Is Provillus a Scam?

[Trent]

I can't comment on the efficacy of this product as I learned after purchasing and waiting weeks to receive it that Provillus "is not intended for men with a receding hairline or frontal baldness", so I sent their garbage product back, immediately! And they DID NOT make it easy. Allow me to explain...Pacific Naturals' use of deceptive and misleading marketing tactics are disgusting and prey on men's low self-esteem associated with male pattern baldness. With that said, this is more of a review of the company's deceitful business practices than the product itself. However, the quality of the former should reveal to you the quality of the latter.

The company that makes Provillus LIES & DECEIVES to get your money by convincing you it's "scientifically designed to treat male pattern baldness at any stage of hair loss" then after purchasing it they make it frustratingly difficult to get their so-called "Risk Free Money Back Guarantee". Despite the company's claim that Provillus is for "all men & hair types" NOWHERE on their website (www.provillus.com) or in their marketing jargon do they disclose to the customer that THIS PRODUCT IS FOR EARLY STAGE VERTEX (CROWN) BALDING ONLY! It wasn't until I received the product and read the carton does it say that. It also says "THIS PRODUCT IS NOT INTENDED FOR FRONTAL BALDING OR RECEDING HAIRLINE". I was instantly disappointed at their deception in selling me a product not intended for me. I felt like a sucker.

After waiting weeks to get this useless snake oil, I had to jump through hoops to get my "refund" (I had to call their customer service number 4 TIMES, every time the rep could barely speak English, much less understood or listened to my grievances). After paying MORE money to send it back I finally received an email notification informing me of my refund, which they had kept almost HALF of the purchase price as a "restocking fee". (I paid $200, but only received $120 refund...hardly what I'd call risk free)

During this upsetting ordeal I came to realize why it's the "No.1 product sold online"... because they LIE to get your money. Out of the very large demographic of men with male pattern baldness this product is ONLY intended for a TINY segment (those with early signs of crown balding), yet they deceptively exploit all men's desire for a fuller head of hair by misleading them to think it will work for everyone. How effective is their snake oil if those are the tactics they need to resort to in order to sell their product? It's now clear to me that's how they make their money, by betting people won't go through the ordeal of returning their garbage product that barely works and creates product dependency (i.e. any hair gains will fall out when you stop using the product, so you're hooked for LIFE!!!...IF you're one of the few men it actually works on).

The end result? They have their garbage product back on their "shelf" and $80 of my hard earned money... LESSON LEARNED!

If after reading this review you're still considering buying Provillus first ask yourself this question:

If this product worked half as good as they claim then why do they need to TRICK you into buying it and STEAL almost half of what you paid if you return it?

That is dishonest and unethical. Those types of business deserve to go under. I hope they suffocate on their own useless, putrid snake oil.

[doke]

what about nisim shampoo and topicals anyone tried them as it says the shampoo can halt hairloss in 7 days which does sound like a scam.

[Tracy C]

This is news to me. I am not aware of any clinical studies that you are claiming. That is these studies which campare sides effects and efficacy of natural stuff to finasteride.

Can you please link these studies. I am interested in reading them.

The studies he keeps pushing do not stand up to legitimate medical scrutiny. StressedToTheBald is up to his ears full of misinformation and he wants to share it with everyone.

[StressedToTheBald]

This is news to me. I am not aware of any clinical studies that you are claiming. That is these studies which campare sides effects and efficacy of natural stuff to finasteride.

Can you please link these studies. I am interested in reading them.

For example

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12006122

http://www.hairgenesis.com/hairstudy02.pdf

"Since AGA shares similar hormonal pathways with BPH, it was previously recognized that the pharmaceutical agents useful against BPH may offer some potential benefit in the treatment of AGA. The modification of Proscar (finasteride 5mg initially indicated for BPH), to Propecia (finasteride 1mg new indication AGA) serves as a paradigm for this rationale (Kaufmann 1999). Like finasteride, several botanically derived substances have also demonstrated the ability to inhibit key hormonal processes associated with BPH. Importantly, these botanicals have not been linked with the spectrum of negative side effects, adverse reactions, or teratogenicity, associated with the pharmaceutically derived alternatives (Klepser and Klepser, 1999).

Recently, several clinical trials have been reported demonstrating the efficacy of botanical compounds in the treatment of a number of androgen dependent conditions, and, specifically, BPH. For example, among 1,098 BPH patients tested in one recent study, the general safety profile of the lipsterolic extract of Serenoa repens (LSESr 320 mg/day), or saw palmetto berry extract, compared favorably with that of finasteride, and sexual side effects were less common with the extract than with the drug. In particular the use of this extract has not been associated with erectile dysfunction, ejaculatory disturbance, or altered libido (Wilt et al. 2000a). Remarkably, in another biochemical study, it was found that LSESr was a 3-fold more effective inhibitor than finasteride (5 mg/day) at concentrations adjusted to the recommended doses for BPH treatment. It should be noted that finasteride as indicated for AGA is dosed significantly lower (1 mg/day), suggesting, a 15-fold more potent level of inhibition at the recommended daily dose of LSESr (320 mg/day) (Delos et al. 1994)."

[khan]

the studies performed compared the side effects of these natural inhibitors vs. finasteride - and no serious side effects were shown with natural inhibitors.

This is news to me. I am not aware of any clinical studies that you are claiming. That is these studies which campare sides effects and efficacy of natural stuff to finasteride.

