasn’t exactly concerned about balding, but I did notice slight patchiness around my widow’s peak. The American Academy of Dermatology Association says that it’s normal to lose 50 to 100 strands of hair per day. When it seemed like I was losing double that every day, I decided that it was time to do something. I’d had conversations with friends about it, and one friend (who is a former beauty editor) told me she knew plenty of new moms who swore by the hair growth supplement Nutrafol Postpartum when they experienced hair loss after having a baby.
After reading rave reviews and seeing the dramatic results on Nutrafol’s website and around the internet, I was convinced that I had to at least try it. I went into this experiment with healthy skepticism because I’ve always thought that if a product seems too good to be true, there has to be a catch. Read on to learn more about my experience with Nutrafol and regrowing my hair postpartum.
How Nutrafol works
Nutrafol has five different formulas of its hair growth supplements meant to target different demographics. There are formulas specific for men, women aged 18 to 44, women aged 45 and older, postpartum and even a women’s vegan option. The vegan option removes the non-vegan ingredients (such as marine collagen) and uses 100% vegan ingredients that have been shown to help with hair growth while addressing nutrient deficiencies that can occur on a plant-based diet. A Nutrafol subscription has different package options:
One month: $88 a month
Three months: $224
Six months: $422
As you can see, this product is an investment, so you want to make sure it works. Nutrafol sent me three months’ worth of samples to try out.
Nutrafol Postpartum was designed for women to take after childbirth through their first year postpartum. It’s recommended to take the product for three to six months and beyond to support your recovery and replenish your body to promote better hair growth.
Brianna Diorio, Nutrafol’s in-house director of product education who has a Ph.D. in integrative medicine, told CNET, “Hair growth takes time and there are various underlying root causes and factors that can influence what is impacting hair growth and shedding, therefore we recommend taking Nutrafol for at least three to six months.”
The jar comes with a month’s worth of capsules and I was sent replacement bags with another two months’ worth. The directions instruct you to take four capsules daily with food. The capsules themselves are on the larger side, which I can see being uncomfortable for those who have a hard time swallowing pills.
The aftertaste isn’t the most pleasant, but it isn’t the worst either. It has an earthy taste, similar to some multivitamins, from the combined ingredients. I didn’t experience any gastro issues or other side effects, which is always a plus. The ingredients that make up the supplement include:
- Shatavari: A species of asparagus and an adaptogenic herb.
- DHA omega-3s: Fatty acids found in algae.
- Apple polyphenols: Antioxidants found in apple skin.
- Tocotrienol complex: A concentrated version of vitamin E.
- Stinging nettle: A plant that is used for reducing inflammation.
- Collagen-OSA: A mineral that improves hair strength.
- Theanine: An amino acid that helps the body relax.
- Pea sprout extract: An extract shown to improve hair growth.
- Sea buckthorn: Oil that helps promote healthy skin and hair.
These are some of the key ingredients found in Nutrafol Postpartum, among other vitamins and minerals. Another plus is that Nutrafol was created with the guidance of an OB-GYN, so it is designed to support lactation and help recover both nutrition depletion and thinning hair, which often happens to new mothers who are breastfeeding. Diorio says if you’re still breastfeeding after the first year, it’s recommended to continue using Nutrafol Postpartum. Once you stop nursing, you can move on to the regular Women’s Nutrafol.
Why does hair loss happen postpartum?
As I previously mentioned, I noticed I was a little patchier than normal around my widow’s peak, which was easy enough to hide if I wore my hair down. Every time I ran my fingers through my hair, though, I’d lose strands and strands of hair, which was something that had never happened before. This made me wonder what the heck was going on inside my body that was causing all this hair loss. I learned it had to do with one culprit: hormones.
Dr. Ross Kopelman, a hair transplant surgeon at Kopelman Hair Restoration, tells CNET that postpartum hair loss happens because, during pregnancy, your estrogen levels are high, which prolongs the growth phase of your hair. He elaborates, “After you give birth, those estrogen levels drop, and the hair that was in that prolonged growth phase now enters the shedding phase.”
