Update 4/7/24. Does Viviscal help thinning hair grow thicker and stronger or is it a scam? Viviscal is one of the best-known hair growth supplements. And for good reason. There are several clinical studies on this dietary supplement. In this review, you will learn about the research on ViviScal to help you decide if it really works or not. In addition, I'll address the side effects some people are reporting. Does it really work? Let's see.
Viviscal Ingredients
According to the Supplement Facts label, 1 tablet of Viviscal Extra Strength has the following ingredients:
| Ingredient | Amount per serving | Percent Daily Value |
|---|---|---|
| Total Carbohydrates | <1 g | <1% DV |
| Vitamin C | 59 mg | 98% DV |
| Niacinamide (Niacin) | 12 mg | 60% DV |
| Biotin | 120 micrograms | 40% DV |
| Iron | 10 mg | 56% DV |
| Zinc | 11 mg | 73% DV |
| AminoMar Marine Complex | 450 mg | N/A |
| Horsetail Extract | 36.7 mg | N/A |
| Millet Seed Extract | 7.5 mg | N/A |
No prescription is needed to buy Viviscal.
AminoMar Marine Complex
The AminoMar complex is said to be the main key ingredient. The AminoMar Marine Complex is composed of:
- Shark Powder (shark cartilage)
- Mollusk Powder (from Oysters)
What parts of sharks and mollusks are used in Viviscal, I can't say. But, these ingredients do come from “sustainable marine sources.”
I called the company that makes the supplement and was informed shark cartilage is part of the AminoMar complex. The name “AminoMar” complex is the name the company gives to the shark and mollusk powder combination.
Horsetail Extract
The scientific name for this is Equisetum arvense. While they don't tell us what extract of horsetail Viviscal contains, we are told it comes from the stem. What I can say is that when I searched the National Library of Medicine for “Horsetail and hair growth” and “Equisetum arvense and hair” no studies showed up.
Horsetail does appear to have some anti-inflammatory properties and I wonder if this might help “support” hair growth. I am speculating about this.
Millet Seed Extract
The scientific name for this is Sorghum bicolor. It's also called “broom corn,” a reference I believe comes from when this stuff was used to make brooms. The role it plays in human hair growth, I can't say.
Vitamin C
I located one study on vitamin C and hair growth. Technically this study was on a vitamin C-like compound called L ascorbic acid 2 phosphate. Basically, the compound caused the elongation of hair shafts in mice and also in isolated hair follicles in a test tube.
This is intriguing but as far as can be determined by this reporter, no study has shown that L ascorbic acid 2 phosphate caused hair growth in a human. What about vitamin C itself? Does vitamin C grow hair? Well, it does help us make collagen. Collagen is a protein in our hair. But, I could not find any direct proof for vitamin C supplements promoting hair growth.
Viviscal Before & After Proof
See the research and before and after pictures
Watch on my Youtube channel if you prefer
Niacinamide
This is the type of niacin found in the product. My guess is niacinamide is used because it does not cause facial flushing and redness.
Some may have heard of an anti-aging supplement called nicotinamide riboside (NR). While NR is not in Viviscal, it does contain one of its building blocks – niacinamide.
See the nicotinamide riboside review for more on that supplement.
Biotin
Biotin, a B vitamin (sometimes called vitamin H) is found in many shampoos and other hair products. While a lack of biotin may lead to hair loss in some people, I'm not convinced that most of us are lacking in it because many foods provide it. Bacteria inside of us can make it too. Either way, while a lack of biotin might lead to hair loss, I'm not aware of any evidence that biotin supplements grow hair.
Iron and Zinc
Viviscal provides a good amount of both of these minerals and both of these minerals have been linked to hair loss. For more on this see this review of iron and hair loss and zinc and hair loss.
There is a Viviscal for Men but it does not have iron. I think this is wise because too much iron may not be healthy for men.