Can you please link these studies. I am interested in reading them.

[Tracy C]

Provillus is a scam. The junk StressedToTheBald is pushing is also a scam.

[StressedToTheBald]

The thing that bothers me most is when people claim Natural DHT blockers, stop hair loss using the same mechanism as Finasteride (i.e they block DHT), but they have no sides.
If this natural works in the same way as Finasteride, how can it not have side similar to Finasteride?
I wasted 9months of my life on this stuff. Went all the way up till 640mg of Saw Palmetto extract and some other random natural stuff. To the point where I was nauseous and had terrible headaches from time to time.

Although there are descriptions with beta sitosterol and saw palmetto, naming the very similar side effects as with finasteride, in reality these are natural compounds and also the studies performed compared the side effects of these natural inhibitors vs. finasteride - and no serious side effects were shown with natural inhibitors.

While natural inhibitors work against DHT, I wouldn't bet that the mechanisms are exactly the same as with finasteride and I believe finasteride is more dangerous because it might block DHT in a different way or do something else besides blocking DHT.

It is reported that beta sitosterol is 1k to 3k times more potent than saw palmetto. I have no side effects whatsoever. I also use saw palmetto 300mg daily. The only 'side effect' I had in the past was when I was using saw palmetto in tea form, as it was for some reason leaving bad breath.

[khan]

The thing that bothers me most is when people claim Natural DHT blockers, stop hair loss using the same mechanism as Finasteride (i.e they block DHT), but they have no sides.
If this natural works in the same way as Finasteride, how can it not have side similar to Finasteride?
I wasted 9months of my life on this stuff. Went all the way up till 640mg of Saw Palmetto extract and some other random natural stuff. To the point where I was nauseous and had terrible headaches from time to time.

[UK_]

Nothin' like a good ol' post for quote argument eh?

[Tracy C]

There are natural DHT blocking alternatives.

For the benefit of everyone reading this, do not waste your time listening to this person. This person is too blinded with misinformation to take seriously.

Natural DHT blocking does not work to treat hereditary hair loss. It never has and it likely never will. No one has ever been able to slow down, stop or reverse hereditary hair loss with natural treatments. It is not at all likely that anyone ever will be able to slow down, stop or reverse hereditary hair loss with natural treatments. Hereditary hair loss is a natural thing. Attempting to slow down, stop or reverse hereditary hair loss is not natural.

The very same industry also includes the 'proven 2'..
Proven in the sense that they : 1.) can cause serious and permanent side effects.

The frequency of occurrence for the possible side effects is very rare. There is no evidence that they are permanent. There is strong evidence that for many the possibility of experiencing these possible side effects is the result of fear mongering. There is strong evidence that the persistence of these possible side effects are also the result of fear mongering.

2.) do not work with everyone.

Nothing works for everyone. These proven treatment work for most people who use them. Most people who use them do not experience any side effects at all.

3.) take lifetime usage + costs etc.

This is a moot point made by a person who obviously does not have the wealth of knowledge he thinks he has. He doesn't even have a reasonable understanding of what he is talking about. Hereditary hair loss is a progressive condition that continues throughout ones life. It does not stop. Therefore it should be obvious that any treatment used to slow down, stop or reverse hereditary hair loss would need to be continued for the rest of ones life. This is the way it is going to be any and all hair loss treatments until medical science figures out how to immunize hair follicles from the effects of DHT.

Hereditary hair loss is a natural thing. Attempting to slow down, stop or reverse hereditary hair loss is not natural.

[StressedToTheBald]

The very same industry also includes the 'proven 2'..
Proven in the sense that they : 1.) can cause serious and permanent side effects 2.) do not work with everyone 3.) take lifetime usage + costs etc.

There are natural DHT blocking alternatives. The fact that FDA doesn't regulate natural DHT blockers doesn't mean that they do not work. There are a number of positive studies. These studies are unpopular with doctors, promoters and manufacturers of 'proven 2' who earn billions each year.

[Jcm800]

And so is TRX2 - steer clear.

[Tracy C]

Provillus is nothing more than over priced vitamins and herbs that might be helpful and generic Minoxidil. So yes, Provillus is a scam.

[crowningglory]

Wow these are a lot of testimonials against Provillus, doesn't sound too good for them!

[UK_]

How many times do you need to hear it? Provillus will damage your hair. I took it and my hair came out in lumpy chunks. I gave it to my mom who has a beatiful short hair to take as dietary supplement. The poor lady's hair started ripping off. I had to take her to her doctor to check her bone density to make sure there is no cancer of any kind. When her test came back, the doctor said she has just introduced something new to her body that is clearly ripping her hair out. It was freaking "hair killer PROVILLUS". This is a woman that her hair hardly breaks or shed on any comb. They came out in chunks in the tub. You cannot imagine the stress this caused. DO NOT BUY PROVILLUS!!!!

Isnt Provillus just Saw Palmetto and some vitamins? It works on the basis of Saw Palmettos ability to block the 5AR enzyme which converts testosterone to DHT, obviously no such studies have been done regarding its effectiveness in the treatment of MPB. Its action however is very similiar to that of Proscar, which in turn may take up to 12 months to view the full benefits, that said I believe the product is seriously overpriced as its ingredients can be purchased stand-alone for a fraction of the cost of Provillus.