What To Look For In A Hair Growth Shampoo
There are several factors to consider when buying a hair growth shampoo:
- Allergies or sensitivities: People should carefully read through the ingredients list to ensure a product will not irritate their skin.
- Hair type: Some products may advertise that they are most suitable for a particular type of hair, such as dry or oily hair.
- Scent: Some individuals may prefer to use shampoos that do not have a strong scent.
- Ingredients: Companies may state that the product contains ingredients that are clinically proven to treat hair loss. Some ingredients, such as caffeine, biotin, and ketoconazole, may help prevent shedding and promote hair growth.
Below are some frequently asked questions about hair growth shampoos.
Benefits Of Caffeine For Hair Loss
Even though caffeine shampoos have not yet been proven to work for treating hair loss, coffee and caffeine does pose benefits to the hair and scalp, which can support healthy hair growth.
Caffeine shampoos are helpful in removing product build-up from gels and pomades and does well to rebalance the pH levels of the hair and scalp, while the mere act of scalp massage during shampoo can clear dandruff and reduce itching. Since caffeine acts a vasodilator, there’s potential that its topical application could improve blood flow to the area, which could stimulate hair growth.
Some people make their own coffee scrubs at home to serve as a gentle scalp exfoliant, though this can also cause hair dyeing â which may or may not be a good thing unless your intention is to mask greys.
Dr Vikram Jayaprakash is an experienced hair transplant surgeon based in Melbourne. Here, he talks through the role of caffeine in hair loss treatments.
Which Hair Loss Shampoos Work
For thinning hair, Amy Forman Taub, MD, FAAD, founder of Advanced Dermatology in Chicago, recommends KeraFactor shampoo and conditioner. Other shampoos that might help are ones that exfoliate the scalp with salicylic acid and promote scalp circulation.
âScalp circulation is probably the single, one thing that you can do at home to help,â Taub says. âFor example, take a hot shower and give your scalp a good scrub with shampoo.â
Taub also says that hair loss shampoos containing hydrocortisone 1% or ketoconazole 1% could be worth a try. Yates also recommends shampoos made with pumpkin seed, yucca root, and biotin.
Don’t Miss: How To Mix Cold Brew Coffee
Which Shampoos Should You Avoid
Sulfur. Itâs important to avoid shampoos that contain sulfur, which could worsen your hair loss. âWhile sulfur allows shampoos to lather well, it also strips the oils from your scalp, causing your hair to dry out and break,” Taub says. “This can actually lead to the appearance of thinning hair.â
“Thickening” shampoos. You may also want to use thickening shampoos and conditioners with caution. âOveruse can clog pores, which in turn restricts the scalp from oxygen, leading to increased inflammation,â Taub says.
Caffeine and herbs. Avoid shampoos that contain caffeine and other herbs. âThey are common in the marketplace but lack a clear scientific basis,â Taub says. Caffeine causes vasoconstriction and limits blood flow. When supporting hair growth, you want to support healthy blood flow to the root of the hair to deliver oxygen and nutrients.
How Often Should I Use Caffeine Shampoo
It is safe to use caffeine shampoos every day or as often one would typically wash their hair.
However, depending on the chosen caffeine shampoo brand, one should double-check the labels for possibly harmful chemical ingredients. Also, make sure that the product is specifically for your scalp and hair type.
Read more: Does Washing Hair Everyday Cause Hair Loss?
Also Check: How To Remove Coffee Stains From Coffee Cups
So What Is Alpecin Caffeine Shampoo And How Does It Prevent Hair Loss
Alpecin C1 is a shampoo that contains caffeine. Pretty weird, huh? I mean, why put caffeine in a shampoo? Well, Dr Wolff-Research, the people behind the product, claims that caffeine actually promotes hair growth and strengthens hair.
Alpecin caffeine shampoo is targeted at men who are losing their hair to male pattern baldness . This covers about 80% of all male hair loss victims. Hair loss in men occurs when the hair follicles start to shrink. Shrinking hair follicles leads to thinner, shorter hair, which eventually stops bothering to grow at all. For this, you can thank your genes and hormones, notably dihydrotestosterone , which is converted from testosterone.
