In this article we’ll be doing an extensive Viviscal review – the popular and controversial hair growth supplement.
Hair growth is a hot topic among men and women of all ages. If you search for ‘hair growth’ on Google, you’ll be presented with about 15,700,000 results. That isn’t very surprising, though! Many people dream of having thick and full, hair; it’s a sign of beauty and health throughout the world.
That’s why products like Viviscal are so incredibly popular. With every BaumBeauty article I write, I commit myself to doing research. And honestly, products like hair growth supplements always leave me a bit skeptical. So seeing all of the positive Viviscal reviews really intrigued me.
In this post, I’m doing a review of my own. It’s based on scientific evidence, user opinions, and much more. Learning about this product and making a conclusion about it was an exciting journey for me. Read my Viviscal hair loss review to form an unbiased opinion of your own!
Vivascal Review
What Does Viviscal Claim To Do?
There is a highly detailed product description of Viviscal’s oral supplement on their website. These are direct quotes from the description that I believe to be the most important:
- “Viviscal Extra Strength hair vitamin supplements for women nourish thinning hair and promote existing hair growth from within.*”
- “Viviscal Extra Strength dietary supplements supply vital nutrients to the hair follicle to prolong the anagen (growing) phase of the hair growth cycle, nourishing thinning hair and promoting hair growth.*”
- “Viviscal Extra Strength has been scientifically proven to nourish thinning hair and promote existing hair growth.*”
You may notice that these quotes are followed by an asterisk. At the bottom of the Viviscal website, there is a disclaimer that states “*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.”
This is a common statement for most dietary supplements, vitamins, and even some herbal teas. These types of products are not FDA regulated. This doesn’t mean that they are ineffective; it is simply a mandatory legal disclaimer.
Viviscal Ingredients: What’s in it?
In my opinion, understanding the ingredients of any product you use is crucial. I’ll list the Viviscal ingredients, and I’ll explain what each active ingredient is designed to do. You can find this list of ingredients under the “Important Information” section on Viviscal’s Amazon page. Here is a list of all of the ingredients (active and inactive):
- Vitamin C – “Vitamin C is one of the most effective nutrients to help grow and strengthen hair, says Loving.” (source)
- Niacinamide (Niacin) – “An article published on Add Hair.com discussed the effect of niacin with hair growth, suggesting it not only stimulates hair growth, it minimizes the accumulation of cholesterol. When cholesterol builds up on the scalp, it is converted into enzyme 5 alpha reductase. An increase in this enzyme is, according to an Androgenetic Alopecia.com article, linked with balding in men and women.” (source)
- Biotin – “Biotin is available as a supplement with a recommended dosage of 500 – 1000 micrograms daily to treat hair loss.” (source)
- Iron – An iron deficiency can be a primary source for hair loss. (source)
- Zinc – “In a study in Manchester, UK, research found that consuming 600mg of zinc could reverse hair loss in gastric bypass patients. In others, zinc supplements containing 80mg of zinc could reduce hair loss and restore the normal hair growth cycle.” (source)
- AminoMar Marine Complex – “While no clinical studies have been published investigating AminoMar C Marine Complex itself on thinning hair, a 1992 study by Lassus and Eskelinen at ARS-Medicina in Helsinki, Finland found Viviscal cured baldness in 95 percent of young men with hereditary balding.” (source)
- Horsetail Extract – “Horsetail, or Equisetum arvense, contains the mineral silica or silicon, which works to strengthen your bones, as well as your nails and hair. Not only can this mineral make your hair strong, but it can also improve the sheen and texture of it as well. Horsetail also contains selenium, a mineral that is essential for the proper growth of your hair, as it helps your body process iodine, which regulates hair growth as well.” (source)
- Millet Seed Extract – “Millets are extremely beneficial in this regard due to the fact that it is loaded with protein which helps strengthen the hair and along with making them less prone to breakage too!” (source)
- Microcrystalline Cellulose – inactive ingredient
- Maltodextrin – inactive ingredient
- Hydroxypropyl Methyl Cellulose – inactive ingredient
- Silicon Dioxide – inactive ingredient
- Magnesium Stearate – inactive ingredient
- Sodium Carboxymethyl Cellulose – inactive ingredient
- Artificial Orange Flavoring – inactive ingredient
- Modified Starch – inactive ingredient
- Glycerol – inactive ingredient
From reading the ingredients list, it does seem like Viviscal contains active ingredients that are proven to promote hair growth and reduce hair loss. I noticed that all of the active ingredients are natural substances, which is appealing to me. The inactive ingredients are simple ingredients that help bind the oral supplements together or serve a similar purpose.
Are There Any Notable Viviscal Side Effects?
