I fell out of love with my hair a long time ago and have been trying any and every hair growth product and treatment I can get my hands on ever since.
While long hair used to be a huge part of my identity, one fleeting emo phase and a bad haircut and dye job later, I feel like I've lost a defining piece of me forever. Though I appreciate how dramatic that might sound to the average person, there's genuinely not a single day that goes by where I'm not longingly looking at another person’s hair.
In the time I've been trying to grow my hair longer and healthier, friends around me have gone from bleached bobs to long, balayage blowouts and all the way back again, while I've retained my mid length, split end-ridden hair.
I’ve tried every possible product there is on the market, from hair growth pills to hair growth serums, and while I’m sure some have helped, none have given me the X factor where I’ve genuinely fallen back in love with my hair.
At this point I will literally try anything, so after I saw Viviscal repeatedly coming up when researching the best hair growth supplements three years back, I knew I had to put it to the test for myself.
Here's how I got on with the product after using it consistently for the last three years, as well as hair loss and thin hair causes, the key ingredients that help with hair growth in Viviscal and my results.
Hair growth supplement test:
- Hair loss causes
- Thin hair causes
- What is Viviscal and who is it for?
- Key ingredients for hair growth
- 6 months of testing
- 3 years of testing results
Plus, more dermatologist-approved masks for longer strands.
First off, what causes hair loss or thin hair?
In my case I've accepted that my thin hair is very much genetics related, though as I've gotten older I and many of my friends have noticed more fallout too – a particular issue which is caused by hair growth slowing as we age. Likewise, I come from a family of iron deficient anemics which certainly doesn't help things.
However, there are a number of other factors behind why it's harder for certain people to grow their hair out, whether it be genetics or hormone imbalances, nutritional deficiencies, aging and medical conditions.
That said, hair loss and generally thin hair are two very different issues, so to better understand the causes behind each I spoke to trichologist Eva Proudman FIT IAT.
“There are multiple factors that can cause hair loss and also different types of hair loss too. One of the most common conditions that we see in clinic is an increase in hair shedding and overall hair thinning, where the growing and shedding cycle of the hair are disrupted leading to more hair in the shedding phase and less in the growing phase causing the overall thinning.”
Eva explains that this can be down to everything from diet to ill health, medications, stress and a depletion in stored vitamin and mineral levels.
“Male and Female Pattern hair loss is also incredibly common. In women this is where the centre parting widens allowing more scalp to be seen, the hairline thins and often the crown sits open and flat. There are 3 causes to this condition: genetic inheritance, sensitivity to male hormones and age. It is a very treatable condition that can be well managed with an ongoing treatment."
Likewise, autoimmune conditions can often lead to hair loss. Eva tells me that the most common condition is called “Alopecia Areata, where the immune system attacks the hair at the root causing loss in circular patches”, with this having the potential to progress to total loss of hair on the head and even on the body.
Hair loss can also be caused by scarring autoimmune conditions such as Frontal Fibrosing Alopecia, (FFA), a condition that “causes the hairline to recede and can cause recession right back to the crown”, with itching often being a common sign of these particular conditions.
It's something we all likely already know, but more often than not thin hair is simply down to your genetics. While I had much thicker hair as a teenager, in my twenties I saw this thin out a lot just as my mum had.
Eva tells me that thin hair is “influenced by the diameter of the hair and the number of hairs that are growing from each follicle”.
She adds, “It's also the number of follicles that you have on your head which is set by your genetics, and this can vary from an average of 100,000 to 150,000. Natural Blondes typically tend to have the most amount of hair follicles with red heads having the least amount.”
I guess blondes really do have more fun.
Beyond genetics, however, pattern hair loss also can lead to thin hair because these conditions see the hair miniaturise, making hair “thinner and thinner until it is unable to grow”.
In some cases, medications such as blood thinners, retinoids, antidepressants or anti-inflammatory treatments may cause hair thinning too.
What is Viviscal and who is it for?
Viviscal specialise in hair growth products that promote fuller, thicker hair, with their hair growth supplements for women having earned them fans such as Hailey Bieber along the way. Several studies in both men and women found the product increased the number of hairs and improved hair loss.
Trichologist Hannah Gaboardi explains “Viviscal is particularly effective for women experiencing thinning hair or hair loss due to stress, hormonal changes, or aging, while likewise proving useful in helping restore hair thickness postpartum."
She adds, “If hair growth is slow or hair is brittle and prone to breakage, Viviscal can help improve hair strength and growth rate,” while “Women who have damaged their hair through over-styling, colouring, or heat can benefit from its nourishing properties.”
