"Pregnancy and childbirth change your body. Itâs inevitable. And while these changes might not seem as significant as the blessing and joy that is a new baby, they can still be inconvenient. Trying to figure out what to wear in the weeks following your babyâs birth feels basically like rocket science, and isnât the most helpful for a new momâs mental health.
After my first child was born, I experienced hair loss, some of it hormonal and some of it the consequence of using too much natural hair lightener. Regardless, my hair health was at an all-time low. When I became pregnant for a second time, I knew I had to do something to turn my hair health aroundâsomething more than just washing and brushing my hair less. I needed something that would not only help me keep the hair I had, but that would also generate new hair growth. Cue Nutrafol.
What Is Nutrafol?
If youâve ever Googled âthinning hairâ or something along those lines, your social media feeds may have subsequently become flooded with ads for Nutrafol. Nutrafol is a hair supplement subscription that offers a variety of products for both men and women. Luckily for then-pregnant, now-postpartum me, the brand also makes a product designed specifically for women to use after childbirth: Nutrafol Postpartum.
Nutrafolâs claim for the postpartum hair growth nutraceutical product reads as follows: âWe target key root causes of postpartum thinningâphysical and emotional stress, hormonal changes, and nutrient depletionâso that, with consistent daily use, youâll start to see thicker, fuller hair and less overall shedding.â
After researching this product, I was cautiously optimistic: I was hopeful that it would not only help me avoid major postpartum hair loss but that it would also help me jumpstart a new, healthier chapter for my hair. I acquired a three-month supply of the supplement and stowed it away until after my baby was born.
My Hair Prior to Nutrafol
To paint the most complete picture possible, Iâd like to take a minute to revisit the state of my locks prior to taking Nutrafol. As I mentioned before, my hair before taking the hair growth nutraceutical was objectively unhealthy. It was damaged and broken, and it felt thin. While poor hair health in and of itself is an issue, the real problem lay with what the state of my hair was doing to my self-esteem. As a pre-teen, my hair was so thick and voluminous that I used to have to tame it with frizz serum. A younger version of myself wouldnât even recognize my hair as it looked several months ago. I didnât feel like myself, and I was becoming increasingly self-conscious.
Since becoming a mom, I had actively been taking steps to restore my hair health (washing it less, taking a multivitamin, avoiding tight hairstyles, etc.), but it didnât feel like anything was truly working. Again, I reiterate, I had a lot riding on Nutrafol.
Starting Nutrafol Postpartum
I gave myself two weeks after my baby was born before starting my Nutrafol regimen. While you can theoretically start taking the supplement as soon as youâre no longer pregnant, I knew my hormones would be all over the place those first couple weeks and wanted to give my mind and body time to settle down before introducing something new to my routine. I also wanted to check in with my healthcare provider.
According to the Nutrafol website, the postpartum product is âOBGYN-developed, natural, and breastfeeding-friendly.â Still, I wanted to do my due diligence.
I reached out to my midwife, who evaluated the product online and confirmed that she considered the supplement safe to take while breastfeeding. She also mentioned that several of the ingredients used in Nutrafol Postpartum are often recommended to nursing moms looking to increase their milk supply. Alright then, I thought, win-win.
My Nutrafol Routine
As advised on the Nutrafol website, I began taking my Nutrafol Postpartum capsules every day, religiously. Each dose is four capsules, all taken at the same time. While some reviews mention that the capsules have an unpleasant taste, I never noticed or was bothered by it. Instructions advise the supplement to be taken with a meal, so I made a point to take the capsules with breakfast. I purposefully kept the bottle on my kitchen counter so I wouldnât forget a dose.
The website advises that women take this product for a minimum of three months to see results, so thatâs what I did.
If thereâs anything to take away from this review, itâs this: This stuff works. Period. End of story.
Now at the end of my three-month regimen, I can say that I have noticeable new hair growth sprouting up all over my scalp. Itâs particularly noticeable around my hairline. I can also say that over the past three months, my hair has grown faster than normal and even feels generally healthier.
