Spartan Root Activator Shampoo Review: Does It Really Grow Hair?

Spartan Root Activator Shampoo makes some bold promises. The company says this hair growth shampoo can strengthen hair, reduce thinning, support dormant follicles, and produce visible improvements when used four times per week. But does Spartan shampoo actually regrow hair? I reviewed the company’s claims, before-and-after pictures, advertised clinical results, active ingredients, and published research. Some ingredients have interesting studies behind them. However, research on an individual ingredient does not prove that the finished Spartan Root Activator formula works.

What Is Spartan Root Activator Shampoo?

Spartan Root Activator is a botanical shampoo marketed to men and women who have thinning hair, increased shedding, or early hair loss.

The company promotes it as a natural alternative to conventional hair-loss treatments. Its advertised ingredients include caffeine, melatonin, rosemary oil, peppermint oil, menthol, ginseng, Polygonum multiflorum, and several traditional herbal extracts.

The company has also advertised results from what it describes as a 24-week study. According to the claims shown on the company’s website, the shampoo produced:

• A 12% increase in hair density
• A 12% increase in total hair count
• A 22% improvement in “hair growth dynamics”

Those numbers sound promising. The problem is that the company does not provide enough information for consumers or researchers to properly evaluate the study.

Did Spartan Shampoo Really Increase Hair Growth by 22%?

The phrase “hair growth dynamics” sounds scientific, but it does not clearly identify what the researchers measured.

Did it refer to:

• The speed of hair growth?
• The percentage of hairs in the active growth phase?
• Changes in hair diameter?
• Reduced shedding?
• A combination of several measurements?

Without a clear definition, the 22% figure tells consumers very little.

The company also does not provide several essential study details alongside the claim:

• How many people participated?
• Were they men, women, or both?
• What type of hair loss did they have?
• Did the study include a placebo shampoo?
• Did researchers randomly assign the participants?
• Did the participants use other hair-loss products?
• Did they use only the shampoo or the entire Spartan system?
• Who conducted and funded the study?
• Did an independent medical journal publish the results?
• Were the changes statistically significant compared with placebo?

A percentage alone does not prove that a treatment works. We need to know what researchers measured, how they conducted the study, and what happened in a proper comparison group.

Is the Spartan Shampoo Clinical Trial Published?

I could not locate a peer-reviewed clinical trial in which researchers gave Spartan Root Activator Shampoo to people with thinning hair or androgenetic alopecia. It may be that the study is in the pipeline for peer review, or it could be an internal consumer test. An internal test may provide useful preliminary information. It does not carry the same weight as a randomized, placebo-controlled, peer-reviewed clinical trial.

What About the Spartan Before-and-After Pictures?

The Spartan website displays several impressive before-and-after photographs. One image appears to show a dramatic improvement in thinning at the crown.

However, the pictures do not answer several important questions.

The website does not clearly tell us:

• Whether the photographs came from the advertised 24-week trial
• Whether the subjects used only Spartan shampoo
• Whether they also used minoxidil, finasteride, microneedling, or supplements
• How long each person used the shampoo
• Whether the lighting, hairstyle, hair length, and camera angle remained the same

The before-and-after pictures may show genuine improvements, but consumers need more context before treating them as proof.

How Long Does Spartan Shampoo Take to Work?

Spartan recommends using its shampoo at least “four times per week.”  Some may assume they should notice hair growth within four weeks.

That is not what the company appears to mean.

The company’s frequently asked questions have stated that users may need approximately eight weeks before noticing improvements.

Spartan has also promoted a three-month money-back guarantee. That gives customers only about one additional month after the suggested eight-week waiting period to judge the results and request a refund.

Hair grows slowly. Even treatments with stronger evidence often require three to six months before users can make a fair comparison.

A person may notice cleaner, lighter, or fuller-looking hair after the first few washes. Genuine increases in hair count or density would take much longer.

