It’s time for my Viviscal Hair Growth review – because it’s one of the most popular hair supplements I know.
However – you can’t find it for less than $49 per bottle.
So at this price, could Viviscal be a scam?
I tested out this supplement myself – so here’s every hidden truth you need to know about it.
Note: This review is based on my experience + opinion on Viviscal.
So Let’s Get To The Review
Full Name: Advanced Hair Health Supplement from Viviscal
Versions: There are 2 types of supplements – for women and for men.
Other than the pills, they also have 3 different products (all for hair density).
However, they’re not as strong as the supplements:
- Shampoo
- Conditioner
- Elixir
Best Actual Price: $49.99 per bottle
Cheapest Place To Buy: The official website (they have discounts for larger packs).
Designed For: According to the label, for thicker and fuller hair.
It also promotes hair growth and nourishes thinning hair (that’s what it claims at least).
My Rating: 8 out of 10 – It’s effective, but kind of expensive.
Worth Buying?: Only if you afford it.
It’s a very useful supplement – for everything that involves hair loss and thinning.
But I personally had the same results with a $25 supplement – so that’s what I recommend instead.
What I Liked About It
- Based on an original ingredient (that only exists in this product): AminoMar
- Several studies behind (for AminoMar)
- Pills are easier to swallow
- Only 2 per day
- Decreased my hair loss almost completely
- Started working in less than 2 months (in my case)
- Many positive reviews
What I Didn’t Like About It
- Except AminoMar, the others ingredients are quite basic
- Contains very few herbs, vitamins and minerals (compared to most products)
- Very expensive (about $50 per bottle)
- Not effective for growing new hairs
What Is Viviscal? A Quick Overview
Shortly – it’s a mix of vitamins, minerals and herbs for hair health.
According to the label, it can help in 2 major ways:
- Promotes existing hair growth.
- Nourishes thinning hair.
Basically – it’s only useful for existing hair, it doesn’t regrow new hairs.
So if you’re already going bald/have any bald spots, Viviscal isn’t going to help.
Now – this product has several versions:
- Supplements – 1 version for women and 1 for men.
- Densifying Shampoo.
- Desifying Conditioner.
- Hair Growth Elixir.
However – the supplements are the ones that do most of the job.
All the other 3 (shampoo, conditioner, elixir) are additional helpers – so using them isn’t a must.
So what makes Viviscal so special? AminoMar – the original ingredient that only exists in these pills:
- promotes hair growth
- has several studies behind
I personally don’t know too many ingredients with studies behind. That’s why I’m convinced AminoMar is a great ingredient.
In fact – it’s the main responsible for Viviscal’s effect.
But now that you know the main things about this product, it’s time to analyze it into more detail.
#1 – Ingredients (8.50 out of 10)
Honestly, at first sight – Viviscal’s formula doesn’t seem so amazing:
- not too many ingredients
- dosages seem pretty low
However – it contains 1 ingredient that doesn’t exist in any other hair product.
In fact – that’s the real miracle maker. Viviscal’s formula is also based on it.
Now – you can divide the ingredients in 3 classes:
- Vitamins + Minerals
- Herbal Extracts
- Original Ingredients
So let’s take a quick look at each of these groups.
1. Vitamins + Minerals
Compared to other products, Viviscal doesn’t contain every essential nutrient.
There are only 3 vitamins and 3 minerals:
- Vitamin C – it’s an antioxidant and protect hair against free radicals.
- Niacin – that’s actually vitamin B3 and it seems to increase hair fullness. [1]
- Biotin – it’s the best vitamin for hair.
- Calcium – promotes thicker hair.
- Iron – it’s essential for hair growth (a deficiency causes shedding). [2]
- Zinc – it speeds up hair growth considerably.
So at this chapter, Viviscal’s ingredients could be better.
Many supplements contain at least 10 essential vitamins and minerals, while Viviscal only has 6.
2. Herbal Extracts
These ingredients don’t look amazing either.
Viviscal only contains 2 herbal extracts. Out of these, only 1 is really potent (Horsetail).
- Horsetail Extract – the best herb for decreasing shedding and growing new hairs.
- Millet Seed Extract – seems to fight hair loss in some cases. [3]
So to be honest – the herbs used in Viviscal are really good, but they’re too little.
If there were at least 5 herbal extracts, I personally think the effect would have been much better.
3. Original Ingredients
That’s probably the best part about Viviscal.
It contains a unique ingredient – that doesn’t exist in any other hair supplement: AminoMar.
The good news is that AminoMar has several studies behind:
So based on this, this ingredient is a real miracle maker for hair. In my opinion – it’s the main responsible for Viviscal’s effect.
