Caffeine for Hair: What the Research Shows

Caffeine is one of the better-studied topical ingredients for hair, though the studies are mostly small and many are unblinded. Drinking coffee is different from putting caffeine on the scalp, and we found no study of coffee for hair.

Here's what the topical research shows.

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Key Takeaways

• A systematic review of 9 clinical trials (684 people with androgenetic alopecia, excessive hair loss or thinning) found all favoured topical caffeine, but the evidence was medium to very low quality.
• In a double-blind randomized trial in women with androgenetic alopecia, a caffeine shampoo for 6 months led to fewer hairs pulled in a hair pull test than a control shampoo (-3.1 against -0.5).
• A penetration study found caffeine from a shampoo reached the hair follicle quickly, with follicles the only route for fast absorption in the first 20 minutes.
• We found no study of drinking coffee for hair.

What Is Caffeine In Hair Products?

Topical caffeine is used in shampoos and scalp products. Researchers study whether it stimulates follicle cells and whether it reaches the follicle.

Does Topical Caffeine Help Hair?

Possibly, as a cosmetic add-on. The evidence is encouraging but limited, and the trials were small and varied.

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Using Caffeine Products Sensibly

• Choose a product with a stated amount of caffeine. The review noted many products didn't say how much.
• Be patient. The shampoo trial ran for 6 months.
• See a doctor if you are losing hair, so the cause is identified.

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What The Research Shows

Systematic Review

A systematic review of topical caffeine for hair loss searched to November 2024 and included 9 trials with 684 people. All conclusions favoured topical caffeine, but the quality of evidence was medium in 3 studies, low in 1 and very low in the other 5. The main flaws were no randomization, placebo or control groups and missing information on caffeine concentration. The authors said better-designed trials of well-defined products are needed, and that satisfactory outcomes are not guaranteed (Szendzielorz and Spiewak, 2025).

A Shampoo Trial In Women

In a single-center, double-blind trial, women with androgenetic alopecia were randomized to a phyto-caffeine shampoo or a control shampoo for 6 months. The caffeine group had significantly fewer hairs pulled in a hair pull test (-3.1 against -0.5, P < 0.001), and most secondary measures also improved. Both shampoos were very well tolerated (Bussoletti et al., 2020). The product was a specific branded formulation.

Does It Reach The Follicle?

Researchers measured caffeine penetration from a shampoo applied for 2 minutes and found it penetrated via the hair follicles and the stratum corneum. Penetration via follicles was faster and higher, and follicles were the only pathway for fast absorption during the first 20 minutes (Otberg et al., 2007). That study measured absorption, not hair growth.

See also: Adenosine for Hair Loss: What the Research Shows · Pyrithione Zinc for Hair Loss and Dandruff: What the Research Shows

Caffeine is one of the ingredients in FullyVital's Hair Revival Serum. For how the evidence for each ingredient in the line stacks up, see our evidence-tier breakdown.

For the ingredients with real evidence and how to choose one, see our guide to the best hair growth serums.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does caffeine shampoo work?

One double-blind trial found fewer hairs pulled out after 6 months, and a review found favourable but low-quality evidence.

Does drinking coffee help hair?

We found no study showing that.

How long does it take?

The shampoo trial lasted 6 months.

References

1. Szendzielorz E, Spiewak R. Caffeine as an Active Ingredient in Cosmetic Preparations Against Hair Loss: A Systematic Review of Available Clinical Evidence. Healthcare (Basel). 2025. PubMed
2. Bussoletti C, Tolaini MV, Celleno L. Efficacy of a cosmetic phyto-caffeine shampoo in female androgenetic alopecia. G Ital Dermatol Venereol. 2020. PubMed
3. Otberg N, Teichmann A, Rasuljev U, et al. Follicular penetration of topically applied caffeine via a shampoo formulation. Skin Pharmacol Physiol. 2007. PubMed