According to Dr. Shoshana Marmon, clinical assistant professor of dermatology at New York Medical College and board-certified dermatologist, temporary hair loss postpartum (also known as telogen effluvium or TE) usually occurs around three to six months postpartum, and can last for up to six months. She says, “Severity varies between individuals due to differences in hormonal responses, genetics and pre-existing hair conditions.” This also applies to how well you recover from childbirth, your diet postpartum and even stress levels.
Unfortunately, it sounds like if you do start to lose your hair postpartum, you have to let nature take its course. Kopelman advises that there are a few things you can do to minimize hair loss and keep it healthy. He says, “Eating a nutrient-rich diet, staying hydrated and avoiding harsh hair treatments like excessive heat or tight hairstyles can help.” Although these mitigations may or may not work, Marmon explains that postpartum hair loss is a natural process driven by hormonal changes, so it really can’t be prevented. Kopelman suggests taking a supplement like Nutrafol that is formulated specifically for postpartum hair health, which can also provide the nutrients you need to curb shedding and support hair growth.
My hair regrowth journey
I started taking Nutrafol at the beginning of March and stopped taking it at the end of May. After taking Nutrafol consistently for two to three weeks, I started to notice that I was shedding considerably less. I thought I was imagining things because of how noticeable the difference was. I documented this week after week by photographing the hair that would shed in the shower after I washed it.
There may have been a week when I forgot to take pictures and even a few days when I forgot to take the Nutrafol supplement, but overall, I was consistent with my routine. I usually wash my hair two to three times a week, so I was able to get a good idea of how well Nutrafol was working. After a month in, I became a believer in the product, but I also wondered if this was sheer coincidence and if maybe it was in line with my hair cycle.
Marmon told me that Nutrafol contains beneficial ingredients like biotin and collagen — which are thought to support hair health and strengthen hair — as well as ashwagandha, which may reduce stress, something that can exacerbate shedding. “These ingredients may support faster regrowth and reduce shedding, but It’s likely a combination of the supplement and the timing of your natural hair cycle that contributed to your results,” she said about my firsthand experience.
This made sense to me since the shedding was the first thing I noticed improving right away. Week after week, the shedding diminished drastically. About two months in, I started to see the hair grow back in the area where it had been a little sparse. I sported those awkward baby hairs proudly, but the proof was in the pudding that Nutrafol was doing what it promised — or so it seemed. Perhaps I experienced hair growth quickly because that’s how my body naturally functions, so I can’t speak to other postpartum moms who may take a little longer to get there.
Why nutrafol works
I understood that Nutrafol had ingredients that are supposed to work, but I didn’t understand how. Why couldn’t I just continue to take my prenatal vitamins instead? Dr. Kopelman explains that prenatals are, overall, good for your health during pregnancy and postpartum, but they are not designed to help with hair loss. Marmon adds that prenatal vitamins can ensure adequate levels of essential nutrients like iron and folic acid which, if you’re deficient in, may contribute to hair loss.
Kopelman said, “While prenatals contain important nutrients like folic acid and iron, which can support hair health, they don’t have the same focus as a product like Nutrafol.” He points out that Nutrafol has ingredients like biotin, marine collagen and antioxidants, which are more targeted toward promoting hair growth and reducing shedding.
“Saw palmetto helps lower DHT levels, which is a hormone linked to hair thinning and loss, while biotin and marine collagen support the health of your hair follicles, and ashwagandha helps reduce stress, which is another contributor to hair loss.” As a result, it’s not just a single ingredient that’s attributed to helping hair health, it’s multiple ingredients.
Diorio gave me a breakdown on why the postpartum formula works. “It includes natural ingredients that soothe and balance the stress response, which is essential for a healthy hair growth cycle, and ingredients that have been clinically shown to reduce shedding,” she said.
