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Viviscal

Viviscal

Overall Rating

1.8

23 Customer Reviews

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Summary

Viviscal Hair Supplements allegedly helps restore your thinning hair if you take them daily for three to six months. Results are possible for those with subtle hair thinning and loss and not effective for those who other underlying causes of their hair loss.

Pros

  • Clinically proven effective for slowing hair loss and speeding hair growth
  • Discounts available when ordered on a subscription basis

Cons

  • May cost about $1.50 per day
  • Must be taken long term for results
  • Results may reverse if you stop taking it
  • Some users experienced side effects
  • Results may be subtle

Viviscal Hair Growth Supplement Review: Does It Work?

By Lydia Noyes

Updated on: Dec 12, 2019

Going bald may be thought of as a men’s problem, but more than half of all women will experience noticeable hair loss at some point in their lives.

Despite its prevalence, thinning hair is a psychological struggle for many women, and there is an enormous market of products and supplements that claim to combat it.

Viviscal is a brand of haircare products designed to combat the effects of thinning hair. It promises to give you the nutrition you need for thicker, healthier hair for as long as you take them.

The company offers a range of shampoos, conditioners, and styling products, but this article will focus on its hair growth supplements for women. Read through our analysis of this product’s purported benefits, ingredients, and customer reviews to learn whether you should consider taking it.

How Viviscal Hair Growth Supplement Works

Female hair loss is more common than many people think. Daily stress, a poor diet, post-pregnancy hormonal shifts, menopause, medications, and your genetics all impact the amount of hair on your head at any given time.

Viviscal approaches hair loss from a nutritional standpoint. These supplements claim to help you foster a healthy scalp and supply each hair follicle with what it needs to stay in the anagen (growing) phase longer.

The supplement’s proprietary blend is the key to its effectiveness, says Dr. Peterson Pierre, a board-certified dermatologist.

“This drug-free nutritional supplement addresses hair growth from multiple different angles to maximize your results,” he told us. “It nourishes the follicles, strengthens and promotes the growth of existing hair. The resulting hair is noticeably stronger, healthier, and more vibrant.”

The main idea is that certain nutritional deficiencies can affect the strength and condition of your hair.

“The primary active ingredient in Viviscal is the proprietary AminoMar marine complex, Dr. Pierre elaborated. “This is made of fish protein molecules and essential fatty acids derived from the Inuit’s diet because they have great skin and hair, presumably as a result of their fish and protein-rich diet.”

Ingredients

Viviscal hair supplements contain a mix of nutrients and a proprietary blend of marine-based material, and horsetail and millet seed extract.

Nutrient Amount Percent Daily Value
Vitamin C 59 mg 65%
Niacin 12 mg 75%
Biotin 120 mcg 400%
Calcium 60 mg 5%
Iron 10 mg 56%
Zinc 11mg 100%
AnimoMar Marine Complex (shark cartilage, oyster extract powder) 450 mg N/A
Horsetail (stem) extract 36.7 mg N/A
Millet seed extract 7.5 mg N/A

AminoMar®

Viviscal’s proprietary blend contains a marine complex made from shark cartilage and oyster extract powder. Beyond calcium, collagen, proteins, and other nutrients, these extracts contain glucosamine, all of which will purportedly stimulate the growth of hair tissue.

There’s little clinical research available to prove these benefits beyond a double-blind study from 2012 that looked specifically at Viviscal. This study assessed the effectiveness of the supplements compared to a placebo and found that it significantly increased hair growth after 90 and 180 days, based on the subjects’ self-perceived results.

This study didn’t uncover any adverse effects in participants who took the supplement.

Biotin

Also known as vitamin B7, biotin helps the body to metabolize carbohydrates, fats, and amino acids. Biotin supports both hair and growth, and it has gained attention in recent years as a supplemental ingredient to improve them.

One study, published in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, found that participants who took 10,000mcg of biotin a day experienced improvements in the strength and growth rate of their nails. However, participants didn’t experience any noticeable improvements in their hair.

There isn’t much clinical evidence available to support the idea that biotin can cause improvements in hair for people who aren’t already deficient in the nutrient.

Vitamin C

This versatile vitamin is a powerful antioxidant. It builds up your collagen levels and helps your blood absorb iron, which can promote hair growth.

Again, there’s minimal evidence that vitamin C can improve hair health in those who aren’t deficient. And, as vitamin C is a water-soluble vitamin, your system will flush out any excess you ingest each day.

