Nutrafol vs. Viviscal: Comparing Hair Growth Solutions

Whether you’re struggling with thinning hair or looking for ways to return your hair to its original glory, hair growth supplements can help.

Viviscal and Nutrafol are two solutions that are gaining popularity for their efficacy in improving hair growth, reducing shedding, and strengthening hair from root to tip. 

If you’re trying to decide between these two supplements, keep reading to learn which is worth your money.

Nutrafol vs. Viviscal: Which Is Better?

According to our haircare experts, Nutrafol is a better hair growth supplement.

Although pricier than Viviscal, Nutrafol includes a significantly more diverse ingredient list. 

It is also designed to do more than simply support hair growth, with certain additives being used to reduce inflammation, treat scalp conditions like psoriasis and eczema, and address hormonal imbalances that contribute to thinning hair.

What Is Nutrafol?

Nutrafol is a popular hair growth supplement formulated with a blend of high-quality natural ingredients, including botanical extracts and essential vitamins and minerals. 

Their range of products, tailored specifically for men and women, is designed to promote existing hair growth by nourishing the follicles and improving blood circulation to the scalp. 

Certain ingredients like saw palmetto and ashwagandha also help address the root cause of hair loss by reducing inflammation and addressing hormonal imbalances.

Nutrafol product range

• Nutrafol Women
• Nutrafol Women’s Vegan
• Nutrafol Women’s Balance
• Nutrafol Postpartum
• Nutrafol Men

What Is Viviscal?

Viviscal offers a wide range of hair growth treatments, including shampoos, conditioners, serums, and their most popular product – hair growth supplements for men and women.

Formulated with marine proteins, vitamins, minerals, and other botanical ingredients, the Viviscal hair growth supplement is designed to address hair thinning and promote hair growth from within.

AminoMar, a marine complex derived from fish proteins, as well as biotin and vitamin C, work together to nourish the hair follicle, strengthen existing hair strands, and support the growth of new, healthier hair.

Viviscal product range

• Viviscal Hair Growth
• Viviscal Man
• Thickening Shampoo
• Strengthening Conditioner
• Hair Thickening Serum
• Exfoliating Scalp Scrub

How Do Nutrafol and Viviscal Work?

Although they share many of the same ingredients, Nutrafol and Viviscal use different mechanisms to deliver results.

Nutrafol takes a multi-targeted approach to address the underlying causes of hair loss and thinning.

In addition to ingredients designed to moisturize and strengthen the hair from root to tip, Nutrafol also includes natural remedies for reducing oxidative stress and preventing hormonal imbalances that may affect hair growth.

Viviscal’s approach is slightly different, with a focus on nourishing the follicles and creating an optimal environment for hair growth.

Ingredients

Natrafol and Viviscal share many of the same ingredients, though Viviscal does contain ingredients that are not completely natural, which is not advertised on their website.

Nutrafol

• Sensoril ashwagandha: Decreases the level of the stress hormone cortisol by up to 30.5% to help prevent unwanted hair loss. 
• Saw palmetto: Used to reduce scalp inflammation and prevent conditions like eczema and dandruff.
• Tocotrienol complex: Helps to increase hair count, meaning that you lose less hair each day.
• Marine collagen peptides: Replenishes collagen levels, an essential protein for hair growth.
• Curcumin: A DHT inhibitor that is used to treat hormonal hair loss.
• Kelp minerals: Loaded with vitamins and minerals that nourish the hair.
• Resveratrol: Boosts mitochondrial production to improve energy production in hair cells.
• Horsetail extract: Has many benefits for hair, including improving elasticity, regulating the hair growth cycle, and reducing scalp inflammation.
• Keratin: Can help prevent breakage, frizz, and heat damage.
• L-cysteine: An amino acid that helps hold strands of keratin within the hair.
• L-lysine: Used in the production of proteins that are essential for hair growth.
• L-methionine: An amino acid that strengthens hair structure.
• Black pepper: Full of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants that stimulate hair growth and prevent hair fall.
• Capsicum: Used to prevent hair fall and helps hair grow thicker and fuller.
• Vitamin A: Supports skin glands in producing sebum, which is essential for a well-moisturized scalp. 
• Zinc: Supports healthy zinc levels to prevent hair loss, strengthen the hair follicle, and increase hair thickness.
• Vitamin D: Stimulates the follicles to increase hair growth.
• Biotin: Used to increase keratin production to improve hair growth, shine, and volume.
• Selenium: A trace mineral that is used to prevent the growth of dandruff-causing fungus and regulate hair growth.
• Hyaluronic acid: Moisturizes dry and flakey scalps while locking moisture into the hair to prevent frizz.

