How his German shampoo switch darkened his grey hair without traditional dyes

Straits Times

a day ago

Identical twins spot visible differences after one starts using Alpecin Grey Attack Caffeine and Colour Shampoo, a shampoo that gradually reintroduces pigment into the hair without harsh chemicals
As identical twins, Ole (right) and Lars once looked indistinguishable – until a small change in hair appearance shifted perceptions.
Identical twins Ole and Lars, who wish only to be identified by their first name, have always been nearly impossible to tell apart. But recently, the 48-year-olds' new acquaintances and colleagues guessed that Ole was about five years younger – all because of one difference: the appearance of less grey hair.
Visible grey hair can make individuals appear older than they are. A
study published in the Frontiers in Psychology journal found that greying hair is associated with perceptions of age.
The difference between the twins was not the result of a salon treatment or traditional hair dye. Ole had started using
Alpecin Grey Attack Caffeine and Colour Shampoo , a German-developed formula designed to gradually reintroduce pigment to hair strands over time.
Used daily in the shower like any regular shampoo, Ole says he began noticing visible changes after three weeks*. He notes: 'My grey strands appeared to slowly darken again, and my hair colour seemed richer. My friend thought I was five years younger than my twin.'
Lars adds: 'The natural effect is convincing – it does not look artificial at all.'
Getting to the root of the problem
Initially, Lars had not given much thought to his own greying hair. But after seeing how the shampoo seemed to give his brother a more youthful appearance, he says he is now open to trying it too.
According to an
article on Harvard Health Publishing , hair follicles produce less colour as one ages, affecting the colour of new strands that grow in as they go through the natural cycle of dying and regenerating. Other factors that can accelerate this include stress, genetics and certain illnesses.
'The key ingredient in
Alpecin Grey Attack Caffeine and Colour Shampoo – 5,6-dihydroxyindole – is a molecule that reacts with oxygen in the air to produce a pigment, the same one that gives hair its natural brown or black colour,' says Dr Erik Schulze zur Wiesche, head of research and development at Alpecin.
'Over time and with regular use of the shampoo, more and more dye accumulates in the strands of hair and a permanent hair colour develops.'
Ole shares: 'At the start I used the shampoo every day but now I've reached a colour intensity I like, I only use it once every second or third day.'
Dr Schulze zur Wiesche adds that unlike traditional hair dye, Alpecin Grey Attack Caffeine and Colour shampoo is free of harsh chemicals such as ammonia and hydrogen peroxide.
With daily use, Alpecin Grey Attack Caffeine and Colour Shampoo helps reduce the appearance of grey strands – without harsh chemicals
PHOTO: ALPECIN
Tips for best use
To incorporate the product into your routine, wash your hair with Alpecin Grey Attack Caffeine and Colour shampoo and leave it on for two to five minutes before rinsing thoroughly. Both men and women can use the product.
According to Alpecin, patience is key, especially for individuals with thicker hair, who may require a longer period before seeing visible results. The colour effect will be more visible with longer hair.
To preserve the effectiveness of the formula, users are advised to keep the bottle cap tightly closed when not in use and to finish an opened bottle within three months. This prevents the active ingredient from reacting prematurely with air before application.
Alpecin also reports that the product sold over 800,000 bottles in Germany within its first 10 months on the market, following its 2023 launch.
The Alpecin Grey Attack Caffeine and Colour Shampoo is available at FairPrice, Unity,
Shopee and
Lazada .
*With daily use, based on Dr Wolff laboratory study on human hair tresses and visual evaluation. Actual results may vary with each individual.