Men Are Turning To Caffeine Shampoo To Treat Hair Loss But Does Hair Loss Shampoo Actually Work On Thinning Hair And Can Caffeine Really 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 .
Youd think a health concern so common would have a cure by this point, but while theres 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.
Youve 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 especially when started early.
But another treatment for hair loss is fast gaining popularity for the fact its both affordable and widely accessible: caffeine shampoo. Sounds great, but with a lack of true scientific evidence and very few reputable studies, its difficult to tell whether or not caffeine shampoos are actually a viable hair loss treatment.
Do Caffeine Shampoos Actually Treat Hair Loss
So how do you get caffeine to your hair follicles? Another 2007 study in Germany, published in the journal Skin Pharmacology and Physiology, suggests that caffeine can penetrate the hair follicles through topical application. In the study, researchers discovered that leaving a caffeine solution the scalp for just two minutes could result in caffeine entering the hair follicles.
More research is required to learn how caffeine can best be delivered to hair follicles in order to stimulate hair growth. At this point, its best to be skeptical of caffeine shampoos and other products that claim to encourage caffeine hair growth.
Lipogaine Big 5 Hair Stimulating Shampoo
If youre seeking a caffeine shampoo to helpgrow hair, Lipogaine Big 5 has you covered. It approaches the problem of hairloss from 5 different angles and boasts the perfect blend of drugs to stopthinning in its tracks. Caffeine is among the most important ingredient, butyoull also find biotin, argan oil, and other natural ingredients. In addition,this blend is free of harsh chemicals and will leave your hair happy andhealthy.
Snapshot:
Recommended Reading: Who Sells Grinds Coffee Pouches
Caffeine Shampoo: The Bitter Aftertaste
No clinically viable evidence currently exists to prove that caffeine shampoos work. In the UK, only two treatments have been clinically proven to grow hair back. They are Finasteride and Minoxidil .
Dont go investing in coffee stocks counting on a caffeinated miracle cure for your baldness! Save your pennies and buy your daily cappuccino so you can enjoy drinking your caffeine the way nature intended. You never know, that coffee could actually go to your head.
Guest editorial by Spencer Spex Stevenson. For further insight into proven hair loss treatments visit Spexs site at www.spexhair.com.
Why You Should Add A Caffeine Shampoo To Your Healthy Hair Care Routine
By counteracting hair loss and promoting hair growth, some studies suggest caffeine can seriously boost the health of your hair.
Caffeine is easily absorbed by hair follicles when its used topically. So, the easiest way to incorporate it into your routine is through a shampoo. I mean, youre going to use one anyway! It may serve your hair well to incorporate a caffeine shampoo into your routine.
Key Takeaway: Youre going to use a shampoo anyway, so consider a shampoo formulation with a meaningful amount of caffeine as an active ingredient.
You May Like: Who Sells Grinds Coffee Pouches
One Promising Study: Caffeine Vs Minoxidil
In one study, researchers compared minoxidil and caffeine in men with androgenic alopecia . It was a randomized controlled trial . RCTs are high-quality, reliable studies.
The subjects they included were 161 men with androgenic alopecia aged 18 to 55. One group applied a 0.2% caffeine solution twice per day. The other group applied minoxidil twice per day. Both groups were followed for six months.
At the six month mark, the caffeine group had better results than the minoxidil group. Although, the difference between the two wasnt hugely significant.
But, caffeine is a natural product as opposed to minoxidil, which is synthetic.
The results of this study suggest caffeine can be used as a natural hair loss alternative to minoxidil.
The only issue with this study is the researchers. The manufacturer of the caffeine solution used in the study was involved in this research. This means that there may have been some unintentional bias the skewed the results.
Although there is a slight conflict of interest, the results are promising!
Key Takeaway: Research shows that caffeine might be a natural, non-toxic alternative to minoxidil.
Hair Loss Hormone Suppression
Theres a reason why men typically experience hair loss more than women. Hair loss tends to occur when DHT damages the hair follicles.
