Dermatologists recommend targeting ferritin above 70 ng/mL for hair recovery, and tracking confirms when this threshold triggers density improvement. This guide provides a month-by-month protocol for pairing iron supplementation with myhairline.ai density tracking, creating a precise ferritin-density correlation chart that shows exactly when your hair starts responding to rising iron stores.
This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Consult a healthcare provider before starting iron supplementation.
Why Ferritin Matters for Hair Growth
Ferritin is the protein that stores iron in your body. Hair follicles are among the most metabolically active tissues and require adequate iron to sustain the rapid cell division that occurs during the anagen (growth) phase. When ferritin drops below a critical threshold, follicles may prematurely enter the telogen (resting) phase, leading to diffuse thinning.
The disconnect between "normal" lab ranges and hair-optimal levels is a key problem. Most labs flag ferritin as low only below 12 ng/mL. But hair dermatologists consistently observe that patients with ferritin between 12 and 40 ng/mL often present with thinning that improves when levels are raised to 70 ng/mL or above.
Ferritin Levels and Hair Impact
| Ferritin Level (ng/mL) | Lab Status | Hair Impact |
|---|---|---|
| Below 12 | Deficient | Significant shedding, diffuse thinning likely |
| 12 to 30 | Low-normal | Hair may be affected despite "normal" lab report |
| 30 to 50 | Normal range | Some patients still experience thinning |
| 50 to 70 | Adequate | Hair shedding typically begins to stabilize |
| 70 to 100 | Optimal for hair | Recovery density gains most commonly observed |
| Above 100 | Upper optimal | Diminishing additional hair benefit |
Your personal threshold may differ. That is why tracking density alongside ferritin creates a dataset specific to your biology.
Step 1: Get Your Baseline Lab Work
Before starting supplementation, obtain a complete iron panel from your healthcare provider. This includes:
- Ferritin (iron storage level): The primary metric for this protocol
- Serum iron (circulating iron): Shows current availability
- TIBC (total iron-binding capacity): Indicates how much capacity exists for additional iron
- Transferrin saturation: The percentage of iron-binding sites occupied
Record all values in your myhairline.ai notes on the same day you take your baseline density photos. This creates the starting data point for your paired ferritin-density tracking.
Step 2: Take Your Baseline Density Photos
On the same day as your blood draw (or within 48 hours), photograph your scalp using myhairline.ai. Follow the standard protocol:
- Natural lighting, consistent angles
- Frontal, temporal, crown, and part-line views
- Dry hair (wet hair compresses and distorts density appearance)
- Record the AI density reading for each zone
This paired data point, ferritin value plus density reading on the same date, is the foundation of your correlation chart.
Step 3: Begin Your Iron Supplementation Protocol
Work with your healthcare provider to determine the appropriate supplementation form and dosage. Common options include:
| Iron Form | Elemental Iron per Dose | Typical Dosage | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ferrous sulfate 325 mg | 65 mg | Once daily | Most commonly prescribed, affordable |
| Ferrous bisglycinate 25 mg | 25 mg | Once or twice daily | Better tolerated, fewer GI side effects |
| Iron polysaccharide complex | 150 mg | Once daily | Fewer interactions with food |
| Liquid iron (ferrous gluconate) | Varies | As directed | Easier absorption, stains teeth |
Absorption Optimization
Iron absorption is affected by what you eat and drink alongside your supplement:
- Take with vitamin C (orange juice, ascorbic acid supplement): Increases absorption by 2 to 3 times
- Take on an empty stomach when possible: Food reduces absorption by up to 50%
- Avoid within 2 hours of: Calcium supplements, coffee, tea, dairy, antacids
- Space from other medications: Iron interferes with thyroid medication, tetracycline antibiotics, and others
Log your daily compliance in your myhairline.ai notes. Missed doses slow ferritin recovery and introduce noise into your tracking data.