Other Ingredients
Viviscal also contains these “other ingredients” according to the product website:
- Microcrystalline cellulose
- Maltodextrin
- Hydroxypropyl Methyl Cellulose
- Silicon dioxide
- Magnesium stearate
- Sodium carboxymethyl cellulose
- Glycerol
- Artificial orange flavoring
- Modified starch
Ingredients are listed in order as they occur as they appear on the label. These ingredients don't play any role in the hair growth benefits of Viviscal.
ViviScal Research
Let’s review the Viviscal research next.
Pilot Study #1 (not published)
Study title. “A 10-week pilot consumer perception test to evaluate the overall acceptability of a viviscal oral supplement when used by females with self-perceived thinning hair.”
This study involved 40 women and lasted 40 weeks. Results indicate that Viviscal reduces hair loss by 46%.
Problems with this study. This investigation does not seem to be a published peer-reviewed study Also, it's said they started with 40 women, but only 16 completed the study. Why did so many drop out? This high dropout rate reduces the significance of the study.
Clinical Study #2
Researchers in Finland published what appears to be the very first published Viviscal clinical study. The investigation lasted 6 months and involved 40 young men. Half the people got ViviScal and half received a placebo (fish extract).
After 6 months, those taking Viviscal had a 38% increase in non-vellus hair (in other words hair that’s not “peach fuzz”). Those getting the placebo saw a 2% increase in non-vellus hair. That's pretty good.
Clinical Study #3
Study title. Treatment of Alopecia Areata, Alopecia Totalis and Alopecia Universalis with Oral Viviscal® for 12 months.
This study appears to have been conducted in 1994.
Study problem. This does not seem to be a published, peer-reviewed study.
Clinical Study #4
Revista Brasileira de Medicina. 1997. Vol 53; No. 3; p 1-5. Pareira, Jose Marcos.
This study does not appear to be in English and can’t be located.
From what I could gather, researchers looked at 200 men with male pattern baldness (androgenetic alopecia). After 6 months of ViviScal treatment, 75.3% had decreased hair loss. 14.6% of men showed partial hair re-growth.
2012 Study
Researchers in the US conducted a small study of 10 women aged 21-75 years of age who had thinning hair. The women took either Viviscal (10 women in this group) or a placebo (5 women in this group) twice a day for 6 months.
After 6 months, those taking Viviscal showed significantly more hair growth compared to the placebo group, which showed more hair loss. Those taking Viviscal also reported more hair shine and skin improvements.
2015 Study
This investigation lasted 3 months and involved 60 women (21-65 years of age) who were either given Viviscal Extra Strength (2x per day) or a placebo. After 3 months of use, women who took Viviscal:
- Had more hair in the areas of their scalps measured
- Had less hair shedding
Women also reported they felt better also. It's possible they felt better because their new hair growth helped their confidence and outlook on life.
2016 Study
This investigation involved men with thinning hair. For 6 months, 60 men with thinning hair were given either a placebo or ViviScal. After 6 months, men taking the supplement were shown to have significant improvements in
- total hairs counted
- density of hairs
- more terminal hairs (terminal hairs are the thick hair on the head)
When researchers performed the “hair pull test' fewer hairs were removed. This appears to show ViviScal strengthened hair too.
See the video review of ViviScal for before and after pictures.
Summary of Research
Here is a quick summary of the research. Refer to the studies above to see their specifics.
| Study | Study Results |
|---|---|
| Pilot Study (unpublished) | Viviscal works |
| 1992 study | Viviscal works |
| 1997 study | Viviscal works |
| 2012 study | Viviscal works |
| 2015 study | Viviscal works |
| 2016 study | Viviscal works |
Viviscal vs. Viviscal Extra Strength
There are different types of Viviscal. When I called Viviscal, I was told that this mostly has to do with the number of Amino Mar complexes they have. Here are the differences between them:
- Viviscal Extra Strength: 450 mg
- Viviscal For Men: 450 mg
- Viviscal Professional: 475 mg
When I called the company, I was told the professional version (Viviscal Pro) was not to be sold to the public. it's only available through doctors or salons.