Androgenic alopecia , more commonly referred to as male-pattern baldness, affects more than 50 percent of men over the age of 50. Research revealed that caffeine may be an effective suppressant of AGA.
Women with higher amounts of DHT may also experience hair loss. This more commonly happens as a result of menopause.
Recommended Reading: Does Mug Root Beer Have Caffeine In It
Side Effects Of Caffeine Shampoo
Shampoos that include caffeine are very safe and rarely cause serious side effects. Users mention unpleasant side effects, such as redness, itching or burning of the scalp. Most reactions to caffeine shampoo may be due to other ingredients in the particular shampoo. Many additives, parabens, and silicones are commercially used, which are known to cause allergic reactions in some individuals.
Natural shampoos and conditioners are less likely to result in a negative experience, therefore are recommended for those with sensitive skin. If experiencing any issues or side effects, consult a medical professional.
Why Apply A Coffee Rinse Topically
For a coffee rinse to help with hair loss and regrow hair, it must be applied topically.
If you drink coffee each day, you might assume that your daily cup will be enough to stimulate hair growth or improve the texture and appearance of your hair. But, to get the same stimulating effects by drinking coffee, you would need to consume around
You May Like: Does Snapple Lemon Tea Have Caffeine
Caffeine Shampoo Versus Minoxidil: A Research Case Study
If you want to slow down hair loss and stimulate hair growth, you have probably heard about the Hair Growth Serum Minoxidil heard. This drug is sold under the brand name Regaine known.
Minoxidil has been shown to be effective in hair growth in men and women with AGA. However, there are some side effects associated with its use and many people prefer a natural approach to hair growth.
In 2018, researchers from India and Germany published a study comparing the efficacy of a topical caffeine-based liquid of 0.2% versus 5% of minoxidil in men with pattern baldness .
The study started with 210 male subjects with AGA. The list of men was randomised and assigned to one of two groups:
The study consisted of four visits to the study centre. These included:
- Visit 1 – Screening conducted three days before the baseline visit.
- Visit 2 – The baseline visit, which the researchers counted as the first day.
- Visit 3 – The treatment visit that took place on day 90.
- Visit 4 – The end-of-study visit that took place on day 180.
As the researchers noted, there was a three-day hair-washing quarantine before visits three and four.
The primary outcome the researchers hoped to assess was the percentage change in the proportion of anagen hairs, or anagen rate .
After six months of treatment, the results were as follows:
So what about the results of the intention-to-treat analysis?
How Does Caffeine Shampoo Actually Work
Dermal papilla cells from men with androgenetic alopecia are more sensitive to oxidative stress than non-balding men. Caffeine is able to tackle hair loss in genetically predisposed men on several levels. Namely, caffeine raises the levels of signalling molecules, hormones, and reduces other factors like oxidative stress. Although this has only been shown to be true in men, there have been no clinical studies on caffeines relevance to hair loss in women.
A leading theory on hair loss is that dihydrotestosterone causes hair follicles to shrink and eventually die out completely. DHT is produced when testosterone is broken down with an enzyme called 5-Reductase.
Read more about how DHT affects hair here.
One of the most common, and at the same time, controversial FDA approved medications are drugs that inhibit the 5-Reductase enzyme. They are aimed towards reducing DHT production, but because they interfere with hormones, they can cause serious psychological and long-lasting effects.
In a breakthrough study, scientists demonstrated that very small concentrations of caffeine are able to suppress testosterone. These results indicate the possible basis for use of topically applied caffeine in the management of androgenetic alopecia. Caffeine is well-absorbed by hair follicles and the scalp. This means that everyday hair care products like shampoos and conditioners that include caffeine are beneficial for stimulating hair growth.
Read Also: Is It Ok To Drink Coffee After Tooth Extraction
How Does A Caffeine Shampoo Work
Caffeine shampoos contain caffeine extract. Theyre formulated to stimulate hair growth and reduce thinning/loss.