Spartan Root Activator Ingredients

The active ingredient list includes:

• Menthol
• Peppermint oil
• Panax ginseng root extract
• Anemarrhena asphodeloides root extract
• Ginger root extract
• Rosemary oil
• Black sesame extract
• Licorice root extract
• Angelica sinensis root extract
• Platycladus orientalis leaf extract
• Sophora flavescens extract
• Biota orientalis leaf extract
• Polygonum multiflorum root extract
• Eclipta prostrata extract
• Cinchona bark extract
• Caffeine
• Melatonin

The formula contains many ingredients, but a long ingredient list does not establish effectiveness.

The important questions are:

1. Have researchers tested the ingredient in humans?
2. Did they study it in a shampoo?
3. How much did they use?
4. Does Spartan contain a comparable amount as used in research?
5. Did the study measure actual hair growth?
6. Did the results outperform a placebo?

Spartan does not appear to publicly disclose the concentration of each botanical ingredient. That prevents us from comparing its formula with the amounts used in research.

Confusion on the Spartan Shampoo website?

The ingredient list includes both Biota orientalis leaf extract and Platycladus orientalis leaf extract.

These names generally refer to the same plant. Platycladus orientalis has previously been classified under the name Biota orientalis.

Listing both names can make the formula look as though it contains two different active botanicals when they appear to represent the same species.

That does not necessarily mean anything improper occurred. Cosmetic labels sometimes use older botanical names, supplier terminology, or separate extracts from the same plant. However, the company should explain whether these are truly different preparations.

The “Three Musketeers of Natural Hair Growth”

Spartan has highlighted three traditional ingredients as especially important:

1. Platycladus orientalis
2. Polygonum multiflorum
3. Biota orientalis
4. Eclipta prostrata
5. Peppermint oil and menthol

While the “Three Musketeers” list lists 5 ingredients, it's really 4 because Biota orientalis and Platycladus orientalis refer to the same plant.

Let us look at the evidence for some of these.

Platycladus Orientalis and Hair Growth

Older studies mainly examined Platycladus orientalis in mice or human hair-follicle cells.

For example, researchers have reported that compounds from the plant may stimulate dermal papilla cells and influence biological pathways involved in the hair-growth cycle. Animal research also suggests that topical extracts may push resting follicles into the active growth phase.

A newer 2024 study adds an important update that older Spartan reviews may not mention. Researchers tested a topical product containing Platycladus orientalis leaf extract for 12 weeks and reported an improvement in terminal hair density. The laboratory portion of the study also identified quercitrin as a potentially active compound.

That study makes the ingredient more interesting, but it still does not prove that Spartan Root Activator works.

We would need to know:

• Whether the tested product had the same formula as Spartan
• The concentration of Platycladus used
• Whether the study included a suitable placebo
• Whether the improvement was clinically noticeable
• Whether the study participants had the same kind of hair loss as Spartan customers

Promising ingredient research is not the same as a trial of the finished shampoo.

Polygonum Multiflorum

Polygonum multiflorum is also called Fo-Ti or He Shou Wu. It has a long history of use in traditional hair and gray-hair products.

A 2011 study found that topical Polygonum multiflorum extract promoted hair growth in mice by stimulating pathways associated with the active growth phase.

Other laboratory studies have examined how the extract affects dermal papilla cells, growth factors, and signaling pathways associated with follicle activity.

This research provides a possible mechanism. It does not tell us whether a small amount of the extract in a rinse-off shampoo grows hair in people.

Despite the herb’s long history, high-quality human trials remain limited. That gap is worth emphasizing. Traditional use may justify further study, but it does not replace clinical evidence.

Peppermint Oil

Peppermint oil became popular in online hair-growth discussions after a 2014 study with the appealing title, “Peppermint Oil Promotes Hair Growth Without Toxic Signs.”

Researchers applied one of four treatments to shaved mice:

• Saline (salt water)
• Jojoba oil
• 3% minoxidil
• 3% peppermint oil

The peppermint oil group showed greater hair-growth activity than the other groups during the four-week experiment.

This result sounds impressive until we consider the major limitation: the study involved mice, not people with male- or female-pattern hair loss.