Viviscal For Men
I get a lot of questions about which hair growth supplements are best for men. Here are the ingredients in Viviscal Extra Strength vs. Viviscal For Men side by side:
| Viviscal Extra Strength | Viviscal For Men |
|---|---|
| Total carbs <1g (<1%DVP | Total carbs <1 g (<1%DV) |
| Vitamin C 59 mg (98%DV) | Vitamin C 30 mg (50% DV) |
| Niacin 12 mg (60% DV) | Zinc 8 mg (53% DV) |
| Biotin 120 mcg (40% DV) | N/A |
| Iron 10 mg (56% DV) | N/A |
| Zinc 11 mg (73% DV) | 8 mg (53% DV) |
| Amino Mar Complex 450 mg | Amino Mar Complex 452.9 mg |
| Horsetail 36.7 mg | Horsetail 24.5 mg |
| Millet seed 7.5 mg | N/A |
| Flaxseed extract 50 mg |
In the table above % DV = percent daily value. “N/A” = does not contain that nutrient.
As can be seen, both the men's and women's versions are very similar. They both have the same key ingredients. In fact, the Male version has a tad more of the Amino Mar Marine complex and Horsetail extract compared to Viviscal Extra Strength. Also, note that Millet Seed Extract has been replaced with Flaxseed Extract in the Men's version. I liked that the Men's version did not contain iron. Too much iron might not be good for men.
Bottom line: I believe men could take the women's version and have the same results as if they took the men's version. Since the men's version may be more expensive, this is something to consider.
Viviscal vs. The Competition
Let's now take a look at how the supplement stacks up to other popular hair growth supplements.
Viviscal vs. Nutrafol
Nutrafol is another very popular hair supplement. Like Viviscal, there is a version for men and women. Nutrafol is said to work by reducing inflammation and inhibiting a hormone called DHT. Nutrafol has more ingredients than Viviscal. Nutrafol does have 1 clinical study showing it might work. So which is better? It would be nice to see a head-to-head comparison of Nutrafol vs.
Viviscal. I won't hold my breath for that to happen anytime soon.
Watch this video: Nutrafol vs. Viviscal
Viviscal vs. Provillus
The Provillus website (Provillus.com) states that it is “Clinically Proven and FDA Approved.” And they are correct. It is. This is because Provillus is minoxidil (Rogaine), the hair growth drug we've all heard of. Provillus is not a supplement. Provillus is a 5% solution of minoxidil that's applied topically to the scalp. It's no different than any other kind of minoxidil you've seen.
In theory, Viviscal might work better with minoxidil. They both have studies showing they can help women and men. Fortunately, Rogaine (minoxidil) is available without a prescription and it's not too expensive.
Viviscal vs. Keranique
Keranique is touted as a hair growth system. There is Keranique shampoo, conditioner, Keranique Regrowth Treatment, and hair spray. The Keranique Regrowth Treatment contains “the only FDA-approved and clinically proven non-prescription ingredient to regrow hair and revitalize hair follicles.” It does – the ingredient is minoxidil (Rogaine). Keranique may be a fine product that can help support hair growth, but it's the minoxidil in it that regrows hair.
While there are no head-to-head studies comparing Viviscal to Keranique, in theory, they may work better together when combined with the minoxidil in Keranique's Regrowth Treatment serum.
Viviscal vs. Halo Beauty
Halo Beauty is a skin, nails, and hair supplement by YouTube star Tati Westbrook. Halo Beauty is a combination of various vitamins, herbs, and other compounds. While there is a little crossover between these two supplements (Halo Beauty has vitamin C and horsetail, too), it doesn't have the Amino Mar complex. So, how they stack up to each other is unknown.
Viviscal vs. Joyome
Joyome is an anti-wrinkle cream developed by the makers of Plexus Slim. As far as it can be determined, Joyome has no effects on hair growth or hair loss. As such, I don't think these products are comparable to each other. Here's my video review of Plexus Joyome:
Viviscal Side Effects
I believe Viviscal is safe for healthy people. Few side effects and adverse reactions have been reported. Here is a brief list of things to consider when taking this supplement. This list is not complete:
- Start with less than is recommended for the first week to see how you respond.