Conclusion
Viviscal’s ingredients don’t look that impressive overall:
- only 3 vitamins and 3 minerals
- not all the essential nutrients
- just 2 herbal extracts
However – the special ingredient AminoMar compensates for the weaker formula.
Considering it has official researches behind, it’s surely the ingredient that makes Viviscal work so well.
#2 – How To Take It (9 out of 10)
I would actually say that Viviscal is a bit easier to take than many hair supplements.
I’m saying that because of the pills.
1. Pills Facts
I haven’t tried the male version of Viviscal, so I will only refer to the one for women.
But as far as I know – the pills look the same.
- Have a round shape.
- Pills are tablets (not capsules or gelatin pills).
- Average dimensions (but they look smaller than most gelatin pills).
- You can swallow them quite easily.
- Taste is pretty bad (bitter).
Now – they’re not the best pills I’ve ever seen (in terms of size).
But as I said – compared to many hair supplements, they’re smaller and easy enough to swallow.
If they also had a gelatin cover, they would have been perfect (you couldn’t feel the taste).
2. The Schedule
Here’s how you have to take Viviscal:
- 2 tablets per day
- I recommend spacing them out throughout the day
- you should take them after food
- drink plenty of water after you swallow them
- don’t take more than 2 pills daily
So basically – the schedule is quite simple.
Now – taking 2 pills per day may not sound that comfortable (compared to 1).
But considering there are many products that require 3 pills daily, you can’t really complain about Viviscal.
#3 – My Results (9 out of 10)
After using Viviscal for almost 4 months, I can honestly tell it’s not a scam.
Now – it wasn’t the best hair product I tired, but it surely in the top.
But let me explain better.
1. My Background
Viviscal was one of the first supplements I used for my hair loss.
A few years back, my hair was shedding like crazy:
- there were multiple causes (including stress, hormonal imbalances, etc.)
- my hair got 3 times thinner in about 2 years
- the roots were looking well
- but the ends were very dry, fragile and thin
Obviously – I had tried everything I could find.
However, topical products stopped working after 1-2 months. And many supplements didn’t decrease my shedding at all.
Viviscal had lots of positive reviews – so I was curious if it could help.
It was quite expensive, but I had no other solution at that point.
2. How It Worked
I used Viviscal as the label recommended – 2 pills per day.
Surprisingly, I could see an improvement after about 1 month:
- My hair wasn’t falling out so heavily.
- It also seemed a bit thicker (but mostly the roots).
- After 3 months, my hair loss had decreased a lot.
- This time, my hair roots seemed a lot thicker.
- However, the ends were still quite thin and fragile.
- I didn’t have more volume overall (probably due to the thin ends).
Basically – Viviscal reduced my hair loss a lot, so it was surely effective.
However, it didn’t seem to make my hair grow a lot faster.
It got about 5 inches longer in 3 months, which isn’t so miraculous. My natural hair would grow almost 3 inches alone in this period.
Now – maybe it grew so little because it was in a bad shape. I can’t really tell.
But when it comes to hair growth, it wasn’t really worth $50.
Conclusion
Viviscal was pretty much effective in my case:
- decreased my hair loss almost completely (in about 3-4 months)
- thickened my hair roots
- made it less fragile
However – it didn’t make it grow a lot a lotfaster.
So as a $50 supplement, I’m not really sure I would buy it again. I found a better alternative in the meantime.
#4 – Other Opinions (9 out of 10)
I tried to find some other customers’ reviews – so that I would judge Viviscal fairly.
Fortunately, I managed to find enough opinions. But as I expected, not all were praising the product.
Note: I only included authentic reviews, not the ones based on general info.
1. What People Say
Opinions were quite divided here.
Even though I found lots of positive reviews, there were enough unsatisfied customers:
- Some people say it made miracles for their hair.
- Others swear by it, saying it really increases hair growth.
- A few others mention it’s also good if your hair is falling out.
- On the other hand, some complain about the bad taste, price, weak effect, etc.
So basically – about 80% people were satisfied with Viviscal (more or less). To be honest, that’s a really high percent.
So judging after that, it’s surely not a scam.
There are indeed about 20% that weren’t satisfied, but that’s mostly because of price.
2. Biggest Complaints
The main reason why some people were not satisfied was Viviscal’s price.
To be honest – it is indeed expensive at $50 per bottle (at this point).
So I personally couldn’t afford buying it monthly for a long time. Especially when there are cheaper products that work the same.
However – that wasn’t all:
- Some also complained that Viviscal contains shellfish and doesn’t mention it.
- Others say it’s simply not working after 3 months.
- I also found some complaints about the bad taste.
But overall – price was the biggest complaint.
And I personally agree here. Except the original ingredient, the rest of the formula is pretty basic. So it’s surely not worth $42.
#5 – Price (6 out of 10)
To be honest, I wouldn’t buy Viviscal on a monthly basis.
