Viviscal changed their marine complex. Long-term users are freaking out — and honestly, they have a right to.
The old pills had this specific shark-and-silica blend that made my hair feel like thick rope. The new version swaps it for a plant-based complex. Different texture. Different timeline. Different results.
The reformulation swaps the marine-derived collagen for a fermented pea protein and adds more biotin. Same $45 price point for a 60-day supply.
Marine Complex → Plant Complex
The old shark-based blend is gone — new pea protein is vegan-friendly but denser
Biotin Bumped Up
Now at 5000mcg — that’s a serious jump that can cause breakouts if you’re sensitive
Silica Source Changed
Went from bamboo extract to horsetail — less research behind the new one
Photo: Andrzej Gdula / Unsplash
The new formula is cleaner on paper but less proven. The pea protein is fine — it’s just not the same clinical backing as the marine stuff.
- Fermented Pea Protein: Builds keratin but slower absorption than marine collagen
- Horsetail Extract: Natural silica but weaker clinical evidence than bamboo
- Biotin 5000mcg: Fast hair growth but can trigger cystic acne
- Vitamin C: Helps iron absorption — the unsung hero here
Photo: Element5 Digital / Unsplash
Pills are noticeably smaller and easier to swallow — no more horse-pill gagging. But the coating is chalkier, and I got a weird metallic aftertaste for the first week.
Week three: my nails are harder, but my hair feels… different. Less heavy. More flyaway. It’s not bad — it’s just not the same weighty thickness I got from the original.
Photo: Greg Trowman / Unsplash
At 8 weeks: my part looks tighter, but the baby hairs are wispier than before. The old formula gave me this dense, blunt growth — this one is more delicate.
Photo: Element5 Digital / Unsplash
It’s not better or worse — it’s just different. And for a cult product, different feels like a betrayal.