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)
Joe in regard to your question, I only take the pills, twice a day. I didn’t begin any other supplements in addition to my norm (calcium, vit e, vit D, B12) when I began the viviscal so I know I can chalk up the growth to those alone. I am almost onto month 4 and I still love this product. I have family in town this weekend who haven’t seen me in about 6 months and they asked if I was wearing extensions. Seriously I can’t believe how well viviscal has worked for me.
Thanks!
Beth thanks for letting me know and that’s great news. Glad its working for you 🙂
I’ve had androgenic alopecia since my early twenties and I’m now 35. I started taking Viviscal religiously, twice a day in May 2011 after reading about it on the IntoTheGloss.com blog (apparently a lot of models rave about it). After about two months, I started to see some wispy, baby hair around my hairline. Now (ie Feb 2012) I feel that there is a real difference.
My scalp is much less visible around my parting and I need far fewer hair extensions. I read through all of the comments here and people seem to be expecting results too quickly – it takes a lot of time and patience (in my case almost 10 months) before you can feel a difference (and I take two tablets a day).
Even now, the new hair is wispy. I think it will take some more months of taking Viviscal for the new hair to become thicker. Anyway, even though the process is a long one, I’m thrilled with the results. I honestly do think that Viviscal can help a lot of people if they get it the chance.
Has the progress Continued ? Have the wispy hairs become stronger ? I am 6 months in and feel no difference though my hair does look a bit healthier
I’ve been taking Viviscal for a little over a month, and I have to say I’m impressed. I started it because I heard that it helped some people grow their hair longer, so I wanted to check it out. I can see that my hair is much thicker and in better condition overall, it even seems to be longer. At first I thought I was imagining it but my boyfriend even commented on how good and full my hair looks. I’m 20 and in good health so I can’t say how it works for age/medical related hair loss. But I love it and am going to continue to use it and see how long I can grow my hair.
KCal 9 News in Los Angeles had a segment today on Viviscal. If interested, you can go to http://www.kcal9.com and go to the tab “As seen on TV”. A dermotologist, Dr. Glynis Ablon, was on the show and said that her patients see great results within 4-6 mos. She is currently conducting her own study. If you check out her website at http://www.abloninstitute.com, she prescribes Viviscal along with laser therapy and a copper spray.
My question is why didnt she do the study before prescribing it? And, shouldnt it be a clinical study?
My feelings are that, even if some people believe they are seeing results, how do we know if there will be any long term adverse effects from ingesting a pill with some unknown ingredients?
As Joe pointed out, we dont know what some of these ingredients are. They could be putting anything in it. We cant just blindly trust this stuff just because they call it a vitamin! Thanks for your research Joe. I’m not going to try it. My hair may be thinning, but I dont need some unknown health problems down the road.
Terry, Ive heard of other dermatologists recommending Viviscal also. Ive heard mixed results with it but Id agree that if its going to work that its going to take several months.
Hi everyone. Just thought I’d share this….I went to order my second pack of Viviscal on Amazon.com, but I noticed that the price went up almost $20 compared to 4 weeks ago! I did some researching and found that Harmon’s sells it for $44.99, and you can use your 20% Bed, Bath and Beyond coupons there. So it comes out to $35.99! I’m going to stock up!! I am finishing up week 4, and have noticed a great difference in my hair…..definitely not falling out as much and I can see a lot of the regrowth.
Hi – regarding Biotin. I was taking Biotin for a lot longer than I have been taking Viviscal. I only started the Viviscal because the biotin was not working. My nails were better on the biotin, but not my hair. Just wanted to put that out there. 🙂 Good luck folks.
Julie, Ive also noticed my nails growing faster! Hair… I want to think something is changing but I’m just not sure.
Hello all!
For the past year I have been trying my best to grow my hair out. I damaged my hair by coloring and using my flat iron daily, so last year I vowed to take really good care of my hair.
I chopped it all off and had a chin-length bob, haven’t used heat stylers, have been using coconut oil and been taking Biotin. This has done wonders for me. My hair has grown super long, within a year it went from my chin to lower back. Not to mention my nails are super long and strong and my skin looks amazing.
I just wonder if Viviscal will do more for me than Biotin has.
I plan on finishing my bottle of Biotin, then start with Viviscal around March.
Do you know if I can use them together?
Mae, while I dont know if biotin and viviscal has ever been tested together, I don’t see why not. Biotin is a rather safe vitamin for the most part. Glad something has been working for you!
Hello All! I am a 35 year old female….mother of 3 children. Sometime around September – October 2011, I noticed that my hair started to drastically fall out. I usually have more than normal hair fall on a daily basis, but always seemed to have a head of thick healthy hair. I immediately saw a dermatologist. He did some bloodwork to check my hormone, thyroid, and iron levels and everything came back normal. I did not change anything in my diet, nor was I sick. The hair fall had gotten so bad that you could see the widening of my part and my hairline was starting to recede.
