Nutrafol vs. Hers: Comparing Two Approaches to Hair Growth

Figuring out what your hair actually needs right now, and which products will get you there, can feel like a lot to sort through on your own. Hers and Nutrafol are two names that come up often, and they're worth comparing closely because they start from genuinely different places: one leads with a prescription pathway, the other offers a personalized, drug-free system built around your specific root causes of hair thinning. Once you know what each one actually offers, the decision gets a lot more straightforward. Here's an honest, side-by-side look at both.

Hers is a telehealth platform that connects customers with a licensed healthcare provider who can prescribe treatment, alongside a smaller lineup of over-the-counter products. Its hair offerings include:

Most of Hers' higher-profile products, including Hair Blends and oral minoxidil, require an online intake form and a provider consultation before you can order. Worth knowing: the Minoxidil + Biotin Chews and Hair Blends are compounded medications, meaning they're custom-mixed by a pharmacy rather than manufactured as a single, FDA-approved drug. As Hers' own site discloses, compounded drug products are not approved or evaluated for safety, effectiveness, or quality by the FDA. It’s also important to note that these prescription treatments are generally not recommended for anyone who is pregnant, planning to become pregnant, nursing, or living with a heart condition or at risk of low blood pressure.

Nutrafol starts from a different place. Where many of Hers' higher-profile products require a prescription, Nutrafol offers a physician-formulated system designed to meet your hair where it’s at—whether you’re looking for 100% drug-free internal support, targeted topical scalp care, or personalized add-ons. The full hair growth supplement line is backed by 18 clinical studies published in peer-reviewed journals such as the Journal of Drugs in Dermatology and Dermatology and Therapy.^5,6,7 Nutrafol is also the #1 dermatologist-recommended hair growth supplement brand* and the #1 hair growth supplement brand personally used by dermatologists,** making it a top choice among hair experts.

Nutrafol's lineup includes:

Nutrafol's Hair Growth Nutraceuticals are formulated with standardized, bioavailable ingredients, meaning each capsule is designed to deliver a consistent, absorbable amount rather than a variable one. The full line is NSF Certified for Sport®, one of the most rigorous third-party certifications available for supplements. That process includes expert toxicology reviews of every ingredient, testing for contaminants like lead, arsenic, cadmium, and mercury, label claim verification to confirm what's on the bottle matches what's inside, and manufacturing facility audits for FDA Good Manufacturing Practice compliance. The Hair Growth Nutraceuticals are also formulated without gluten, dairy, soy, hormones, and artificial colors or flavoring, and are non-GMO tested.

Nutrafol's Hair Serum and scalp care line, including Root Purifier Shampoo, Strand Defender Conditioner, and Build-Up Blocker Scalp Mask, are formulated without parabens, phthalates, silicones, sulfates, and synthetic fragrance, and use 100% natural fragrance instead (Hair Serum has no added fragrance). They’re vegan and cruelty-free. They're also considered safe for color-treated hair and extensions, and Nutrafol’s scalp products are formulated to be microbiome-friendly.

Hers' quality processes are described differently across its product types. Its dietary supplement items, like biotin gummies, are manufactured under standard dietary supplement rules. Its topical and oral minoxidil are regulated as an OTC drug and a prescription drug, respectively, which fall under FDA drug manufacturing requirements. For its compounded Hair Blends, Hers has said its 503A pharmacies verify active ingredients against United States Pharmacopeia specifications and test finished formulations with a third-party lab to confirm potency, in addition to the state Board of Pharmacy oversight required of all 503A compounding pharmacies.

Hers' shampoo and conditioner are formulated without sulfates, silicones, parabens, phthalates, and gluten; they’re safe for color-treated hair, and they’re vegan and cruelty-free—overall a similar set of exclusions, though Nutrafol's topical line also adds testing for extension-wearing hair specifically.

Nutrafol Hair Growth Nutraceuticals and 2-5% topical minoxidil both support hair growth through complementary pathways: Nutrafol Hair Growth Nutraceuticals work internally to address key root causes like stress, hormones, nutrition, lifestyle, aging, and metabolism, while topical minoxidil acts locally at the follicle to boost blood flow and extend the growth phase.^1,2,3,‡ So if you're already using a 2-5% topical minoxidil routine, like the kind Hers offers, adding a Nutrafol Hair Growth Nutraceutical isn't an either/or decision. It's a way to build a routine that targets hair growth both internally and externally.

