Hair loss is a problem experienced by many men and women, and as such, there is a vast market of products out there that aim to combat the issue and help retain and regrow hair. Viviscal is one option that promises to help stimulate hair growth thanks to a proprietary cocktail of different ingredients.

Considering that there are so many different options out there, and many of them have minimal to negligible results, we decided to take a closer look at Viviscal and see what we could find. If you’re curious about what this treatment can do for you, then you’ve come to the right place.

How Viviscal Works

According to the company, this product helps people in four distinct stages. We’ll get into the research in a little bit, but it’s important to understand what is going on when you use this product.

• First, Viviscal nourishes the hair from within, utilizing the various nutrients contained within it.
• Second, it strengthens the hair follicles that have been damaged by stress, environment, and hereditary factors.
• Third, it promotes hair growth by stimulating the anagen phase of your hair’s life cycle. During this phase is when hair is its most robust and healthy.
• Finally, it makes the hair much thicker and more noticeable.

Viviscal Ingredients

For the most part, the products that you can buy from the company have many standard vitamins and nutrients contained within. You can expect to find the following in most of the treatments.

Zinc

There have been several studies that claim that a lack of this vital mineral can lead to hair loss, so getting more of it through a Viviscal treatment could help prevent further hair loss.

Vitamin C

According to the company, this ingredient helps the body absorb more iron, which in turn assists with hair loss prevention.

Calcium

It’s not exactly proven how this mineral can help with hair loss, but the company does suggest that it assists with iron absorption and that a deficiency can lead to health problems, including loss of hair follicles.

AminoMar

According to the label, AminoMar is made from shark cartilage and oyster extracts, but they don’t indicate how they get these materials or what kind of potency they have. When reading the articles on their site, it appears that the proteins from these creatures help strengthen the follicles and stimulate growth. Also, they claim that it’s backed by over 25 years of research.

Horsetail Extract

Another key component of hair loss seems to revolve around the mineral silica (of silicone fame), and its role in the body. Apparently, young people have more of it than older folks, and the makers of Viviscal believe that increasing one’s level of silica in the body can help stimulate more growth.

As such, horsetail does contain some silica inside of it, and it may or may not work as a mild anti-inflammatory agent. However, there doesn’t seem to be a lot of research about this ingredient, so it’s difficult to say for sure.

Related: Viviscal vs. Hairfinity

Research and Studies

Three-Month Randomized Trial of Viviscal Extra Strength

This study consisted of 60 women who were put into a control group (placebo) and a group that used Viviscal. The purpose was to discover if the Aminomar ingredient would increase the amount of terminal and vellus hairs on the scalp.

After 90 days of using Viviscal, many of the women reported having more hairs present, and they were thicker as well. Compared to the placebo group which did not see any change, the results were quite demonstrative.

Six-Month Trial of Viviscal Extra Strength and Hair Nourishment System

This study was conducted back in 2012, and it again looked at a pool of women with thinning hair. The purpose was again to determine the efficacy of Viviscal and its Aminomar ingredient. Subjects were split into groups, with some taking the Extra Strength version and others using the Shampoo. Some of them were in a control group and had a placebo.

Everyone was checked after 90 days and 180 days to see the effects of the treatment, and once again there seemed to be noticeable growth in the women who took Viviscal.

Issues With the Studies

First of all, both of them only used a limited pool of women, and they were both funded by Viviscal, so there is some conflict of interest. Nonetheless, based on the evidence provided, it does seem like there could be something to the product.

Viviscal Side Effects

Because the ingredients are all natural, there are not any significant adverse effects known for any of Viviscal’s products. That being said, there are some caveats to consider.

• Shellfish Allergy: considering that Aminomar is made from oysters and sharks, anyone who is allergic to shellfish should not take Viviscal.
• Vitamin Overdosing: for the most part, vitamins are a natural part of our bodies, but some, like Vitamin A, can cause problems if you take too much of it. Fortunately, the amounts in Viviscal are not enough to do anything unless you are also taking supplements in addition.
• Pregnancy: the manufacturer suggests that pregnant women avoid taking Viviscal, most likely due to the high iron and shellfish content.

Viviscal Reviews

Viviscal Extra Strength Hair Nutrient Tablets Review

Overall, it seems that if you want to experience more of the benefits of this treatment, then you have to take the pills rather than anything else. According to the label, you are supposed to take these tablets twice a day (one at a time) with food for up to six months. It also says that for best results you have to participate in the “complete Viviscal program.” This means that in addition to the pills you should also use the hair growth shampoo.