- Speak to your doctor first if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.
- Stop taking at least 2 weeks before having surgery.
- Show the supplement to your pharmacist if you take any prescription medications like blood thinners.
- Avoid this supplement if you are vegan.
- Speak to your doctor first if you are allergic to fish. Viviscal contains shark cartilage and mollusk powder.
- Viviscal has iron and vitamin C. Speak to your doctor if you have hemochromatosis (iron overload disease).
- There's no good proof that Viviscal causes liver damage. However, if you have liver disease, speak to your doctor first.
In “scientific study #1” summarized above, there is mention of a study participant getting headaches which caused the person to drop out of the study. In the Pdf file of this study – which you can view on the Viviscal website – they make reference to “Appendix V” which lists the reasons why people dropped out of the study. Unfortunately, Appendix V is not part of the Pdf file.
Viviscal And Sleep Problems
If you read the comments below, you'll notice several people reporting that Viviscal may cause insomnia. I saw no mention of insomnia in any of the Viviscal clinical studies so it's not known how common this is.
Horsetail does contain small amounts of nicotine. It's very little, but could this cause sleep problems? I can't say. For more on this topic, read the comments section below.
Does Viviscal Contain Mercury?
I called the company that makes this supplement – Church & Dwight Co. I was told that Viviscal does not contain mercury. The controversy over this involves shark cartilage powder. Previous research has noted that shark cartilage supplements may contain toxic mercury. But this doesn't mean Viviscal has mercury. When I called the Viviscal company, I was told their latest testing showed levels of mercury were 0.02 mg per kg, which is lower than the amount permitted by both US and EU standards.
I was also told the version of Viviscal sold on Amazon does not contain any mercury at all. It's at a zero level. This is because of the rules Amazon must follow when shipping internationally. Church and Dwight formulates a different version for Amazon that does not contain any shark cartilage, a source of mercury. Because the Amazon version does not contain shark cartilage, this means it also does not contain any mercury.
Does Viviscal Contain BMAA?
β-Methylamino-L-alanine, also known as BMAA, is a brain toxin that is produced by some types of bacteria (called cyanobacteria) and other microorganisms. BMAA has been implicated in the development of Parkinson's disease and ALS (Lou Gehrig's Disease). Because BMAA has been found in shellfish, this is of concern to some who use Viviviscal. Thankfully, this is not a problem. I called the Church & Dwight company and asked about the amount of BMAA in Viviscal. I was told Viviscal does not contain any BMAA.
Viviscal And Gaining Weight
Some people have also reported Viviscal has caused them to gain weight. None of the studies reported this side effect. I am not sure how common weight gain side effect is or if it might be a fluke? See the comments for more on this.
Who Makes Viviscal?
Viviscal is sold by Lifes2good (Lifes2Good.com), a company that markets many health and beauty products. While the global corporate office is located in Ireland, in the US, they can be found at 355 N Canal Street, Chicago, IL 60606. They also have an office in London.
Lifes2Good is part of a larger company called Church & Dwight Co., Inc, located in New Jersey. This organization has several familiar brands including OxyClean, Kaboom, Orajel, and even Arm & Hammer Baking Soda. Church and Dwight is a publicly-traded company (stock symbol CHD).
I was told they are phasing out the Lifs2good name and just using Church & Dwight in the future.
The Lifes2good company has been in business since 1997 according to the Better Business Bureau. The BBB gave this company a rating of A+ when this review was updated. See the BBB file for updates and more information.
Church and Dwight has an D rating with the BBB. See the BBB file for updates and more information.
Contact Viviscal
According to the company website, customer support can be reached at 877-333-4581. The Better Business Bureau also provides this number: 312-454-6167. The address for Viviscal is 355 N Canal St, Chicago, IL 60606-1207. The product website states the supplement is made in Ireland.
