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Viviscal Extra Strength Review

By Razvan Radu, Senior Writer, Susanne Blake, MS, RDN (expert review) Susanne Blake is a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist with expertise in eating disorders, food reactions, & whole foods nutrition. She has worked with children and families, with elders and retirement communities, and has provided nutrition services to detention facilities, schools and recovery programs. Her media expertise is extensive and has included live television, as well as print publications.

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Arguably one of the most successful women’s hair growth supplements on the market, Viviscal Extra Strength is an effective, drug-free alternative to hair loss issues. The product is manufactured by a global nutriceutical business established in 1991, Lifes2good, the leaders of which firmly believe that the only way to consistently grow healthier and thicker hair is through adequate nutrition.

Viviscal Extra Strength is intended to counteract hair loss by offering the woman’s body the necessary vitamins, minerals and amino acids it needs to grow hair naturally. Free of drugs or harmful chemicals, Lifes2good’s formula is intended to help bring back the follicles to a healthy condition by making sure the necessary nutrients for hair growth are present. Major hair loss occurs due to the shortening of the anagen phase in the hair growth cycle, wherein the follicle may grow anywhere between 2 to 7 years, effectively determining the hair’s length.

The result of nearly 25 years of researching hair loss, Viviscal Extra Strength’s purpose is to combat the shortening of the anagen phase and support hair growth in this essential timeframe. Unlike other pharmaceuticals or cosmetics intended to stop hair loss, the product manufactured by Lifes2good provides women with a long-term solution that does not have potentially harmful side-effects.

Viviscal Extra Strength Ingredients

Viviscal Extra Strength contains the following ingredients per serving: Vitamin C as Ascorbic Acid (59 mg), Niacin as Niacinamide (12 mg), Biotin (120 mg), Iron (10 mg), Zinc (11 mg), AminoMar Marine Complex (Shark Powder, Mollusc Powder, 450 mg) and Horsetail (stem) Extract (36.7 mg) and Millet Seed Extract (7.5 mg). Other ingredients are: Microcrystalline Cellulose, Maltodextrin, Hydroxypropyl Methyl Cellulose, Silicon Dioxide, Magnesium Stearate, Sodium Carboxymethyl Cellulose, Artificial Orange Flavoring, Modified Starch, Glycerol. It contains fish ingredients (Shark).

Product Features

Available only in the Viviscal Extra Strength complex, the main ingredient is the AminoMar complex, which is rich in nutrients and proteins of a fish origin. Small scale observational studies were conducted on people both in 1992 and 2014, with the added benefit of control subjects who were taking placebo pills. In both instances, consistent results indicated that Viviscal Extra Strength nourishes the scalp and improves the health of the hair follicles, but not for all of the subjects. The other ingredient that is commonly associated with hair growth in this formula is biotin (Vitamin H or B7), but no research was conducted to determine its effectiveness in this direction.

For those who do not have allergies to fish products, Viviscal Extra Strength is an affordable dietary supplement for the prevention of hair loss. After two decades of research and investigations, Lifes2good put together a formula that is not only free of drugs, but also free of the unpleasant side-effects involved with taking pharmaceuticals.

The recommended dose is 1 pill twice a day with water – one in the morning and one in the evening, after meals. The supplement was put through a more consistent study with the occasion of the 7th Annual World Congress for Hair Research in 2013. The results speak for themselves, with an average of 7.4% increase in diameter for the vellus after 6 months and 18.3% decrease in hair loss after only 3 months of usage. The conclusion was that the women’s follicles were changing into thicker ones by the time the study was finalized. A frequently omitted fact about this product regards the processing of its shark powder (or cartilage) contents. In itself, cartilage may contain neurotoxins (BMAA), as well as mercury that may pose a risk for human consumption, but clear indications are not given by the manufacturer as to whether this is the case or not.

Hair loss in women can occur as a result of many factors, including stress, hormonal imbalance, birth control, poor diet or even overstyling. Viviscal Extra Strength is a formula guaranteed to help the prevention of hair loss if used for longer periods of times, but it cannot be determined to what degree this happens for every customer.

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Advantages

100% drug free formula.
Easy to use compared to other hair loss prevention methods.
Clinical trials show good results.
Paraben free. No potentially harmful substances for the scalp.
90 day free trial if purchased from Viviscal.com or using their call center.

Disadvantages

Not recommended for women who are pregnant or breastfeeding.
Cannot be used for those with allergies to fish ingredients.
Doesn’t always promote hair growth after slowing down the shedding process.
Controversial ingredient – shark cartilage in the form of shark powder.

Conclusion

With proven, consistent results for long-term use, Viviscal Extra Strength is one of the best dietary supplements that counteracts hair loss and promotes the growth of healthy, strong hair. The average price makes it a good value supplement, whereas the 90 day trial (without shipping and weighing fees) can always come in handy if there are no results.

Containing ingredients such as Biotin, Horsetail extract and the AminoMar Marine complex, Viviscal Extra Strength scored good results in controlled studies ever since its release on the market.

As a dietary supplement, Viviscal Extra Strength has limited efficiency in people who experienced thinning and shedding of their hair follicles strictly due to hormonal changes. On the other hand, 70% percent of Amazon customers noticed the beneficial impact of this product.