If you're considering oral minoxidil specifically, that's a conversation to have with your physician before adding any supplement. It isn't FDA-approved for hair growth and is prescribed off-label, and it's a systemic prescription drug, absorbed into the bloodstream rather than applied directly to the scalp, that requires medical supervision.^1,3,8

Nutrafol tests its Hair Growth Nutraceuticals as complete, finished formulas rather than relying solely on single-ingredient data. Many of these multi-ingredient formulas have been evaluated in 28 clinical studies, including 3 randomized, placebo-controlled trials. Nutrafol also publishes many of its studies in peer-reviewed journals like the Journal of Drugs in Dermatology and Dermatology and Therapy.^5,6,7 These published studies utilize objective clinical metrics—such as phototrichogram hair counts and hair pull tests—alongside subject self-assessments. Meaning: The results aren't just felt; they're measurable. Similarly, Nutrafol's topical Hair Serum is backed by 90-day clinical testing demonstrating visible improvements in hair thickness and reduced breakage. In total, Nutrafol has 28 publications on hair wellness research, including our clinical studies.

Hers draws on two primary layers of evidence for its hair line:

The primary distinction for consumers isn't a simple "better or worse"—it's the nature of the available evidence. Nutrafol emphasizes published, peer-reviewed clinical trials on its hair growth supplement finished formulas, whereas Hers relies primarily on classic pharmaceutical ingredient literature paired with real-world consumer perception data for its customized treatments.

Part of what makes Nutrafol a system rather than just a product lineup is the support built around it. Nutrafol subscribers get access to complimentary wellness coaching with a naturopathic doctor (ND) for personalized guidance on their routine and the lifestyle factors that may be influencing their results. That's especially useful if you're not sure whether a Booster Nutraceutical makes sense for you, or which one to add. Hers subscriptions also include access to messaging with a licensed healthcare provider. 

Nutrafol subscribers can also do a Hair Mineral Analysis, a lab test that checks a small hair sample for 20+ minerals linked to stress, hormones, nutrition, metabolism, aging, and environmental exposures. This educational tool is a helpful next step if you've been consistent for a while and want more specific insight into what your hair may need, and your ND will walk you through the results and suggestions for how to adjust your routine accordingly. Hers doesn't offer a comparable hair-specific lab test as part of its hair plans.

The myNutrafol app rounds things out by helping you track your daily routine and monitor changes over time, so gradual progress (or a root cause worth flagging) doesn't get missed. Nutrafol subscribers also get access to the meditation app Headspace as a way to further address stress as a root cause of hair thinning—since elevated stress hormones like cortisol can disrupt the hair growth cycle. The Hers app is built more around managing a prescription: messaging your provider, adjusting your plan, and tracking shipments, rather than tracking day-to-day supplement use or hair progress specifically. 

Another “extra” worth noting: Nutrafol’s Real Growth Guarantee.∞ If you use the appropriate Nutrafol Hair Growth Nutraceutical consistently while tracking your progress in the myNutrafol app and don't see results within 6 months, you can get your money back. Learn more about the Real Growth Guarantee here.

Comparing Nutrafol and Hers strictly dollar-for-dollar isn't really an apples-to-apples exercise, because you're not paying for the same kind of product. Hers' prescription offerings, including its Hair Blends and minoxidil-and-biotin chews, are compounded medications: custom-mixed by a pharmacy using commodity active ingredients, rather than manufactured and tested as a single finished formula. Nutrafol Hair Growth Nutraceuticals, by contrast, use standardized, bioavailable ingredients that aren't available in that exact clinically tested (and in some cases clinically proven) combination anywhere else. Standardized forms generally cost more to source than the commodity versions used in compounding, and that's part of what you're paying for.

With that context, here's what each brand actually costs. Nutrafol offers a flexible system with individual products and daily routines ranging from about $44 to $88, letting you start where your hair needs it most. Hair Growth Nutraceuticals are $88 for a one-time monthly supply, or $79 on subscription, with multi-month subscriptions receiving up to 20% off when you purchase on Nutrafol.com. Scalp care essentials like the Root Purifier Shampoo (8.1 fl oz) and Strand Defender Conditioner (8.1 fl oz) are $44, while targeted topicals like the Build-Up Blocker scalp mask (4 fl oz) and Hair Serum (1 fl oz) are $49. Targeted Hair Wellness Booster supplements can be added to Hair Growth Nutraceutical subscriptions starting at around $25. Many Nutrafol products are also available at a subscription discount through Amazon or Ulta.

Hers also prices its hair offerings individually. Their over-the-counter topical minoxidil solution and foam start around $12.67 a month, biotin gummies around $13.50 a month, and thickening shampoo (6.4 fl oz) and conditioner (6.4 fl oz) around $25 a month. Its prescription offerings—including oral minoxidil, compounded Hair Blends, and minoxidil-and-biotin chews—range from $29 to $35 a month.