Church and Dwight, which now owns Viviscal, is located at 500 Charles Ewing Blvd Princeton South Corporate Center Trenton, NJ 08628-3448. The phone number is 609-683-5900.
Finola Hughes And ViviScal
Previously, actress Finola Hughes has appeared in Viviscal ads. She is listed on the website as a spokesperson. I assume this means she’s a paid spokesperson.
Viviscal And Molly Sims
Actress, model, and author Molly Sims is also a spokesperson. She is listed as a 20-year user of Viviscal. Her story of how she started losing her hair in her 20s is on the product website. I assume she is a paid spokesperson.
Buy Viviscal
This supplement is VERY popular and can be purchased at a wide range of stores like Walgreens, Costco, BJs, Sam's Club, Walmart, CVS, Rite Aid, Ulta, and Target as well as on Amazon. Here is Viviscal on Amazon
Viviscal Cost
Viviscal extra strength costs $99 per bottle according to the supplement's website. There is also a scalp lotion which is $19.99 but it doesn't have the same ingredients as the pill– and there is no good proof that the scalp lotion helps re-grow hair. The same thing is true for Viviscal shampoo and other products.
My advice: stick with Viviscal tablets. Don't worry about the shampoo or scalp lotion.
Interestingly, the shampoo does not contain caffeine, which is part of Thicker Fuller Hair I reviewed previously.
Viviscal Elite
The Elite supplement contains an auto-ship program where they send you a 90-day supply every 3 months (90 days) so you don't run out. Shipping is free with the Elite program and some free gifts are included also. It looks like the Elite program is for combo products. There seems to be no proof the Elite program offers clinically proven advanges over the regular viviscal formula.
Viviscal Pro & Con
| Pro | Con |
| Supplement has research | May take 3-6 months to see changes |
| All studies show it works | |
| Company supports studies | |
| The company is well known | |
| Reports show no side effects | |
| Seems to work in women and men |
Other Hair Products
Several people have told me that they have gotten good results using a product called Toppik. This is not a hair growth supplement but rather a fine powder that binds to existing hair, making it look thicker and fuller. I have met people with thinning hair who have used this product, and they give it high marks.
The Church and Dwight Co. now owns Toppik (smart move if you ask me).
Does ViviScal Work?
Viviscal has various clinical studies to prove it grows thinning hair and/or slows hair loss. For the most part, the studies appear to be well done. In the testimonials below, several people have stated it does work. Based on the research and testimonials, this may be something worth trying.
Here's Viviscal on Amazon
Other Hair Growth Supplement Reviews
- Viviscal vs. Nutrafol Review
- PHYTO Re30 Review
- Castor Oil: Does It Grow Hair?
- Gray Hair Supplements Review
- Pseudocatalase Review
- Halo Beauty Review
- Amla Fruit and Hair Growth Review
- Does Creatine Cause Hair Loss?
- Hair Essentials Review
- Rosemary oil for Balding and Regrowing Hair (video)
I too, suffer from thinning hair. I am afraid to wash my hair for fear that I will loose more. I also have thyroid issues (so my case may be different than most). I wanted to share with you a product that really worked for me when my thyroid was doing okay (I am no longer taking thyroid meds due to my recent tests showing that I have switched from Hypo to Hyper Thyroid).
The product I was using is called PURVANA. I saw a dramatic difference in my hair’s body, thickness and growth (but like I stated before- my thyroid was finally regulated at the time, and is not anymore). I still take the PURVANA as I truly believe that it is an amazing product. For those that suffer thinning hair due to heredity (which also do), this product may really be of great interest to you. It is inexpensive and comes in a 30 day supply. It is made by a Company called Wellgenix, I recommend 3 months trial before deciding it’s benefits- I believe that you will love what you see! Good Luck!!!
