The Science
The research behind the VigorHair Micro-Infusion System
The VigorHair Micro-Infusion System brings together two things that have been studied separately: microneedling and researched scalp-care ingredients. Below are the published studies behind each part, what they looked at, and what they did and did not show. None of these studies tested the VigorHair Micro-Infusion System itself, and results vary between individuals.
Key findings from published research
Average new hairs after 12 weeks in a randomized study: weekly microneedling plus minoxidil, compared with minoxidil alone.
Dhurat et al., 2013In a double-blind trial in men, a topical adenosine lotion increased the proportion of thick hair compared with placebo over six months.
Iwabuchi et al., 2016In a laboratory study, caffeine counteracted testosterone-related growth suppression in human hair follicles.
Fischer et al., 2007Why micro-infusion?
Most scalp serums are applied to the surface and have to get past the skin’s outer barrier on their own. Micro-infusion changes how the serum reaches the scalp.
Fine, temporary microchannels
The 0.5 mm head creates fine channels at the surface of the scalp, so the serum is not simply left sitting on top.
Serum placed in the same pass
The serum is released as the channels form, instead of rolling first and applying a product afterwards.
Paired with researched actives
Copper peptide, caffeine and adenosine each have their own published research, combined in one water-based, fragrance-free serum.
What customers say
Feedback from VigorHair customers, shared with their permission.
I put it in the calendar for Sunday evenings. Ten minutes, done. The routine is the part I was always bad at, and this one I've kept.
Individual results vary.
See it in your own routine.
Ten minutes, once every 9–10 days, at home. Backed by a 90-day money-back guarantee.
SHOP NOWIngredient evidence
What the research looked at for each key part of the system. Study results describe the conditions tested, not the VigorHair Micro-Infusion System.
Copper peptide
Peptide complexIn a 2007 laboratory study, the copper peptide AHK-Cu encouraged human hair follicles to grow longer. A 2016 clinical study looked at a complex of 5-ALA and the GHK peptide on hair growth in men with pattern hair loss, and a 2015 review describes GHK-Cu’s role in skin repair and collagen production.
Caffeine
Stimulating activeIn a 2007 laboratory study using hair follicles from men with pattern hair loss, caffeine counteracted testosterone-related growth suppression and, on its own, stimulated follicle growth. Research also suggests hair follicles are a faster route for topically applied caffeine.
Adenosine
Growth-cycle supportRandomized, double-blind trials tested a topical adenosine lotion used twice daily for six months in Japanese men (2015) and in Caucasian men against placebo (2016). In the 2016 trial, the proportion of thick hair increased significantly with adenosine, with no adverse effects noted.
Microneedling delivery
Delivery methodIn a 2013 randomized study, adding weekly microneedling to minoxidil led to significantly more new hairs at 12 weeks than minoxidil alone. A 2024 meta-analysis pooled trials combining microneedling with other treatments, and a 2023 review covered 27 studies on delivering actives into the scalp.
How micro-infusion compares
A neutral overview of common approaches. For medical treatments, speak to a doctor or pharmacist about what suits you.
| Option | Strengths | Considerations |
|---|---|---|
| VigorHair Micro-Infusion System | At home, 10 minutes once every 9–10 days. Serum released as the microchannels form. Sterile single-use heads. Drug-free cosmetic routine. | Cosmetic scalp care, not a medicine. Mild, temporary redness is possible. Results are gradual and vary; allow three months of consistent use. |
| Topical minoxidil | Over-the-counter treatment with a long research history. | Applied daily, with ongoing use needed. Ask a pharmacist or doctor whether it suits you. |
| Oral finasteride | Prescription medicine with established clinical research in men. | Prescription only. Discuss the benefits and possible side effects with a doctor. |
| Hair transplant | Moves existing hair to thinning areas in a one-off procedure. | Surgical, with higher cost and recovery time. Does not stop ongoing thinning, and final results take many months. |
Study details
Tap a study to see how it was designed and what it found.
