Update 3/5/21. Nutrafol and Viviscal are two of the most popular hair growth supplements available. Both supplements now have clinical research to suport their hair growth abilities. So, which supplement is better for regrowing hair? How do you decide which hair growth supplement is best: Nutrafol or Viviscal? Or, are they both scams? In this review, I'll help you decide by comparing the ingredients and research on both supplements side by side. I'll also address other issues too. This review will cut through the hype and help you decide which supplement might be the best hair growth formula for you.
Nutrafol vs. Viviscal Ingredients
Here is a side-by-side comparison of the ingredients in both supplements:
| Nutrafol ingredients (4 capsules) | Viviscal Ingredients (1 tablet) |
| Vitamin A (Beta Carotene) 5000 IU | Vitamin C 59 mg |
| Vitamin C (Camu Camu) 100 mg | Niacin 12 mg |
| Vitamin D (Cholecalciferol) 2500 IU | Biotin 12 mg |
| Biotin 3000 mcg | Calcium 60 mg |
| Iodine (Kelp) 225 mcg | Iron 10 mg |
| Zinc 25 mg | Zinc 11 mg |
| Selenium 2000 mcg | Amino Mar Marine Complex 450 mg composed of the following: |
| Synergen Complex 1680 mg Composed of the following : | 1. Shark Cartilage |
| Hydrolyzed Marine Collagen Type I & III | 2. Oyster Extract Powder |
| Sensoril Ashwagandha Extract | Horsetail Extract 36.7 mg |
| USPlus Saw Palmetto CO2 Deep Extract | Millet Seed Extract 7.5 mg |
| BCM-95 Curcumin | |
| EVNolMax Tocotrienol/Trcopherol Complex | |
| Hyaluronic Acid | |
| Nutrafol Blend 480 mg Composed of the following: | |
| L-Cysteine hydrochloride | |
| L-Methionine | |
| L-Lysine | |
| Horsetail extract | |
| Resveratrol | |
| Keratin | |
| BioPerine | |
| Capsimax Capsicum extract |
If we look just at the ingredients, it might appear Nutrafol is better for reversing hair loss because it has more stuff. But, the number of ingredients is not always proof of which supplement is superior.
Let's next look at which ingredients they have in common.
Nutrafol/ Viviscal Common Ingredients
| Nutrafol | Viviscal |
| Vitamin C 100 mg | Vitamin C 59 mg |
| Biotin 3000 mcg (3 mg) | Biotin 12 mg |
| Zinc 25 mg | Zinc 11 mg |
| Marine Collagen | Shark cartilage / Oyster powder |
| Horsetail (amount not known) | Horsetail 36.7 mg |
These are the ingredients both hair growth supplements have in common.
Nutrafol provides more than 2x as much zinc as Viviscal (25 mg vs. 11 mg). The RDA for zinc is only 11-13 mg. Does more zinc make it work better? I'm not sure whether higher levels of zinc help hair growth or lead to less hair loss.
Active Ingredients
I was intrigued by both supplements, which contained substances from fish. Nutrafol contains marine collagen, while Viviscal contains an Amino Mar complex made of shark cartilage and oyster powder. I believe the Amino Mar complex is very important to Viviscal results.
But, when I called Nutrafol customer support to ask about the marine collagen, I was told it was not the main ingredient. I was informed the key hair growth ingredient is saw palmetto. I was told the marine collagen is used to give hair volume and nourish hair follicles.
The marine collagen comes from North Atlantic Cod.
Nutrafol Research
There is a clinical research study on Nutrafol. It lasted 6 months and involved 40 women (21-35) who were experiencing thinning hair. They were given either Nutrafol or a placebo and instructed to take 4 capsules of each per day with meals or just after eating.
The women who took Nutrafol showed significant improvements in both thick and thin hair after 3 months of use. The total number of hairs were also increased. These improvements continued during the 6 months of the study.
This investigation was conducted by 2 dermatologists – Dr. Glynis Ablon of Ablon Skin Institute and Research Center and Sophia Kogan, who is the chief medical officer at Nutrafol.
Video Review
ViviScal Research
Viviscal has conducted several clinical studies on their hair growth supplement. The Viviscal research includes both clinical studies published in medical journals and non-published investigations. If we look at just the studies appearing in medical journals, then Viviscal has 3 investigations that say it works. Here they are:
Ironically, both the 2012 and 2015 Viviscal clinical trials were conducted by Dr. Glynis Ablon – the same dermatologist who performed the Nutrafol study summarized above.