The researchers also used a 3% peppermint oil solution. Spartan does not appear to disclose how much peppermint oil its shampoo contains.

We therefore cannot assume that Spartan delivers the same concentration or produces the same effect.

Does scalp tingling mean peppermint oil is working?

No.

Peppermint oil and menthol activate cold-sensitive nerve receptors. That creates a cooling or tingling sensation.

The sensation proves that the nerves responded to the ingredient. It does not prove that new hairs are growing.

Rosemary Oil

Rosemary oil has better human evidence than many of the other botanicals in Spartan shampoo.

In a 2015 study, researchers randomly assigned 100 people with androgenetic alopecia to use either rosemary oil or 2% minoxidil for six months. Each group included 50 participants.

Neither group showed a significant change in hair count after three months. After six months, both groups showed an increase.

This study often gets summarized as “rosemary oil works as well as minoxidil.” That statement needs context.

Problems with the rosemary oil study

First, the study compared rosemary oil with 2% minoxidil, not the stronger 5% solution commonly used for male-pattern hair loss.

Second, the researchers did not include an inactive placebo group. Without a placebo, we cannot determine how much of the improvement resulted from normal variation, massage, better scalp care, or expectations.

Third, the study did not clearly establish that rosemary oil reversed advanced baldness.

Fourth, researchers studied a topical rosemary preparation that remained on the scalp. Spartan is a shampoo that users rinse away.

Finally, the study does not tell us whether Spartan contains the same amount of rosemary oil.

Rosemary oil has enough evidence to deserve further research. It does not prove that Spartan hair growth shampoo works.

Caffeine Shampoo Research in Women

Caffeine is one of the better-studied ingredients in topical hair products.

A study published in 2020 evaluated a phyto-caffeine shampoo in women with androgenetic alopecia. The women used either the caffeine-containing shampoo or a control shampoo for six months.

The caffeine group had fewer hairs come out during a hair-pull test at six months.

That result suggests the shampoo may have reduced shedding or improved hair anchoring.

However, the study did not prove that caffeine created substantial new hair growth. A hair-pull test measures how easily hairs come out when pulled. It does not directly measure the number of new follicles or complete reversal of pattern hair loss.

The study also used a specific phyto-caffeine formula. We do not know whether Spartan contains the same caffeine concentration or uses a comparable delivery system.

Caffeine Versus 5% Minoxidil

A 2017 study compared a caffeine-based topical liquid with 5% minoxidil in more than 200 men with androgenetic alopecia.

After six months, the researchers concluded that the caffeine liquid was “not inferior” to minoxidil.

“Not inferior” does not necessarily mean the two treatments worked equally well in every respect. It means the results stayed within a predetermined statistical margin chosen by the researchers.

The study also had important weaknesses:

• It used an open-label design, so participants knew which treatment they received.
• It tested a leave-on caffeine liquid, not a rinse-off shampoo.
• It did not include a placebo group.
• The product manufacturer had involvement in the study.
• The published report did not provide convincing standardized before-and-after pictures.

This study supports further research on topical caffeine. It does not prove that caffeine shampoo can replace 5% minoxidil.

Melatonin

Most people know melatonin as a sleep hormone, but hair follicles also produce and respond to melatonin.

Small human studies have reported reduced shedding or improved hair-growth measurements after people applied topical melatonin solutions.

However, most of these studies used leave-on products. Spartan shampoo remains on the scalp for only a short time before the user rinses it away.

The company also does not disclose how much melatonin the shampoo contains.

Melatonin is an interesting ingredient, but the evidence does not establish that a melatonin-containing shampoo reverses androgenetic alopecia.

Spartan’s own ingredient page says topical melatonin may support the hair cycle, reduce hair loss, and affect DHT-related pathways. Those statements describe melatonin research generally, not a clinical trial of Spartan shampoo.

Does Spartan Shampoo Block DHT?

Spartan marketing frequently focuses on pathways related to hair loss and follicle activity. Some online discussions also describe the shampoo as a natural DHT blocker.