Microneedling + minoxidil (Dhurat, 2013)
Design: 100 men with mild to moderate pattern hair loss were randomized into two groups for 12 weeks. One group had weekly microneedling plus twice-daily 5% minoxidil; the other used minoxidil only.
Result: Average new hairs were 91.4 in the microneedling group vs 22.2 in the minoxidil-only group.
Note: This study used a clinical microneedling set-up together with minoxidil. The VigorHair Micro-Infusion System is a 0.5 mm cosmetic routine without minoxidil, so these results cannot be applied to it directly.
Topical adenosine trials (2015, 2016)
Design: Randomized, double-blind trials. 102 Japanese men used an adenosine or niacinamide lotion twice daily for six months; 38 Caucasian men used adenosine or placebo for six months.
Result: In the 2016 trial, the proportion of thick hair increased significantly with adenosine compared with placebo, with no adverse effects noted.
Caffeine laboratory study (Fischer, 2007)
Design: Hair follicles from 14 scalp biopsies of men with pattern hair loss were grown in the lab with testosterone and/or caffeine.
Result: Testosterone suppressed follicle growth; caffeine counteracted this and, on its own, stimulated growth.
Note: This was a laboratory study, not a trial in people.
Copper peptide research (2007, 2015, 2016)
AHK-Cu (2007): a laboratory study found this copper peptide encouraged human hair follicles to grow longer.
GHK-Cu review (2015): describes the peptide’s role in skin repair and collagen production.
5-ALA + GHK (2016): a clinical study in men with pattern hair loss looking at a peptide complex on hair growth.
Note: These studies used specific peptides and complexes that may differ from the copper peptide in VigorHair’s serum.
References
- Dhurat R. et al. (2013). A randomized evaluator blinded study of effect of microneedling in androgenetic alopecia. Int J Trichology.
- Topical adenosine increases thick hair ratio in Japanese men with androgenetic alopecia (2015). Int J Cosmet Sci.
- Iwabuchi T. et al. (2016). Topical adenosine increases the proportion of thick hair in Caucasian men with androgenetic alopecia. J Dermatol.
- Fischer T.W. et al. (2007). Effect of caffeine and testosterone on the proliferation of human hair follicles in vitro. Int J Dermatol.
- Efficacy of a complex of 5-aminolevulinic acid and glycyl-histidyl-lysine peptide on hair growth (2016).
- Review: caffeine and follicular delivery in androgenetic alopecia.
The VigorHair Micro-Infusion System is a cosmetic scalp-care product. It is not intended to diagnose, treat or prevent any condition. The studies above did not test the VigorHair Micro-Infusion System, and individual results vary.
Read the studies
Tap a study to see a plain-language summary and the original article:
Put the research into a routine.
Ten minutes, once every 9–10 days, at home. Backed by a 90-day money-back guarantee.
SHOP NOWQuestions about the science
Is the VigorHair Micro-Infusion System backed by science?
The approach draws on published research into microneedling and into ingredients such as copper peptide, caffeine and adenosine. The studies on this page tested those methods and ingredients, not the VigorHair Micro-Infusion System itself. Results vary between individuals and no result is guaranteed.
Were these studies done on the VigorHair Micro-Infusion System?
No. They are independent, published studies on microneedling and on individual ingredients. Some used different needle set-ups, doses or combinations, which is noted in the study details above.
How does VigorHair compare to a hair transplant?
A transplant is a surgical procedure that moves existing hair to thinning areas. The VigorHair Micro-Infusion System is an at-home cosmetic scalp-care routine: ten minutes, once every 9–10 days, with no clinic visits or recovery time. They serve different goals.
Can I use it alongside other treatments?
Yes, on non-treatment days. Avoid strong actives, dyes or styling products on the scalp straight after a session. If you use a prescribed treatment, check with your doctor first.