If we look at just the hair loss research, then Viviscal wins. There are more clinical studies on Viviscal than Nutrafol. But, this doesn't mean Viviscal is better though; It may just mean it's been around longer.
Video: ViviScal before and after pictures
See the full Viviscal research review
How Many Do You Take?
For optimal results, here are the directions on how much you take per day:
- Nutrafol: Take 4 capsules once per day with food for at least 3-6 months.
- Viviscal: Take 1 tablet twice per day with water or food. Take for at least 3-6 months.
How Do They Work?
Nutrafol is said to help hair growth by reducing inflammation, battling free radicals, and blocking a hormone called DHT weakens hair follicles and promotes hair loss. The saw palmetto is the ingredient that blocks the DHT hormone.
Viviscal is said to work by providing nutrients to hair follicles to prolong the growing phase of the hair growth cycle, nourish thinning hair and promote hair growth. Viviscal for women does not appear to block DHT, although the men's version of Viviscal contains flaxseed. Flaxseed seems to block DHT by inhibiting an enzyme called 5α-reductase.
As an added bonus, flax seeds can lower blood pressure too.
Nutrafol & Viviscal Customer Service
Viviscal customer service can be reached at 800- 473-0145. The company is called Church and Dwight. I've called the company several times between this review and my full review of Viviscal. It's VERY easy to speak to a human if you have questions.
Nutrafol customer service number is 888-454-3320. The company is called Nutraceutical Wellness, Inc. I called the company several times for this review and they were also easy to reach. Nutrafol.com also has the ability to talk to customer service reps via online chat too.
Buy Nutrafol And Viviscal
Nutrafol is only available on its website (Nutrafol.com) at various online retailers like Amazon.
Viviscal is widely available in stores and online. In addition to Viviscal.com, you can purchase this supplement at CVS, Rite Aid, Walmart, Target, Sam's Club, Costco, and Walgreens as well as Amazon.
How Much Do They Cost?
Nutrafol costs $88 if you purchase a single bottle. If you decide to join their subscription program, the cost is $79 per bottle. If you get a subscription to Nutrafol, you also get free shipping and 1-on-1 consultation with their hair experts and naturopaths.
After 3 months of the subscription, you also are entitled to a hair mineral analysis. While that's nice since you didn't get a hair mineral analysis before you started their program, I'm not sure what benefits this adds.
Viviscal costs less than Nutrafol. At Viviscal.com the price is $49.99 for a 1 month's supply. Viviscal also has an auto-ship program where they will send you a 3 month supply for $39.99 per month.
No matter which supplement you purchase, it's probably going to take 3-6 months to see any hair growth.
How Much Do 6 Months Cost?
Since both supplements mention 3-6 months of use is needed before you might see results with hair growth, here is what the cost would be if you took either for 6 months. In this example, I'll assume you purchase from their websites and do not use their auto-ship programs:
- Nutrafol $88 / bottle X 6 months = $528
- Viviscal: $49.99/ box X 6 months = $300
What About Gray Hair?
Neither supplement is promoted to restore hair color. Both supplements are only marketed for helping hair loss, thinning hair, and hair regrowth. For more on anti-gray supplements, see these reviews:
Which Has Saw Palmetto?
Nutrafol has saw palmetto. Viviscal does not contain saw palmetto. The herbal ingredient saw palmetto is common in hair growth supplements because it blocks a hormone (5α-reductase) that converts testosterone into dihydrotestosterone (DHT). DHT is linked to hair loss because it weakens hair follicles. High levels of DHT can cause hair loss.
Do women sometimes wonder if saw palmetto can cause accidental pregnancy by interfering with birth control pills? I discovered this controversy when I reviewed Halo Beauty, a popular hair, skin, and nails supplement.
While some very popular websites –I'm looking at you webmd – discuss saw palmetto and birth control pills, the evidence is not based on human research.
I did a deep dive into the saw palmetto /birth control pill research and I could not find any proof of this herb causing a woman to get pregnant. So, if you are wondering if Nutrafol might cause pregnancies, I personally doubt it, but to be safe, Nutrafol does not recommend using their supplement if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.
How Do They Compare To Laser Therapy?
While no studies have compared the hair regrowth ability of low-level laser therapy to either Viviviscal or Nutrafol, laser therapy does have some impressive before and after pictures. Watch this video to see research on lasers, before and after pictures and pros and cons
Watch on my Youtube channel if you prefer.