Currently four months postpartum, Iâm pleased to share that I didnât experience any significant hair loss andâin factâam noticing even less hair in my brushes.
Believe it or not, I even started seeing initial results after the first month. I was shocked when someone I knew told me one month in (completely unaware that I was taking a hair growth supplement) that she thought my hair looked thicker. I kid you not.
My husband also commented on my hair several times over the course of those three months, claiming that he thought my hair looked more voluminous andâone time, while wearing a messy bunââbigger.â Like I said, this stuff really works.
Is Nutrafol Worth the Price?
A common hang-up that prevents people from trying Nutrafol is the price. A single bottle (one-month supply) of Nutrafol Postpartum is $88, although some price-saving options are available if you try out a subscription. For example, if you purchase a three-month supply, you can save 15% ($244 instead of $264). I get it, thoughâno matter how you slice it, thatâs a lot of dough for some vitamins.
If you were to ask my opinion on whether or not Nutrafol is worth its price point, however, I wouldnât hesitate to say yes, 100 percent. Why? Because it works. And whatâs $88 for a bottle of vitamins when youâre talking about your hair? To me, itâs more than worth it if it means I can get back to having hair thatâs not only ultra-healthy but that I can feel confident about.
If, going forward, it means I have to cut spending in other areas of my life to continue taking Nutrafol, then cut spending I will. It means that much to me.
A Note on Side Effects
Whenever youâre considering taking a new medication or supplement, itâs also important to weigh potential side effects. On their blog, Nutrafol covers some basic potential side effects that could be experienced from taking a large amount of biotin (one of Nutrafolâs main ingredients). The blog post lists those side effects as âslower release of insulin, skin rashes, lower vitamin C and B6 levels, and high blood sugar levels.â It also mentions nausea, cramping, and diarrhea as uncommon side effects and reiterates that users should take their Nutrafol capsules with food to mitigate the possibility of experiencing those discomforts.
I myself did not experience any side effects. There was a point when I began to suspect Nutrafol was causing my sudden and very severe insomnia (too much biotin in the body has been known to do this). However, I ultimately attributed my inability to fall asleep to long COVID. I feel confident in this assessment, as I paused taking Nutrafol for two weeks and didnât experience any difference or relief for my insomnia. I began taking Nutrafol again and my insomnia did, in fact, eventually go away.
Other Nutrafol Products
In addition the postpartum supplement, I also tried a handful of Nutrafolâs hair care products. While the shampoo and conditioner are definitely luxurious and leave my hair feeling well taken care of, I canât say they necessarily knock my socks off. Donât get me wrong, theyâre lovelyâIâm just not sure theyâre $44-for-a-bottle-of-shampoo lovely.
On the other hand, thereâs the scalp mask. In my humble opinion, the scalp mask is the crown jewel of Nutrafolâs hair care products. The first time I used this exfoliating mask, I couldnât believe how much cleaner my scalp felt. My roots were lifted and my head just felt fresh. I use the mask once a week and recommend it to anyone whoâs looking to shake up their hair care routine.
Continuing My Nutrafol Journey
Iâm genuinely so happy with how far my hair has come in the last three months, and Iâm just as excited to see where the rest of my Nutrafol journey takes me. Iâm going to continue taking Nutrafol Postpartum until my baby turns one, and Iâm confident Iâll love my hair even more at this time next year.
If youâre looking to make a significant, positive change in your hair care and hair growth routine, I canât recommend Nutrafol enough. If youâre interested in trying Nutrafol but arenât sure where to start, you can visit the Nutrafol website to take their Hair Wellness Quiz.
To all the moms out there who are feeling down about their hair health, I sincerely hope you consider giving Nutrafol a try. This product has given me back my confidence and provided me with something I havenât had for a very long time: hope for a healthy (and voluminous!) hair future.