Considering the price of each product, it can be a bit overwhelming when all of it is taken together. However, if you are sold on the efficacy of Viviscal, then you may believe it all to be worth it.

One of the great things about Viviscal, though, is that it’s completely drug-free. All of the ingredients are natural and approved by the FDA so that you don’t have to worry about putting something dangerous into your body. It also means that you won’t develop a dependency on this product or anything else in Viviscal’s line of treatments.

Pros

✓ Drug-free
✓ All-natural ingredients
✓ No side effects
✓ One bottle lasts a month or more
✓ Easy to contact customer service

Cons

✘ Can take a while to notice effects (90 days at least)
✘ May require additional hair treatments to get the results you want

Viviscal Professional Hair Growth Program Review

When comparing the different options you have with Viviscal, you can either go with the standard “extra strength” tablets, or you can choose these. According to the manufacturer, Professional Strength Viviscal is more concentrated and has more Aminomar and horsetail extracts, which could lead to faster results. In fact, this may offer the same results in two to four months, rather than three to six.

Not only that, but these pills have even more nutrients, which helps ensure that your hair stays in pristine condition. Additional benefits of the Professional Program can include softer, shinier hair and a healthier scalp. Overall, the more you can do for the follicles and your head, the better off you’ll be.

Pros

✓ Works on men and women
✓ Additional nutrients for healthier hair
✓ Faster acting formula
✓ One box lasts two months
✓ Drug-free and non-addictive
✓ All natural ingredients

Cons

✘ Still should be taken with the shampoo for best results

Viviscal Man Maximum Strength Hair Nourishment System Review

So far, we’ve only looked at tablets that are formulated for both men and women, but this Viviscal is just for males. Considering that hair loss can be far more significant and prevalent in men, this version is designed to work overtime. Also, because men and women absorb and utilize vitamins and minerals differently, this can be much more potent than the other tablets available.

Overall, if you’re a guy and you’re just starting to notice your hair thinning, you may want to consider this option rather than a “one size fits all” treatment. Best of all, each box comes with two months of pills, so you can make it last longer than a standard bottle of “extra strength.”

Pros

✓ Drug-free
✓ Formulated for men only
✓ Two-month supply
✓ Cost-effective option when compared to standard Viviscal
✓ Ideal for men who are just starting to bald

Cons

✘ Can still take up to 90 days to see results
✘ May require shampoo for better hair growth

Related: Hair Loss Treatment for Men

Viviscal Gorgeous Growth Densifying Shampoo Review

While the tablets tackle the problem of hair loss from the inside, this treatment is designed to help your follicles get stronger right at the source. While this won’t help restore your hair on its own, it can contribute to making your other Viviscal treatments more effective.

Fortunately, a bottle of this shampoo is not very expensive, so you can simply switch from your regular brand to this, and you won’t be paying much more. Unfortunately, the bottle is relatively small, so it’s better to stock up since you’ll need to use it for up to six months.

What this product does is help heal your scalp and restore any damage from the environment or stress. As we mentioned, having a healthier head is better overall, so there’s no reason not to utilize something like this to get the results you want.

Pros

✓ All natural ingredients
✓ Cleans and moisturizes your skin and hair
✓ Cost-effective solution
✓ Can help make your pills more effective

Cons

✘ Bottle is small
✘ You may get the same results with other shampoos that have similar ingredients

Related: Best Hair Loss Shampoo

Bottom Line

So, does Viviscal work? That’s what you came here to find out, right? Well, since hair loss is still largely being researched, it’s impossible to say yes or no. For every person who swears that this product worked for them, there are at least as many that say that it did nothing.

While there can be a few reasons for the discrepancy, including whether or not people followed the same regimen, the thing to remember is that everybody is different. You may have incredible results after using Viviscal, or you may not notice anything.

The major downside of this treatment is that it’s a commitment. You have to stick to it for at least three to six months, and once your hair comes back, you will probably have to continue it for the long term to ensure that it sticks around. As with any hair treatment, once you stop you will be right back at square one.

So, in the end, if you trust the research and you want to give it a try, we recommend that you go 100%. Even if you don’t see anything for the first couple of months, stick with it and see what happens.