Alyssa Milano says her hair thinned after COVID—this is what helped
Kate Tully Ellsworth
Alyssa Milano was one of the first celebrities who announced she had contracted COVID in March 2020. The actress stated that she lived with quite a few long-term side effects from the virus, including "extreme hair loss."
"It's hard, especially when you're an actor and so much of your identity is wrapped up in those things, like having long silky hair and clean skin,” Milano said on The Dr. Oz Show.
Hair loss is brutal for your confidence, even if you're not a world-famous actress. After I had my daughter in September 2023, I started losing my hair by the handful. I was suffering from postpartum hair loss, which went away on its own after a few months. But for Milano, she turned to two specific products to regrow her hair: Nutrafol and Nioxin.
"I found Nutrafol supplements and Nioxin shampoo and conditioner helped tremendously," Milano tweeted in a now-deleted post on X (the actress left the social media network in 2024).
Milano isn't alone in her love of these products; both reviewers and dermatologists recommend it, too.
What is Nutrafol, and why do people love it?
Nutrafol is a supplement that claims to promote hair growth in women, specifically targeted toward women over 45. Currently, it has more than 15,000 positive reviews on Amazon, with shoppers saying it has helped increase thickness, fullness and density.
Dr. Hadley King, MD, a board-certified dermatologist who specializes in medical and cosmetic dermatology, says Nutrafol is one of the best supplements for preventing and addressing hair loss. She notes it may take up to six months to see the effects.
One study published in the Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology found that 83.7% of men and 79.5% of women experienced "significant improvements" in hair growth, coverage, density and volume after five months of continued Nutrafol use.
What is Nioxin and why do people love it?
Nioxin is a haircare system targeted toward improving scalp and hair health. The system contains three products each with a unique benefit: shampoo that cleans, conditioner that hydrates, and a scalp care and hair thickening treatment that "refreshes the scalp and increases hair volume."
The Nioxin system comes in four varieties: system 1 for light thinning, system 2 for progressed thinning, system 3 for light thinning on colored hair, and system 4 for progressed thinning on colored hair. Milano didn't indicate which system she used, only that she used the brand during her hair loss journey.
More than 4,000 Amazon shoppers love the system; system 2 for progressed thinning is the most popular. Even Reddit users (who are known for being particularly sour) have positive things to say about it.
What other products help with hair loss, according to dermatologists?
Our team has had the opportunity to chat with several dermatologists this year to discover which hair loss products are actually effective, and for the most part, experts are on the same page.
For one, there's no central cause of hair loss, meaning there's no magic solution that works for everyone. Some people experience temporary hair loss (like my postpartum hair loss), while others experience long-term loss (like what comes with natural aging).
Prescription medications like minoxidil and finasteride can help, but those will need to come from your doctor (or through a prescription from places like Hims and Hers). For the best over-the-counter solutions for hair loss, our experts recommend the following:
Our editors independently choose our recommendations. Some content is produced with paid support from a third party, however our editorial decisions remain independent. If you buy through our links, the USA TODAY Network may earn a commission. Prices and availability may change.