Deby, If you really do have hypothyroidism, you need to work with your doctor to find a dosage that is right for you. There are bigger things going on here than hair loss. There is evidence that hypothyroidism may be linked to heart disease and other disorders including Alzheimer’s disease. Please do talk to your doctor about this. If you have hypothyroidism, you’re doctor can best advise you on the right dosage that is right for you.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19966035
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20021390
I am a 35 year old female with pcos my hair stated thinning about a year ago. 4 months ago i started taking biotin and primrose oil i also take fish oil ( i dont know if that has helped with the hair loss or not ) And i stopped dyeing my hair as well in the hope that my hair would grow back or at least stop thinning. I have to say that i personally think the biotin and the primrose oil really helped me i actually have about 2 inches of new hair growth and my nails are growing really good. I dont know if this will help anyone else but it seems to be helping me a lot.
RE TO VISICAL I SAW IT ON DR OZ HAVING A HARD TIME LOCATING IT ALSO TRYING TO FIND OUT IF IT HAVE SIDE EFFECTS THANK YOU
Dorothy, glad to help and thanks for mentioning Dr Oz. That explains why my Viviscal review is getting so much attention lately 🙂 I do know Bed Bath and Beyond has Viviscal and I’m sure Amazon has it also. Hope that helps.
I have been taking Biotin for over a year and have noticed no difference in my hair or my eyebrows which are thinning bad! My thinning hair and eyebrows are probably due to age (56) and menopause. One week ago I started taking the Viviscal supplement. I bought it at drugstore.com. The reviews for Viviscal were “glowing” not a bad review that I could find. Some did say that they did not start seeing results for at least 4 months. I’ll give it 6 months and then we’ll see. Thanks for your post on this.
Do keep me posted on how it works for you Lauren. Very interested!
Joe, I would also like an update on the Biotin.
Rebecca, as of now, Im not sure if anything is changing or not. There is a part of me that thinks maybe its working and another part of me who doesn’t. Right now that’s about the best answer I can give. I’m getting a hair cut this week I will ask my barber if he notices any difference or if he has heard of anything on biotin and hair.
I am going to try it this month, got mine at Amazon, recommended buy a friend who has been using it for a couple of months ans swears by it, she also said her nails are growing beautifully!
Sue let me know if viviscal helps your nails!
Hi
I have been using this product for a month and my nails have been growing and I am a nail biter and I have been noticing around my temples have been fulling in its working.
angela how long have you been using this?
I am a female with thinning hair going thru menopause; was tempted to try Viviscal but thanks to Joe’s research, I will hold off. I would like an update on the Biotin after a few months. I have been using Redken’s Intraforce since October but my hair is still as thin & wispy as when I started.
Joe your evaluation of this product is great! Thank you! While I would love to not have thin fine hair I’ve always been skeptical of products claims & afraid to waste $. Other then prenatal vitamins I am wary with the marketing out there for phony products. Thanks again for your attention to detail I will try it & post results. Any other suggestions of non topical products for thin & fine hair?
Lisa thanks and I will look forward to reading your updates on Viviscal. I am experimenting with the vitamin biotin for hair right now. I’ve heard doctors on the radio talk about it and I’ve seen some research that it seems to thicken the hair shaft. Hair grows slow and I’ve only been taking it for about a month so its hard to know if its working or not. The good news is that biotin is cheap 😉
Hello everyone. I’m glad to come across this. I’m in desperate need of something for my thinning hair. Have tried so many diff things and no luck. I’m only 33yrs and hair keeps getting thinner by the day. For us women it’s very hard situation. I will def give this try since everything else has failed. What do I have to lose…Wish me luck, and will keep you all posted.
Have you tried minoxidil?
Hello Ice I am a 31 yr old female with same issues as yourself I started taking viviscal I say for 3 months now & at first I noticed less shedding then I was taking some antibiotics & I noticed more shedding! It’s worrying me…I have stopped the antibiotics but still noticed lots of shedding I don’t know what to do…how has your experience been?