Nutrafol and Viviscal Side Effects
Both supplements are likely safe in healthy people. None of the studies on either Viviscal or Nutrafol report any serious side effects. Here are some general ideas about both worth considering. This list is not complete:
- Start with less than recommended for the first week. This is to see if you have any side effects.
- Ask your doctor first if you are pregnant or breastfeeding
- Stop taking at least 2 weeks before having surgery
- Talk to your doctor/pharmacists if you take any medications like blood thinners
- Talk to your doctor if you are allergic to shellfish
- If you are vegan, remember both supplements contain ingredients from fish
- Talk to your doctor if you have iron overload disease. Vitamin C may make your condition worse.
- Don't take it close to bedtime. Horsetail contains a small amount of nicotine. This may keep you awake at night.
What Do I Suggest?
Currently, Viviscal has more clinical studies. All the research shows it works after 3-6 months of use. That plus the before and after pictures, is why I'd pick ViviScal.
See the before and after pictures
What's Better: Viviscal or Nutrafol
No clinical studies are comparing Nutrafol to Viviscal to see which has better results for reversing hair loss or helping thinning hair. Since Dr. Glynis Ablon has published clinical studies on both supplements, I'd think this would be a no-brainer for her to do. Until she or someone else decides to address this, my best advice is to start with either supplement and take it for 3-6 months. If you don't notice a difference by then, switch to the other supplement and see if that works better. Because Viviscal has more studies showing it works – and costs less – it may be wise to start with that supplement.
Remember, hair loss and regrowing hair is complicated. It's possible Nutrafol might work better for some and Viviscal for others. For what it's worth, I think your results with both supplements will be best when combined with Minoxidil.
Hi! I have a monthly subscription to Nutrafol. I have been taking for 5 months now and I definitely have noticed a difference especially my hairline. My hair is noticeably thicker, the texture is much softer and hydrated. Before I felt my roots were always dry and difficult to comb through. I have naturally curly hair. I don’t have that issue anymore.
Also, the hair analysis from a business point of view makes sense that they will only do it at 3 months because, A. They want to offer it only to those who have committed to using their supplements and B, their research focuses on the 3 month mark. I took the hair analysis and I was recommended a multivitamin to supplement my deficiencies.
Gigi, I’m glad to hear Nutrafol has been working well for you. That is great news! 🙂
Hi Joe…. wanted to share. My 18 year old son unfortunately got the thinning hair gene! We sought out professional help from an MD as it really bothered him. He has had 3 PRP treatments, uses rogaine daily and takes viviscal pro daily (it’s only sold at dr office I believe). It’s been about 4 months and he’s seen great results as far as new growth, less shedding and thicker overall.
His dr said he can do the PRP treatments every few years if he wants too however they are pricey ($800 per visit) and done in sets of 3 every 6 weeks. He was very embarrassed so it’s been very worth the money for us. He will use rogaine and viviscal pro until he’s ready to do a full graft later in life or just naturally bald.
No one wants that at 18! Our dr specializes in hair issues and recs viviscal pro for men and women. I plan to ask him about adding the saw palmetto to his routine. He did not mention it was needed so I’m curious! I enjoy your reviews
Danielle, thanks for sharing. I can only imagine what your son must have been going through. Im so glad to hear things have started to turn around for him.
Here is my video on Viviscal before and after pictures in case you missed it.
I’m about to post a video on Nutrafol vs. Viviscal that shows Nutrafol before and after pictures Ill post it them here to make it easier for you to find.
Saw palmetto is in a lot of hair supplements. Its supposed to block DHT which is linked to hair loss.
Glad to hear viviscal has been working so well for your son. In my original review many said it worked too
Can we use viviscal and minoxidil together and how?
Zayn, While theres no study that looked at what happened if you combined viviscal and minoxidil together, I don’t see why you could not do this. Minoxidil is applied topically to the scalp. Viviscal is a supplement you take orally. Here is 6 months supply of minoxidil. As you can see its pretty inexpensive.
I wonder if it is safe to take both at the same time? I love how you compared the ingredients side by side and there’s not too much overlap. I am desperate to contract my hair loss and am willing to take both, but not sure if there would be negative side effects.
Hi Whitney, thanks so much. I’m glad it helped you. I’m not aware of any negative side effects of either supplement but I always like to start new supplements one at time, just in case.