And that’s only because of its price – it’s really expensive.
1. The Exact Price
There are some small differences between different sellers.
But these are the lowest prices I could find:
- $49.99 for the women version
- $50 for the men version
Basically – both versions cost the same.
To be honest, these prices seem way too high to me – considering it’s just 1 month supply.
Now, I understand that the price is higher due to the original ingredient (AminoMar).
But except it – the formula is pretty basic. I personally wouldn’t pay $15 for it.
So that’s the reason why I consider Viviscal way too overpriced.
2. Competitors’ Price
One of the top reasons why I don’t recommend Viviscal is because there are similar products for less money.
Let’s take a look at Folexin – my #1 recommended supplement for hair:
- costs about $25 per bottle (vs $50 Viviscal)
- you can get it for even $18 per bottle
- you receive a discount if you buy a larger pack
I will not enter any particulars about Folexin’s ingredients and effects.
But in terms of price – it’s a much better choice than Viviscal.
In fact, that’s why it’s my top recommendation – it’s the cheapest product that worked really well for me.
So instead of spending $50 per month on products like Viviscal, I prefer to use a cheaper alternative.
That’s why I won’t get back to Viviscal any soon.
#6 – Where To Find It (9 out of 10)
First of all – Viviscal is available in several retailers, but it’s mostly sold on its official reviews:
lots of authentic reviews- the first option in Google searches
The price on the official website is about the same as Amazon’s price:
- Both versions cost $50.
- You can get it for $49.99 on Amazon.
However – the official website has a major advantage:
It offers a significant discount if you buy more bottle together (up to $40 per bottle).
Besides – if you join their Elite program (some kind of membership), you get even higher discounts for everything you buy.
So Viviscal’s website has a better offer compared to Amazon.
#7 – FAQs
Coming up, I will try to answer the most common questions about Viviscal.
Note: I might repeat something I already mentioned, but it’s easier to spot here.
1. How many pills per day?
Only 2 – the label strongly recommends not to take more.
However, it doesn’t mention whether you have to take them together or space them out.
So you can do whatever is easier for you.
2. How long lasts one bottle?
Only 1 month – it’s a 30 days supply.
There are no larger sizes, but you can buy more bottles together.
3. Can I take it with other drugs?
The label recommends consulting your doctor first, if you’re already on a treatment with certain drugs.
Now – there’s no major risk of interactions, but I also advise you to see a doctor first.
It’s better to stay safe.
4. Are there any side effects?
I personally didn’t experience any – nor did I find any review complaining of side effects.
Also, the label doesn’t mention anything on this.
But you should experience (at most) some stomach problems (judging after the ingredients).
5. How fast should I notice an effect?
According to the label – after at least 3 months.
However, it also mentions that best results appear after 4-6 months.
Now – I personally could see a small improvement in about 1 month, so it is possible.
But try to give Viviscal at least 3 months to start working (if you want to be fair).
#8 – Final Conclusions
Here’s my overall opinion about Viviscal in 3 ideas.
1. AminoMar Does All The Job
Basically – Viviscal’s original ingredient is the main responsible for the overall effect:
- the other ingredients are quite basic
- dosages aren’t very high
On the other hand, AminoMar has both a high dose and several studies behind.
So in my opinion – Viviscal works because of this ingredient.
2. Effective
If you thought that Viviscal might be a scam – well, it’s surely not.
I can speak from experience here:
- decreased my hair loss almost completely
- made my roots thicker
- improved my hair aspect
The only chapter where I’m not 100% satisfied is hair growth. My hair didn’t grow a lot more than it used to.
However, it might be just in my case. Many other reviews say Viviscal really increased their hair growth.
3. A Bit Pricey
I’ve said it before – Viviscal is quite expensive overall.
At $50 per bottle, I couldn’t really afford buying it monthly (not for a long time, at least).
Now – if you buy a larger pack, the price is much better (about $40). But otherwise, it’s still expensive.
So I personally would not buy Viviscal again – mostly because of its high cost.
#9 – My Video Review
My Verdict – Is Viviscal A Scam?
Short answer: Definitely not – it’s a 100% legit product.
However, it’s not my #1 recommendation – despite being effective:
- Too expensive to buy monthly.
- Takes 4-6 months to see the best effect.
- Didn’t made my hair grow much faster.
But basically – the main reason why I don’t like it is because of the high cost.
Other than that, it’s a really good product.
If you afford buying Viviscal, go for it. It will surely help – but keep this in mind:
- you will have to take at least 3 bottles
- it’s going to take a few months until you start seeing effects
Compared to Viviscal – I prefer to used a cheaper supplement ($25) that works about the same.
So if you’re also on a tight budget, that’s the product I recommend instead.
