We have been asked by many folks whether caffeine treats hair loss. The short answer is yes, provided its used in the right way (read to learn more).
But before you pour yourself a cup of coffee in the excitement of arresting hair loss, it’s important to understand what caffeine can and can’t do when it comes to male pattern baldness, and how to best use it in a way that helps with your hair loss.
What is Caffeine?
Nope, it’s not synonymous to coffee or tea! Caffeine is a stimulant found naturally in many plants. Think of it like a natural pesticide for plants. From our perspective, it is what most of us rely upon to kick start our mornings and keep us going through the day. It enables us to become alert for a few extra hours by preventing the molecule that causes drowsiness from binding to the synapses in your brain.
Because of these qualities, caffeine is considered a drug by several regulatory authorities, though you perhaps never perceived it this way as you buy it from the grocery shop instead of a pharmacy.
Connection between caffeine and hair loss
Besides brain, caffeine can actually benefit your hair and skin. Some studies show that caffeine may have many positive effects on hair growth.
In one in vitro study (aka it was done in test tubes, not on actual humans), caffeine was found to significantly stimulate hair growth. Moreover, it was found to counteract testosterone’s negative effects on the follicle’s growth stage. A similar study also showed that it caused an increase in the number of cells that create the hair shaft and its protective structure, while also stimulating a hormone that promotes a longer growth phase for the hair.
Another way that caffeine works is that it potentially blocks DHT. We know that men with male pattern baldness (which is a genetic condition), it is the increase in the levels of DHT that causes miniaturization of hair. So, by blocking DHT, it suggests that caffeine helps with hair loss.
Another study comparing the effectiveness of topical caffeine to Minoxidil—a proven hair loss treatment and found it to have similar effectiveness.
What forms does caffeine come in (and what’s best for your hair)?
No, drinking a few extra cups of coffee, tea, or energy drink like red bull every day to help with your hair growth isn’t advised. It would require far more caffeine than is considered safe to ingest to notice a difference in the hair growth. The fact is far too many cups will lead to acidity, jitteriness, fast heart rate, anxiety and in severe cases even caffeine intoxication – a temporary condition that can cause muscle twitching, dehydration, gastrointestinal issues, chills, nausea and vomiting.
For similar reasons, while caffeine is available in a pill form, this is not recommended as a supplement for taking care of your hair.
So, what is the solution? It’s advisable to target the source directly i.e. put the caffeine straight onto your scalp. No, we’re not suggesting you rinse your hair with left over cold coffee! (Surprisingly, you may find this in internet). A meaningful option are the caffeine shampoos and serums in the market. Many of the studies mentioned above were looking at the topical application of caffeine, showing that these are effective, and a shampoo makes it easy way to apply. A little of that energy will be absorbed into your bloodstream, but not enough to cause negative effects.
So, what’s the final recommendation and does caffeine really help curb hair loss
While caffeine could be godsend for some of us when you are sipping on it, it’s unlikely to be the saving grace of your scalp by its own. It looks like caffeine has some positive effects on hair growth, hair strength and hair loss. Caffeine acts as a vasodilator so it promotes blood circulation and therefore stimulates hair regrowth. Combined with other promising ingredients—like green tea, saw palmetto, and biotin—and proven hair loss treatments like Finasteride or Minoxidil, we bet caffeine will be just the jolt your head of hair needs!
