Viviscal
Shop Viviscal hair growth supplements and haircare: tablets with AminoMar, biotin and zinc, plus shampoo, conditioner and serum. We explain what the marine complex is, who each product suits and how long to give it.Read more →
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Viviscal hair growth supplements and haircare, explained
What sits inside a Viviscal tablet
Viviscal has been sold in the UK for more than 25 years, with a supplement range and a small haircare line. The tablets are built around AminoMar, a patented marine complex made from fish cartilage and mollusc powder. Around it sit biotin, zinc, vitamin C, niacin, iron, horsetail extract and millet seed extract.
Only part of that list carries an approved European claim. Biotin contributes to the maintenance of normal hair, and so does zinc. AminoMar itself has no approved health claim. It is the brand's own ingredient, studied in trials the company supported. So see the marine complex as the reason people pick Viviscal over a plain biotin tablet, not as a proven nutrient effect. That distinction is rarely spelled out, and it helps you judge the price.
Tablets and haircare do two different jobs
The supplements work from the inside and follow the hair cycle. That is why the label asks for two tablets a day, morning and evening after food, for at least three to six months. The shampoo, conditioner and thickening serum work on the hair you already have. They clean, coat and add body, so the effect shows from the first wash and fades when you stop. Viviscal is one of several hair-focused names in our brand overview, and this split is the main thing to get right before you buy:
- Tablets: a fixed daily dose, judged over months.
- Shampoo and conditioner: cosmetic fullness and less breakage.
- Serum: leave-in, applied to scalp and lengths.
Why we carry Viviscal
We stock Viviscal because the formula is specific and stable: a set amount of AminoMar with biotin and zinc at levels that support the claim on the pack, rather than a blend that hides its amounts. We buy directly from the brand, so you receive the European formula with UK labelling and no grey imports. Every product passes our compliance team before it goes live, we test items ourselves, and independent labs spot-check batches. We are equally clear about the limits: these tablets contain fish and shellfish, and they need consistent daily use for months. You can read how we select brands and products.
Who it suits and what to check first
Viviscal fits adults with fine or thinning hair who want one finished formula instead of buying four separate nutrients. If you would rather build your own routine, compare it with the wider range of supplements for hair growth first, since single-nutrient products usually cost less per month.
Three practical checks. The tablets contain fish and mollusc, so they are not suitable for vegetarians, vegans or anyone with a seafood allergy. They also contain iron, which matters if you already take an iron supplement or a multivitamin with iron. And progress is slow by nature: hair grows roughly a centimetre a month, so the first honest review point is around week twelve, not week three. If your thinning came on suddenly or in patches, speak to your GP before you spend on months of supplements. For broader support of skin and nails alongside your hair, our hair, skin and nails goal pages group the nutrients that carry approved claims in those areas.
Frequently asked questions
What is Viviscal?
Viviscal is a hair brand with two sides: food supplements in tablet form and a cosmetic haircare line of shampoo, conditioner and a thickening serum. The tablets combine the brand's patented AminoMar marine complex with biotin, zinc, vitamin C, niacin, iron, horsetail extract and millet seed extract. They are food supplements, not medicines, so they support normal hair rather than treating a hair condition. The range is aimed at adults with fine or thinning hair.
What is AminoMar and does it have an approved health claim?
AminoMar is Viviscal's own marine complex, made from fish cartilage and mollusc powder. It is patented, which means no other brand may use it, and it is the reason the tablets contain fish and shellfish.
AminoMar has no approved European health claim. The hair-related wording on the pack comes from two nutrients instead: biotin contributes to the maintenance of normal hair, and zinc does the same. We prefer to say that plainly, so you know which part of the formula the claim rests on.
Which Viviscal product should I choose?
Start with what you want to change. Tablets work from the inside over months; the haircare works on the hair you already have and shows straight away. Many people use both.
| Product | Form | Best suited to |
|---|---|---|
| Maximum Strength | Tablet, two daily | Adults with fine or thinning hair |
| Viviscal Man | Tablet, two daily | Men, male-focused formula |
| Professional | Tablet, two daily | More AminoMar per daily dose |
| Shampoo, conditioner | Rinse-off | Fuller look, less breakage |
| Thickening serum | Leave-in | Daily volume on scalp and lengths |
If you only want the cosmetic effect, our shampoo collection holds cheaper options.
How do I take the tablets and when will I notice something?
The label asks for two tablets a day, one in the morning and one in the evening, with water and after food. Taking them with a meal helps if iron upsets your stomach.
Give it three to six months before you judge the result, and keep taking them daily. Hair grows around a centimetre a month, so new growth simply needs time to become visible. Taking a photo at the start makes the comparison honest. After that period, many people drop to one tablet a day.
Is Viviscal suitable for vegans, or if I have a shellfish allergy?
No on both counts. The supplements contain fish and mollusc, so they are not suitable for vegetarians or vegans, and the brand advises against them if you are allergic to fish, shellfish or seafood.
This is not a small footnote: the marine complex is the core of the formula, so there is no vegan version of the same product. If you avoid marine ingredients, a plant-based biotin and zinc combination is the closer match, since those two nutrients carry the approved hair claims anyway.
The tablets contain iron. How much iron do adults need?
Iron is in the formula because low iron is a common reason for shedding. It also means you should avoid stacking Viviscal with a separate iron supplement unless a doctor advised it. UK reference intakes:
| Group | Iron per day |
|---|---|
| Men 19 and over | 8.7mg |
| Women 19 to 49 | 14.8mg |
| Women 50 and over | 8.7mg |
The NHS notes that high doses above 20mg a day can cause constipation, nausea and stomach pain.
Source: NHS
Can I combine Viviscal with a multivitamin or another hair supplement?
Check the labels before you do. Viviscal already supplies iron, zinc, biotin, niacin and vitamin C, so a second multivitamin can push those amounts higher than you intended, iron in particular. Doubling up on biotin adds little, since the approved claim rests on a modest amount rather than a mega dose.
What does combine sensibly is a supplement plus cosmetic haircare, because they act in different places. High-dose biotin can also skew some laboratory blood tests, so mention it if you have bloods taken.
Is Viviscal suitable during pregnancy, breastfeeding or alongside medication?
Ask your midwife, GP or pharmacist first. Two points matter. The tablets contain iron and vitamin A is not part of the formula, but pregnancy supplements are usually dosed as a whole plan, so adding a second iron source without advice is not wise. Second, hair shedding after birth is common and usually settles on its own within several months.
If you take medication, especially thyroid medicine or antibiotics, iron and zinc can interfere with absorption, so timing advice from a pharmacist is worth having.