1 – https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/-pubmed/17168873
2 – https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/-pmc/articles/PMC3678013/
3 – https://amino-acid.org/l-cysteine-and-sorghum-seed-extract-can-reverse-hair-loss/
I’m using Viviscal for 2 months and I’m a satisfied customer. I have the shampoo, elixir and pink supplement and I’m using them all together.
My shedding decreased from the 3rd week and now it’s gone almost to zero. I don’t have any baby hairs yet, but hopefully it will grow some in my forehead line. I think that for best results, you should use the shampoo and elixir with the pills. Also the conditioner if you afford it, I just wanted to save some money this time. But next time I place my order, I will surely buy the whole range.
Visical’s product may be very pricey but they are totally worth it.
Hi Jodie, thanks for letting me know how Viviscal worked for you.
I’m sure you can get better results using the whole range of Viviscal products. But that would be around $100 overall – which not all of us can afford. So that’s the main reason why I’m not a big fan of these products.
I personally prefer to use cheaper supplements that work just as well (because there are some).
Folexin is my top recommendation, mostly because it’s extremely cheap. So for those people who can’t afford Viviscal, that’s what I recommend instead.
For those who have a large budget and can use Viviscal, my advice is to buy it. It’s definitely a good product and has great results.
Thanks again for sharing your experience with it.
Hello Olly, I’m interested in buying Viviscal, but just the pills. I agree they are expensive but my mother received a 25% off coupon after buying from one of their related companies. So I’m thinking about using this coupon. But it’s only available for 1 product, so next time I buy it I will have to pay the full price. But I don’t know if I afford paying so much every month. So do you think it’s worth buying, at least once? If I start seeing some improvements, could I take another supplement instead once my Viviscal supply runs out? I saw your top recommended supplement has a much better price, so maybe I could buy that instead. Please tell me what you think.
Hi Alicia. So basically, you want to buy 1 bottle of Viviscal using your coupon and then move on to a cheaper product, is that right? That’s what I understood.
I’m not sure if that’s the best choice. I mean – if I were you, I would probably get Viviscal and use it for at least 2-3 months. It might not work from the first month. That’s why you would need about 2-3 bottles to see an effect.
From what I understood – that’s too expensive for you.
In this case, I suggest you to start with Folexin or any other supplement you can afford and continue with it at least 3 months.
It doesn’t make any sense using Viviscal for 1 month and then switching to something else – unless it has the very same formula and dosages. That can actually harm your hair on the short term.
However – I don’t know any product with the same formula as Viviscal, so it would be quite hard to find one.
So my advice is to start directly with a cheaper supplement and go with it for at least 3 months. Keep your coupon for something else, because using Viviscal just for 1 month isn’t going to work.
At least that’s what I would do. Hope this helps.
Viviscal is Perfect! It’s been 6 months since I’m with the pills and my hair is not falling out almost at all, I only lose a few hairs while morning brushing, but that’s so little! All my friend compliment me and ask what I did to my hair that it looks so good. I also ordered a bottle for my mom, who’s in her 70s and sheds quite a lot. I’m curious if she sees the same results as I did, but I’m really satisfied with this product. It cost me a lot but it do not regret my purchase!
Hello there, thanks for sharing your experience with Viviscal. I’m happy to hear it worked so well for you. Viviscal is surely a product I recommend, because it’s extremely effective. After all, the studies it has behind can’t lie. But it’s not among my top recommendations because of its high price. That’s why it’s not the product I use constantly. It’s great to hear you afford it, but I don’t – and many people are in the same situation, that’s why I try to find out affordable solutions for everyone.
If you afford using Viviscal constantly, my advice is to stick with it – as it’s a really good product.
As for your mom, hair loss is quite common in women over 60. It can be genetic or have another cause, but it can be kept under control in most women. That’s why I think Viviscal will help her, especially if her hair is also thin. But if you can, let me know how it works for her and how fast she starts seeing an effect.
Olly, do you think I could use the shampoo and conditioner alone? Would that stop my hair loss that is worsening with every year? I’m 39 currently and have no one in my family bald. I still have enough hair but it’s falling out like crazy. I’d like to use Viviscal but can’t afford the supplement, I’m also living in Russia right now and shipping it here would cost me a fortune.
Hello Myerns. I know Viviscal’s shampoo and conditioner are pretty cheap – but I wouldn’t recommend them. At least not alone. If you’re buying the pills and you want to see an effect faster, you can get the shampoo + conditioner as well, since you’re having them shipped for free. But I doubt they would help a lot, since it’s the pills doing 99% of the job.
So I would surely not recommend buying them alone, especially if you live outside the US. Shipping would still cost a lot even so, that’s why it’s really not worth it.
Now – I would normally recommend you a product called Folexin, because it has the best formula I know and it’s really cheap. But as far as I know, it doesn’t ship to Russia.