Because of that I’d suggest start with just one of them and see how that works for you.
For me, I’d go withe lesser expensive supplement which is viviscal. I also think this supplement has more research than Nutrafol.
I think the key ingredient in Nutravol might be Saw Palmetto so that might help you save some money
Remember minoxidil also has been clinically shown to grow hair. A 6 month supply of minoxidil is not expensive either.
Let me know if you have any other questions and I hope you’ll also write back and let us know what happens.
What is your opinion on taking Viviscal and Nutrafol together? Would it be safe? How would you do it? Half doses to cover any redundancies or full doses?
Jamie, it would be nice if viviscal and Nutrafol worked better together but there’s no proof either way. I’ve never seen a study which used them both. I dont see any issues with taking them at the same time but I would suggest starting with just one – just in case there are any side effects.
For what it’s worth I think the key ingredient in Nutrafol is Saw Palmetto.
What dosage and type of saw palmetto works best to block dht in women? Any contraindications?
Jami, you ask a very big question 🙂 So most of the research I’ve seen on saw palmetto and hair growth involves men (I know, that stinks!). I’m also hard-pressed to remember any studies where DHT levels were measured in women before/after saw palmetto use. Some studies also used shampoo which makes this all the more challenging. I can’t give you a dosage where saw palmetto blocked dht in women. I dont think this has been adequately looked at.
As far as contraindications, while I’m not aware of any, some people speculate saw palmetto may cause unwanted pregnancy by interfering with birth control pills. I have looked into the proof and I’ll point you to this review for more insights: Saw palmetto and Birth Control Pills Review
If you take any medications speaking to a pharmacist or doctor is wise. Sometimes supplements and medications can interact with each other.
Would you be willing to look at the Nutrafol Hairbiotic and the Nutrafol Liver Support supplements, as well? That is what they recommended to me in my Growth Plan. I would be very grateful.
Hi Joe,
I thought I better add that the Nutrafol website just lists “Ingredients” but doesn’t seem to specify which product they are referring to, so perhaps I gave you the list of all of their product ingredients and not just the Women’s Nutrafol for hair… I don’t know. It is the page the customer service rep. sent me a link to when I asked about the specific ingredients for the women’s hair supplement.
In any event, please let me know if you think the Women’s Balance which has the added ingredients I mentioned (Astaxanthin, Maca and “extra” Saw Palmetto) has any products that are potentially harmful.
Thank you!
Hi Brandy, thanks for the heads up on those other Nutrofol supplements. I didn’t know they had a liver support supplement. I took a quick look at it. Do you have liver problems? Elevated liver enzymes? If not I dont think its needed.
As for Nutrafol womans balance, I doubt any of its ingredients are harmful for most people. The product does have saw palmetto which is the main hair growth ingredient in my opinion. Some women have asked me if saw palmetto interfers with birth control pills. I have a review on it you can read here: Saw Palmetto and Birth Contol Pills.
One thing Id mention is the Nutrafol research I’ve seen only used the Nutrafol hair growth vitamins. Im not aware of any evidence Nutrfol works better when combined with any of their other supplements (liver, womens’s balance etc).
I will be doing reviews on the other Nutrafol supplements in the future. If helps I also talk about supplements in my podcast too:
Joe Cannon Health Podcast (you can listen on Apple, Google pandora etc too)
Do let me know what happens when you try Nutrafol.
Thank you very much for that helpful information. I recently read that green tea extract and red yeast rice can have very harmful side effects such as liver and kidney damage. Is that true? Thank you. ????
Brandy, there have bee several reports linking green tea supplements to liver failure. here’s the review where I address this I like to make the distinction between green tea – the drink – and green tea supplements. From what I have seen supplements sometimes contain only one aspect of green tea – like EGCG – but there’s more to green tea health benefits than this. While I think the chances of liver failure with this are rare, liver failure is serious.
The majority of reports of liver failure are from the supplements and not drinking green tea.
As for red yeast rice, this is something usually taken for lowering cholesterol. Do you have high cholesterol levels? Red yeast rice contains a statin medication that is naturally occurring. This is why it works. Sometimes statins can cause elevations in liver enzymes but it’s rare. Red yeast rice can likewise sometimes elevate liver enzymes too. Is that why they were recommending the liver supplement?