According to Dr Wolff-Research, Alpecin C1 works by penetrating the hair follicles with caffeine. By leaving the shampoo on your head for a minimum of 120 seconds, the caffeine is transported into the follicles where it stimulates growth and counteracts the undesirable effects of testosterone.
Although it only takes two minutes for the caffeine to be absorbed, leaving it sitting on your head for longerâ5, 10, even 20 minutesâbefore rinsing it out results in larger quantities of caffeine being absorbed by the follicles. It is also recommended that you use the shampoo on a daily basis because the caffeine only remains active for 24 hours.
What Is Caffeine Shampoo
Itâs like regular shampoo in that itâs formulated to lather up and clean your hair, only with the added ingredient of caffeine or coffee bean extracts. Caffeine is a stimulant, and so the idea is that by applying caffeine topically to the scalp, you could stimulate the hair follicles and encourage new hair growth.
Caffeine shampoos also often contain additional ingredients designed to promote good hair and scalp health, like zinc, niacin, biotin, niacinamide, and aloe vera.
Caffeine shampoos are fairly new to the market. Thatâs because a 2007 study found that using shampoo containing caffeine could stimulate hair growth, and a number of haircare companies responded by creating caffeine shampoos.
But the promises these companies made turned out to be pretty misleading, because the original study that sparked this movement cited new growth on hairs in a petri dish, not hairs still attached to the scalp.
Other small-scale studies have since been conducted on the benefits of caffeine for hair loss, but thereâs lacking viable evidence to suggest itâs an effective treatment on its own.
Also Check: Does Xtend Original Bcaa Have Caffeine
Caffeine Shampoo Side Effects
Scan any negative reviews for caffeine shampoos such as Alpecin, and youll also see mention of some unpleasant side effects, such as redness and burning of the scalp. Whilst it is also important not to believe every word of a negative review, it is important to bear in mind that your hair and scalp may react badly to caffeine shampoo. Please check the label of your chosen shampoo for side effects before use, and consult a doctor at the first sign of an issue.
Alpecin Reviews: What Real Customers Have To Say
It makes sense that the company would have only great things to say about their products. But the best place to look is to real customers.
The reviews for the C1 formulation are good overall.
The product has 3.8 out of 5 stars and 58 reviews.
There are many customers who claim they began to see less hair shedding in just a few weeks. There are also those who claimed to use the product as directed for months with no results whatsoever.
While the customer reviews can be a helpful place to look for common threads e.g. side effects, product quality and texture, etc. its important to remember that theyre highly subjective. They can offer a glimpse into the products efficacy, but they dont tell the whole story.
Also Check: How To Make Coffee Latte
Hawthorne Mens Thickening Shampoo For Thinning Hair
Hawthorne Mens Thickening Shampoo can give a boost to your thinning hair.
This refreshing mint and eucalyptus formula contains stimulating vitamin B5 and strengthening rice protein to help repair and restore your hair. Rice protein is an ancient nutrient that increases your hairs ability to bind moisture, thus increasing its flexibility and strength. Aloe vera contains enzymes that repair the scalp, soothing itchiness and promoting hair growth. Vitamin E supports hair growth, prevents breakage and split ends, and stimulates hair follicles. Finally, vitamin B5 hydrates your hair, strengthens it, volumizes it and softens it.
Does Caffeine Shampoo Work For Hair Loss
Does caffeine shampoo actually work on thinning hair, and wake up hair follicles like it does our brains in the morning?
Hair loss is a common concern affecting Australian men. According to Andrology Australia, hair loss affects around one in five men in their 20s , one in three men in their 30s , and almost half of men in their 40s .
Youâd think a health concern so common would have a cure by this point, but while thereâs not yet a magic solution to male pattern hair loss, modern science has done an impeccable job developing a number of successful treatments to prevent hair loss and aid in regrowing of thinning hair.
Youâve probably heard of hair transplants, which while effective can be eye-wateringly expensive. Thankfully, modern pharmaceuticals that treat hair loss, like those offered by Pilot doctors, come at a fraction of the cost and can be just as successful for maintaining and prevent hair loss â especially when started early.