This part of the research is particularly important to me. If a supplement or medicine (prescription or non-prescription) works, that’s great! But I vigorously read about any and all potential side effects prior to using them. Here’s what I found when researching Viviscal side effects:
- Some Viviscal users report gaining weight while using the oral supplement. There is no evidence that Viviscal ingredients cause weight gain. (source)
- Some Viviscal users reported having greasier hair while using the oral supplement. I could not find studies to support these reports. (Source 1) (Source 2)
- Some Viviscal users reported having digestive issues while using the oral supplement. I could not find studies to support these reports. (source)
Lastly, many Viviscal users reported an increased growth in body hair – eyelashes and eyebrows included. Overall, there are no reports of legitimately dangerous or life-altering side effects from Viviscal. There are also no scientific studies that show any serious side effects. Overall, I would deem it safe as long as you are not allergic to any of the ingredients.
What Do Viviscal User Reviews Say?
I decided to use Amazon buyer reviews for this portion of the post. I choose this method for a few reasons.
- There are a ton of buyer reviews on Amazon alone. This gives me a great mix of diverse data.
- Amazon requires disclaimers in paid reviews, so I can be certain that I’m basing my post on unpaid reviews.
- The reviews I’ve looked at are from “Verified Buyers”, so I can be certain that these people actually purchased Viviscal.
I summarized some of the positive points in the reviews as well as the negative feedback. Feel free to visit the Amazon review page linked above, too!
Positive:
- One reviewer saw hair growth of 3-4 inches over the course of three months.
- Another Viviscal review stated that the buyer experienced hair growth of 3.4 inches over just four months.
- Multiple reviewers noted an increase in nail growth and strength; this may be attributed to the biotin and other vitamins in Viviscal.
- Some users noted visible change in as little as one month.
- Users with thinning hair noted that they lost less hair while combing and styling their hair during their Viviscal use.
My Impression Of The Positive Reviews: The amount of growth over time seems very consistent in reviews. Like many reviewers said, you have to take the product as directed for months to see truly effective results. It also seems to work very well for men and women who are specifically experiencing hair loss versus people who simply wanted their normal hair to grow longer.
Negative:
- Some users stated that the product did not work with them.
- One reviewer saw no results after one month of use and discontinued taking the pills due to stomach upset.
- Another reviewer saw no results after two months of use.
- At least one reviewer experienced a skin breakout while using the product.
My Impression Of The Negative Reviews: It was hard to gather specific information from negative reviews. Many of them were only one or two sentences stating the product did not work. However, there are little to no negative reviews from Viviscal users who used the product for the duration that is directed. They also did not state if they experienced hair loss in the first place. This in stark contrast to the highly detailed positive reviews. Of course, I’m sure some people did not experience the results they desired. It’s just difficult to determine why since they did not provide much information beyond statements like the product doesn’t work.
Overall, the number of positive reviews significantly outweighs the number of negative reviews. You can see the exact numbers at the top of the Viviscal Amazon page. This is also true for Viviscal reviews on the websites of retailers such as Target, Vitamin Shoppe, eBay, and more.
Is Viviscal A Good Investment For Hair Growth?
I think that the answer to this question is fairly subjective. Some people want to stick to a small budget when trying out hair growth and hair restoration remedies. Others are willing to spend thousands of dollars. From what we’ve discovered so far, Viviscal seems like an option that genuinely works for many people. If the price is within your budget, it may be a good investment for you.
However, let’s look at some numbers just to see how Viviscal stands up. I did compare the prices of Viviscal to other hair growth supplements on Amazon. A 30-day supply of Viviscal seems to average between $25 and $30. Other highly rated hair loss oral supplements cost anywhere between about $20 to about $80. So Viviscal seems to fall on the affordable end of the spectrum.
Are There Other Hair Growth Vitamins And Supplements?
There are plenty of natural supplements and daily vitamins that promote hair growth. They are an essential part of a daily diet, inexpensive, and you get the benefits of hair and nail growth! Here is a list of beneficial hair vitamins and supplements:
There are also reputable supplements specifically designed for hair growth. While Viviscal certainly seems like an effective and reputable option, it doesn’t hurt to see what else is out there. I did some research and found that these supplements have excellent feedback:
- HAIRFLUENCE – All Natural Hair Growth Formula
- HairAnew (Unique Hair Growth Vitamins with Biotin)
- Vie Naturelle Hair Loss Vitamins Supplement for Fast Hair Growth
No matter what you decide to use, it’s clear that you have tons of genuinely effective options. They’re tried and true by tons of regular people just like us, and they have feedback that’s quite impressive. I always recommend researching any supplement, even if it’s just a simple vitamin. This will help you safely pick the best hair growth vitamin for your needs!
Viviscal Review Wrap Up: This Supplement Provides Results!
From what I’ve read and seen, I believe that Viviscal hair growth supplements can truly produce satisfying results. This conclusion is drawn from the effective ingredients, the largely positive user reviews across many websites, and the unretouched before and after photos that users post. If you’re suffering from hair loss or want to promote hair growth, this oral supplement may be worth a shot!
If you’ve tried Viviscal or any other type of hair growth treatments, I’d love to hear from you. Any positive and negative stories are welcome; we appreciate honest reviews very much! If you have any hair loss prevention tips or a hair growth method of your own, feel free to share that as well. Simply say what you’re thinking in the comments below.
Amy Baum
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