Does Creatine Cause Hair Loss? Here Is What the Research Actually Says

By: Rachel MacPherson, CPT, CSCS, PN-1

By now, we've all heard of the many benefits creatine comes packed with. It's basically been inescapable in the media for the last year or so, which is certainly a positive, seeing as how it used to sit next to the mass gainers and get snatched up by bodybuilders and heavy gym goers and be ignored by everyone else. 

But with all that popularity, you're always going to find detractors and people who make a living off of clickbait posts warning you of hidden dangers. Sometimes, there really are concerns to be wary of when it comes to supplements (in fact, a lot of the time), but that's not the case with creatine. It's the most well studied sports supplement there is. 

Creatine hair loss is one of the biggest myths going right now, so if you're curious about the evidence, you're in the right place.

Does Creatine Cause Hair Loss or Balding?

There is no evidence whatsoever that creatine causes hair loss or baldness in humans, and there haven't been any studies linking the two. What you'll hear in the media might sound convincing because it's got some sciencey sounding theory behind it, but it's flawed.

The theory goes that if creatine raises a hormone called dihydrotestosterone (DHT), then it could speed up hair loss. That's because DHT, which your body makes when an enzyme called 5-alpha-reductase converts free testosterone, can shrink susceptible hair follicles in people who are genetically prone to androgenetic alopecia (male or female pattern hair loss). However, there's no real evidence that creatine raises DHT.

Where the Creatine Hair Loss Myth Started

This myth started after a 2009 study on 20 college rugby players who had a 56% DHT increase after a week of creatine loading. Their levels stayed elevated by 40% for about two more weeks while taking a maintenance dose of creatine. Since this study, people have used these numbers to try and prove a hair loss link.

Funnily enough, the study didn't even measure hair in any way (no follicle counts, density, or shedding reports). Plus, their total testosterone levels didn't change, and despite the rise, their DHT stayed within normal range the whole time. The creatine group also started with DHT levels about 23% lower than the placebo group, which made the increase look far more dramatic than it was.

Since that study, no one has replicated it, which is pretty key when it comes to science. A 2015 review brought up the concern by citing that same single study, which is what likely brought attention to it in hair loss forums and supplement content on TikTok and Instagram.

Is There Scientific Evidence Linking Creatine to Hair Loss?

There is no evidence whatsoever linking creatine to hair loss, and researchers have now gone looking for it directly.

A 12-week trial published in 2025 was the first one to examine actual hair follicles in people taking creatine. Forty-five resistance trained men took 5g of creatine monohydrate or a placebo every day while researchers checked their hair using follicle testing and imaging. There were no differences between the two groups on DHT, testosterone, hair density, follicular unit count, or hair thickness. 

An expert review of the research on creatine and testosterone found that 10 of 12 studies reported no change at all, and the other two only had tiny increases that wouldn't make any difference physiologically. None of the studies in the review reported hair loss. 

Does Creatine Increase DHT?

Based on everything measured so far, creatine doesn't increase DHT. The 2009 rugby study (on only 20 men) is the only one that reported a DHT increase, and it has never been replicated. The 2025 trial measured DHT and the DHT to testosterone ratio directly and found no difference between the creatine and placebo groups.

It also helps to know that hard resistance training on its own can raise androgenic hormones, so it would be tough to pin a hormone shift on taking creatine, even if you did see one.

Creatine Monohydrate Side Effects and Hair Loss

Hair loss does not belong on a list of creatine side effects. The most common side effects people report in the first couple of weeks is a bit of water weight, and that water sits inside your muscle cells where it makes your muscles look fuller. Some people get some stomach discomfort from large single doses, which usually sorts itself out by splitting the dose or taking it with food. The 2025 trial also tracked kidney markers and saw no changes in creatinine or eGFR, which is the same as what decades of safety data in healthy adults has to say on the matter. Of course, talk to your doctor before trying any new supplement, especially since creatine can impact the readings of certain kidney health tests, making them harder to read, so some health care professionals recommend avoiding them if you need these tests.

If you are just starting, 3 to 5g per day is the standard dose. It doesn't really matter when you take creatine, so long as you take it consistently. In our own 90-day creatine study, participants reported limited side effects along with sharper focus and less soreness after training.

Takeaway

If you were worried about a tradeoff between a permanent ballcap and creatine, you can rest easy. Creatine does not cause hair loss. Skipping one of the most researched, most effective supplements available over a rumor with basically nothing behind it is a rough trade. If you want the safest bet on purity, get a third-party tested creatine monohydrate and let your hairline do what your genetics were always going to have it do.

Purist® Creatine Plus uses 5 g of Creapure creatine monohydrate per serving with zero artificial ingredients, and it is NSF Sport Certified and third-party tested.

Rachel MacPherson is a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist, Certified Personal Trainer, Nutrition Coach, and health writer with over a decade of experience helping people build strength and confidence.

This article was reviewed by Rosie Borchert, NASM-CPT, for accuracy.