Viviscal

• AminoMar marine complex: A collagen complex containing shark cartilage and oyster extract powder that nourishes hair to promote healthy hair growth.
• Biotin: Used to increase keratin production to improve hair growth, shine, and volume.
• Vitamin C: The benefits of vitamin C for hair include improving scalp health, boosting hair growth, strengthening the hair, and enhancing shine.
• Iron: Boost blood flow to the scalp to nourish the hair follicles and boost hair growth.
• Niacin: Increases blood circulation to the scalp to increase hair fullness.
• Calcium: Aids in the secretion of hormones that are essential for healthy hair.
• Zinc: Supports healthy zinc levels to prevent hair loss, strengthen hair follicles, and increase hair thickness.
• Horsetail extract: Has many benefits for hair, including improving elasticity, regulating the hair growth cycle, and reducing scalp inflammation.
• Millet seed extract: Has anti-inflammatory properties and helps support healthy hair growth.

Side Effects

Both hair growth supplements are considered generally safe for consumption, though it is normal to experience some side effects when using any new dietary supplement.

Users of both Nutrafol and Viviscal have reported some gastrointestinal disturbances, such as bloating, cramping, and diarrhea. 

Taking these supplements as directed with food is the best way to prevent unwanted negative side effects.

It’s important to remember that both blends also include marine proteins and other natural ingredients that may trigger allergic reactions. 

Read the ingredient list carefully or consult with a healthcare professional before taking either supplement if you have known food sensitivities.

Pricing

When it comes to the pricing of these supplements, Viviscal is clearly the winner. 

Not only is Viviscal significantly less expensive for a single purchase – at $40 instead of Nutrafol’s $88 – it has attractive bundling options that allow you to receive additional discounts, free shipping, and gifts.

Nutrafol:

• Single purchase: $88
• Monthly delivery: $79
• 3-month delivery: $224
• 6-month delivery: $422

Viviscal:

• Single purchase: $40
• Monthly delivery: $36
• 3-month delivery: $96
• 6-month delivery: $180

Best in Category

How We Tested the Products

We take the review process for the products we recommend to our readers very seriously. Using the following criteria to grade each product helped us narrow down the best product for hair growth.

Quality

High-quality hair growth supplements are those made from naturally-sourced ingredients derived from reliable sources. Both products have mostly natural ingredient lists, with Nutrafol being 100% natural.

Effectiveness

The best supplements are those with clinical research to back up the effectiveness of the product in achieving the desired result, in this case, improved hair growth and reduced shedding. Viviscal and Nutrafol have both been clinically tested to prove their effectiveness.

Price

We were on the lookout for a product that delivered on value, meaning that it provided better results than what you would find in lower-grade products without breaking the bank. 

These hair products are better than what you’d find in your local grocery store and cost a fraction of other similar brands.

Brand reputation

Brands with good reputation are known for providing exceptional customer service and tend to have plenty of verified purchases to prove the effectiveness of their products. With thousands of verified buyers, you can put your trust in the service offered by Nutrafol and Viviscal.

FAQs

Conclusion

When deciding between Viviscal and Nutrafol, there are many things to consider. 

The good news is, both products show promise in helping users regrow hair and improve their overall hair health and have reviews from thousands of people supporting their efficacy.

However, Nutrafol’s more diverse and completely natural ingredient list designed to treat the causes of hair loss with stress-reducing and anti-inflammatory additives makes it the better choice.

Whichever product you decide, expect to need between 3 and 6 months of consistent use, in combination with regular exercise and a well-balanced diet, before seeing noticeable results.