I could not find a human study showing that Spartan Root Activator significantly lowers scalp DHT.

A plant extract may alter an enzyme or androgen receptor in a test tube. That does not prove that a shampoo:

• Delivers enough of the ingredient into the follicle
• Lowers DHT in the human scalp
• Prevents follicle miniaturization
• Produces visible hair regrowth

Consumers should not consider Spartan a proven DHT blocker unless the company produces direct clinical evidence.

The Rinse-Off Problem

One issue deserves more attention than it receives in many Spartan shampoo reviews: contact time.

Users massage shampoo into the scalp for a few minutes and then wash it away.

Compare that with:

• Minoxidil, which remains on the scalp for hours
• Topical caffeine liquids, which remain on the scalp
• Rosemary oil treatments, which remain in place
• Topical melatonin solutions, which remain on the skin

Some ingredients can enter hair follicles quickly. However, penetration does not prove that a rinse-off product delivers a therapeutic amount.

The company would need to test the completed shampoo under normal conditions of use.

A study of a leave-on liquid cannot automatically validate a shampoo.

Can Spartan Shampoo Make Hair Look Thicker?

Yes, it may.

Shampoo can make existing hair appear fuller by:

• Removing scalp oil
• Removing residue that weighs hair down
• Increasing volume
• Coating the hair shaft
• Reducing breakage
• Improving texture
• Making hair easier to style

Several reviewers say Spartan leaves their hair feeling clean, soft, or fuller.

Those cosmetic benefits may be legitimate.

However, fuller-looking hair does not necessarily mean the number of hairs increased.

Spartan Shampoo Side Effects

Spartan contains many botanical extracts, essential oils, fragrances, and cooling ingredients. These may irritate some scalps.

Possible side effects include:

• Itching
• Redness
• Burning
• Dryness
• Flaking
• Rash
• Eye irritation
• Allergic contact dermatitis

Peppermint oil, rosemary oil, menthol, fragrances, and preservatives may trigger reactions in sensitive people.

Stop using the shampoo if you develop persistent burning, swelling, blistering, or a significant rash.

People with eczema, psoriasis, scalp sores, fragrance allergies, or highly sensitive skin should consider testing a small area first.

Does Spartan Shampoo Work for Women?

The product is marketed to both men and women, but the cause of hair loss matters more than sex alone.

Women may lose hair because of:

• Female-pattern hair loss
• Iron deficiency
• Thyroid disorders
• Major illness
• Rapid weight loss
• Childbirth
• Menopause
• Medications
• Autoimmune disease
• Tight hairstyles
• Nutritional deficiencies

A shampoo cannot correct all these causes.

Women with new, rapid, or unexplained hair loss should seek a medical evaluation rather than assuming they need a hair-growth shampoo.

Does Spartan Shampoo Work on a Bald Scalp?

It is unlikely to regrow meaningful hair in areas that have remained completely bald for a long time.

As androgenetic alopecia progresses, affected follicles become smaller and produce finer hairs. Eventually, some follicles may stop producing visible hair.

Cosmetic shampoos have little chance of restoring advanced bald areas.

Spartan has also acknowledged that its products may not be suitable for people who are completely bald.

Is Spartan Shampoo FDA Approved?

Spartan Root Activator Shampoo is a cosmetic product, not an FDA-approved hair-loss medication.

A company may manufacture cosmetics in an FDA-registered facility, but facility registration does not mean the FDA tested or approved the product’s hair-growth claims.

Spartan shampoo does not contain minoxidil or finasteride, which are approved hair-loss treatments.

Can Spartan Shampoo Replace Minoxidil or Finasteride?

The current evidence does not support using Spartan shampoo as an equivalent replacement for minoxidil or finasteride.

That does not mean everyone should use those medications. Both have limitations, and finasteride requires a medical discussion about possible side effects.

It means the evidence supporting Spartan remains much weaker.