Massaging the shampoo into the scalp, and getting it into the roots, is believed by some to have a positive impact on hair loss.
The aim is to provide the scalp with that same jolt of energy that a strong coffee may give you first thing in the morning: you might feel more alert and energised after a cup or two of your favourite brew.
However, any noticeable change in hair loss or growth would not be instant.
Its highly likely that consumers would need to use a caffeine shampoo for a matter of weeks or even months to see a benefit .
Thicker Fuller Hair: Does Caffeine Shampoo Improve Hair Thickness
Update 3/9/20.Thicker, Fuller Hair is as the name suggests, a hair care regimen for thinning hair. Said to be created by an Ayurvedic chemist, Thicker Fuller Hair is said to repair hair from scalp to strand. Sounds great but does it really work? In this review, you’ll see the ingredients in Thicker Fuller Hair along with what the research says about them.
Have you seen the shampoo called Thicker Fuller Hair? It’s by Dr Hoting Thickening Solutions and contains caffeine which, the label eludes, will energize your hair. Dr Hoting Thickening Solutions appears to be a division of the which is owned by the Henkel company . Can this shampoo grow hair or make your hair thicker? Let’s take a look at the research and see.
Recommended Reading: How Much Caffeine Does Folgers Instant Coffee Have
Caffeine And The Hair Cycle
Caffeine has the ability to interact with your hair follicles, helping to guide your follicles’ behavior and regulate hair growth. A study published in the “International Journal of Dermatology” in 2007 found that the presence of caffeine stimulated laboratory-cultured hair follicles, increasing hair growth. As a result, caffeine might help to restore hair growth, or prevent abnormal hair loss. However, the clinical effects of caffeine on promoting hair growth have not yet been thoroughly investigated.
Can Caffeine Cause Hair Loss
Caffeine, on its own, presents several health benefits, but, as with most things , too much of it can negatively affect ones overall health and adversely affect the hairs growth cycle by slowing it down.
With a caffeine shampoo, the percentage of this active organic ingredient is relatively small, so one cannot technically go overboard on the dosage. Be careful not to use too much of the product in any case as it may lead to product residue. Consult a dermatologist before mixing products to avoid overloading your hair. Or you can purchase a pre-mixed product that is safe to use.
Don’t Miss: Folgers Coffee Caffeine Content
The Question On Everyones Lips Does Caffeine Shampoo Work For Hair Loss
Well lets start with the assumption that if it did work, we could assume that caffeine addicts wouldnt have a hair loss problem, um yeah.
Giving it the benefit of the doubt for a moment, lets assume that the topical application of caffeine when directly applied to the scalp via shampoo, is totally different to ingesting it via your favourite macchiato.
Indeed, the makers of the product claim that caffeine shampoo penetrates the hair follicle, and once inside the hair follicle, counteracts the harmful effect of DHT .
According to a paper published by the International Journal of Trichology , in a blind study, when male hair follicles were exposed to caffeine for 120-192 hours , there were some positive benefits seen.
Why Caffeine Shampoo Doesnt Work For Male Pattern Hair Loss
Despite the initial promise of the 2007 University of Jena study , it does not necessarily support the benefits of caffeine shampoo for male pattern baldness.
The first, and perhaps biggest, flaw is that the experiment was conducted ex vivo. Hair follicles used in the trial were removed from balding men and artificially grown in a laboratory.
And while the caffeine-treated follicles did indeed show better hair growth, it is questionable whether this same effect would be seen when used on actual human hair loss sufferers. Just because it showed promise in the lab, this does not necessarily mean it will work on humans.
The second problem with the experiment is that it looked at the effects of caffeine on testosterone, not dihydrotestosterone .
See, while testosterone is known to have some negative effects on hair follicles, it is the DHT metabolite which is the real cause of male pattern hair loss.
DHT binds to the hair follicles. Over time, this shrinks them until they eventually stop producing hair.