While both brands let you build out a broader routine, the real distinction comes down to what's driving the investment. A Nutrafol Hair Growth Nutraceutical gives you a clinically tested, finished-formula baseline designed to target multiple internal root causes of hair thinning simultaneously—and it's just one part of a full system that also includes Booster Nutraceuticals for targeted support, a physician-formulated Hair Serum for visible thinning at the scalp, as well as other physician-formulated scalp care, and extras like ND wellness coaching and the myNutrafol app. That's a comprehensive, high-integrity foundation, whether you use the Nutraceutical on its own or build out the full routine around it.

Additionally, if topical minoxidil is part of your approach, it's worth noting that Hers' over-the-counter version isn't the only option for that specific active ingredient. Generic 5% topical minoxidil is widely available over the counter at most pharmacies and big-box retailers. Store-brand versions, like Kirkland Signature at Costco, typically run around $49 for a six-month supply—or roughly $8 a month—for the exact same topical active ingredient.

Hers may be worth exploring if you want access to a licensed provider who can evaluate whether a prescription treatment fits your situation, and you're comfortable with an intake process and ongoing telehealth check-ins.

Nutrafol may be the better starting point if you'd rather begin with a drug-free hair serum or hair growth supplement you can start today, and then build a routine that adapts as your needs shift: a Hair Serum to support visibly thicker, fuller hair directly at the scalp, a Hair Growth Nutraceutical suited to your life stage if you're looking for daily internal support, Booster Nutraceuticals (with a hair wellness quiz to help you choose) if you want to target a specific root cause more precisely, and scalp care to support the environment hair grows from. And if you're already using 2-5% topical minoxidil, Nutrafol Hair Growth Nutraceuticals can complement it, not replace it.^‡

Not sure where to start? Take Nutrafol's Hair Wellness Quiz to find the formula and routine suited to your hair, your life stage, and where you're starting from.

Is Nutrafol the same as Hers? 

No. Hers is a telehealth platform offering prescription and over-the-counter treatments for hair thinning, including minoxidil and, for some, finasteride. Nutrafol offers a hair growth system that includes 100% drug-free Hair Growth Nutraceuticals, along with Boosters, a Hair Serum, and scalp care.

Are any of Nutrafol's and Hers' products FDA-approved? 

Yes and no, but for different reasons. Nutrafol Hair Growth Nutraceuticals are dietary supplements, and by definition do not fall under the types of products the FDA approves. However, Nutrafol’s Hair Growth Nutraceuticals are manufactured in an FDA-registered facility and are NSF Certified for Sport®, a rigorous third-party quality certification. 

Hers' custom Hair Blends, on the other hand, are compounded medications, mixed by a pharmacy to order rather than manufactured as a single FDA-approved drug. Per Hers' own site, compounded drug products are not approved or evaluated for safety, effectiveness, or quality by the FDA. Oral minoxidil, which Hers also offers on its own, isn't FDA-approved for hair growth either; it's prescribed off-label based on a healthcare provider's clinical judgment.¹ Topical minoxidil is the exception: it's FDA-approved for hair growth and available over the counter.

Can I use Nutrafol and topical minoxidil together? 

Yes. Nutrafol Hair Growth Nutraceuticals and 2-5% topical minoxidil support hair growth through complementary pathways and can be used together as part of the same routine.^1,2,3,‡

Does Hers require a prescription for everything it sells? 

No. Hers offers a mix of prescription products, like oral minoxidil and Hair Blends, and over-the-counter options, like topical minoxidil, biotin gummies, and shampoo and conditioner, though most of its higher-profile treatments require an online consultation.

What if I'm noticing thinning and want to address it at my scalp specifically? 

Nutrafol's Hair Serum is designed for women with visible signs of hair shedding and hair fall from breakage, and it can be used on its own or paired with a Hair Growth Nutraceutical.

When can I see results on Nutrafol and/or Hers?

When it comes to Nutrafol, that depends on your routine. If you’re starting with Root Purifier Shampoo, you can see improved hair volume, strength, and texture in as little as 2 weeks. For Hair Serum, with daily use, you can see a more nourished scalp and visibly thicker, stronger-feeling, healthier-looking hair in 90 days. You may also see less breakage and more volume. With Nutrafol Hair Growth Nutraceuticals, everyone's experience is different, but in our clinical studies, women showed hair growth results in 3-6 months. 

According to Hers, active treatments—such as topical minoxidil, oral minoxidil, and Hair Blends—generally take 3 to 6 months of consistent daily use to show visible results.