So my second recommendation is another great hair supplement, but which is a bit pricier. It’s called Follixin and it costs around $49 plus $25 shipping. I know that sounds a lot, but as far as I know, there are no additional taxes. So having it shipped in Russia for $25 is pretty good, if you ask me.
This product is great for male hair loss, both for treating and for preventing it. It can stop shedding, regrow hairs and thicken existing ones, that’s why I’m pretty sure it would help you.
For the price, I think it’s the best option right now. Hope this helps.
Hi Olly, I’m looking for a supplement for my thinning hair. I’m 25 but hair seems to go thinner year by year, so I’m trying to save as much as possible. Heard about Viviscal and was thinking to give it a shot, but I also heard recently about Nutrafol, which seems to be quite similar. Have you tried it? It’s more expensive but I have the feeling it might be better. What do you think? (Price doesn’t really matter)
Hi Jake, I’m familiar with both Nutrafol and Viviscal and I consider them quite similar in terms of effect. I personally saw better results from Nutrafol – but only in terms of hair growth. Viviscal didn’t grow my hair as fast, but it was about the same as Nutrafol as the other chapers. But it might have been just me.
So I think you can choose either Nutrafol or Viviscal, they both have similar results in terms of thinning hair. I made a comparison review between these 2, so that should help you decide.
I personally would go for another supplement called Folexin, which is my #1 recommendation. But I prefer it because it does the same as Viviscal and Nutrafol, and it’s considerably cheaper. Anyway – you said price doesn’t matter for you, so you probably prefer a popular brand. That’s why either Viviscal or Nutrafol would suit you better. Good luck!
I used several shampoos and products for hair growth but Viviscal is still my favorite! It’s helping my hair more than anything I tried, I usually hate swallowing pills but these ones are really tiny. Sometimes I take only one daily and can’t tell any difference. So for people trying to save money, taking just one pill instead of 2 will make the box lasts 2 months, that’s way cheaper!
Hello Ross, thanks for sharing your experience with Viviscal. I don’t really know what kind of hair problem you have, but I don’t really agree with your recommendation. Viviscal is a great product, but it requires the recommended dose to work fine.
If the producers recommend 3 pills per day, that’s what you need to take. Otherwise the effect will either appear much later or not appear at all.
I don’t know how long have you been taking Viviscal. But if it’s been more than 3-4 months, reducing the dose might not actually change anything. Your hair is still growing nicely and not falling out. That’s because the supplement worked from the inside, improving the cause behind.
But I’m pretty sure that you didn’t start straight with 1 pill instead of 2. If you had done this, I’m sure Viviscal wouldn’t have helped you so much.
So please, don’t advice new customers this kind of strategies because they’re simply not effective – especially at first.
Hi! Me and my husband have both used these pills and have mixed results. I could see a thickening in some of my strands and it mostly comes from the roots, the ends are the same as before. This makes me think it’s because of the supplement, as hair seems to be growing stronger from the roots. My husband is almost bald and has been taking the pills for as long as I have, but he got no improvement. Wondering if these are good for baldness or not…? Overall I’m not 100% satisfied, it works well but the pills could be cheaper. No complaints about the shampoo & conditioner though, they’re affordable.
Hi JJ, thanks for sharing your experience with Viviscal.
First of all – it’s not a product that can regrow new hairs on a bald scalp. That’s why it doesn’t work for your husband. Some people say it helps even baldness, but I can’t tell for sure (the label doesn’t claim to regrow new hairs). Either way, if it really improves baldness – it will surely take more than 3-4 months to start seeing results, since hair follicles are probably dead. But as I said, I can’t guarantee.
Anyway – if you husband doesn’t want to risk, he should switch to a supplement designed for male hair loss. My top recommendation is Procerin, as it has the lowest price and many positive reviews. Though I haven’t tried it myself, I found lots of praises online – so I assume it’s effective.
There’s also Follixin – which is one of the most popular choices. But it’s about $25 pricier than Procerin, because of their shipping issues (shipping costs $25 even in the US).
So basically, both of these products are meant for male baldness and hair loss. That’s why they should help a lot more than Viviscal. So any of them should work for your husband after several months. Hope this helps.
Hi Olly , I really needed to see this review of Viviscal, because I have been losing my hair for the last 7 years and tried different products and they helped to thicken my hair a bit, but no new hair growth. I was looking into Viviscal and am happy I read your review, as now I know it only promotes hair growth, it does not help with gaining new hair. However I did read as well your review on Folexin and others reviews as well, and that one not only is more affordable, it sounds like the product I will need.for new hair growth; though I am aware it will take several months for this. A question: In your reviews, you state taking the pills are more effective, if so what shampoos are recommended? i use a product called HIM, which also only promotes hair growth, is it okay to continue to use this while taking the Folexin pills?