I am a 39 year old woman. My hair growth had completely slowed and I was loosing a ton of hair in the shower every day causing my hair to severely thin. I started using Viviscal and within about 3 weeks I noticed a huge different in the amount of hair loss in the shower. This product works great for me and I definitely recommend it!
I’m curious if Mer’s success was due more to stopping Accutane than the Viviscal.
I have been using this product for 3-4 months and so far no results, but will keep you informed as time goes on. I will continue use for another 3-4 more months and if nothing then I consider this a flop. Will let you all know my results soon.
Matthew, thanks for doing that!
Hi Joe.
Thank you for your thorough, concise evaluation of Viviscal’s product claims. I also just saw that episode of Dr. Oz., with celebrity hairstylist Tabatha Coffey. I’m researching this product for my 85-year-old mom, who is obsessing about her hair loss, and Mer’s posting does seem to provide some anecdotal support for it’s efficacy. Since I’m in Canada, I don’t even know if the product is available here. I plan to visit some health food stores tomorrow. But I’m thinking that this is one of those “If it seems too good to be true…” situations. The jury is definitely still out. 😉
Noralee, you should be able to find Viviscal at Bed Bath and Beyond. I saw it there just last week. If not there than Amazon should definitely have it. As I said to somebody else previously, I think, for now, you can save your money on the Viviscal vitamins – they are usually sold right next to Viviscal at Bed Bath and Beyond. I saw no research that combined Viviscal and the Viviscal vitamins.
dear Joe, I”m so disappointed, I have two month taking Viviscal and my hair doesn’t look any better. They look thinner, opaque and breaking down. Should I continue taking, what do you think. thanks
Laly Im so sorry to hear that. I’ve been on the fence about Viviscal since I reviewed it. Their research leaves much to be desired but Ive been hoping people would let me know it was working for them. If you think your hair looks worse with Viviscal, I say stop taking it. While there research seems to last longer than 2 months, it is expensive and I would not want you to drop any more money on something that you don’t feel is working. Have you ever asked a dermatologist or estitician about viviscal to get their thoughts?
Have anybody else seen hair improvements from Viviscal?
My daughter had thin hair all her life and she told me ” mom I’m so excited I’ve been using this product called viviscal for about 3 months and my hair has grown fuller longer and looks so healthy and shiny like I’ve never seen it before!!” She was delighted with the product and she told me she is taking biotin in addition to the viviscal.
It blesses my heart because my daughter has always been very subconscious about her hair and kids can be very cruel in school and would ask her if she was going bald.
Every day I would have to encourage her that it was just jealous kids but she would ask me how come her sister had such thick long hair and hers was so thin when she was just 12 years old. I didn’t know what to tell her except that it was just mean kids making fun of her.
So I thank God that this product is working for my daughter. I just may give it a try to see if it help my hair get more thickness back to it because I’m in my 60’s but miss my long full head of hair. Sandi
Sandi really glad to hear about your daughter 🙂
Do any of you know, once you see good results, say after a year, do you need to continue taking it? Or can you stop & continue use if you see thinning again? Thanks
Kelee, I think if you stop taking Viviscal, eventually, you’d lose anything that grew back.
Glad you touched on this subject. I just saw this product mentioned on Dr. Oz by some hair “guru” (name?). According to her, Viviscal is not for pattern baldness, but suppose to help for hormonal hair loss. CVS has 60 tabs for $40 (other products also on sale now). I might give it a try.
Linda, keep us posted how it works for you. I agree, its a good issue to touch on.
Hi,
Just tried this yesterday, I’ll report my findings in a few months.
Matt, yes please do I’m really curious!
All the studies you checked were with men? What about women? And has there been any information at all about how it does for ladies losing their hair due to age? Thanks!
Barbara, the first study I listed in my review did contain women so theoretically there may be something to it. I have heard people say this stuff has helped them. I wish Viviscal – or somebody else – would do better studies so you would have a better answer. For now my best advise is give it a chance for a few months and see if it works for you. If it does, I do hope you will let me know. This is a product that I find interesting.