Statins can also sometimes cause muscle pain and another condition called rhabdomyolysis. I write a lot about rhabdomyolysis on my personal site if you want to know more about it. Here are my rhabdomyolysis articles, videos and podcasts
Thank you so much. I’ll be sure to read the information you linked. My husband has been successfully lowering his high cholesterol with red yeast rice for a couple of years. Maybe he should have his liver function tested. Take care.
Brandy, glad to help! 🙂
Hi Joe,
Great article! Thank you for this!
I am bummed because I am already taking Osteoprime Ultra, which has some similar vitamins and minerals as Nutrafol and Viviscal.
Do you know if it’s ok to take both the Nutrafol ( or Viviscal) and Osteoprime?
Osteoprime Ultra has 800 IUs of Vit D, 899 mg Calcium, 20 mg if Zinc, 5mg Silicon, plus many other vitamins and minerals that the hair growth supplements do not have.
Thank you very much!
Ann
Hi Anne, thanks so much, Im glad the nutrafol vs viviscal review helped you. To answer your question I have not heard of Osteoprime but I did look it up on Amazon. Im not aware of any issues taking Osteoprime with either viviscal or Nutrafol. If you do it, start with the least viviscal (or Nutrafol) thats recommened for the first week. if there are any side effects, this may help reduce them.
Have you been diagnosed with osteoporosis or osteopenia? Is that why your taking OsteoPrime? Are you doing any exercise?
Hi Joe! Yes, both my sister and I have been diagnosed with osteoporosis and we are only in our early 50’s! We are not sure why we have it.????????♀️ A holistic M.D. suggested Osteoprime Ultra. ( the Ultra is different than the regular Osteoprime but I don’t know how.)
I just didn’t want to be taking too much Vit. D, Zinc, etc…the fat-soluble vitamins.
Also, do you know anything about medical-grade skincare like Skinmedica TNS Essential Serum (Growth Factor) or Osmosis Growth Factor Serum? People seem to rave about them. Thanks so much Joe!
Hi Sharon (Ann) 🙂 Few thoughts I had:
Are you and your sister doing any kind of exercise like strength training? While I write a lot about supplements, my education is in exercise science. (my other website is Joe-Cannon.com). The supplements may help but resistance training can help build bones. I just wanted to mention this in case your doctor did not. Bone loss takes time to occur and can take time to recover from.
Are you or your sister taking any steroids like prednisone or medicine that blocks stomach acid? Sometimes they can contribute to bone loss.
How is your diet? Remember we also get calcium from green vegetables too.
Did you ever get your vitamin D level checked? Is the holistic Doctor running any blood tests on you and your sister?
Again I have not seen any interaction between OsteoPrime Ultra and Nutrafol or Viviscal.
Sharon I almost forgot your SkinMedica TNS quesion. Ive never heard of the product. I tried looking it up. I didnt see any clinical studies on it showing it works. It’s expensive too.
Yes very expensive! But if you search reviews on say, Dermatore, people absolutely rave about it.
Sharon, sometimes its hard to tell real vs fake online reviews. It may be legit. I cant tell from what I saw. If you try it, I hope you’ll let me know what happens.
Hello again Joe! My middle name is Ann and I didn’t want to use my first name Sharon. Sorry for the confusion! ????
Sharon (Ann). no worries. I understand. Everybody here is anonymous (except me LOL)
One more thing, lol!
Nutrafol has Vit. A and Viviscal does not. I’m wondering how much of a difference Vit A makes in actual hair growth.
Thanks again!
Sharon, that is a good question. I can’t say how much vitamin A makes a difference. Right now if I had to go with either Nutrafol or Viviscal, Id pick viviscal because its got a few more studies on it (for the moment anyway) and it costs less. If it helps, The viviscal review has a LOT of comments from people, many of which saying it works.
Thanks Joe! I just don’t want to overdose on Vit D and Zinc. What do you think? Too much zinc can be dangerous.
When it comes to vitamin D I think its good to know what your starting point is. that your doctor can tell you from a blood test. Same thing with zinc. Its hard to say without knowing what your levels are. Did your holistic doctor run any blood work on you?
Thank you for the thorough and super helpful comparison! Can you also tell us about the hair laser caps, bands (I restore, Hairmax etc) out there? It’s difficult for consumers to see if they really work.
Eun Han, you are very welcome! I have seen some small studies (not many people) which seem to show low level laser light therapy can help hair grow. The problem is is the studies often do not invovle many people. If you are going to do this, I think going through a dermatologist who offers this service would be the way to go. I am skeptical of the devices I see advertised.