So while caffeine may have boosted growth in lab-grown hair follicles exposed to testosterone, it might have been completely ineffective if the hair follicles had been exposed to the far more potent DHT.
At best, this research supports further investigation into the effects of caffeine on androgenetic alopecia.
Read Also: How Much Caffeine Is In Sonic Iced Coffee
How Does It Work
When applied directly to the scalp, caffeine penetrates into your hair follicles to stimulate hair growth in two main ways: firstly, caffeine relaxes smooth muscle fibres surrounding the hair follicles to reduce scalp tension and improve circulation to deliver more oxygen, vitamins, minerals and protein for optimal hair growth. Most importantly, topical caffeine inhibits an enzyme called 5–reductase, which converts testosterone into dihydrotestosterone within scalp hair follicles. Its DHT which switches off scalp follicles and leads to thinning hair in both men and older women.
Will A Caffeine Shampoo Restore Your Head Of Hair To Its Former Glory
There is sublime genius in finding ways to use inferior grades of coffee that cant be sold for human consumption. A good marketing campaign featuring a so-called expert wearing a white coat can sell anything to a man whose self-esteem is going down the plug hole along with his hair.
Theres a German product called Alpecin, an After Shampoo Liquid. Alpecin claims to grow hair back as a result of its caffeine content.
Its manufacturers have commissioned research and unsurprisingly found it to produce positive results for hair growth. Unfortunately, these results came about by detaching hair follicles from balding men and growing them artificially in a laboratory.
The follicles were exposed to a dose of testosterone and some were exposed to caffeine. There was reduced growth in the testosterone-dosed follicles, which is what happens in male pattern baldness. Meanwhile, in the ones that were exposed to testosterone and caffeine, some new growth was stimulated.
It should, however, be noted that growing hair follicles in a test tube or petrie dish is not a reliable indicator of how well this can work on a mans head.
Don’t Miss: Can I Have Coffee After Wisdom Teeth Removal
The Science Behind Caffeine And Human Health
Naturally found in coffee beans, cacao beans, kola nuts, guarana berries, and tea leaves, around 80% of the worlds population consumes caffeinated products daily.
Caffeine is the common name for 1,3,7trimethylxanthine. It is derivative of the German word, kaffee, and the French word, café, which both mean coffee. The first discovery of coffee dates back to the 9th century in Ethiopia when an Ethiopian shepherd noticed that wild coffee berries gave his goats more energy.
However, historians disclaim this origin, saying that Chinese Emperor Shen Nung discovered caffeine as far back as 2737 BC when he boiled drinking water and leaves from a nearby bush. The result produced a delightful aroma and the first pot of tea.
Nowadays, there is a whole category of functional beverages, most notably soft drinks and energy drinks. Consuming caffeine in moderate amounts is generally safe. It is quickly absorbed in the bloodstream, traveling to the liver until it breaks down into compounds affecting several organs. But, it is the brain that feels caffeines effect the most. Many can attest to its performance benefits, including:
- It increases physical endurance, reducing fatigue.
- It enhances mental alertness and concentration.
- It may improve mood, decreasing the likelihood of depression.
- It stimulates brain function, protecting against Alzheimers and Parkinsons disease.
- It may boost metabolism and fat burning.
- It helps increase blood circulation.
Caffeine Shampoo Against Hair Loss: Does It Really Work
Hair loss can be traumatic, whether it manifests as a receding hairline, male pattern baldness, alopecia areata, or any other form.
But the market for hair loss treatments is bigger than ever, and consumers have a diverse range of options. Hair transplants, medications, and specialist products are all available including caffeine shampoo.
Brits may drink around 95 million cups of coffee each day in the UK, but the prospect of washing your hair with a caffeine-based product could seem odd .
Unusual or not, the important issue here is the effect. Does caffeine shampoo really help to prevent hair loss? And if so, how?
Read Also: How To Make Coffee Liqueur With Vodka