It's on nearly every new hair product these days… but does ‘clinically tested’ mean what you think it means?
Take a stroll down any hair care aisle or peruse your favorite online retailer, and chances are you’ll run across the phrasing: clinically tested, clinically proven, or dermatologist tested (or approved) at a surprising rate. While the terms sound reassuring (official, even), giving the impression that products must have been through rigorous rounds of testing, there’s one slight catch.
None of those terms are particularly regulated…
Which is why almost every product adds it to their label.
Clinical Studies Are Not Created Equal
The bar to add ‘clinically tested’ to a product label is unfortunately… low. All it really takes is running a single small study. You can even test an ingredient in isolation, rather than in the final product. There are no set testing parameters or standardized methods that companies need to follow before saying a product is clinically tested.
That means that the claim clinically tested alone can’t tell you how rigorous or relevant their testing really was.
Just because clinically tested is a marketing term, that doesn’t mean product studies are without merit — you just need to read the fine print. Photo by Misolo Cosmetic
But that doesn’t mean all clinical study claims are bad or misleading marketing speak. Many product studies are performed to a high standard and can tell you a lot about what a product might or might not do for your hair.
The best way to find out if the clinically tested on your favorite products hold up to scrutiny? Read the study summary (usually posted to the website) and look for these five things:
- What was tested? The final formula, or a single ingredient in-vitro (lab dish)? While ingredient-level research is a useful starting point, it doesn't guarantee the same results once that product is formulated and used on real people.
- How many people, and for how long? A study of 10 people over two weeks tells you far less than a study of 50 or 100+ people over 8 or 12 weeks. The timeline needs to allow for meaningful change; hair grows slowly so it takes months. You can’t measure growth over a week.
- What was really measured? Speaking of measuring… Was hair growth measured? And was it something objective, with a real number (strand diameter, density counts, etc) or a subjective one (a self-reported perception survey)? Both are important; does a product show measurable improvement and do people enjoy using it? They both influence how likely you are to stay consistent. Reputable brands are transparent in their reporting of both.
- Who is performing the study? An independent, accredited testing group is the standard in cosmetic product testing, not the company who makes and sells the product.
- Was a placebo or control group included? Depending on the product or claims, a placebo group can help rule out time, routine, and expectation bias.
Again, clinical claims aren’t meaningless, but they’re only as good as the studies behind them. Products containing rosemary oil and onion can make clinical claims, regardless of how problematic the original studies are. It’s worth checking those studies' links and finding out what data backs up their claims.
Feel Confident products were developed with a science-backed, scalp-first approach to thinning and fine hair.
If a brand makes a clinical study claim you should be able to discover what the study actually measured, how long it ran, and what percentage of participants saw results, and how that fits into the claims they make.
Clinically backed should mean meaningful numbers and data measured independently. Your hair deserves it. Photo by Towfiqu barbhuiya.
It’s the standard Feel Confident hold its own products to. The Feel Confident Thickening Scalp Serum was evaluated in an 8-week, independent clinical and consumer perception study, showing a 7% increase in measurable hair strand thickness, with 90% of users reporting visibly denser, fuller-looking hair at the roots, and 100% agreeing the serum left their scalp hydrated and soothed. Our Feel Confident Shampoo and Conditioner, featuring our ROOTDefense® blend of saw palmetto, pumpkin seed oil, curcumin, and caffeine, underwent their own 12-week clinical trial, objectively measuring scalp hydration, shedding, and hair diameter. After 12 weeks of using our Thickening Shampoo and Conditioner, average hair shedding during standardized wash testing decreased from 20.9 hairs to 12.5 hairs per wash — a 40% improvement in shedding.
With 88% of participants observing stronger, more resilient hair and 91% reporting improved overall hair health, staying consistent is easy.
Real numbers, real timelines, real transparency — that's what science backed should mean.
Discover more about our clinical study results on our Feel Confident haircare line-up.