I do want to look deeper into this topic. Look for a review on this soon.
I have been using Nutrafol for 5 months and I definitely have new hair growth on both sides of my hairline which is exactly why I purchased it.
Angela, thanks for sharing. I’m really happy to hear Nutrafol has been helping you. Just curious,How long did it take for you to see visible hair growth? Do you take the recommended amount or more?
This seems to me to be the best article I’ve read on Nutrafol. I’ve been losing a lot of hair the last two months or so… my scalp is always super tender but no rash, dryness, scaling, etc. Just tender. I’ve researched it to see what it may be but haven’t found anything.
I’m Wondering if any of these two supplements would help with the scalp tenderness.
Hi Sandra, thanks for your kind words! I have not seen anything either way on either Nutrafol or Viviscal helping scalp tenderness. I dont think anyone has brought this up to me before. The Viviscal review has a LOT of comments so you may try posting a question there to see if anyone else has noticed it helping this.
Have you had your thyroid checked? That could be a reason for your hair loss. If that’s the case, its best to address that sooner than later.
have you talked to your primary doctor or dermatologist about your scalp tenderness? This might be a good thing to try. Whether your scalp tenderness and hair loss is connected or not, making an appointment could help shed light on whats going on.
Do you have to take it forever
Anshele, My guess if you took either nutrafol or Viviscal -and they are working for you -if you stopped, you would eventually start to lose hair again. I have not seen any research on what happens after someone stops taking these supplements but it makes sense that if they helped, they would stop working after someone stopped taking them. I cant say how long that would take to happen though.
If you are asking the question because the supplements are expensive, then it may be worth experimenting to see how long you could go before you noticed hair loss again. Take a product for a period of time to give it time to work. Then, when you were comfortable, go off for a short period of time to see what happens. If they work for you, it may take some experimentation to see how long you could stay off of it.
If you try this, do let us know what happens. you are not the only person wondering if you would have to take these supplements forever.
Hi Joe,
Great info (Nutrafol vs. VIviscal). I read the question above from Anshele S. asking if one has to take it forever. I can answer with 99% certainty… yes. I’ve been taking Nutrafol Women’s Blend for almost 2 years. It took about 4 months for me to start seeing new growth along my hairline and crown.
I have been very pleased with the results. My hair is* as thick (*was… I’ll get to that) and healthy as it was 20 years ago (I’m 55).
Now for the reason I’m replying to this post. I recently changed my diet in order to rule out foods/drinks that may be the culprit(s) in triggering my worse-than-ever IBS-D flare-ups (pandemic doesn’t help either) 🙁 It has now been 14 days since I stopped all supplements.
My hair has definitely started falling out/thinning over the past 3 days. Because I’m going to slowly begin reintroducing certain foods/supplements back into my diet to test what may be setting off my gut woes, I’m definitely going to start with Nutrafol 🙂 I’ll lyk if you’d like to hear how this reintro goes.
Thanks for your very informative reviews.
Hi Carol, yes please do let me and everyone else here know how things to when you start taking Nutrafol supplements again. We are all under uncommon stress thees days due to the pandemic. I’m sure that stress is having all sorts of effects on people. I’m really glad to hear you’ve had such good results with Nutrafol.
Stay strong Carol. We will all get through this eventually.
Your comparison chart is false and misleading. A standard comparison would be one cap to one tab. Any amount can be doubled or quadrupled. “Nutrafol provides more than 2x as much zinc…” is totally off the wall! In actuality:
Nutrafol 1 cap Viviscal 1 tab
Vit C 25 mg Vit C 59 mg
Biotin750 mcg = 0.75 mg. Biotin 12 mg
Zinc 6.25mg. Zinc 11 mg
Marine Collagen Shark Cartalege/Oyster Powder
Horsetail (? Amt) Horsetail 36.7 mg
Nutrafol Blend 480 mg Amino Mar Marine Complex 450 mg. (Comparing Apples & Oranges)
Your logic is totally erroneous. Besides, more ingredients = more chance of side effects and/or interactions.
Ann, I’m not sure what you are getting at. My goal in this review was not to promote one product over another but to give people a way to see their ingredients side by side and give people a resource to see the research on each supplement.
While these are indeed different supplements (apples and oranges as you say), they both are for the same issue – hair growth. Both supplements are popular also. I respect your opinion but I don’t agree that my logic is erroneous. I know people are asking how Nutrafol is different than Viviscal as they try to find a solution that’s best for them.
