Almost 4 months of Progress with Nutrafol, Vitamins, and Spironolactone

[u/didionforever]

Summer 2024 I realized my hair was shedding quite a bit. I also noticed that, although, my temples were never my strong suit, the hair there was become thinner and thinner.

I tried swapping shampoos out and switched to Nizoral. September 2024 I had COVID, which we know doesn’t help. By December, I was at wits end, shedding so much every time I showered or brushed my hair. I ordered Minoxidil and Nutrafol. I then realized how dangerous Minoxidil is for pets, so I didn’t end up using it, and just stuck to Nutrafol. I started taking it December 8 which is when I took my before images . The more I read about Minoxidil the more I wanted to avoid it, as I didn’t want to be stuck using it forever, and I was worried about the side effects. I also began taking iron (I use this every other day) and vitamin d (daily) around this time.

Mid January I saw my dermatologist who said she thought it was stress related. She said I was doing the right thing by using Nizoral, Nutrafol, and my vitamins. She upped my then dose of 50mg of Spiro to 75mg (I was previously on it for acne). She ordered an RX for 2% Ketoconazole shampoo which I ended up only using once because I hated how it made my hair feel. She also recommended I use rosemary oil in my hair before washing, and I had a Briogeo Rosemary serum, but to be honest I don’t use it because I’m too lazy. Around this time, or a few weeks after, I buckled down on taking my Inositol supplement I had taken a while back because once again my period was irregular. Realizing now that taking this supplement could also be helping.

So here I am today: I take Nutrafol, vitamin D, iron, Inositol, and 75 mg Spiro. Sounds like a lot but I take other vitamins and am pretty health conscious so I don’t mind. I wash my hair around 2 times a week, shampooing with Nizoral twice a wash. Each time I shampoo I also use a scalp massager around my hair line. Post-shower I lightly blow dry my scalp so water doesn’t sit and I use leave in conditioner and Olaplex oil on the rest of my hair.

I had gotten my hair cut right before I started this journey in December and just got my hair cut for the first time since, the other day, and my hairdresser told me I have a lot of baby hairs and my scalp seems more dense. I’m now able to visually see the difference, myself! The time between photos wasn’t even 4 months, so I’m counting this as a win!

I know this is long, but I thought I’d share, because I was desperate to see that other women were having luck without Minoxidil when starting my journey. My hairline is doing much better and my hair in general feels and looks a lot healthier.

[u/Jemeloo]

Amazing! First pic I’ve seen on here of someone with a similar loss pattern to me. Congrats!

[u/didionforever → u/Jemeloo]

I’ve always had such a terrible hairline and as I mentioned, my temples were always weak, but jeez did it get out of control this last year when I started majorly having hair loss!

[u/Beautiful_Effect716 → u/didionforever]

I had temple recession and went to a clinic that offered me minoxidil and light therapy, they said it will grow back my temples….that was in 2023 and I ended up losing my hairline and my hair looks worse now than when I started, I had a shed in initial months but it was not too bad but instead of growing hair for 10 months of using it, It kicked out my good hairs. I didn’t gain much on my temples or head, instead it grew hair all over my face and body less on my hair. I wish I hadn’t used minoxidil just for my temples, it ruined my hair and my life, I don’t get out much now as I don’t look like myself when I look in the mirror. It was too harsh a product to use just for my temples. Which id tried a more natural way of regrowing. 

[u/didionforever → u/Beautiful_Effect716]

Ugh, that sucks. I’m glad my dermatologist said I was doing the right thing with the natural supplements first and didn’t push Minoxidil on me. It’s so stressful to deal with and I’m extremely grateful I’ve had good results from this. She said it was stress related but then I couldn’t stop stressing about the hair which I’m sure wasn’t helping.

[u/Rude-Ad6745 → u/didionforever]

I was on moderate androgenic hormonal birth control pill and my first derm (male) looked at my hair and said yep, AGA and pushed minoxidil. Doesn’t want to do blood test or anything.I went back to my GP and gave me more tests and I was low on zinc which increases DHT temporarily. I also had COVID once or twice and had at least 3 infections for the past two years. Anyways, I’m supplementing almost like you without spiro and my hair is growing back faster. I hate derm who push and push without finding the root cause.

[u/didionforever → u/Rude-Ad6745]

That’s interesting. I used to take Zinc but stopped and I don’t really remember why. I should take it again. I also take fish oil and magnesium but I doubt those affect my hair.

I’ve had covid 4 times since 2020!!! Having it multiple times I’m sure really sets us back.