Thank You again for this review!
Robert
Hi Robert, if you’re looking to regrow new hairs from scratch – Viviscal isn’t really the thing for you. It is pricey, but the point is that it’s not going to help. It only designed for regrowing existing hairs, not new ones.
Regarding Folexin – I haven’t used it myself for baldness, as I never had any bald spot on my scalp. But I read some reviews of men dealing with baldness and they said it helped. However, it’s going to take way more than 1-2 months. So you would need to be patient and consistent with the treatment if you really want to see results.
Other than Folexin, there is another product designed specially for male baldness. It’s called Follixin (similar name, pay attention) and it has lots of positive reviews online. You can check them out by typing its name into Google. The only thing is that Follixin is more expensive (around $50 per bottle) and it also ships for $25 in any country, including US. It’s not very fair, but that’s it.
Now let’s get to your questions. You mentioned you’re using a shampoo from Hims – which is a brand I’m very familiar with (here’s my review of it). Their products are basically prescription or drugstore products sold for a higher price. Plus, lots of people are calling it a scam because they never received their order. Google search is full of these reviews, so feel free to check them out.
Anyway, the products themselves are surely not bad. So you can continue using the shampoo – even if you’re taking any drugs/supplements. There’s no interaction between a topical product and a pill.
If there’s anything else I can help you with, please let me know. Hope this helps.
Is it just me not liking the smell of these pills? My mom would take Viviscal a couple of years back and I know she was always satisfied. I started having some shedding so I ordered it but the pills smell so weird. They look as in the picture you listed but the smell is so awkward, something like yeast and old cheese. Not sure if that’s how it used to smell, as I don’t remember this in my mom’s supplement…
Hi Claudia, my Viviscal pills surely didn’t smell like that. In fact – other than their bitter taste, I couldn’t feel a thing. So I’m not sure you got the right product in terms of quality.
I’m thinking that the supplement might be expired, but this doesn’t explain the bad smell either. No matter if it was 3 years expired or more, it still shouldn’t change its smell so drastically.
Do you remember where you bought the product from? If it wasn’t the official website or Amazon (which are pretty safe), the seller might be responsible. So you should try to contact the website/shop you got it from, maybe they can explain. Also check the expiration date, just to make sure.
But this kind of smell is surely not normal, so for now – I say it’s better to stop taking the pills. You can also get another bottle, if you afford it. In this way you can see the difference and you won’t have to interrupt the treatment for such a long time. But either way, please keep me updated, I’m really curious what could be the cause of this weird smell.
Great review on Viviscal Hair Growth! I took 2 full bottles last year when my hair was falling out due to seasonal changes. I wanted to continue just to help it get even healthier, but I felt that it was an extra expense that I could not afford at that point. Right now it’s almost new season in my country so I know my hair will start falling out again (it always does). This time I wanted to be ready so I was checking alternatives to Viviscal, since it’s still a bit too high above my monthly budget. I initially took on Nutrafol but then realized it’s almost double in value, which is out of the question for me. Now I’m started to get interest into Folexin, it’s finally a product that I can afford without much worries. Do you know if they ship in eastern Asia? And will I have to pay a higher cost for shipping, as I usually do? Thank you.
Hi Lina, thanks for your opinion on Viviscal.
If you’re looking for a cheaper supplement, I surely don’t recommend it (or Nutrafol). They’re both great products but a bit hard to afford for many people, including myself.
Folexin is my top recommendation in your case, as it’s a way better choice for the money. In my case, it did the same as Viviscal but it cost me half. And I also read other positive opinions on it, so it’s surely not a scam.
Regarding shipping – it only ships in certain countries from eastern Asia, like Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, Hong Kong and maybe 1-2 others. Just check its official website to be sure. International shipping is around $17 for Folexin, as far as I know. But once again, check out the official website for clear info.
Hope this helps.
I love it!!! I used the pills, shampoo and conditioner and can already see a big difference in my hair’s fullness (it’s been less than half a year). This thing really works, don’t trust those fake reviews saying it doesn’t. There are clinical trials behind, it couldn’t possibly be a hype. Price is the only unpleasant part but I think that it’s worth all that!
Hi Monique, I really appreciate sharing your experience with Viviscal.
However, some supplements don’t work in all people. In the same way, they cause side effects in some and no issue in others. So I don’t think the negative reviews on Viviscal are fake. There’s just the possibility that it didn’t work too well for everyone.
But I have to agree – compared to other supplements, Viviscal has a higher rate of success. There are a lot more positive reviews about it and there are also studies behind. Even compared to Nutrafol (one of its main competitors), I think it’s better.
Yes, I also see its high price a downside. But as long as you’re willing to pay so much, I think you should keep using Viviscal. Especially if it works so well for you.