This means that there’s little benefit to taking large doses of the vitamin for your hair.

Iron

This essential mineral is critical for dozens of biological processes, including red blood cell functioning. Thinning hair is often one of the first visible symptoms of iron deficiency, as your hair follicles depend on blood cells to carry oxygen to their shaft.

Those with a deficiency will benefit from additional iron, but supplementing your levels beyond this amount likely won’t make much difference.

Horsetail Herb

Long used for its anti-inflammatory effects, horsetail herb is valued in traditional medicine. It’s often included in cosmetics and shampoos as a treatment for balding and hair loss. Taken as a supplement, the herb gives your system silica, which Viviscal claims will promote the structural integrity of your hair while adding shine.

Key Takeaways

All of the ingredients in Viviscal supplements are important for maintaining good health and show evidence of supporting healthy hair.

Though there’s clinical evidence that the supplement as a whole can make a difference in hair growth rates and slowing down hair loss, the research for each individual ingredient is less robust unless you are deficient in one of them.

Possible Side Effects

The clinical study that looked at Viviscal’s effectiveness didn’t find any side effects associated with using the supplement.

However, the company website specifies that the supplement isn’t suitable for anyone with a fish or shellfish allergy and that it might be manufactured in facilities that process dairy, soy, nuts, eggs, or wheat.

Some people believe that taking excessive amounts of biotin can lead to breakouts, though the science doesn’t back up this association. Viviscal states that no correlation has been found between taking the supplement and increased acne.

A few Viviscal customers state that the supplement caused issues like nausea and stomach pain. We couldn’t find any connections between the supplement’s ingredients and these side effects, though it’s common for some people’s systems to take a while to adjust when they first take a dietary supplement.

If you notice these symptoms, there’s a good chance they will disappear after a few weeks if you continue to take the supplement.

Cost and Buying Options

The cost for Viviscal Advanced Hair Growth supplements depends on the amount you purchase. A one-month supply (60 tablets) costs $49.99, while a three-month supply (180 tablets) is $119.97 on the company website.

You can also sign up for an auto-ship program that gives you a three-month supply of supplements four times a year, for the price of $39.99 per month ($119.97 per delivery).

You’ll pay $6.95 in shipping costs for a one-month supply of Viviscal. A purchase of a three-month supply will qualify for free shipping.

All purchases from Viviscal qualify for a 90-day money-back guarantee. This means that you can return any purchase you find unsatisfactory to the company within 90 days of receipt for a full refund, including shipping charges.

Viviscal Supplements are also sold at various retail locations, including CVS, Walgreens, Target, Walmart, Rite Aid, and others. The return policy will vary based on the retailer.

You can contact Viviscal directly at (888) 444-9073 or info@viviscal.com with any questions related to the company’s products or thinning hair in general.

Analysis of Customer Reviews

  • Supplements Lead to Real Hair Growth
  • May Cause Problems for Allergy Sufferers
  • Effective But Pricy
  • Nail Improvements
  • Unpleasant Side Effects
  • Not Effective for Everyone

Despite that most reviews for this hair care supplement seem positive, some wrote that they didn’t notice any improvements or changes after taking the supplement for several months. Most of these users wrote that they eventually discontinued taking it.

Viviscal vs. Hairfinity and SugarBearHair

The following chart compares Viviscal supplements to two other hair supplement brands, Hairfinity and SugarBearHair.

Viviscal Advanced Hair Growth Supplement Hairfinity Hair Vitamins SugarBearHair
Price $39.99-$49.99/ 60 capsules (30-day supply) $24.99/60 capsules (30-day supply) $29.99/60 gummies (30-day supply)
Price Per Daily Serving $1.33–$1.66 $0.83 $1
Main Ingredients/ Daily Serving Per Dose Vitamin C: 59mg (65%), Niacin: 12mg (75%), Biotin, 120mcg (400%), calcium, 60mg (5%), iron: 10mg (56%), Zinc: 11mg (100mg), AminoMar Marine Complex: 450mg Biotin: 2500mcg (833%), Pantothenic acid: 100mg (2,000%), Vitamin B12: 20mcg (833%), Thiamin: 5mg (417%), Riboflavin: 5mg (385%) Vitamin B6: 5mg (294%) Vitamin D: 400 IU (100%), Biotin: 5000mcg (1667%), Vitamin B-6: 2mg (100%)
Delivery Mechanism Capsule Capsule Fruit-flavored gummy candy

Key Takeaways

Deciding which type of hair supplement to take depends on your price point and preferred delivery method. SugarBearHair gummies are cute and taste like candy, but they will cost you $1 a day and likely won’t do much for you if you aren’t nutritional deficient in their key ingredients.

