Do you find too much hair on your brush after brushing? Or maybe you’ve noticed the drain catcher blocked with hair after each shower?
If so, you’re not alone. At least a third of women have experienced hair loss problems, whether from childbirth, stress, medication, or age. [1]
And it doesn’t just have physical effects. Hair loss can leave you feeling worried, anxious, and even depressed, which often affects sleep. This, in turn, can have a knock-on effect on your well-being and confidence.
This is where hair loss products can help. They reduce shedding, breakage, thinning and visible patchiness by promoting new hair growth. Modern products have come a long way from the snake oil salesmen of the past, many incorporating the latest scientific breakthroughs in hair loss and growth.
Two of the most well-known brands are Viviscal and Nutrafol, and each have built up a loyal following. Both of them use natural ingredients and are backed by clinical trials.
What are Viviscal and Nutrafol?
Viviscal is a hair supplement for women. It contains key nutrients and a protein complex aimed to support hair health and growth. Users take 2 tablets a day for 6 months or until they can see results.
They also have the supplement Viviscal Man, which is specifically formulated to help with male hair growth. And a range of complementary hair care products that can be used alongside their main product.
Nutrafol is also a hair supplement and comes in three versions:
- Nutrafol Men
- Nutrafol Women
- Nutrafol Balance: for women “peri-and-post-menopause.”
They also produce a range of ‘boosters’ which can be used together with their main products.
In this review, we’ll be comparing Viviscal for women with Nutrafol Woman.
Viviscal vs Nutrafol Comparison Table
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 |
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| Main ingredients | Marine complex AminoMar® Biotin Zinc Vitamin C Horsetail Extract Iron |
Marine Collagen Sensoril® Ashwagandha Saw Palmetto Curcumin Tocotrienol Complex Horsetail Resveratrol Kelp |
| Vegan | Yes | No |
| Size options | 30, 60 or 90 tablets | 120 capsules |
| Price | $30.04 for 30 tablets or $74.58 for 90 | $88 for 120 capsules |
| How often should you take it? | Twice daily | Four times a day |
| Length of time to see results | 3-4 months | 1-3 months |
| Side Effects | Contains shellfish so avoid if allergic | Contains blood thinners and also saw palmetto which may decrease the effects of estrogen in the body |
| Scientific backing? | Yes | Yes |
| FDA-cleared? | No | No |
| Effectiveness (according to reviews) | 408 reviews rated it an average of 4.1 out of 5 | 105 reviewers rated it an average of 4.1 out of 5 |
| Guarantees | 90-day money-back | 30-day money-back |
| Best Price | Viviscal | Nutrafol |
Using Viviscal or Nutrafol With Other Hair Supplements
Some people take several hair supplements at the same time. Generally, this is safe to do and may result in faster hair regrowth. However, it’s best to check the ingredients in each product and make sure they don’t contradict each other.
Also, if both products contain certain vitamins or minerals, you may want to check that you do not end up taking more than the recommended safe daily dose.
If in doubt, consult your physician before combining supplements.
Viviscal Review
What is Viviscal?
Viviscal was founded in 1990. It began when a Professor from Scandinavia began studying the lifestyle of Inuits, who had particularly good hair and skin. He concluded that these traits could be attributed to their diet, which was rich in protein and fish.
When he isolated the key compounds from the Inuits’ diet, he created what is now known as the AminoMar complex. This is proprietary and only used in Viviscal. It has since grown in popularity and has been tried and tested in salons throughout the world.
Viviscal has a range of hair care products, including shampoo, conditioner, and elixir. These can be used alongside their hair growth products, Viviscal Maximum Strength (for women) and Viviscal for Men.
Viviscal also has many celebrity fans, including Cate Blanchett, Gwyneth Paltrow, Reese Witherspoon, and Miley Cyrus.
AminoMar®
In 1980, a Scandinavian professor discovered that Inuits had excellent hair and skin despite the extreme conditions they lived in.
After much research, he concluded that it was down to their fish – and protein-packed diet.
Viviscal contains the proprietary AminoMar, which was developed from the protein molecules found in the Inuit diet.
Biotin
Biotin or Vitamin H is a water-soluble Vitamin B complex (Vitamin B7).
It helps the body to metabolize carbohydrates, fats, and amino acids, the basic materials of protein. In turn, protein helps produce strong, healthy hair.
Vitamin C
Viviscal sources their Vitamin C from the acerola cherry.