Definitely a fantastic product that works and works well, which might justify the high price. However, if there are other products similar to it at a lower price, or even in the close to category, I will definitely opt for the lower-priced product. That’s why I’m considering Folexin, as I also heard a lot of positive things about it lately. Being that you had a good experience with Viviscal means that at the very least it seems to be worth the price unless cheaper options are available that have just as, or maybe close to, as good of an effect.
Hi Andy, thanks for your opinion on Viviscal. If you afford buying it, it’s definitely a product I recommend. But if you’re looking for a cheaper option, I definitely say Folexin is a better choice. In my case, it worked slightly better than Viviscal (it made my hair grow faster actually). But that depends from person to person, so I consider them at the same level when it comes to effect.
Viviscal is the best choice if you’re interested in a brand name, Folexin is the better one if you don’t want to spend too much money. Hope this helps you make a choice.
I came across a promotion for this thing on Amazon and bought it, it cost me around $30 not including shipping fees. It didn’t help. I was trying to grow my edges after having a sew-in too tight in my hair that ruined my baby hairs. I’ve been using a product called Wild Oil and it seemed a bit more helpful than this, but using it was so messy that I finally gave up. Now I’m using $5 store Castor Oil and looking for something that’s worth any higher investment. I’m just disappointed in Viviscal.
Hey Alicia, thanks for your feedback on Viviscal. I’m actually quite surprised you didn’t see any improvement after using it. May I ask – how long have you been using it? If it’s less than 2 months, I say you should give it another try – as this period is too short.
Most hair supplements need about 1-2 months to start working for real, and it also depends from person to person. Some work faster in others and slower in another ones, there’s no criteria. It’s just how it is.
I’m familiar with Wild Growth Hair Oil, as I have tried it myself too. But I personally hated it. As you say, it’s really messy, thick and hard to use. Plus that it leaves your hair absolutely disgusting – so washing it is a must whenever you use the oil.
Castor Oil surely works for hair growth – but it’s not better than any oil. Greasy substances stimulate hair follicles, that’s why using any oil will increase your growth speed. I always tell people not to spend money on expensive hair oils (BeanStalk is a great example) , when the regular ones do exactly the same thing. But not everyone listens…
Anyway – if you need a recommendation, my favorite hair growth supplement is Folexin and it costs around $25 per bottle. If you’re interested, check out my own review and you will find out how to get it for less (around $18 per bottle). This is the product I’m using for a long while, because it has the best price/quality/effect ratio.
No matter what you decide to use, you can keep me updated with your hair growth journey, I’m totally interested.
Thank you for a very thorough and knowledgeable review of Viviscal. I have been following your blog for several months now and have also tested your recommended supplement Folexin right from the start.
As someone who has an experience with Viviscal, I would like to tell you a few words about this supplement first:
– Improvements: new baby hairs, stronger nails, smoother skin
– No changes: hair growth rate, thinning hair
I have been a Viviscal customer for a whole year so I did end up being a bit disappointed as my hair was not much healthier than before. It helped my skin a lot but my hair wasn’t any thicker or growing faster.
So after reading your articles, I decided to try Folexin instead (the price difference was almost double and Folexin was a lot cheaper). I am now in my 5th month with it (hopefully I’m not wrong) and I can tell a better difference comapred to Viviscal:
– Improvements: hair grows a lot faster, new hair growth, strong nails
– No changes: skin
So I noticed that Viviscal was better for keeping my skin hydrated but Folexin was better for everything involving hair, even growth speed. I bought both as a hair supplement, so I’m more satisfied with Folexin’s results. It is also cheaper, which is good for me.
Thank you for your recommendations. Not sure if Folexin is better than Viviscal for everyone, but for me it works a lot better, I’m satisfied after 5 months.
Hey Mitcha, thanks a lot for your feedback on both Viviscal and Folexin. I’m glad to hear you saw results with both. I’m also happy to hear Folexin works so well for you, especially since it’s considerably cheaper so you can save a lot more money.
I personally consider Folexin one step above Viviscal too – but not in all chapters. Viviscal has way more clinical evidence than most supplements, as it has some studies conducted on it. Folexin and most of the other supplements only have clinical trials on their ingredients, not on the formula alone. But Viviscal is a big brand, so that’s why they afford it. And this could also be why the products are pricier than others.
Anyway, if Folexin works so well for you – my advice is to continue using it. Even if you want to stop it at one point, your hair won’t be affected – so you can take a break without any worries.
Thanks a lot for sharing your opinion and I hope this advice helps.
Hi Olly,
Have you heard of/tried a product by the name of Hair Omega? If so, what are your thoughts on it?