Essentially, Viviscal is most often used to treat:
- Women with thinning hair
- Postpartum fallout
- Women with poor hair growth
- Individuals recovering from hair damage
In my case I wanted to try it out because I don't love how thin my hair is naturally and I feel like I can never actually grow it out.
According to the brand, Viviscal is “designed for women with hair loss” generally, whether you're after longer, stronger or thicker hair and are grappling with hair loss due to menstruation, menopause, pregnancy or simply genetics.
As someone who's not very good about making sure they're eating a healthy diet that includes foods for hair growth, having a supplement that I can take every day to fill in the gaps for me is kind of the perfect solution.
What ingredients in Viviscal contribute to hair growth?
Hannah walks me through all the key ingredients that make Viviscal so effective. First up, we have Viviscal's key active ingredient AminoMar C™, “a proprietary marine complex rich in marine proteins, which is believed to nourish hair follicles and promote new growth.”
Biotin, AKA the building blocks of protein also feature: “A vital B-vitamin (B7) known for its role in supporting healthy hair growth by improving keratin infrastructure, biotin is the basic protein in hair.”
Other key ingredients for hair growth:
Vitamin C - An antioxidant that aids in collagen production, which is crucial for hair structure and strength.
Niacin (Vitamin B3) - Improves blood circulation to the scalp, enhancing nutrient delivery to hair follicles.
Iron - Essential for hair growth, as iron deficiency can lead to hair loss. It helps carry oxygen to the hair's roots.
Zinc - Supports healthy hair growth and repair by maintaining oil glands around hair follicles.
6 months of testing Viviscal
After several years of consistently taking hair growth pills, one day I got a little too cocky and felt like I didn't need them anymore so stopped replenishing my supply. However, a year on I definitely noticed the difference and after doing some research I landed on putting Viviscal to the test.
Viviscal advise that you take two vitamins each day, ideally one in the morning and one in the evening with food.
Actually getting started with this probably took me a little longer than I'd care to admit because my brain couldn't handle having to remember to do something twice a day. When I did finally get into my groove with it, I didn't expect to see much change for a good while.
You should take vitamins for a minimum of three to six months before you can expect to see results, and while I'd be lying if I said that I saw a huge shift in my hair immediately, by six months I did feel as though my hair had filled out more, I was seeing less shedding and more baby hairs coming through, while also noticing my nails growing out quicker. All good signs!
3 years of taking the hair growth supplement
So where am I at after 3 years of taking Viviscal? Let me give you the headlines:
Three years on from starting Viviscal, I've actually had…compliments…on my hair?!
While this may not sound like a big deal, for someone whose hairdresser once asked them if they were suffering with postpartum fallout (I have no kids, let's be clear), this was a huge deal.
One day when I was wearing my hair up for a swim, my friend actively commented on how full my hairline was looking. Though it's hard to notice gradual changes in yourself, when I think back to where my hair was at three years before, it's definitely true that I'm less concerned with thin sides when I tie it back.
While my crown could still do with some filling out for my personal liking, I appreciate that it’s harder to target specific areas using supplements.
Likewise, though I won't lie and say that hair fallout is a total thing of the past (it very much isn't), I do feel better about it given that new baby hairs are coming in to replace lost strands.
In addition to feeling fuller, my hair also feels generally healthier and stronger. While I do still have some split ends I feel as though I'm seeing much less breakage and shedding than before.
While Viviscal has been a game changer in terms of improving the general health of my hair, I do still suffer with split ends at different lengths of my hair, with these having inhibited me from growing out my hair properly without it looking ratty at the ends.
Given that my dream hair goal would be 20" long mermaid hair, I've had to learn to accept that any hair growth product probably won't work that particular miracle out for me.
That said, I do feel like this is in part a me issue as I likely need a good chop before I can start growing it out properly. Even with the split ends, it's definitely clear to me that my hair is growing more than it otherwise would, so in that sense I personally found Viviscal did help with hair growth.
Overall, if we were to look at the benefits and drawbacks of Viviscal I'd say:
Pros:
✅ Stronger, fuller hair over time
✅ Reduced shedding and breakage
✅ Noticeable regrowth at hairline
Cons:
❌ Takes at least 3-6 months to see results
❌ Relatively expensive
Although Viviscal is on the pricier side, ultimately I'd say that if you're looking for a low effort way to improve your hair's general health this is a must try.
The FDA-approved helmet uses light to stimulate hair growth, and it's on sale for Black Friday.