A consumer may use Spartan as a regular shampoo while using another treatment, but they should not assume the shampoo provides the same protection against hair loss.

The Three-Month Money-Back Guarantee

Spartan has advertised a three-month money-back guarantee. Read the current terms before ordering. Pay attention to:

• Whether the guarantee starts on the order date or delivery date
• Whether you must return the bottles
• Whether empty bottles qualify
• Whether shipping charges remain nonrefundable
• Whether the company deducts return shipping
• Whether subscription orders renew automatically
• How customers must cancel
• How long refund processing takes

Take a screenshot of the guarantee and cancellation terms when you order. Save your receipt and all email correspondence.

How to Test Spartan Shampoo Fairly

People who decide to try Spartan should document the results carefully.

Before the first use:

1. Take photographs of the front, temples, top, and crown.
2. Use the same room and lighting every time.
3. Keep the camera at the same distance and angle.
4. Photograph dry hair without fibers or styling products.
5. Record your haircut and approximate hair length.
6. List every other hair-loss treatment you use.
7. Repeat the pictures every four weeks.
8. Continue for at least three months unless irritation occurs.

Do not compare wet hair in one photograph with dry, styled hair in another.

Also avoid starting several treatments at the same time. If you begin Spartan, minoxidil, microneedling, and supplements together, you will not know which treatment caused any change.

Spartan Root Activator Pros and Cons

Is Spartan Shampoo a Scam?

I would not automatically call Spartan Root Activator Shampoo a scam.

It is a real shampoo containing several ingredients that researchers have studied. It will clean the scalp and may improve texture, reduce breakage, or make existing hair look fuller.

However, the company’s stronger hair-growth claims go beyond what the publicly available evidence can confirm.

The lack of proof does not prove the product cannot work. It means consumers should keep their expectations realistic.

Does Spartan Root Activator Really Work?

Here is how I rate the major claims based on the available evidence:

My Opinion of Spartan Hair Growth Shampoo

Spartan Root Activator contains several ingredients that deserve further research. Based on the evidence I reviewed, I would consider Spartan a cosmetic shampoo with some scientifically interesting ingredients, not a proven treatment for male- or female-pattern hair loss. Research on individual ingredients does not prove that the complete Spartan shampoo formula works. Until research is published, I remain unconvinced that Spartan Root Activator is a proven hair-regrowth treatment.

Frequently Asked Questions

How often should I use Spartan shampoo?

Follow the instructions. Using more than directed has not been proven to improve hair growth and may increase irritation or dryness.

Can Spartan shampoo stop male-pattern baldness?

There appears to be no published evidence showing that Spartan stops the progression of androgenetic alopecia.

Does Spartan shampoo contain minoxidil?

The ingredient list reviewed for this article did not include minoxidil.

Is Spartan Root Activator safe?

Most people will likely tolerate it well, but the essential oils, menthol, and botanical extracts may cause irritation or allergic reactions.

Can I use Spartan with minoxidil?

A shampoo generally can be used as part of a routine that includes minoxidil, but people with sensitive scalps should watch for irritation. Ask a healthcare professional when combining several treatments.

How long should I try Spartan shampoo?

The company suggests that improvements may take approximately eight weeks. A fair evaluation of actual hair density would likely require at least three to six months to see if it's working.

Does scalp tingling mean Spartan is growing hair?

No. Menthol and peppermint oil create cooling and tingling by stimulating sensory nerves. Tingling does not prove follicle growth.

Is Spartan hair growth shampoo worth the money?

It may be worth trying if you like the formula, understand the limited evidence, and value its cosmetic effects. It is less attractive if you expect it to replace a treatment with stronger clinical support.

Can Spartan make hair look thicker without growing new hair?

It's possible. Removing oil, increasing volume, reducing breakage, and coating the hair shaft can make existing hair appear fuller.

Why do some Spartan users report good results?

Some may experience genuine cosmetic improvement, reduced breakage, normal changes in shedding, or benefits from other treatments. Testimonials do not prove the shampoo will work the same for everyone.

What Do You Think?