Viviscal supplements are more expensive and must be taken as a regular supplement. But for that inconvenience, you’re getting a supplement that seems to make a clinically significant difference in the hair loss and overall thickness—so long as you commit to taking them.

The Bottom Line

If your hair is thinning and it’s not due to an underlying medical issue, taking Viviscal Advanced Hair Health Supplements may make your hair thicker and slow down hair loss.

However, any hair improvements are likely to be subtle. You may also need to commit to taking the supplements for the long term, as many reviewers wrote that they lost their hair progress when they stopped taking them.

Viviscal is best for anyone dealing with subtle hair loss or thinning hair and who is willing to take these supplements daily for several months.

They aren’t ideal for anyone looking for a quick fix or anyone who is suffering from hair loss due to hormonal imbalances or other medical problems not related to nutrition.

Customer Reviews

1.8 Stars out of 23 Reviews
5 Star:13% 4 Star:8% 3 Star:0% 2 Star:4% 1 Star:73%
22% Recommend This Product
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Posted on Apr 2, 2021

So far so good

By Ralanda L., Oklahoma, Verified Reviewer

I recently had dreadlocks for some years, before I decided to cut them out, leaving my hair short, I started this journey with Viviscal, and within a week, I could visibly see a huge change in my hair for the better! It is growing super fast, the shine is back, my hair is alive and thriving, I cannot wait until summer to see how much it has grown within the 2 months of taking this, I will buy another box after I finish this one. Most def will recommend to my friends also!

Just want to note that I have no health problems that would cause hair loss, as stated on their website, that would cause it to not work as well or at all for some, so I don’t understand all the bad reviews, when clearly they have health issues to begin with so it is NOT going to work. But as long as you are trying to grow your hair or make it more healthy this is the best thing out!

Length of Use: Less than 3 months

Bottom Line: Yes, I would recommend this to a friend

Pros and Cons

The pills are small and easy to take

I saw results in my hair in less than 1 week

It really works

It was a little pricey, I splurged a little when I bought it, but other than that it works great

Has to be taken with food or I get sick to my stomach, probably the iron in it, but I usually only eat once per day so I have to find a snack to take them

Posted on Dec 23, 2020

Huge scam, suck liars

By Jette J., Richmond, VA, Verified Reviewer

This company is the most disgusting company with the worst customer service I have ever dealt with, because they are such horrendous liars! They do not make it clear that you have to CALL to cancel the subscription that they sign you up for online when you purchase the product for the first time. I removed my credit card information and my shipping address so that they would not ship it again with their auto-renew program. Guess what? After my credit card changed and I did not give them the updated security code, these hackers were still able to charge my credit card. I called to cancel the order 2 HOURS LATER, and they said they could not cancel it because it was "already in processing". That is the biggest lie and scam I have ever heard in my entire life. I told them to reroute the package to their returns department so I could immediately get a refund. They said they would request that through upper management and that upper management would call me within 24 hours. Guess what? Those liars obviously did not call me within 24 hours.

I canceled my auto-renew membership, but God knows if they actually canceled it, they are such a scam, I do not trust them at all anymore. They have forced me to pay for this second shipment and are forcing me to receive this second shipment because the supervisor said "we tried to reroute it back to us but were unable." Guess what? She lied because the person before her told me that upper management responded to my request that they couldn't reroute it back to themselves that they had to send it back to my updated address. These liars are scammers and force you into their product!

I repeatedly told them that they are sending that box to an address I'm no longer at and that box will get stolen. They didn't care. Especially the supervisors. The poor customer service reps are just messengers.

Anyway, after 48 hours they couldn't even give me a tracking number for my package, which is extremely shady! How do you not have a tracking number? So now I don't even know when this package will arrive to an address I am no longer at! How will I return it to get a refund?

