Vegamour vs Nutrafol vs Finasteride: Which Is Right For Me?
When you begin to research treatments for hair loss, there’s a seemingly endless list of options. You could consider Vegamour vs. Nutrafol vs. finasteride — and we could go on and on. There are prescription treatments, over-the-counter options, and that thing your cousin’s friend swears by. It’s hard to know what to trust.
To get a general idea of how these hair loss treatments stack up, people wonder which is better: Nutrafol, Vegamour, finasteride — or a combo of the three? Here, we’ll cover how these three hair loss treatments compare, with expert insight on each product from one of our medical reviewers, board-certified dermatologist Knox Beasley, MD.
What is Vegamour?
Vegamour is a cruelty-free, vegan hair care brand with products for the scalp, hair, eyelashes, and eyebrows. Their lineup includes shampoos, conditioners, biotin supplements, and treatments designed to enhance shine or combat aging. All their products are plant-based, Leaping Bunny-certified, cruelty-free, 100 percent vegan formulas.
Vegamour has many product offerings, but when comparing Vegamour to Nutraol and finasteride, we’ll focus specifically on Vegamour’s Gro+ Serum and its new Gro+ Advanced Serum.
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What are the Key Ingredients in Vegamour?
The ingredients in Vegamour vary depending on the product.
The Vegamour Gro+ hair growth serum contains the following:
Biotin. Biotin is essential for healthy hair growth. While supplementing it or using it in hair care products can’t hurt, it’s really only helpful in people with an actual vitamin deficiency. That’s rare in people who eat a varied diet.
Caffeine. Some research suggests that caffeine can partially block the effects of DHT.
Curcumin. Studies suggest that this compound, the active ingredient in turmeric, may increase growth factors associated with hair growth.
Mung bean and red clover. These are thought to nourish the scalp to support hair growth.
The Vegamour Gro+Advanced hair growth contains:
GROactive+ Complex™. An “AI-discovered blend of polyphenol-rich plant actives to help reduce shedding,” according to the brand’s website.
Spanish microalgae. This plant is thought to hydrate the scalp, and a healthy scalp can lead to healthy hair growth.
Plant stem cells. These cells are protein-rich and may potentially strengthen hair.
Vegamour's website says that its hair growth products include organic plant actives clinically shown to improve visible hair growth, reduce fallout, and repair hair follicle damage. But it's important to note that, while promising, the brand itself (rather than a neutral third-party) has conducted all currently available studies on Vegamour.
Dr. Beasley Rating: Vegamour
Efficacy: ★
Side Effects: ★★★★★
Ease Of Use: ★★★
“There is little independent data on Vegamour’s efficacy. However, there are likely very few side effects. This would be best for someone who wants to try a topical serum without any medications,” Dr. Beasley says.
What is Nutrafol?
Nutrafol is a popular brand of drug-free hair growth supplements. The term "Nutrafol” is often used to refer specifically to Nutrafol's main product, which combines nutritional and pharmaceutical benefits to support hair health. These supplements are designed for men and women, with tailored formulas for each sex.
Like Vegamour, Nutrafol’s product lineup contains several products, including a topical treatment. But when comparing Nutrafol to Vegamour and finasteride, we’ll focus specifically on the men’s hair growth nutraceutical from Nutrafol.
What are the Key Ingredients in Nutrafol?
Nutrafol is made from a blend of natural ingredients, including:
Vitamins A, C, D, and E: These vitamins are all essential for hair, skin, and nail growth.
Biotin: Biotin helps with the production of keratin, a protein essential for hair health.
Iodine: Iodine is important for thyroid health, which can have an effect on hair, though generally it’s too much iodine that poses an issue for hair growth.
Zinc: There’s a link between zinc deficiencies and hair shedding, though a zinc deficiency is not tied to male pattern hair loss specifically.
Selenium: Selenium plays a role in scalp health and some research suggests that getting too much and not getting enough selenium can both cause hair loss.
It men’s nutraceutical also contains two proprietary ingredient blends: a patented Synergen Complex™ and a “Nutrafol Blend.”
The syngergen complex is a blend of ingredients including:
Marine collagen: Helps support scalp and hair follicle health (note that the inclusion of marine collagen means this product is not vegan).
Ashwagandha: An adaptogen that may be helpful in treating hair loss that’s related to stress.
Saw palmetto: A plant ingredient that can lessen the effects of DHT, a male hormone that can cause hair loss in those with a genetic sensitivity to it.
Curcumin (an ingredient in turmeric): An ingredient that some research suggests can also reduce DHT in the body.
Nutrafol blend contains several ingredients including L-Cysteine, L-Lysine, L-Methionine (amino acids that support hair health), keratin (a protein that gives hair structure), and several plant extracts including horsetail extract, Japanese knotweed extract, black pepper extract, and cayenne extract.
Nutrafol also offers a topical product for men containing ashwagandha exosomes, which are said to support scalp health by replenishing nutrients.
There is some independent research backing Nutrafol, but not nearly the amount available for finasteride (which we’ll cover shortly). For example, a 2019 study examined how well the Nutrafol Women Hair Growth Nutraceutical capsules worked on women with self-perceived thinning hair over six months.
