Setting Realistic Expectations for Hair Thinning Treatment Timelines

“I always try to explain that to my patients so they have realistic expectations because it does take time to see improvement, and it also takes consistency. So once you set those expectations and patients are consistent, they'll see the results,” said Heather Woolery-Lloyd, MD, in a recent interview.

Lloyd, a dermatologist, director of the Skin of Color Division for the University of Miami Department of Dermatology, and Chief Medical Advisor of Nutrafol, discussed a new study quantifying linear hair growth rate (LHGR) across 4 Nutrafol formulations.^1,2

She noted Nutrafol has 3 randomized controlled trials supporting its use for hair thinning, and said this study adds a different type of objective measure to that body of evidence. She placed the study's 19% to 37% growth rate increase in context, explained how she sets patient expectations, and described where combination therapy fits into her practice.

In a previous interview, Woolery-Lloyd outlined the study's design and the clinical reasoning behind formulating products around the underlying cause of a patient's hair thinning.

Putting Growth Rate Gains in Context

Healthy hair generally grows around half an inch per month, according to Woolery-Lloyd. She noted the study's findings can't be directly compared with a healthy population, since participants in the trial had hair thinning. "Now, granted, you can't compare these because this study population was experiencing hair thinning, and that's very different than a normal, healthy population, but I do think it's really interesting," she said.

Setting Realistic Patient Expectations

Woolery-Lloyd said patients often want to see results quickly, making expectation-setting a key part of her practice. "We know that with Nutrafol, you start to notice decreased shedding at around 3 months and increased hair growth at around 6 months," she said. Once patients understand the timeline, she added, consistency with the supplement is what allows them to see results.

Combination Therapy Remains Common Practice

Dermatologists frequently combine treatments when addressing hair thinning, Woolery-Lloyd said, noting combination therapy is a mainstay across most conditions she treats. In her own practice, she often pairs Nutrafol with topical minoxidil and sometimes adds a procedure like platelet-rich plasma (PRP).

"It really is patient-specific, and every patient has different needs," she said, adding that every dermatologist tends to have their own preferred combinations.

Woolery-Lloyd said the rarity of growth-rate-focused hair research made the study particularly valuable. "It's rare in a clinical study to look at growth rate, and it's something that I think is very relevant to patients," she said. She said she was glad the study captured results she considers meaningful for patients with hair thinning.

References

1. Dang R, Sivamani RK, Hazan A, Raymond I. A 6-month prospective, open-label, randomized study showing increased hair growth rate in women using multi-targeting hair growth nutraceuticals. Dermatol Ther (Heidelb). 2026; doi:10.1007/s13555-026-01866-z
2. Does Nutrafol help hair grow faster? Our study shows up to 36.7% faster hair growth rate. Nutrafol. August 14, 2026. Accessed August 19, 2026. https://nutrafol.com/blog/does-nutrafol-help-hair-grow-faster/