Length of Use: 3–6 months

Bottom Line: No, I would not recommend this to a friend

Pros and Cons

No “pros” were specified in this review

No new hair growth

No new thickness

No increase in hair strands

Helpful Review? 2 People Have Voted

Posted on Feb 16, 2020

Completed one year of Viviscal 2 times a day

By Arleen R., California, Verified Reviewer

My dermatologist said my hair would grow back but it might take a year and to be patient. My thyroid doctor who alerted me to my hair loss (which was pretty significant) is the one that was regulating my thyroid meds, which I thought were not doing the job, but for the last six months, my thyroid is where it should be. My hair has always been fine but very plentiful and took color, perm, and hair set easily. I'm in my 70's and have been taking an am and a pm Viviscal tab for a year this year. My "hair has gone from being fine" to being "thin in shaft strength" and the bald spots on the left and right side of my hair if I part it either way or in the back are still very visible unless I comb my hair back and secure it and also use hair color brush on. It has not worked for me.

Bottom Line: No, I would not recommend this to a friend

Helpful Review? 5 People Have Voted

Posted on Jan 4, 2020

Scam

By Summer B., Los Angeles, CA, Verified Reviewer

Began Viviscal with one order. Never received my third box. Called to cancel as my dermatologist advised me "don't waste your money". The rep that I canceled with supposedly closed my account. Five months later I get a call from what I thought was a Viviscal representative, until I asked at the end of the call why I wasn't aware I owed money until 5 months after I canceled my "membership" when he told me it was an outside billing agency calling. Phoned Viviscal to have someone tell me they shipped my second auto-renewed order, which ONE, I never asked for and TWO, never received! And 5 months later I owe you money? So frustrating companies like this prey on hard-working people that are LOSING THEIR HAIR DUE TO STRESS. SHAME ON YOU. Will be disputing and reporting to BBB.

Bottom Line: No, I would not recommend this to a friend

Helpful Review? 10 People Have Voted

Posted on Aug 26, 2019

Fraud and misrepresentation of process guarantee

By Marie M., Detroit, MI, Verified Reviewer

The infomercial said $30 or $40 for a month to try it. So I thought I'd try it. Shortly after my order, they billed me again for another $127.00 approximately.

Oh, I remember what the rep told me when I called the first time I called, he said "you qualify for a 90-day supply, then a month later I received a bill for the $127. Long story short, I called to return it because I don't want to take this tablet every day and I didn't really see the value. You can go and buy a good Omega 3 and some other vitamins or supplements for a lot less without subscribing to a subscription that hits your bank card and gets their info wrong. I tried to return it and they said they would mail me a label. I was waiting and waiting and waiting, no label came. I repeated this 3 times, called them, they said they would send a return label to return the product and I would not be charged any further. I was waiting for a label that never came. On my 3rd request for a label, I asked them to email it to me, same thing, I never got an e-mailed label, checked my spam box. I told the customer service rep the 3rd time if I didn't receive a return label as promised I would call my bank card and dispute their charges, and so I had to do that. Four months later they sent me to collections. I am now calling and calling the customer service number again to get them to do what they promised. Oh, a supervisor returned my call 3 days later, of course, it went to my voicemail, I am not available to take calls all day waiting on them. That had no results other than she took it off collections and asked for my credit card to charge it again - no way. So another call to customer service, by now they owe me for my time and aggravation, ridiculous waste of time.

Bottom Line: No, I would not recommend this to a friend

Helpful Review? 29 People Have Voted

Posted on Jun 17, 2019

Scammy product and bad customer service

By Luke R., Saskatchewan, Canada, Verified Reviewer

Bought this product three months ago. When it arrived I follow the directions on the package to a tee. The product did not work. Not only that - when you buy a product they automatically put you on a membership that you cannot manage via their online website and they don't even tell you so they ended up charging me another $180 for their tablets. When I called them to tell them that I do not want the product they told me that they can only refund me now if I ship the product back to them at my own expense and refused to do anything.

Bottom Line: No, I would not recommend this to a friend

Helpful Review? 29 People Have Voted

Posted on Jun 5, 2019

Do not purchase this product.

By Lisa J., Gulf Breeze, FL, Verified Reviewer

I ordered this product. $159.00. With the agreement to pay 2 more payments after the product was received. This was months ago. I never received the product. I called numerous times, basically being told, sorry. It was shipped. I canceled my card so the next two payments would not come out. They then turned me over to collections. So, I paid $159.00 for something I never received. The company didn’t care, they just wanted the money for a product I never received. Do not buy this product.