I did some research on Viviscal, and due to the positive reviews, I began taking it about 3.5 weeks ago. In addition to the Viviscal, I take a multi-vitamin, biotin, evening primrose oil, fish oil and flaxseed oil. I also take zinc and l-lyseine (amino acid) every other day. I read that all of these are supposed to be very good for stimulating hair re-growth. It was also just recently on Dr. Oz that black currant oil is supposed to work very well. I will be taking that too. And I also read some articles on l-cysteine which is another amino acid.
So far, it’s only been shy of a month, but I can definitely see some new hair growth. My hair is still falling out, but not as much. I will keep all of you posted as much as possible and let you know how the Viviscal along with the other supplements is working for me 🙂
Krissy
check your HDL levels semi regularly if you take zinc. Its not hard to get the RDA for zinc (its only about 11 mg per day) and too much might lower HDL levels (the good cholesterol). Just thought I’d mention that.
Hello there! I just wanted to offer a little help to those suffering from hair loss. My daughter and I contracted mono last year and became pretty ill. About a month after we felt better, both of our hair began falling out like crazy! We have long hair so it was obvious, as it was all over our house, shower, car, and even on our friends..
We were advised by a nice lady at our local health food store to take Biotin, 5000 mg. Our hair began to regrow about a month into our daily dosages. Its really inexpensive, around $12 per month. We now both have baby hairs all over our head, but they are a welcoming sight!! We also tried nioxin hair products and scalp treatment. But I def think it was the Biotin in combination with B Complex vitamins that did the trick. Hope this helps someone.
Jen, thanks for saying that. I was not aware of this but did search for “hair loss and mono” and found that some people do indeed lose their hair – or some of it – after getting mono. While I’m not a doctor it looks like the condition is called “telogen effluvium” which according to webmd.com is a reversible condition. So that said, was it the biotin and B complex that caused your hair to regrow or was it just that you took these vitamins at a time when the hair was going to grow back on its own? I dont know but I thought I would mention it. Either way I am glad the hair of both you and your daughters hair is returning.
here is the webmd article I looked at http://www.webmd.com/skin-problems-and-treatments/hair-loss/effluviums
I heard about Viviscal on the Dr. Oz show. My hair has been thinning and falling out for the past few years from having children and high levels of stress. It had gotten so bad that when I tried running my fingers through my hair, I would pull out many strands…not to mention how easily you could see my scalp.
I checked the reviews and decided to give it a try. I was skeptical, but have tried Biotin and all kinds of shampoos with no success, so I figured it was worth a try. After a week and a half my 14 year old daughter commented that she noticed my hair looking fuller. She had no idea I was taking these pills. I have now been taking them for more than 2 weeks and am amazed that I have almost no hair falling out whether I’m running my fingers through my hair, brushing it or just falling on to my clothes, like before.
There definitely appears to be a difference in my hair growth and retention. I have also noticed my nails are stronger and growing faster. So far, so good. I’ll check back in in a couple of months to report my progress with this product.
Madelaine, thanks for the information and I will look forward to learning what happens in a few months.
I really wish this product did work but I have been taking it for 9 months now and my hair continues to grow thinner ans thinner as the days pass. So Im afraid it isn’t working for me, though I still am hoping against hope albeit at €60.00 per month
Jason, since hair loss can be a complicated issue, I hope you also got checked out by your doctor to see if there is an identification problem.
I began using viviscal about 2.5 months ago. I have never had thin or thinning hair, but I had a short haircut that I couldn’t grow out for years. My hair is thick and it would take forever to grow, and look terrible at the chin to shoulder stage so I’d always end up chopping it.
I read about viviscal in an old fashion mag article at my dentist office. The article interviewed a “Hollywood” hairstylist that reported he gave it to all his clients to help regrow their hair quicker if they had cut it for a role. I just decided to use it for quicker growth. I didn’t have too high hopes but after reading reviews on Amazon I decided to give it a try.
Within two weeks I began to visibly see a difference as did my disbelieving husband. I have comments literally every day from people who can’t believe how long my hair is getting. My nails also grow like weeds. I have to pluck my eyebrows daily, and my eyelashes are incredibly thick and full as compared to before.
This is seriously a miracle pill for me and I recommend it to everyone I meet. I am a 32 year old Caucasian female with children, I use birth control and adderall. I take 2 pills a day and would pay $200 a month or more for the results I’ve gotten.
Beth, are you using the viviscal supplements also?
Hey Beth, are you using the viviscal tablets and taking the birth control pills? Let me know, because I was wondering if it’s okay to take both.
Jennifer, call Viviscal about this. their customer service # is 888-444-9073. Im not aware of any interaction with birth control pills. They may be able to shed more light on this. When I called them, I found their customer service people very helpful.
I am excited to begin Viviscal- where do i get coupons as am disabled and have very limited income.
Patti, have you checked ebay? they may have deals? Here it is on Amazon too.