Product	Star Rating	10yrs or More Proven Product	Less Than $6 Shipping	Testimonials
HCF Quality (4.8)	(4.8)
Viviscal Extra Strength (3.9)	(3.9)

Explanation of Chart

Review History

(Published on: December 15, 2015 9:21 am)

Viviscal Extra Strength is a hair product advertised as a perfect product for women who desire to have thicker and fuller hair. The supplement is part of the Viviscal Hair Growth and Hair Care Program based on the premises that hair loss and scalp problems are usually caused by a dietary imbalance. So, the formula is designed to provide these essential nutrients (vitamins, minerals, and protein) thus restoring natural balance within the body, with obvious benefits on the hair.

Viviscal Extra Strength’s main ingredients are the marine complex AminoMar featuring shark powder and mollusk powder, Horsetail extract, and several vitamins and minerals like Vitamin C, B vitamins, Zinc, and Iron. Shark powder that comes from shark cartilage is rich in a chemical called Glucosamine. Glucosamine is known to stimulate growth of new tissue (specifically cartilage) and also to revive dormant hair follicles.

The supplement enjoys a large number of reviews, scoring a total of 4 stars out of 5 on Amazon. Users report healthier, thicker hair and increased growing speeds. A two month’s supply is not expensive at all, and that’s also a great advantage of this product. However, given that this is a nutritional supplement, it is advisable to consult with your doctor before starting administration.

Is Viviscal Extra Strength Right For You?

Viviscal Extra Strength is advertised to be a clinically proven, drug free solution to help you achieve having thicker and fuller hair. Among the most frequently mentioned benefits, users have mentioned observing their hair has stopped falling (altogether or to a significant extent), hair re-growth (on bold spots included) and even an increase in the speed with which their hair was growing.
According to the marketing message, this is a product for women, as the company offers a similar formula specifically designed to suit men’s needs. It is not clear why men could not successfully use this formula though.

The product is part of the Viviscal Hair Growth and Hair Care Program, and looks at the problem of hair loss as being caused by a dietary imbalance. The solution offered by this dietary supplement centers around the idea that a diet that is poor in specific nutrients, such as vitamins, minerals or protein, can and in fact will negatively impact the condition and strength of the hair.

Viviscal Extra Strength is manufactured and distributed by Lifes2good, a rapidly expanding business with various beauty and health brands included in their portfolio. The Viviscal hair care range includes the supplement being reviewed here, and products for the scalp (Viviscal Hair and Scalp Serum, Gentle Shampoo and Moisturizing Conditioner, and Viviscal Hair Filler Fibers).

Ingredients of Viviscal Extra Strength

Viviscal Extra Strength includes the following ingredients: Vitamin C (from Acerola Powder or Ascorbic Acid), Niacin (as Niacinamide), Biotin, Iron( from Ferrous Fumarate), Zinc (from Zinc Oxide), AminoMar Marine Complex (Shark powder, Mollusc powder), Horsetail (stem) extract, Millet seed extract, Microcrysralline, cellulose, maltodextrin, Hydroxypropyl Metyl Cellulose, silicon dioxide, magnesium stearate, Sodium Carboxymetyl Cellulose, Glycerol, artificial orange flavoring, and modified starch.

Effectiveness of Viviscal Extra Strength

Viviscal Extra Strength dietary supplement claims to own its nourishing effects (and hair health boosting benefits) to its exclusive marine complex AminoMar, as well as to several other important ingredients vitamins and minerals (Biotin, Zinc, Vitamin C, Iron) and Horsetail Extract. Although it is claimed that the supplement has been scientifically proven to nourish thinning hair and promote existing hair growth, we were not able to find reference to any such study involving the formula.

The core ingredient of the supplement, the AminoMar Marine Complex combines together Shark powder and Mollusc powder. It is not clear to us whether shark powder refers to shark cartilage, but we will assume that is the case. Shark cartilage contains Glucosamine – this is a naturally occurring substance which stimulates the growth of new tissue, especially cartilage. Trials have nonetheless shown that Glucosamine can also stimulate dormant hair follicles. Research is incipient; therefore not much else can be added right now. Then study involving women 21 to 75 years of age with Fitzpatrick skin types I to IV who complained of self-perceived thinning hair but who were in generally good health, revealed visible improvements in the number of hair terminals after 90-180 days of treatment – 65% increase.

One of the most important drawbacks of the supplement is it offers 120 mcg of Biotin, lower than the daily recommended dosage for hair growth. Also, the supplement is available in the form of tablets that may not properly dissolve like veggie capsules for instance.

Precautions refer to pregnant and nursing women, as well s people under the age of 18.

Viviscal Extra Strength Price

The price for one-month bottle of this supplement is close to $32, and if we are to consider a minimum of three months of treatment (as recommended by the manufacturer) we have an approximately $100 spent before you start seeing results. This price is moderate to high as compared to similar solutions available on the market that also offer this kind of quality. Opting for becoming a member of the Viviscal Elite program may attract further benefits. You can study this option on the official website of the manufacturer.

Does Viviscal Extra Strength Work?

The formula is one of the most popular hair growth and renewal solutions on the market, with several clinical trials being conducted to this day – which is always a sigh that the company takes things seriously The formula does not contain Folic Acid or Saw Palmetto, two highly popular hair growth ingredients, but instead features shark and mollusk powders, on which little information is scientifically validated. Consumer feedback is generally positive but you should know this is a medium term solution as results may appear somewhere between 3 to 6 months of use. Please check with a healthcare practitioner prior to use.

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