Vitamin C has long been known as an excellent antioxidant that helps in the absorption of iron into the blood, which is essential for healthy hair growth.
Iron
A lack of iron (anemia) can lead to thinning hair. The iron in Viviscal helps to increase the number of oxygen-carrying red blood cells in the body.
These red blood cells then carry oxygen to other cells, including hair follicles.
How does Viviscal work to support hair growth?
Viviscal works in several stages over 6 months.
Month 1: The added nutrients present in the bloodstream from taking the tablets are passed to the hair follicle.
As hair and nails are both formed from keratin, users may first notice that their nails grow faster and are tougher.
Months 2 & 3: As well as working on promoting new hair growth, Viviscal strengthens existing hair and encourages its growth.
Months 4 & 5: Viviscal helps hair that has slowed down to grow faster again. It may even help hair that has stopped growing start again.
Month 6: This hair often resembles baby hair to start with but soon becomes stronger and thicker.
How do you use Viviscal?
Viviscal comes in small and easy-to-swallow tablets. Take one twice daily with water after a meal.
Viviscal recommends taking the tablets in conjunction with their hair care products for the best results, but they can also be taken on their own.
Viviscal suggests taking the supplements for 6 months and then reducing the dosage to one tablet daily for a further 2-3 months.
How long until you see results from Viviscal?
Normally you can see results in 3 to 4 months, sometimes sooner. For most users, 3 to 6 months is sufficient to see visible results.
How long does it stay effective?
This depends on many factors. Like all hair growth products, however, if you stop taking it, the effects may naturally wear off after time.
This is unless the underlying causes of the hair loss are dealt with. Some users use the product indefinitely to keep their hair healthy.
Viviscal Reviews
Viviscal scored an average of 4.1 out of 5 stars from a total of 408 reviews across 2 independent platforms (Influenster and Trustpilot).
Users who had been taking Viviscal for longer periods of time reported seeing noticeable results within 3 months. Reduced hair shedding and stronger hair growth were the key effects that seen. However, some also saw new hair growth after taking the tablets.
Pros according to reviewers
- Can see measurable results.
- Longer eyelashes and nails.
Cons according to reviewers
- Can make you a little nauseous until your stomach gets used to the tablets.
- Need to take 2 tablets a day.
Here are what a few reviewers had to say:
Does Viviscal really work?
Viviscal is a trusted hair growth supplement that has been tried and tested over many years.
The majority of users see noticeable results, including thicker hair, reduced shedding, and new hair growth.
The results are attributed mainly to their proprietary AminoMar® complex, which can still only be found in Viviscal.
It contains key protein molecules from the diet of the Inuits, which was researched in order to create the AminoMar complex.
All in all, Viviscal is an established supplement trusted by celebrities and women of all ages who want to support healthy hair growth.
Does Viviscal really regrow hair?
According to a double-blind, Placebo study to “assess the ability of an oral supplement to increase hair growth in women with thinning hair,”
Viviscal “safely and effectively promotes significant hair growth in women with temporary hair thinning.” [2]
Nutrafol Review
What is Nutrafol?
Nutrafol was founded by Dr. Sophia Kogan, M.D., Roland Peralta, and Giorgos Tsetis C.E.
All three of them faced problems with hair thinning and shedding. Unable to find a natural product without side effects that they believed worked, they banded together to research a solution, and Nutrafol was born.
The Nutrafol range now includes Nutrafol Women, Nutrafol Women’s Balance, and Nutrafol Men, as well as additional products to complement hair growth.
Ashwagandha
Nutrafol is 100% drug-free. Among other ingredients, it contains Sensoril® Ashwagandha, a herb that helps to balance stress hormones.
Stress can be linked to hair loss.
Tocotrienol Complex
Another element that tackles hair loss or thinning due to stress, this time by reducing oxidative environmental stress.
Marine Collagen
One side effect users sometimes notice from taking Nutrafol is stronger nails. Nails and hair are both formed from keratin.
The marine collagen in Nutrafol supplies the keratin that makes up your hair and nails with essential amino acids.
How does it work?
Nutrafol takes a holistic approach to hair wellness by targeting the root causes of much hair loss. It aims to neutralize free radicals while reducing stress and inflammatory factors in the body, thereby giving your hair a better environment to regrow.
Is Nutrafol natural?