Additionally, the postpartum supplement has pea sprout extract, which Diorio says has been shown to shift the hair growth cycle out of the shedding phase and back into the growth phase while giving extra antioxidant support to your hair follicles.
Nutrafol aims to prevent hair loss by addressing the root cause of the problem. Diorio said, “Support against the root causes are key to helping your hair follicles get the green light for growth again instead of being blocked by factors like nutrient depletion and physical and emotional stress.” The company chose ingredients that were based on published data by the National Institutes of Health, National Academies or other evidence-based research showing efficacy and safety.
Diorio said, “All of our ingredients were chosen to help support recovery from nutrient gaps and the physical and emotional stress that can lead to hair thinning in postpartum women during a time when they may be breastfeeding.”
These ingredients include amino acids and adaptogens that address your stress response to support sleep and more energy, while ingredients like omega-3s were chosen to support a healthy, balanced mood through recovery. Another plus is Nutrafol’s in-house clinical and science innovation teams, which monitor for any changes in safety.
Nutrafol also did testing through clinical studies to support the effectiveness of its products on men and women.According to the Nutrafol site, there were two sponsored clinical trials done by third parties that looked at postpartum users who took the postpartum supplement for six months and 10 months, respectively. The 10-month study found that by eight months, 91% of users experienced less shedding after two months and an improved hairline after four months. While the second study went on for six months, 96% of users saw an improvement in their hair appearance and an increase in hair growth.
Keep in mind that everyone’s experience may differ based on their biology and other internal factors while postpartum
Precautions to take with Nutrafol Postpartum
As a wellness journalist, I’m aware that there will always be groups of people who should avoid certain supplements — regardless of how effective they may be for others. Dr. Kopelman said there are certain ingredients in the Nutrafol formula that can pose an issue for some people.
“Saw palmetto can have hormone-altering effects, so women with hormone-sensitive conditions should be cautious and talk to their doctor before taking Nutrafol,” he said. Saw palmetto isn’t listed in the postpartum version. Marmon added that saw palmetto can reportedly affect the efficacy of oral contraceptives.
Adaptogens like ashwagandha have the potential to cause a negative interaction with certain medications and conditions like autoimmune disorders or thyroid problems, which may affect blood sugar and blood pressure. Marmon warned that biotin can interfere with lab tests, including those for thyroid function and hormone levels. “Ashwagandha can affect blood sugar and blood pressure and can also interact with some medications,” she said.
Dr. Kopelman points out that if you’re already taking a prenatal vitamin, you want to be cautious taking Nutrafol. This is because you want to avoid taking in excessive amounts of nutrients.
Diorio told me that Nutrafol Postpartum should not be used during pregnancy and should not replace any prenatal or postnatal supplements. “Our hair growth nutraceutical is formulated for compatibility with most prenatal and postnatal multivitamins or as a source of nutrients for women who may not be taking any supplementation in their first year postpartum,” she said.
You should always discuss with your doctor if you are thinking of taking any supplement to make sure you are a good candidate for it first.
Also, keep in mind that the Federal Drug Administration does not regulate supplements on the market, Nutrafol included. But Nutrafol says it carefully adheres to FDA laws and guidance to ensure that any claims regarding the benefits of Nutrafol are consistent with regulatory and legal requirements.
Final thoughts
If you’re currently postpartum and starting to go through the hair loss phase, the good news is that that’s all it is: a phase. But if you’re looking to remedy the issue and are healthy overall, Nutrafol Postpartum can be a good way to try to curb the shedding and help with hair regrowth. I like knowing that the ingredients were carefully thought out and selected to support healthy hair, and that they work with your hormone changes during postpartum.
I understand approaching the product with caution because as with any supplement or medication you take, there’s a risk of side effects. I’m aware that just because I didn’t have any doesn’t mean someone else can’t. Even though it’s an expensive product, I would buy Nutrafol if I started experiencing excessive hair loss again. When I reach menopause, I will even explore Nutrafol’s Women’s Balance formula for women over 45 if I deal with hair loss and thinning.
