Hair thinning affects more than 80 million Americans across all ages, genders, and regions, impacting not only hair density but also self-esteem and overall quality of life. Once limited to prescription drugs with possible side effects, treatment options for hair thinning have expanded in recent years to include a growing market of natural, drug-free supplements.
However, many hair health products flood the market with bold claims yet lack rigorous scientific evidence, leaving consumers unsure about their effectiveness.
Dr. Glynis Ablon, a board-certified dermatologist and founder of the Ablon Skin Institute & Research Center in Manhattan Beach, California, emphasizes the importance of scientifically validated hair health solutions. Her institute helps companies conduct clinical trials to assess the safety and efficacy of hair supplements using gold-standard research methods. “I want to help my patients and make things better,” she says, highlighting the need for credible testing in this crowded field.
According to Dr. Ablon, only a handful of companies invest in formal, third-party-verified clinical studies due to the time and cost involved. “It’s expensive and time-consuming,” she explains. “Few are willing to put their money where their mouth is.”
One notable exception is Nutrafol, a New York City-based supplement maker focused on key root causes of hair thinning. While regulatory bodies like the FDA set safety standards for supplement ingredients, Nutrafol goes further by conducting extensive clinical trials on its full product formulas across diverse populations. To date, Nutrafol has completed 20 clinical studies, including 14 focused specifically on hair growth supplements.
Nutrafol’s founding team—comprising a doctor, a biohacker, and an engineer—established rigorous research protocols from the start. Their studies involve detailed processes such as manually or technologically counting individual hair follicles over time. Dr. Isabelle Raymond, Senior Vice President of Clinical and Medical Affairs at Nutrafol, leads these efforts, collaborating with third-party labs and experts like Dr. Ablon to maintain high scientific standards. Many of Nutrafol’s studies have been published in peer-reviewed journals, reflecting the gold-standard methodology they employ.
Clinical trials use randomized, placebo-controlled, and double-blind designs to ensure reliable, unbiased results. For example, a six-month study involving women experiencing self-perceived hair thinning demonstrated statistically significant improvements in hair growth and quality among Nutrafol users compared to a placebo group. Another trial on perimenopausal and postmenopausal women showed a 32% reduction in hair shedding and notable increases in hair counts after using Nutrafol’s Women’s Balance formula.
These findings illustrate the importance of tailored hair health advice that considers individual factors such as age and hormonal changes.
Nutrafol’s studies also encompass different groups, including men facing age-related hair thinning and women on plant-based diets. Participants frequently report not only enhanced hair growth but also reduced stress—a known contributor to hair loss.
Dr. Elizabeth Houshmand, a double-board certified dermatologist based in Dallas, endorses Nutrafol’s products for their clinically proven results and high-quality, standardized natural ingredients. She appreciates the brand’s holistic approach, which addresses the multifactorial causes of hair thinning. “Nutrafol has been one of my go-tos since their launch in 2016,” she says.
For consumers navigating the crowded supplement market, Dr. Raymond recommends scrutinizing a brand’s scientific rigor: Are their studies peer-reviewed, placebo-controlled, and publicly available? Nutrafol publishes summaries and links to its clinical research online to help consumers and healthcare professionals evaluate its claims.
Increasingly, consumers are asking informed questions and demanding evidence-based hair health advice. According to a 2021 survey, 59% of global consumers seek scientific proof when choosing dietary supplements.
Looking ahead, Nutrafol continues to explore how nutrition, hormone balance, and other factors intersect with hair growth, aiming to shape the future of wellness supplements. “Research science is never done,” says Dr. Raymond.
Dr. Ablon concludes with a firm stance on supplement safety: “I would not take a supplement without knowing that it had been studied. That, for me, would be no question.”
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