Yes, Nutrafol is 100% drug-free and natural. It consists of around 20 plant-based ingredients. Each ingredient is made with clinically tested plant extracts in standardized dosages called ‘nutraceuticals.’
How do you use it?
You take 4 capsules a day with food to help absorption. You don’t need to eat them with a meal, just a snack if you wish, so long as it contains 6-7 grams of fat. You can either spread the capsules out throughout the day or take them all at once.
How long does it take Nutrafol to work?
Some users have seen results within 1-2 months. Most users should see measurable results within 3 months.
How long does Nutrafol stay effective?
According to Nutrafol, even if you stop taking the capsules after 6 months, you should not see a complete reversal in your hair growth back to what it was before you started the course of treatment.
However, reviewers have mixed experiences, some noting the effects were long-lasting even after stopping the treatment, while others saw their hair return to its pretreatment state fairly rapidly.
Nutrafol Reviews
Nutrafol scored an average of 4.3 out of 5 stars from a total of 3,778 reviews across 2 independent websites (Amazon and Influenster).
Pros according to reviewers
- Visible results faster than many other brands tried by reviewers.
- Noticeably thicker hair.
- Stronger and longer nails.
Cons according to reviewers
- Expensive compared to some hair loss products reviewers have tried.
- Need to take 4 capsules a day.
- Capsules are quite big and don’t taste too great.
Here are a couple of typical reviews:
Does Nutrafol actually work?
Nutrafol’s supplements have thousands of positive reviews, with users reporting significant improvement to hair growth after only a few months.
Nutrafol’s formula is based on their belief that it’s important to tackle stress and hormone balance when dealing with hair loss. This link between stress and hair loss has been borne out by scientific research. [3]
As an all-natural supplement, Nutrafol are a great option for anyone looking for drug-free support for hair growth.
Viviscal vs Nutrafol, Which Is Better?
Both Viviscal and Nutrafol are well-established brands with scientific studies and personal testimonies backing up their claims. The main differences between them are that:
- Nutrafol is 100% natural, whereas Viviscal consists of mostly natural ingredients.
- Neither are FDA approved, but Viviscal is manufactured in an FDA-approved facility.
- Viviscal is suitable for vegans, whereas Nutrafol is not.
- Nutrafol ($2.90/day) is more expensive than Viviscal ($1.66/day), although there are often special offers available on the websites that can affect this.
- Viviscal offers a 90-day money-back guarantee, whereas Nutrafol only offers 30 days.
- You can see quicker visible results with Nutrafol (1-2 months) than Viviscal (3-4 months), but results vary from user to user.
- Viviscal has been around since 1990, whereas Nutrafol is newer and was founded in 2013. Viviscal has therefore been tried and tested over a longer period of time.
- Viviscal has their proprietary AminoMar formula that Nutrafol does not.
Whichever product you try, the most important thing is to be consistent with taking the suggested dosage and don’t become disheartened if you don’t see results as quickly as some users. Give it time to work.
I hope whichever one you try, you’ll soon find thinning and shedding hair is a thing of the past.
Best Price
Viviscal Hair Supplements
Nutrafol Hair Supplements
Viviscal FAQs
How long does it take for Viviscal to work?
Most users see results in 3-4 months, although it may take as long as 6 months.
What are the side effects of Viviscal?
Some users report mild nausea when first using the product, but it usually stops after a couple of weeks.
Does Viviscal make you gain weight?
Some users have reported apparent weight gain, although the tablets themselves certainly aren’t calorific, and the specific ingredients aren’t known to cause weight gain.
What happens when you stop Viviscal?
It depends on the cause of the hair thinning or hair loss. Some people find that their hair loss problem doesn’t reoccur, while others find their hair goes back to the condition it was in before they started the treatment.
Nutrafol FAQs
Does Nutrafol grow new hair?
Yes, Nutrafol not only encourages existing hair to grow faster but also promotes new hair to grow.
How long does it take for Nutrafol to work?
Normally users see results in 1-2 months, although you may have to wait up to 3 months to see measurable results.
What are the side effects of Nutrafol?
Some users report feeling nauseous when first taking Nutrafol, but the effects should wear off after a week or two.
Do I have to take Nutrafol forever?
According to Nutrafol no, only for 6 months. But some users reported their hair returning to its original state after they stopped taking the capsules.
How do I know if Nutrafol is working?
You should see visible signs of new hair growth within 1-2 months, 3 at most.