Hi Sara, thanks for your question. I actually heard of Hair Omega and did a full review of it here. Anyway – it’s a product I haven’t tried at all, so I can’t give you a personal experience on it. But I did analyze its ingredient list and it has a pretty similar composition to my #1 recommended product (Folexin). It doesn’t contain all the ingredients and the same dosages, but about 50% of them are the same. So in terms of formula, it doesn’t look bad at all.
A big downside is that you need to take 4 pills per day, which is quite uncomfortable. I usually prefer products that require 1/2 pills per day, because more is harder to take (you will surely forget about 1-2 pills at one point).
Anyway, in terms of price – it also looks really good. So if you want to go for this supplement, my advice is to do it. Just make sure you can remember taking all 4 pills a day (it’s usually better to space them out, that’s why it’s not that easy to remember taking them all). I hope this helps.
I recommended this to all my friends and family. I have very long hair which is hard to keep, so I take supplements once a year in the fall out period. I tried a bunch of brands. Viviscal wasn’t my exact first choice because of price reasons but this year I made an effort and tried it. My hair has never recovered so fast! In less than a month I got very good results and I am very happy my hair has stopped falling so badly. Maybe it’s not excellent for all people, but for my hair it works perfectly. Totally recommended.
PS: I use the regular version, no shampoo or conditioner just the supplement.
Hello Shanta, thanks a lot for your feedback with Viviscal. I’m really happy to hear it was helpful.
From what I understand, your hair starts falling out in a certain time of the year, right? This is totally normal, it happens to most people and it usually appears in the autumn/winter (cold season). Anyway, your hair seems to be healthy other than that – so maybe that’s why you noticed such positive results in a very short time. I’m not trying to take the credit from Viviscal or anything like that – I’m just saying that many people need more than 1-2 months to see an improvement. That’s probably why you saw a change so fast, because your hair was healthy overall.
But anyway, I’m glad the news are positive.
If you want my honest opinion, Viviscal’s additional products (shampoo, conditioner, etc.) aren’t worth it. They’re no better than regular hair loss shampoos that costs less. It’s the supplement that does most of the job, so you made a good choice getting only that one.
One last question, what version of Viviscal did you use? Was it the regular one (Extra Strength) or the Professional form? I would love to know the answer.
Hello. I found your blog while looking up a deal my mom said she saw for Viviscal. After reading it and the comments I would like to share my own results and some tips for purchasing Viviscal at an affordable price. I have been using Viviscal for about two years and it has hands down changed my life. I have been sufferinf from women’s hair loss since 2002 and it was to the point that I thought about it all day, every day. I started working from home so I wouldn’t have to interact with people, giving them the chance to see my hair loss. I used Rogaine for years until I went to a hair restoration specialist who informed me that Rogaine really isn’t a long term help. After this i found Viviscal and bought it directly from the company. My mom noticed a change in my hair, without any knowledge of me taking the pills, within 2 weeks. I could also tell a difference and she gave me confirmation that these pills work. Long story short, I’ve found the shampoo and conditioner don’t do anything for me and actually seem to work against me. I never bought them again. The pills however, I found at Walgreens for $29.99 a box plus I got walgreens points worth several dollars that used towards the purchase of another box. I’ve also bought them on sale at Walgreens buy one get one free again getting cash value points. Ulta has them on sale quite often buy one get one free and they are $39 a box plus you can use Ulta coupons and if you have an Ulta card, you’ll collect more points to be redeemed as cash towards a future purchase. My last purchase for 8 boxes was at Ulta when they had thrm on sale for $19.99 a box!!! For these prices, I decided to stock up after checking thr expiration dates because I really couldnt afford to buy them each month at $49 a box. I used my Ulta card and credit card since I got points with each purchase. Also, I use Mr Rebates so I collect more cash back so it truly makes Viviscal affordable. The last thing I’ll day is that these pills have absolutely regrown hair back and I have tons of new baby hairs all the time. My mom started taking them and saw the same results. I tell everyone about Viviscal and recommend them to anyone looking to get healthier hair. 🙂
Hey Christine, thanks a lot for sharing your detailed experience with Viviscal, it’s really helpful. I’m glad to hear it helped you so much, it’s definitely one of my top recommended supplements in terms of formula and effect. I normally don’t recommend it because it’s too expensive, but it seems like you found a great strategy to get it cheaper. Thank you so much for the tip! $20/box is indeed a really good price, the only downside is that many people who asked me about it live outside the US. And as far as I know. Walgreens doesn’t exist in other countries. But for US people, it’s definitely a great strategy to get this supplement cheaper.
I certainly agree about Viviscal’s shampoo and conditioner. In terms of effect, they’re really weak compared to the supplement itself. That’s why I never recommend them, unless people really want to buy them. One last question, did you use the regular version of Viviscal (Extra Strength) or the professional form?
Thanks again for your feedback.