But another treatment for hair loss is fast gaining popularity for the fact itâs both affordable and widely accessible: caffeine shampoo. Sounds great, but with a lack of true scientific evidence and very few reputable studies, itâs difficult to tell whether or not caffeine shampoos are actually a viable hair loss treatment.
Recommended Reading: Does Starbucks Chai Latte Have Caffeine
Davines Naturaltech Energizing Shampoo
Looking to give your scalp and hair a sense of energy and well-being? Look no further than Davines NaturalTech Energizing Shampoo. This shampoo gently cleanses the hair while pH-balancing the scalp and moisturizing. It also helps stimulate new hair growth and reinforces weak hair, all without using any harmful parabens or sulfates.
The Davines NaturalTech Energizing Shampoo can be used every other day for a month as an intensive treatment, or two times a week for two months as a maintenance treatment.
What Are The Benefits Of Using Caffeine Shampoo
Many people can profit from caffeines benefits on hair, especially with the high prevalence of alopecia and hair thinning on both men and women. The first-ever caffeine shampoo came into existence back in 1905.
Like the newer caffeine shampoos to date, they are all designed to penetrate the skin, dousing the hair follicles and re-invigorating the hair. It swiftly courses through the hair shaft and directly to the hair follicles.
Washing hair with the product and leaving it on the hair and scalp for at least two minutes , even after rinsing the caffeine shampoo out, will have anyone reap benefits.
Here are some things that caffeine shampoo can help with:
- Helping prevent hair loss and other types of hair fall
- Soothing a few scalp-related problems
- Strengthening and stimulating the hair follicles from the inside
- Adding volume to hair
- Improving the quality of hair
- Helping enhance dark hair colours
Recommended Reading: What Is The Smallest K Cup Coffee Maker
Caffeine For Hair Loss: Studies And Research
Before we go any further, wed like to presentour research on caffeine and hair loss. We scoured the web for peer-reviewedjournals and science-backed publications that support the claim that caffeinemay indeed play a role in encouraging new growth. You wont bedisappointed by what we found:
- Bansal, Manish, et al. Role of Caffeine in the Management of Androgenetic Alopecia. International Journal of Trichology, 2012, find at ProQuest.
- Davis, M.G., et al. A Novel Cosmetic Approach to Treat Thinning Hair. British Journal of Dermatology, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd , 15 Dec. 2011, find at Wiley.
- Fischer, T.W., et al. Differential Effects of Caffeine on Hair Shaft Elongation. British Journal of Dermatology, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd , 30 Oct. 2014, find at Wiley.
- Fischer, T. W., et al. Effect of Caffeine and Testosterone on the Proliferation of Human Hair Follicles in Vitro. International Journal of Dermatology, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd , 3 Jan. 2007, find at Wiley.
- Otberg, N., et al. Follicular Penetration of Topically Applied Caffeine via a Shampoo Formulation. Skin Pharmacology and Physiology, Karger Publishers, 29 Mar. 2007, find at Karger.
Head And Shoulders Classic Clean Anti
Best for dandruff
While this shampoo aims to protect against dandruff, one of its ingredients is 1% zinc pyrithione, which may help support hair growth.
A states that oxidative stress can impact hair growth and lead to hair loss. The authors suggest that certain ingredients, such as zinc pyrithione, which inhibit Malassezia a scalp organism can help reduce premature hair loss.
The company states this shampoo is suitable for daily use.
Head and Shoulders Classic Clean Anti-Dandruff Shampoo is available to purchase in stores and online, including Amazon. At the time of publishing, it has a list price of around $13 for two bottles.
The manufacturers of this product state that its herbal ingredients can prevent hair loss.
The main ingredient in this shampoo is biotin, a water-soluble form of vitamin B7. A 2017 review found that biotin supplements may benefit those with brittle nail syndrome or hair that tangles easily. However, the authors stated there is insufficient evidence that the substance is effective in those who do not already have a deficiency in this vitamin.