Step 4: Monthly Paired Tracking
Each month, repeat the paired data collection: ferritin blood test plus myhairline.ai density photos.
| Month | Expected Ferritin Rise | Action |
|---|---|---|
| Month 0 (baseline) | Starting level | Blood draw + density photos |
| Month 1 | +10 to 20 ng/mL | Blood draw + density photos, same conditions |
| Month 2 | +20 to 40 ng/mL total | Blood draw + density photos |
| Month 3 | +30 to 60 ng/mL total | Blood draw + density photos, first trend assessment |
| Month 4 | Approaching 70 ng/mL target | Blood draw + density photos |
| Month 5 | At or above 70 ng/mL | Blood draw + density photos |
| Month 6 | Maintenance check | Blood draw + density photos, full correlation review |
If your ferritin is not rising as expected, discuss dosage adjustment or alternative forms with your healthcare provider. Poor absorption may indicate an underlying gut health issue.
Step 5: Build Your Ferritin-Density Correlation Chart
After 6 months of paired data, you will have 7 data points (baseline plus 6 monthly readings) showing ferritin level and density reading on the same dates.
Plot these on a simple chart with ferritin on one axis and density on the other. Look for the inflection point: the ferritin level where your density curve begins to rise.
Common patterns:
Pattern A: Clear threshold response. Density remains flat while ferritin climbs from 15 to 50 ng/mL, then begins improving once ferritin crosses 60 to 70 ng/mL. This confirms the dermatological consensus that the threshold for hair benefit is significantly above the standard lab "normal" cutoff.
Pattern B: Gradual linear improvement. Density improves steadily in proportion to ferritin increases. No single threshold is apparent, but the correlation is clear.
Pattern C: No correlation. Ferritin rises but density does not improve. This suggests that iron deficiency was not the primary driver of your hair loss, and other factors (androgenetic alopecia, thyroid, stress) should be investigated. Androgenetic alopecia responds to treatments like finasteride (80 to 90% halt rate) and minoxidil (40 to 60% efficacy), not iron supplementation.
For more on how iron deficiency specifically affects hair, see the iron deficiency and hair loss tracking guide.
Step 6: Transition to Maintenance
Once your ferritin reaches the target range (70 to 100 ng/mL), work with your healthcare provider to transition from a therapeutic dose to a maintenance dose. Maintenance typically involves a lower daily dose or less frequent supplementation.
Continue monthly density tracking for at least 3 more months after reaching your target ferritin level. Hair follicles that were in telogen due to iron deficiency need time to cycle back into anagen. The full density benefit may not appear until 3 to 6 months after ferritin stabilizes at optimal levels.
Maintenance Protocol
| Phase | Ferritin Level | Supplementation | Tracking Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Active loading | Below 70 ng/mL | Full therapeutic dose | Monthly blood draw + density |
| Target reached | 70 to 100 ng/mL | Reduced maintenance dose | Every 2 months blood draw, monthly density |
| Stable maintenance | Above 70 ng/mL for 3+ months | Maintenance dose | Quarterly blood draw, monthly density |
For a broader view of ferritin optimization strategies, see the anemia and ferritin optimization for hair guide.
When Iron Supplementation Is Not Enough
If your ferritin reaches 70 ng/mL or above and your density has not improved after 6 months at that level, iron deficiency was likely not the primary cause of your hair loss. The next steps include:
- Thyroid panel (TSH, free T3, free T4)
- Vitamin D and B12 levels
- Hormonal evaluation (testosterone, DHT, DHEA-S)
- Dermatology referral for scalp biopsy if cause remains unclear
Your myhairline.ai tracking data is valuable in this scenario. It demonstrates to your dermatologist that you systematically addressed iron deficiency and documented the lack of response, narrowing the diagnostic possibilities.
Start Your Ferritin-Density Tracking Protocol
Iron deficiency is one of the most treatable causes of hair thinning, but only if you track the response systematically. myhairline.ai pairs your monthly density readings with your ferritin lab values, creating the correlation chart that shows exactly when and whether rising iron stores translate into visible hair recovery.
Get your baseline ferritin tested and upload your first photos at myhairline.ai/analyze to begin building your personalized ferritin-density dataset.
This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Iron supplementation should be supervised by a healthcare provider, as excessive iron intake can be harmful. Always confirm iron deficiency with blood work before supplementing.