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What Actually Helped My Hair Loss: Ferritin, Vitamin D, Minoxidil & What Didn’t Work

  • Writer: Raya M
    Raya M
  • Jan 4
  • 4 min read
Long, healthy hair
Long, healthy hair

Hair loss has a way of pushing you into experiment mode. When shedding increases or your hairline starts thinning, you don’t calmly wait for answers. You try everything. Oils, serums, shampoos, supplements, trends. You hope something sticks.


That was me.


After plenty of trial and error, I learned something important: most hair loss solutions don’t fail because they’re useless, they fail because they’re treating the wrong layer of the problem.


This is what actually helped my hair loss, what didn’t, and what I’m doing now.


This is when I noticed my hair was the healthiest it ever was. My diet and exercise were quite good, and I wasn't experiencing gut issues at the time.
This is when I noticed my hair was the healthiest it ever was. My diet and exercise were quite good, and I wasn't experiencing gut issues at the time.


1. The “Internet Remedies” I Tried


I tried nearly every popular topical remedy:

  • Rice water

  • Rosemary oil

  • Rice water combined with rosemary

  • Nizoral shampoo

  • Hair serums infused with rice water, rosemary, batana oil

  • A rotating collection of scalp serums


Some of these helped my hair feel softer or look shinier. A few improved scalp comfort temporarily. None of them regrew my hair.


That doesn’t mean they’re scams. It means they mostly work at the surface level, and my hair loss wasn’t coming from the surface.


2. The Lab Results That Changed Everything


This is the point where things finally made sense. These are my lab results.


  • Vitamin D: 20 ng/mL (deficient)

  • Iron: within normal range

  • Ferritin: ~23 ng/mL


Ferritin represents iron storage, and hair follicles are especially sensitive to low iron reserves even when standard iron labs appear “normal.”


Many dermatologists and hair specialists note that:

  • Ferritin below 30–40 ng/mL is commonly associated with diffuse hair loss

  • Ferritin around 50–70+ ng/mL is often targeted to support hair regrowth

  • Vitamin D levels around 40–60 ng/mL are commonly cited as optimal for hair and immune health


So while I technically wasn’t anemic, my hair follicles likely didn’t have the reserves needed to remain in the growth phase.


3. Why Absorption Mattered More Than Supplements Alone

Because of ongoing gut and absorption issues, standard oral supplements weren’t reliably raising my levels especially iron and vitamin D.


That’s when I switched to:

  • Sublingual Vitamin D

  • Sublingual Iron


These bypass the gut and absorb directly.

These two became my primary tools for rebuilding healthier hair.

Not oils. Not serums. Not shampoos.


These are the exact supplements I use and repurchase frequently.


Iron Supplement
Iron Supplement


*As you can see, I have purchased this 3 times lol. I love it.
*As you can see, I have purchased this 3 times lol. I love it.

Vitamin D2 + K3: https://amzn.to/3YWH1KA



4. Scalp Care: Helpful, But Not the Whole Solution


I still prioritize scalp health just with realistic expectations.


  • Coconut oil helps maintain moisture and scalp barrier health

  • Castor oil and rosemary oil improved scalp comfort and reduced irritation

  • Scalp massage encourages blood flow and may support follicle health over time


Helpful? Yes. Sufficient on their own? No.


Scalp care supports growth, but it does not override nutrient deficiencies or systemic stress.


5. Hair Habits That Quietly Make Hair Loss Look Worse


This part is often overlooked. Avoid Excessive Damage


I would limit:

  • Frequent or aggressive hair dyeing, especially bleaching or lightening

  • Chemical treatments that weaken hair structure

  • Products that leave hair brittle or prone to breakage


These practices usually don’t damage follicles directly, but breakage and increased shedding can significantly worsen the appearance of thinning.


Avoid Very Hot Water

I avoid washing my hair with very hot water, especially directly on the scalp.


Hot water can:

  • Strip protective oils

  • Increase scalp irritation

  • Weaken the hair cuticle, making strands more fragile


Hot water doesn’t stop follicles from growing, but chronic scalp irritation creates a less supportive environment for regrowth.


6. My Complicated History With Minoxidil

I’ve tried minoxidil before, and it hasn’t been simple.

  • 2% minoxidil: inconsistent use and noticeable shedding at the front hairline that never fully returned

  • 5% liquid minoxidil: too irritating for my scalp


Because of this, I avoided minoxidil for a long time.


7. What I’m Doing Now


I’ve decided to give minoxidil another try, but strategically this time.


  • 5% minoxidil foam, which contains fewer irritants and is better tolerated for sensitive scalps

  • Dermarolling, performed at least 12 hours before applying minoxidil to reduce irritation


This isn’t low-effort. It requires time, consistency, and patience. Now that my internal deficiencies are being addressed, I'm feeling more motivated to try again.


If you want to follow how this goes, subscribe or check back for updates. I’ll be sharing honest progress.


Taking progress photos. This is the 'before' highlighting the hairline hair loss.
Taking progress photos. This is the 'before' highlighting the hairline hair loss.

8. Final Takeaway


Hair loss is rarely just a shampoo problem.


For many people, it’s connected to:

  • Nutrient reserves (not just “normal” labs)

  • Absorption issues

  • Stress and inflammation

  • Scalp health

  • Daily habits that either support or sabotage regrowth


Topicals can help, but they work best when the internal environment is supported too.


If you’re in the middle of trying everything and feeling discouraged, you’re not failing. You’re gathering information, building awareness, and moving closer to what actually works for your body. Keep going.


— — — — — — — — — —


This article reflects my personal experience and is not medical advice.

Sources & Further Reading

  1. Trost LB, Bergfeld WF, Calogeras E.Diagnosis and treatment of hair loss.Cleveland Clinic Journal of Medicinehttps://www.ccjm.org/content/76/6/361

  2. Kantor J, Kessler LJ, Brooks DG, Cotsarelis G.Decreased serum ferritin is associated with alopecia in women.Journal of Investigative Dermatology https://www.jidonline.org/article/S0022-202X(15)36159-7/fulltext

  3. Rasheed H, Mahgoub D, Hegazy R, et al.Serum ferritin and vitamin D in female hair loss.British Journal of Dermatologyhttps://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24033609/

  4. Almohanna HM, Ahmed AA, Tsatalis JP, Tosti A.The role of vitamins and minerals in hair loss.Dermatology and Therapyhttps://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s13555-018-0278-6

  5. Olsen EA, Whiting D, Bergfeld W, et al.A randomized clinical trial of 5% topical minoxidil.Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology https://www.jaad.org/article/S0190-9622(01)29842-6/fulltext

  6. American Academy of Dermatology Association.Hair care practices that can damage hair https://www.aad.org/public/diseases/hair-loss/causes/hair-care

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