When I was at Bed Bath and Beyond recently I saw they also sell vitamins for hair growth. Whether these help Viviscal work better or not I dont know. As far as I could tell, none of the studies listed on the Viviscal website seem to have used the supplements in combination with the regular viviscal scalp treatment.
Do you think this will work on hair loss due to hormones (I.e- stopping birth control pills?)
KT, that is a very good question. I’m not sure. You might be able to get viviscal cheaper online. if you try it and it works please do let me know. I’d curious.
How does this cause weight gain? My hair is thinning but I don’t need weight gain
Hi Joyce, I’m not sure why some people are saying they gained weight with Viviscal. What might be the reasons for that, I can’t say. For what it’s worth, I don’t think this is an issue for most people if the comments are any indication.
After using Acutane, i noticed my hair was thinning and falling!I came across Viviscal and i have been using it for about 9 months now and i have seen tremendous growth in my hair and i have also noticed new hair growth where it had slowed down or even stopped! I am super happy with this product,and i cant believe it has actually helped me this much! I agree it is a little expensive but i pay 89.99 for three months supply, divide that by 3 and it will come up to $30 a month, which is not so bad considering i am seeing results! Plus there are always $10 coupons that i use as well.
I will definitely recommend this product to anyone who’s hair is thinning or falling out. I get comments all the time now about how fast my hair is growing!
A++ for Viviscal! 🙂
Mer, thanks for the feedback and I am really glad Viviscal is working for you!!
How do we know poster “Mer” doesn’t work for Vivascal?
Tom, I really do try to weed out spammers but ultimately anything is possible. One thing is to look at comments as a whole.
AS OF 4/13/15 I BEGAN TAKIN VISICAL MY HAIR WAS FALLEN OUT, SHEDDIN, THINNIN, I STAYED IN THE HOUSE COVERED MY HEAD UP IN BONNETS MY BEAUTIFUL LOCKS WERE FADIN BUT NOW THEY ARE COMIN BACK THANK GOD SO BLESSED FOR THIS PRODUCT!!!.
HI MER, im also one of the acutance user. Currently im facing hair lost problem and my hair took forever to grow even for 1 inch. im so depressed. How is your progress with viviscal ? Appreciate your share.
I am reading over the responses and studies and I am right in the middle of taking Viviscal professional 475mg. I have been taking it for 3 months and I am Sooo pleased w the results. I myself was So depressed from sudden hair loss. The cause of hair loss was not for certain but I stopped taking birth control.
My dermatologist said it was chemical damage. I can’t wait to see what the next 3 months has to offer. My hair is growing better w viviscal than it ever has on it’s own. I have a much better quality. My hair is no longer thin (It’s not EXTREMELY thick) but I am extremely pleased w the way it is growing.
I would recommend this product and anyone using it I would encourage you to continue. The results may take a little longer to see per individual; varying from 2 to 3 wks difference. Good luck & don’t give up!! The doc gave me shampoo & lotion which I should have taken from the beginning but I was iffy (may have been even better results) I will come back w update.
Perhaps you should have done a little more research. Horsetail is VERY well known to grow out hair — it’s used in silica hair growth vitamins.
Alexandra, I did research Viviscal and hair growth and showed you the research that Viviscal uses to support their product – and the problems with that research. Just to double check, I looked again today and could not find any good evidence that horsetail grows hair. Everybody who says it does just says it works but does not show me of any proof. So, I will ask you; can you show me a clinical study that noted horsetails ability to grow hair in humans? I am very open to the possibility that I am wrong – none of us is perfect – so please do show me the proof I missed.
I’m hoping you can show me proof for horsetail because every rainy day, I’m reminded of how little hair I have left 😉
Horsetail is an herb.
toy, thanks, but that still doesn’t tell us what extract of the horsetail herb is in Viviscal. They only say horsetail extract.
its an oil that is extracted from an herb called horsetail. it helps with the shiny effect of the hair
Lindsay, thanks. Do you know the name of that oil?