I’m glad you are having success with supplements :)

[u/chuuv → u/Rude-Ad6745]

i also just got off an androgenic birth control pill and i’m considering starting minox. did your bc trigger hair loss on the birth control or was it only TE after you got off?

[u/Rude-Ad6745 → u/chuuv]

It was TE. Talk to your GP to have your hormones, vitamins and PCOS tested. And yes I was shedding like a cat and couldn’t figure out why.

[u/Pirkar → u/Beautiful_Effect716]

do you think if you use minoxidil on crown your hair would have grown back

[u/perilladerafa]

Looking very healthy!

[u/Mysterious-Craft3851]

Awe I hope I get to recovery soon. It’s been too long everyone tells me not to stress but it’s impossible not to when you don’t see an end in sight :(

[u/didionforever → u/Mysterious-Craft3851]

That’s how I felt from around June of last year until now. I watched it get worse and worse until December when I finally started all this and then I still wasn’t sure if it was working til recently. It’s really exhausting to experience. I’m hoping something works for you soon!

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[u/chivs09]

How much vit d are you taking daily?

[u/didionforever → u/chivs09]

50 mg. I also get a lot naturally as I live in Florida.

[u/Ok_Tackle_5200]

Great progress! How much inositol are you taking? Do you take it with or without food? I take it for PCOS but I am not consistent. Also Do you mind sharing what iron supplements are you taking ? Thanks for your post

[u/didionforever → u/Ok_Tackle_5200]

I take this in packet form, and the dose is 2 packets a day, and I do each with a meal.

For iron, I just take Nature Made 65mg (every other day).

[u/Goobygoo6780]

Any side effects from spritonolacitone?

[u/didionforever → u/Goobygoo6780]

When I first started taking it I would get a little dizzy sometimes but I don’t think I was staying hydrated like I should have been. I get heart palpitations sometimes which always feel weird when it happens, but it’s not often enough for me to stop taking it because it’s totally transformed my skin 🫣 I get terrible cystic acne without it.

[u/Visual-Bad-2033]

Very helpful information. Thank you

[u/Mysterious-Craft3851]

Has your shedding completely stopped

[u/didionforever → u/Mysterious-Craft3851]

No, but I think it’s within a normal amount. I don’t think shedding ever stops, at least I’ve always had a considerable amount throughout my entire life. I’ve also always had pretty long hair, which I think may just cause my shedding to appear to be more than it is. But no, definitely not stopped.

It’s tricky to tell exactly where I’m at with it because I’m washing my hair less now, so I have to remind myself that it’s 3-4 days of hair fall coming loose when I finally wash.

[u/Mysterious-Craft3851 → u/didionforever]

What was your horrible shedding like 100s a wash ?

[u/didionforever → u/Mysterious-Craft3851]

Yes, I was constantly pulling giant hairballs out of my drain, my floor was always covered in hair, and if I ran my fingers through my hair ten times in a row I’d come out with new strands each time, which I do not experience anymore.

[u/Mysterious-Craft3851 → u/didionforever]

How long did that last ? I started like you in end of July and then in Jan it’s 100s a day and I don’t see an end in sight

[u/didionforever → u/Mysterious-Craft3851]

I would say in the last month is when I noticed I’m not shedding as I once was. I’m sorry it’s gone on for so long for you 😢

[u/jemap3lle]

Amazing progress!! Uhm.. would you repurchase Nutrafol regularly? Like stick with it in the long run? I am planning to start taking it..

[u/didionforever → u/jemap3lle]

Umm I’m not sure! I don’t think I want to stay on it forever because I heard it’s a lot on your kidneys. I’ll probably go down to half the amount a day at some point, and see how it goes, then hopefully get off it from there.

[u/Thin_District7641]

In the post you say you take other vitamins besides the ones mentioned. Could you tell us all the supplements you take + dosage please? Great result for only 4 months!

[u/didionforever → u/Thin_District7641]

Thank you!

I take a lot lol bc I have some health issues I have to account for: Coenzyme Q10 300 mg every other day, magnesium glycinate 360 mg nightly, fish oil 1200 mg daily, and a lot of Levocarnitine daily.

I will say I take the fish oil at the same time I take the Nutrafol and I heard it can aid in absorption for other vitamins so that may be helping. Not totally sure of the truth or details of that, though.

Adding that I also make a smoothie every morning that has lactose free yogurt + milk, protein powder, collagen powder (I know it’s not the best for actual collagen absorption but I still use it), a ton of spinach, creatinine, peanut butter, strawberries + blueberries.

[u/querisome11]

Where is good to get nutrafol in the uk please anyone?

[u/didionforever → u/querisome11]

Can you order directly from their website?