The group treated with Nutrafol saw more increases in terminal hair count (thicker body hair, including hair on the scalp) and vellus hair (short peach fuzz) at 90 and 180 days compared to the placebo group.
While the ingredients in the men's and women’s capsules are nearly identical, it’s hard to say if the same results would hold for men.
Dr. Beasley Rating: Nutrafol
Efficacy: ★★
Side Effects: ★★★★★
Ease Of Use: ★★★★
“One of the main ingredients in Nutrafol is saw palmetto, which has some evidence that it may help with hair loss. There are also likely minimal side effects. Since it is a pill, it’s easy to use, but each dose is four pills. While it may help some by itself, this would be best for someone who wants to supplement their prescription hair loss regimen.”
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What Is Finasteride?
Finasteride (the active ingredient in Propecia®) is a prescription medication used to treat male pattern baldness, or androgenetic alopecia. It’s typically taken orally in tablet form but is available off-label in topical form, like in our topical finasteride and minoxidil spray.
The only ingredient in finasteride is, well, finasteride. The name refers to both the active ingredient and the generic product.
Finasteride stops testosterone from converting to another male hormone called dihydrotestosterone (DHT). DHT binds to receptors in hair follicles and causes hair loss in men with a genetic sensitivity to the hormone. It’s why we say male pattern baldness is a combo platter of hormones and genes).
Finasteride is very effective for most men experiencing male pattern baldness. There is tons of research to draw on, but we’ll keep it short — a long-term study on finasteride found that over 91 percent of patients saw improvement in their hair, and just over 99 percent saw no worsening of androgenetic alopecia.
Dr. Beasley Rating: Finasteride
Efficacy: ★★★★★
Side Effects: ★★★★
Ease Of Use: ★★★★★
“Finasteride is FDA-approved for hair loss, and numerous articles have been published in medical journals about its efficacy. Since it’s just one pill once a day, it’s the easiest regimen of the three. Sexual side effects are possible with this medication. However, fortunately, they are rare (affecting approximately one to four percent of people, depending on the study). This medication is best for someone who wants to start an effective, evidence-based hair loss regimen,” Dr. Beasley says.
Comparing Vegamour vs. Nutrafol vs. Finasteride
Here’s a quick glance at how the three brands compare:
FAQs: Vegamour vs. Nutrafol vs. Finasteride
Below, we’ll break down some common questions when comparing Vegamour, Nutrafol, and finasteride.
Can You Use Vegamour, Nutrafol, or Finasteride Together?
It’s important to check in with your healthcare provider before taking supplements, especially if you’re already taking other supplements or medications. If the supplements have ingredients that overlap (turmeric, for example), it could lead to overexposure.
It’s likely safe to pair finasteride with Vegamour or Nutrafol, but again, always run it by your provider first to be sure. Since finasteride is only available as a prescription, you’ll have to talk to them anyway.
Are These Products FDA-Approved?
Vegamour and Nutrafol are not considered drugs, so they are not FDA-approved. Instead, they’re personal care products (cosmetics) or supplements.
While the U.S. Food and Drug Administration does regulate supplements — it’s a common misconception that there is zero regulation of supplements — the products don’t go through the same rigorous approval process as medications.
On the other hand, oral finasteride has been FDA-approved since 1997 for treating male pattern baldness. It was approved earlier and at a higher dose for treating benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH) — it's still used for that today, typically under the brand name Proscar®.
Topical finasteride is not currently FDA-approved for androgenetic alopecia but is often prescribed off-label for this condition.
Which is Best: Vegamour vs. Nutrafol vs. Finasteride?
When it comes to choosing between finasteride, Vegamour, or Nutrafol, it ultimately depends on your personal preferences and specific needs. If you’re looking for a vegan formula, then Vegamour is likely the best option. If you’re interested in trying saw palmetto before a stronger medication, Nutrafol may be right for you.
However, finasteride has (by far) the most science and proven efficacy behind it.
Finasteride is an FDA-approved medication for hair loss that has been extensively studied and shown to be effective in preventing further hair loss and promoting regrowth. Vegamour and Nutrafol are popular alternatives that offer more natural and holistic approaches, but they don't have nearly as much science behind them as finasteride.
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The Takeaway: Comparing Vegamour, Nutrafol, and Finasteride
Wondering how Vegamour, Nutrafol, and finasteride compare? Here’s a little cheat sheet.
Finasteride is the most clinically proven treatment for male pattern baldness and offers effective hair regrowth for most users. However, it requires a prescription and, in rare cases, can cause side effects.
Nutrafol provides a natural supplement-based approach with potential benefits. Its effectiveness can vary but is generally less than that of prescription medications.
Vegamour offers plant-based, vegan hair care products, but the scientific evidence supporting its hair growth claims is limited. It could be a good option for those seeking natural alternatives without strong medical intervention or who want to pair something topical with an oral medication like finasteride.
If you’re here because you’re noticing hair shedding or thinning, check out our range of hair loss treatments (including finasteride) or connect with a licensed healthcare provider online through our platform to learn more about the right treatments for you.
This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. The information contained herein is not a substitute for and should never be relied upon for professional medical advice. Always talk to your doctor about the risks and benefits of any treatment or medication.