women News: I Tried the Cult Hair Supplement Everyone's Taking and the Results Were Dramatic

When I test out beauty products, I want to see the full effect before I voice any opinions. With makeup, I can instantly tell if a lipstick shade is right or if a tube of mascara is actually as lengthening as it promises. Give it another 12 hours, and I can weigh in about how long-lasting the makeup really is. Other products, including many skincare and haircare items, often need a much more substantial time investment to truly measure the results.

Such is the case with Nutrafol—the hair growth nutraceuticals I have been hearing the most incredible things about from friends as well as editors across the beauty industry, who have recommended them for improving everything from thinning hair to postpartum hair loss. Curious to test them out for myself after seeing some very compelling before and after photos, I began a three-month trial period to test-drive them.

To address my specific hair concerns, the Nutrafol treatment plan I followed covered a three-pronged approach. It included supplements to enhance fullness and volume, a serum to further boost thickness, and collagen powder to target hair strength. Despite the stellar reviews, I went in skeptical about how big of a change I would see. After three months of putting the hair regimen to the test, though, the results are in and I’m honestly blown away. My hair has grown at lightning speed, it is significantly thicker and fuller, and even my colorist commented on how healthy my hair was at a recent appointment. Ahead, see the before-and-after photos, then read my full Nutrafol supplements review.

While I haven't struggled with length and growth, I've always wanted to have fuller, thicker hair. As you can see in my before shot here, my hair is naturally very fine and doesn't have much fullness, so I was specifically interested in using Nutrafol to achieve extra volume and thickness.

After using the trio of Nutrafol products for three months, my hair was dramatically different. As you can see in this photo, there is a significant increase in body and thickness—my hair is much fuller and doesn't lay as flat as it did before, giving me the hair I always wished I had. As a side note, I haven't changed how I'm styling my hair, so you can see the real difference in the before and after photos. When I say the results were dramatic, they really were.

When I say that my Instagram is packed with Nutrafol recommendations, it's no exaggeration—I have seen dozens of friends and beauty insiders share their success stories about Nutrafol. While there is a robust lineup of products, the hair growth nutraceuticals are the OG supplements that started it all, making it the key product I wanted to incorporate into my hair health routine first.

Speaking with Nutrafol Chief Science Officer Giorgio Dell'Acqua, I learned more about how they work. "Nutrafol's hair growth nutraceuticals are your bread and butter, and work by targeting the root causes that can impact hair health—things like stress, poor nutrition, hormonal changes, or environmental factors," Dell'Acqua explained. "Taking these nutraceuticals consistently will help improve hair growth, thickness, and strength while also offering side benefits like reduced stress, improved skin, and nail health as well as sleep, metabolism, and mood." Going into it, I didn't realize there were side perks that would lead to a more restful night's sleep, less stress, or a boosted metabolism, but were benefits I welcomed.

The actual process of taking them is very easy. Four capsules are taken once daily with a meal and that's it. I had no negative side effects and the only challenge was remembering to take them each day, so I made it part of my dinner routine. The physician-formulated capsules I used are specifically crafted for women, but there are also lines created for men, postpartum, and peri- and postmenopause. After seeing such incredible results, I can see why the supplements earned Allure's Best of Beauty Breakthrough Award.

When beginning the Nutrafol trial, my biggest hair concern was improving hair thickness, so I was especially interested in the Growth Activator serum that recently launched since it is specifically formulated to activate thicker-looking hair. "Taking our nutraceuticals in combination with Growth Activator—a first of its kind topical serum formulated with Ashwagandha Exosomes—is a good option for those looking to address the immediate signs of hair thinning on the scalp surface like hairline changes, excess shedding, and large parts," Dell’Acqua explained.

So, how does it work in practice? The formula comes with a dropper bottle, which is used to apply the serum directly to the scalp daily with a focus on any thinning areas and is then massaged in by your fingertips. At first, I was apprehensive to use it because I was worried it would damage a blowout, but it isn't greasy, didn't impact the look of my hair at all, and it doesn't feel like anything is there once it dries (which is very quickly). I also checked with the Nutrafol team, who let me know that it is completely fine to use it when hair is wet, so I made it part of my routine to apply it straight out of the shower before blow-drying my hair.

The third part of my hair health routine: collagen powder. While I've read about the benefits of collagen supplements in decreasing the speed of aging, minimizing wrinkles, and maintaining skin elasticity, it also has a direct impact on hair health.

The Nutrafol collagen powder "uses a powerful blend of marine collagen peptides to replenish collagen and protect the scalp for stronger, longer hair over time," Dell’Acqua explained. "It’s important to understand that while collagen is a building block of healthy hair, it can’t improve hair growth on its own, which is why we always recommend using Collagen Infusion alongside Nutrafol hair growth supplements for optimal results."

I've been adding the collagen powder into a morning smoothie and can confirm that you can't taste it at all. If you want to follow my personal recipe, I've been mixing one scoop of collagen powder with a banana, one cup of almond milk, and one scoop of chocolate protein powder.

After investing time into my hair and achieving such incredible results, I was curious if the results are long-lasting or if I would need to continue taking the products to continue seeing results. "The simple answer is yes, Nutrafol should be taken consistently to continue seeing results," Dell’Acqua explained. "That said, everyone’s hair journey is different. Some people might be dealing with more circumstantial factors like high levels of stress, environmental exposure, or poor diet that can impact hair health, but also be mitigated with other lifestyle changes. Other triggers that affect hair health can’t be avoided like genetic predisposition and aging."

So, in the end, it ultimately comes down to what is impacting your hair health and the roadmap to optimal hair looks different for everyone. I'll personally be continuing Nutrafol myself, though, because I've never felt more confident about my hair.

Blown away by the results, I was also curious to find out how to enhance results and continue to promote healthy hair. Speaking with Tess Marshall, Director of Product Development and Naturopathic Doctor, she provided some helpful tips. First, Marshall recommended some things to avoid in a hair routine. She suggested limiting high-temperature tools, over-brushing, tight elastics, and harsh chemicals.

She also suggested some helpful things to add to a healthy hair routine. "To maintain hair strength and protect it from the incoming damage of normal hair routines, we recommend to avoid brushing really wet hair (always start from bottom to top), switch to silk or cloth hair ties, don't go outside with wet hair (esp. in winter), and brush hair once a day," recommends Marshall. "Adding a deep-conditioning hair mask once a week can go a long way by sealing the hair cuticle and forming that layer of protection, as well."