Customer reviews stated this product volumized their hair. However, others said they did not notice any new hair growth, while some users reported experiencing numbness and irritation after using the shampoo.
At the time of publishing, Bioken Biotin Thick & Full Hair Growth Enhancer Shampoo had a list price of around $25.
Best for strengthening hair
Recommended Reading: What Kind Of Coffee Beans For Espresso
Caffeine Shampoo Against Hair Loss
Caffeine and stopping hair loss. This is a link that is often made and presented in television commercials for caffeine shampoos. Research conducted by German scientists has shown that caffeine can help in the battle against hair loss. Studies have shown that high concentrations of caffeine in the body lower the concentrations of testosterone and dihydrotestosterone . This is an important factor which contributes to hair loss and the male baldness pattern.
Drinking lots of coffee is however not the solution. In order to achieve a sufficient concentration of caffeine in the body, one would need to drink 60 to 80 cups of coffee per day. That is why researchers have tested whether caffeine in shampoo would be an effective treatment. Their conclusion was positive, caffeine in shampoo is absorbed by the roots. The roots can retain enough caffeine to remain active for no less than 24 hours. For this, the shampoo will only need to soak in for just 120 seconds, which is easily doable. In addition to fighting off the effects of testosterone and blocking DHT to prevent further hair loss, caffeine shampoo can also stimulate hair growth.
Caffeine Shampoo: Where It All Began
Caffeine shampoo first hit the market in the mid-2000s. The invention came courtesy of German menâs hair care company Alpecin, which was established in 1905.
Alpecin caffeine shampoo launched with some pretty audacious claims, with advertising for the product stating the formula was “German engineering for your hair”.
“Shampoo is too small a word for it. Alpecin provides caffeine to your hair, so it can actually help to reduce hair loss. Simply apply daily and leave on for 2 minutes … to help the Caffeine Complex penetrate your hair and scalp.”
For a long time, Alpecin got away with the claims its caffeine shampoo could “reduce hair loss”, that is, until Advertising Standards Authority weighed in.
You May Like: How To Brew Folgers Coffee
Does Caffeine Shampoo Have Side Effects
Shampoos containing caffeine are very safe to use. Some side effects occur rarely and include redness, a burning feeling or itchiness of the scalp. The symptoms may worsen if the shampoo also contains salicylic acid.
If you have a sensitive scalp run a test on a small patch of skin to see if any adverse reactions take place. If you have dry and brittle strands this product may not be the best choice for you, as the active ingredient can dry out the hair.
Some users may also notice hair browning 2-3 weeks after using a caffeine shampoo. That is why individuals with fair hair should be particularly careful before using it.
Hims Hair Thickening Shampoo
Hims Hair Thickening Shampoo gently cleanses your scalp while helping to volumize and moisturize your hair. Featuring saw palmetto, their secret ingredient, this shampoo targets DHT the hormone that contributes to hair loss.
For best results, lather and leave on your scalp for one minute before rinsing. Wash your hair on a consistent and normal washing schedule to ensure youre getting the most out of your shampoo.
Also Check: Where Can I Buy Raw Coffee Beans
Lxh Hemp And Biotin Shampoo
| Hemp and Biotin Shampoo.
The LxH Hemp and Biotin Shampoo might be exactly what you need if your hair has been thinning, as it contains ingredients that can support the health of both your hair and your scalp. This is a sulfate-free and color-safe shampoo that is formulated for men and women, and it is good for all hair types. But what makes it stand out from other similar products is the fact that it contains a DHT blocker, which may help you get great results if other shampoos for hair growth dont do the trick.
In addition to helping reduce hair loss with natural extracts that block DHT, this gentle shampoo can volumize and moisturize your hair, improve the elasticity of your hair, reduce hair breakage and clarify your scalp, as well as balance your scalps pH. Ingredients include hemp seed extract, salicylic acid, calendula oil, biotin, ginseng and retinol.
This shampoo is sulfate-free, paraben-free, vegan and cruelty-free, so you can rest assured that youre not putting any harsh chemicals on your scalp. After use, your hair should look thicker and shinier, as well as feel smoother and softer.