Bottom Line: No, I would not recommend this to a friend

Helpful Review? 30 People Have Voted

Posted on Jan 17, 2019

Do not order from the website

By N R., Orange County, CA, Verified Reviewer

If you want to try this, buy it at Walgreens or any other authorized retailer. Do NOT order from their website. They have very confusing and "scammy" billing policies. I was confused as to why I was being charged $49 all the time, and my credit card had changed, and instead of canceling my account, they continued to bill me and then sent me to collections. I called them twice to pay on whatever I owed (which was a whopping $70) and get it all figured out and they kept saying they'd "let upper management know" but nothing happened. HORRIBLE. They are purposely confusing you so they can hook you for auto-renews that are hard to cancel and then do nothing to solve your problem when you call them.

I'm usually really good about stuff like this too. My credit score is over 800, I have no debt. I'm not some idiot and they still managed to confuse me and screw me over. I had very little results too. Better off just taking a multivitamin. Such a bad experience with them.

Bottom Line: No, I would not recommend this to a friend

Helpful Review? 99 People Have Voted

Posted on Jan 9, 2019

Definitely worth the $50.

By Jay M., Virginia , Verified Reviewer

I started this product a month and a half ago after trying several different types of hair growth products for a receding hairline that was beginning to get out of control, along with thinning on top of my head. Viviscal man definitely works for me. After 30 days I saw a big drastic difference in minimal hair shedding and regrowth already happening. 50 days of using the product and my hair is growing in so thick, and my receding hairline is pretty much on its way back to being a complete hairline. My wife uses the women's Viviscal and is just as satisfied. In my experience, definitely worth your money. Not much different price than Rogaine, except Viviscal truly works.

Bottom Line: Yes, I would recommend this to a friend

Helpful Review? 25 People Have Voted

Posted on Aug 20, 2018

Don't buy

By Donna T., Michigan, Verified Reviewer

I ordered this product directly from the company, and they billed me $65.00 They sent me a package that I did not order and then put me in their auto-subscribe program. I called them to return the products and cancel all future shipments. They told me that they did all their returns by US mail, so I had to wait for the return label, which was another 7-10 business days. I had to return the package and of course, no credit until they received the package. To add insult to injury, they proceeded to bill me $40 for their auto-subscribe program, while I have absolutely nothing in my hands and over $100 of my money in their hands. I called again and guess what. I was told that I had to wait another 7-10 business days before they would credit my account, as they had just received the return package.

In today's online marketing, almost everyone offers return labels by email or a link to print it, so that these returns are seamless and credits are often issued with the proof of shipment such as a tracking number. How does Viviscal think they can do this to their customers? It's beyond me.

Bottom Line: No, I would not recommend this to a friend

Helpful Review? 95 People Have Voted

Posted on Aug 14, 2018

It's working for me

By Vicky A., San Diego, Verified Reviewer

I am 63 and take hormone replacement. My thyroid medication made my hair start falling out. I had to keep it very short as an attempt to grow it out, it was disappointing, and split ends were rampant. I had to have a haircut every six weeks to keep the split ends down. I learned about Viviscal at my dentist office reading a magazine in which Minnie Driver hawks this product. The ad said available at Target.

I went to Target and picked it up for $35.00. If you have a Target credit/debit card, it's 5% less. I have just finished my second pack. Up until now, I knew nothing of shampoos and serums. The box does NOT say extra strength. Maybe that's why there are side effects in some women. I have not had a haircut in twelve weks and do not need one. I have zero split ends. None. My hair is clearly more healthy and last week I noticed brand new black hair growth in my temple area. I'm stoked.

I have only posted a review for anything online once before. But based on some of the negative reviews you have posted, I feel strongly that ladies reading this site should know that not everyone is disappointed. So, I am seeing real hair growth around sixty days in. For the first time in years, I can twist my hair and clip it up. Before, I didn't have enough hair to twist; couldn't make a ponytail. I have not had any of the side effects stated by others. And, I would never buy through the website or get on auto refill. I learned the hard way years back that it is hard to get off auto and customer service usually sucks. Just go to Target and get the regular strength, the only choice they have on the shelf, and give it a try. It's not a huge investment over the website. I'm cheap. No way would I have paid fifty bucks for this. But $35.00 minus the five percent with my debit card for a couple of months is doable. Then, after sixty days or so as in my case (the box says ninety) either quit or keep going.

Oh, and don't know how someone's friend could read the ingredients and declare them "fraudulent". How is that determined? Good luck ladies.

Bottom Line: Yes, I would recommend this to a friend

Helpful Review? 70 People Have Voted
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