Hey there, it‘s your resident haircare junkie here! If you‘re reading this, chances are you‘re on the hunt for an effective solution to thinning hair or hair loss. Well, I‘ve got you covered with an in-depth look at two of the most popular hair growth supplements on the market: Viviscal and Nutrafol.
As someone who has personally tested both brands extensively, I‘m here to give you the full scoop on how they stack up in terms of ingredients, results, price, and more. By the end of this article, you‘ll know exactly which one is the best fit for your hair needs and lifestyle. So grab a coffee and let‘s dive in!
Tale of the Tape: Viviscal vs Nutrafol
| Viviscal | Nutrafol | |
|---|---|---|
| Founded: | 1990 | 2014 |
| Celebrity Fans: | Reese Witherspoon, Gwyneth Paltrow | Hilary Duff, Naomi Watts |
| Clinical Trials: | 10+ | 4+ |
| Key Ingredients: | AminoMar marine complex, biotin, vitamin C | Sensoril ashwagandha, marine collagen, saw palmetto |
| Subscription Price: | $33-50/month | $79-88/month |
| Shipping: | Free on 3-month plans | Free on all orders |
| Average Rating: | 4.4 stars | 4.6 stars |
As you can see, Viviscal has a longer track record and lower price point, while Nutrafol boasts cleaner ingredients and slightly higher customer ratings. But there‘s a lot more to each brand‘s story…
My Experience with Viviscal
I first heard about Viviscal from a makeup artist friend who swore it made her hair grow like crazy between salon visits. Intrigued, I picked up the Extra Strength supplement for women and started taking it twice a day.
The key ingredient that makes Viviscal unique is AminoMar, a proprietary marine protein complex derived from fish and shark cartilage. It‘s combined with tried-and-true hair growth boosters like biotin, vitamin C, and iron. The pills have a slight oceanic smell but didn‘t bother my stomach at all.
After about a month on Viviscal, I started noticing 3 main improvements:
- Less hair fall in my brush and shower drain
- New baby hairs and "fuzzies" along my hairline
- Thicker, more voluminous ponytail
I was pretty shocked to see measurable results in such a short time! They only got better from there – by the 3 month mark, my hair felt significantly denser and looked visibly longer and fuller. Even my lashes and brows seemed fuller. I‘m not the only one blown away by Viviscal, either:
"Viviscal has been a true lifesaver for my fine, thinning hair! After 6 months my hair looks better than it has in decades. Worth every penny!" – Kelly, 42
"I took Viviscal consistently for a year and saw a major difference in hair thickness and density. I‘d say about a 50-60% increase in volume and WAY less shedding." – David, 36
One thing I love about Viviscal (besides the legit results) is how easy it is to find – you can grab it on Amazon, Dermstore, and even at your local Walgreens or Target. They also have a subscribe-and-save option that gets you 20% off each order. The only downside is you have to take it for at least 3 months to see a difference.
Why I Switched to Nutrafol
After a year of loyal Viviscal use, I started hearing more and more buzz about Nutrafol from beauty editors and influencers I follow. It‘s endorsed by bona fide hair experts like Bobbi Brown and Dr. Dendy Engelman, so I decided to see if it was worth the hype (and hefty price tag).
The first thing that stood out to me about Nutrafol is its super clean, clinically backed formula. All of the active ingredients are naturally derived and the capsules are free of drugs, gluten, soy, dairy, and other common allergens. They‘re also more concentrated than Viviscal, so you take 4 per day vs. 2.
Nutrafol‘s proprietary Synergen Complex targets 6 key root causes of hair loss:
- Stress
- Hormones
- Environment
- Nutrition
- Metabolism
- Aging
It features medical-grade botanicals like ashwagandha, an amazing ayurvedic adaptogen that reduces cortisol (the hair-damaging stress hormone), and saw palmetto which blocks DHT to combat hormonal hair loss and male/female pattern baldness. There‘s also a potent dose of marine collagen to strengthen and plump the hair shaft from the inside out.
I noticed a definite boost in my overall hair thickness and growth speed with Nutrafol. I shed less, had more volume, and started seeing new growth in some sparse areas along my temples and hairline. It even seemed to improve my skin and nail health as a bonus!
Clinical studies back up these benefits too:
- In one trial, women taking Nutrafol increased hair growth by 80% and saw 32% more thickness after 6 months compared to a placebo^1
- 80% of women reported improved hair growth, thickness, and volume after 3-6 months of daily use^2
- 73% said their hair looked and felt fuller and denser with consistent use over 6 months^2
Curious what other real users have to say about Nutrafol? Take it from these happy customers:
"I‘ve been using Nutrafol for about 5 months and am thrilled with my results. My hair is noticeably fuller, grows faster, and is much shinier. Even my husband complimented the thickness!" – Samantha, 51
"Nutrafol took about 3 months to kick in but wow – my hair hasn‘t stopped growing since! Highly recommend if you want thicker, healthier hair without drugs or side effects." – Alex, 28
While it‘s definitely on the pricier side at $79+/month, Nutrafol does offer free shipping, a 30-day money-back guarantee, and savings of about $30-40 if you sign up for auto-deliveries. They also have targeted formulas for women, men, and peri/postmenopausal needs.
How to Choose the Best Hair Supplement for You
Now that I‘ve walked you through my personal experiences with Viviscal and Nutrafol, you‘re probably wondering – which one is actually right for me? While both deliver legit, clinically proven results, here are a few key factors to consider:
Budget
If you want a quality hair growth supplement that won‘t break the bank, Viviscal is your best bet. At about half the price of Nutrafol, it consistently produces visible results in 3-6 months, with even better effects over time. Just be prepared to commit to taking it daily long-term to maintain your mane gains.
Ingredients
When it comes to clean, naturally derived ingredients, Nutrafol has the edge on Viviscal. With over 21 potent botanicals and no synthetic fillers, it‘s probably better tolerated if you have allergies or sensitivities. The ashwagandha and stress adaptogens are also a big plus if you‘re dealing with stress/anxiety-related hair changes.
Goals
If your main concern is boosting thickness and growth while reducing shedding from your existing hair, Viviscal is a great choice. It starts working faster and is safe for all hair types. Nutrafol is better if you‘re dealing with multiple underlying causes of hair loss like stress, hormones, dieting, or environmental damage – it offers inside out hair health and whole-body benefits.
The Final Word
Viviscal and Nutrafol are both fantastic choices if you want to grow thicker, healthier, fuller hair – no Rx required! They each have thousands of happy customers, solid clinical results, and money-back guarantees that let you try them risk-free for at least 30 days.
Unless you have specific ingredient allergies, I‘d recommend starting with Viviscal since it works great for most and is so affordable. If you use it for 6+ months and aren‘t fully satisfied with your results, consider upgrading to Nutrafol to get that extra boost from the anti-stress and anti-DHT botanicals.
Ultimately, the #1 key to success with any hair supplement is using it consistently (every single day!) for a minimum of 3 months, but ideally 6-12+ for max growth and thickness. Stick with it and I promise you‘ll be blown away by your super charged locks in the very near future!
Let me know which one you end up trying in the comments – I‘d love to hear about your results!