I have been taking viviscal for almost 2 full months. I had thyroid cancer and lost a lot of hair as a result. Even after my thyroid was removed and everything is back to ‘normal’ my hair never really grew back. Enter viviscal. I have to say; I am very impressed. After around week 5 I started to notice new growth all over my head. I also noticed that the hair I already had was fuller. What is even better is that people have been asking me what I have done to my hair. It shinier; fuller. I have had to color it a little more often it is growing in so fast. No side effects that I have noticed. I have found a one month supply for 50 on amazon. Shop around. Definitely give it a try and give it t least 2 months. Good luck!
Julie, fantastic! glad its helping you – and even more glad you beat thyroid cancer 🙂
I am a 44 year old woman and started taking Viviscal 2x/day for about a month. Like Stacy, you can see my scalp when hair is wet. I dread taking showers because I know there will be a wad of hair in the drain. Then more fallout as I blow dry. I also had high hopes because of all the positive reviews on amazon.
My hair is softer and feels stronger. I see less fallout on my pillow in the morning and on my clothes during the day. But, I still lose lots of hair in the shower. No accelerated hair or nail growth as others on amazon reported. I don’t see any new growth either. Will buy another 30 day supply and hope for the best.
Will report again in a month.
My question is this..”Why doesn’t Finola show us before and after pics of herself?” Something to think about.
Hi there Joe;
Thanks for this review..I am considering trying this but like others, hesitant due to the cost. I’m in my mid-twenties and my hair isn’t thinning so much as just thin. I have taken Adderall for 8 years, which I hear can lead to thinner hair. Have you heard this? I took Biotin for a week but immediately started breaking out, which I have heard has happened to many other people on Biotin… Any idea if this is true or perhaps due to something else?
Any advice on whether you think there is any truth to the Biotin causing break outs or the Adderall causing thinning hair?
Thanks a bunch!
Hannah, I have never heard of this. I did some research and didn’t seem to find anything concrete online. Here is something from webmd on drug induced hair loss (you may have already seen this in your own research ) http://www.webmd.com/skin-problems-and-treatments/hair-loss/drug-induced-hair-loss
I also have not heard about acne breakouts and biotin.
have you asked your doctor about this? Another option is asking a pharmacist. They know all about drug side effects and and are very smart. If you find an answer to this let me know.
I am a 34 year old woman and I have had thinning hair since my mid 20’s. I am on my third month supply of viviscal. Instead of taking two pills a day, I take one pill a day as the product is quite expensive. The box clearly states that most people will not see results until 6 months but some see results by the third month.
I have to say, I did not have high hopes for this product, but I purchased it due to the large amount of positive reviews on amazon and other sites that sold this product. I am at my third month with this product and I have to say that my hair is getting thicker. The thinning spots on the top of my head are filling in. This past year, my hair has gotten so thin that I did not even want to look in the mirror after I showered as I could see my scalp when my hair was wet. It’s really devastating to go through this as a woman.
I am really excited to see what my hair will look like over the next few months. I think this is a product that takes time and as anything, it may work for some but not for all. I am glad that I found something that works for me and I will never be without it.
I have alopecia areata. I’m just wondering if you would recommend these pills for treating autoimmune hair loss problems. Has anyone else found any sort of treatment that works? Thanks
Bee, its a good question and I dont know the answer – does anybody else? If you do try it, would you please let me know if it worked or not.
Joe, This is the first that I have heard of the connection between Thyroid Dysfunction and Alzheimer’s. I am aware of the connection with Heart Disease. I had an amazing doctor back in Michigan, however, I have moved to SC and I cannot find a good doctor who prescribes non-synthetic thyroid meds. I had been on Armour Thyroid and was feeling great, but was switched to the synthetic back in February 2010. I have not been the same since.
My previous Dr studied and kept up on new information concerning thyroid issues and treatments, but I really do not trust my current Dr’s lack of knowledge in new standards and testing to keep my thyroid in check. I have asked around over the past 2 years of any other doctors who may be able to help and I am told (even by doctors themselves), that no one is going to prescribe a non-synthetic drug to regulate my thyroid.
I am considering going to a Women’s clinic for Natural Hormones, but it is at least an hour away from my home and I am hesitant about committing to that 🙁 I do appreciate your advice, and I will probably end up going to the Women’s Clinic as I am getting very frustrated with the issues I am having. Thanks for your help!!!
Deby, Didn’t mean to scare you but I wanted you to know that there is talk about that connection. Whether its true for everybody I dont know and thats why I suggest going to a good doctor who can address this much better than I can. I equate thyroid hormone with vitamin D. For years they said vitamin D was just “for the bones” but know we know it does a lot more than that. The same seems to be true about thyroid hormone. I understand how some are opposed to synthetic drugs/supplements. I suggest you find a doctor who will listen to your concerns and try to find a medication dosage that can help you. I don’t know if Armour Thyroid is an option or not but even if you need a synthetic form (synthroid) I think in the long run that might be best for you if you really do have hypothyroidism.
The website on the box I have is … WellgenixHealth.com. I buy this at Nature’s Remedies (a health food and supplement store in Greenwood, SC, they too have a website).