Why coffee does not work against hair loss

Coffee is consumed orally and passes through the body, but only reaches the scalp and hair roots in small amounts. This amount isn't enough to stimulate the hair roots or protect against hair loss. Therefore, a direct supply of caffeine to the hair roots is necessary, which is achieved with Alpecin shampoo. The caffeine in coffee cannot penetrate the scalp; a special carrier is needed, as developed in the caffeine-containing Alpecin products. Applying coffee directly to the scalp is not an effective solution.

The advice to use coffee grounds or cold coffee for a DIY caffeine shampoo or rinse is widespread. However, it is not recommended, as the tailored carrier base to transport the active ingredient to the hair root is missing. Additionally, the caffeine concentration is too low to prevent hair loss. In contrast, a caffeine shampoo offers an optimised carrier base and more than ten times the caffeine dosage of filtered coffee.

Not only the concentration of an active ingredient is crucial for its effectiveness and tolerability, but also its ability to reach the site where it is supposed to act and to be protected from degradation there. Therefore, the right carrier base is just as important as the active ingredient content.

In the development of Alpecin shampoos and caffeine liquids, special emphasis is placed on effective product performance. The formulation, effect, and concentration of the ingredients are carefully coordinated. The product's tolerability and effectiveness are dermatologically tested and confirmed in external application tests.