Some of the amounts you listed look different than what I saw when I looked.
You do make a point that more ingredients could potentially lead to more side effects. I’ve not see any good proof however that one supplement has more side effect than the other.
Ann Armand, Joe is comparing the 2 DOSE per DOSE! ONE dose for Nutrafol is 4 pills whereas ONE dose of Viviscal is 2 pills.
Anne, yes very correct, the dosages of viviscal and Nutrafol are different. Good eye 🙂
Nutrofol seems too expensive for me. I think I’ll try Viviscal for now since it costs less. Thank you for this comparison.
Hi Lorraine, you are welcome and thanks for the feedback. I hope Viviscal helps you. 🙂
I was wondering what happens after one stops taking either of these once you have achieved the results they wanted? Would the hair fall out again? Would they have to take the products permanently?
Hi Donna, both viviscal and nutrafol are to be used perminately. Odds are that any hair growth you’d get from either supplement would go away, after you stopped taking it. I cant say how long it would take for the hair to fall out again. I don’t think Ive seen any research on this. The same is true for minoxidil too. It works as long as you take it. I hope that helps.
Here is the Viviscal review in case you missed it. it has a LOT of comments
If you have any other questions, just ask.
In your opinion.. Would taking a saw Palmetto supplement with Viviscal cover extra basis? Could the key DHT blocker ingredient in Nutrafol be singled out and combined with the supplement with more research and support behind it?
Hi Brandon, This was a question I wondered about too when they said saw palmetto was the active ingredient in nutrafol. given the cost of Nutrafol it might be worth a try. Let me know what happens if you try this combination.
I just started taking Nutrafol. So far its too soon to tell. I will stick with it for 3 months and see what happens.
One question though – nutrafol contains saw palmetto. Ive heard that can cause ED. what do you think?
New To Nutrafol, actually its the other way around: Saw palmetto might improve erections and reduce ED. The research is so-so but it does exist. I hope Nutrafol works for you and do let me know how things go after a few months.
Ive been using Viviscal for years. I love the results
Hi Row, thanks so much for sharing. I’m glad you are having good results with Viviscal 🙂
I take nutrafol and visercal together with a 10 mg pill every day. Is that ok
Hi Susan, taking nutrafol and viviscal together sounds like you are covering all your bases 🙂
What is the 10 mg pill you are taking in addition to these?
Are these companies allowed to claim that their products actually “grow hair” without running afoul of the FTC for false and misleading claims?
Because look at how long it took to get an actual hair growing DRUG on the market
(Minoxidal). It just seems to me like this is just more nutraceutical nonsense. (Shark cartiledge?!! Seriously?)
If people swallow $300 worth of pills for 6 months and look in the mirror aren’t they likely to perceive more hair whether or not it is there in reality? Confirmation bias or placebo effect could be at work here.
Skip, good question. as you know, usually the FTC and FDA doesn’t like specific claims to be made about supplements. I am starting to wonder if this rule might go out the window when the company conducts a clinical study on their product showing it works
For example, in my review of the memory supplement Prevagen, that company also makes a boastful claim (improves memory). Even though the FDA took them to court, it seems they were overruled because the maker of Prevagen has a study.
Hi Joe Cannon, Are they made in America?
Hi Linda, yes both Nutrafol and Viviscal are made in the US. Any other questions, just ask 🙂
Does Nutrfol or viviscal work for men?
Hi John, while most of the research on both Viviscal and Nutrafol does involve women, some of it involves men. Because of this, I’m sure both will work in men too. Both Nutrafol and Viviscal have men’s versions but I’m not sure if they are any more effective. Id say shop around for which ever version is most cost effective for you. Here’s Viviscal on Amazon and Here’s Nutrafol on Amazon
You read my mind! I was saw an ad for Nutrafol and wondered how it was different than Viviscal. Ive been using Viviscal for a couple of months. I was not sure if it was working or not and wondered if Nutrafol might be better.
Thank you so much for showing me the research on both. I think I will stick with Viviscal a little bit longer
Hi Stephanie, thanks for that. My mom was Scottish, always swore she was psychic. Maybe I am a little bit too 🙂 The Viviscal (and Nutrafol) research say it may take at least 3 months to see results. I do hope Viviscal works for you. Do let me know what happens after a few more months.