Does Creatine Cause Hair Loss? What the Research Actually Says

For our overall top picks, see the Best Creatine in Australia guide.

There is no good evidence that creatine causes hair loss. The worry comes from one small 2009 study that found a rise in DHT, a hormone linked to male pattern baldness, but that study never measured hair. In 2025, a 12-week trial that did measure hair found no difference between men taking creatine and men taking a placebo. If your hair is thinning, genetics is the far more likely cause, and your GP is the right person to talk to.

Creatine and hair loss: the claims vs the evidence

Where the hair loss claim came from

The whole idea traces back to a study by van der Merwe and colleagues, published in 2009. Twenty college-aged rugby players in South Africa took creatine or a placebo in a crossover design. The creatine phase was a week of loading at 25 g a day, then two weeks at 5 g a day, both with glucose.

After the loading week, DHT (dihydrotestosterone) was 56% higher than at the start, and it stayed about 40% higher during the lower-dose weeks. Testosterone itself did not change. Every reading stayed within the normal range for healthy men, and the researchers did not look at hair at all.

Because DHT plays a part in male pattern baldness, the result spread online as "creatine makes you bald". That is a big leap from a three-week hormone result in 20 people. It is a fair reason to ask the question, but it is not evidence of hair loss.

What newer research shows

In 2025, Lak and colleagues ran the trial people had been waiting for. They gave 38 resistance-trained men aged 18 to 40 either 5 g of creatine monohydrate or a placebo every day for 12 weeks. They measured testosterone, DHT and the DHT to testosterone ratio, plus hair count, hair density, the share of growing hairs, follicle counts and hair thickness using a trichogram and scalp imaging.

There were no differences between the creatine and placebo groups for any hormone or hair measure. Kidney markers did not change either, and no side effects were reported. The authors concluded their results do not support the claim that creatine causes hair loss.

The study has limits, and the authors list them: it only included men, it ran for 12 weeks, it did not test a loading dose, and it did not record family history of baldness. So the honest summary is this: one small study raised a question, the best direct test so far found no link, and longer studies would still be welcome.

This matches a 2021 review by Antonio and colleagues on common creatine myths, which concluded the evidence does not show creatine raises total testosterone, free testosterone or DHT, or causes hair loss.

What actually causes hair thinning in men

Male pattern baldness is an inherited condition. According to healthdirect, the hair follicles become more sensitive to male hormones over time, so hairs grow for a shorter time and come back thinner. It is very common: about 1 in 5 men in their 20s, 1 in 3 in their 30s and nearly half of men in their 40s.

That timing is part of the problem. Many guys start creatine in their late teens or 20s, which is exactly when early thinning often shows up. It is easy to blame the newest thing in your routine.

If hair loss runs in your family, or you notice thinning or a receding hairline, talk to your GP. They can check for other causes and explain the medical options. Starting early usually gives you more choices.

How to take creatine if you are still worried

• Skip the loading phase. Take 3 to 5 g a day instead. The 2009 study used 25 g a day, while the 2025 study used 5 g a day and found nothing.
• Stick to plain creatine monohydrate. It is the form with the most research behind it. Legit Creatine Monohydrate 500 g is one of our best sellers in the last six months, with 100 serves of 5 g for $49.95, or about $0.50 a serve.
• Pick a tested product if you are drug tested. ATP Science states ATPure Creatine 500 g is HASTA certified with every batch tested, at $69.95 for 100 serves.
• Start small on a budget. Beast Labs Creatine 250 g gives you 50 serves of 5 g for $19.95 at the time of writing. ATP Science Creapure Creatine 250 g is $49.95 for 50 serves if you prefer Creapure.
• Track your hair if it helps your peace of mind. Take a photo of your hairline and crown under the same light every couple of months.

Our verdict

Creatine monohydrate is one of the most researched supplements in sport, and there is no good evidence that it causes hair loss. The DHT finding from 2009 has not been repeated, and the first trial to measure hair directly found no effect. If you want the strength and training benefits, take 3 to 5 g a day and judge it on your training, not on internet myths.

For an everyday tub, Legit Creatine Monohydrate 500 g is our pick. Compare more options in our best creatine in Australia guide or browse the full creatine range. For a head-to-head of three popular tubs, read Legit vs ON Micronized vs Beast Labs creatine, and for dosing, see how much creatine to take.

How our price compares

Here is what the same products cost at other Australian supplement stores, so you can check the difference yourself.

Supps247 prices come from our website. Other prices were checked on the websites of Nutrition Warehouse, Australian Sports Nutrition (ASN), Elite Supps and Supplement Mart on 29 October 2026 (same product and size, price for one unit) and can change at any time. Out of stock means it was listed but not available that day. Not listed means we could not find that exact product on their site. Not confirmed means we could not confirm the same product and size. Supps247 members can use our Price Match Guarantee against Nutrition Warehouse, ASN, Elite Supps and Supplement Mart: we beat their full price by 5% or match their sale price (conditions apply).

Shop the products in this guide

Legit Creatine Monohydrate 500 g$49.95Beast Labs Creatine 250 g$19.95ATP Science Creapure Creatine 250 g$49.95ATP Science ATPure Creatine 500 g$69.95

Browse all creatine.

FAQs

Does creatine increase DHT?

One small 2009 study in 20 rugby players found DHT rose after a week of loading at 25 g a day, but levels stayed in the normal range and hair was not measured. A 12-week trial in 2025 that gave 5 g a day found no change in DHT or the DHT to testosterone ratio compared with a placebo. A 2021 review also concluded the evidence does not show creatine raises DHT.

Should I stop taking creatine if my hair is thinning?

Hair thinning has many causes, and male pattern baldness is common and largely inherited, so stopping creatine is unlikely to change it. See your GP, who can look for the cause and explain your options. If stopping creatine gives you peace of mind while you sort it out, that is fine, as muscle creatine levels drift back to normal over a few weeks.

Does loading creatine make hair loss more likely?

There is no evidence that it does. The 2009 study that raised the DHT question used a 25 g a day loading week, and no study has linked loading to hair loss. That said, loading is optional. Taking 3 to 5 g a day gets your muscles to the same creatine level in about three to four weeks, so you can skip it if you would rather be cautious.

Is it safe to take creatine every day?

For healthy adults, the ISSN considers creatine monohydrate safe at recommended doses, and the AIS lists it in Group A of its Sports Supplement Framework. A typical daily dose is 3 to 5 g with water or a shake. If you have kidney disease, a medical condition or take regular medication, check with your GP before you start.

Does creatine cause hair loss in women?

There is no evidence that it does. The 2025 hair trial only included men, so women have not been studied directly, but nothing in the research so far links creatine to hair loss in anyone. Hair shedding in women has many causes, including iron levels, thyroid issues and changes after pregnancy, so talk to your GP if you notice it.

Sources: van der Merwe and colleagues (2009), creatine and DHT in rugby players; Lak and colleagues (2025), creatine and hair: a 12-week randomised controlled trial; Antonio and colleagues (2021), common questions and misconceptions about creatine; ISSN creatine position stand (2017); AIS Sports Supplement Framework; healthdirect: male pattern baldness; product labels and brand nutrition panels, checked October 2026.

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Prices and stock were checked on 29 October 2026 and can change at any time. Always read the label and follow the directions for use. If you have a medical condition, are pregnant or take regular medication, check with your doctor first.