One week we’re led to believe we need to be eating goji berries and flax seeds, and the next we should be having kale smoothies for breakfast, lunch and dinner. But, this week, it’s caffeine that’s being hailed as the latest super food for hair growth.

A recent study by the Kangbuk Samsung Hospital in Seoul, Korea, has claimed that moderate caffeine consumption – around three to five cups a day – can lower the risk of illnesses from type 2 diabetes to Parkinson’s disease.

These results aside, previous lab research also shows that caffeine may be the espresso your hairs need to stimulate their growth, thus preventing hair loss.

In a study published in the International Journal of Dermatology, researchers found that caffeine encourages the hair shaft to grow by blocking the effects of DHT, a hormone known to damage follicle growth. However, you’d need to be drinking between 50 and 60 cups of coffee a day for your hair to receive an adequate dose!

These findings also echoed the results of an earlier study by the journal, which found that caffeine boosted the length of individual hairs by between 33 and 40 per cent.

However, until there’s robust clinical evidence that caffeine helps to avert hair loss, I’d advise people wanting to give their hair a kick to stick to increasing their intake of essential fatty acids, protein, iron and Vitamin C before they start drinking 50 cups of coffee a day.

There are also a range of hair care products from the likes of Tricomax, Revivogen, Garnier, Alpecin and Plantur 39, which contain caffeine, so it may be worth testing a couple of these before the more curious of you find yourself rubbing coffee on to your scalp!

When names appeared on Coca-Cola bottles last year, people crowded the shelves in search of their own. From Claire and Jess, to Adam and Ben, an array of names were available. But, we failed to notice any that said ‘hair’. Not surprising really, who would share a coke with their hair?!  An array of famous models, that’s who!

There are many weird and wonderful shampoo alternatives that float around the market, from tea, mayonnaise and lemon juice, to beer, fabric softener and ketchup. But, last month, a model-of-the-moment revealed that she washes her hair in Coca-Cola – another thing to add to the shopping list!

She claims that, by pouring Coca-Cola over her hair in place of shampoo, she’s left with more textured, thicker feeling hair. So, is coke the new secret to the perfectly tousled, softer feeling and voluptuous locks?

Although I’d be very cautious about removing shampoo from your hair washing routine, there’s actually some science behind using Coca-Cola, albeit dubious. The drink has a very low pH level, making it acidic, which would cause the cuticles to contract, resulting in smoother and shinier hair. What’s more, those with hair prone to curling will see their natural curls enhanced – who knew that a little bit of fizz could tame a whole load of frizz!

Please note, however, it’s not advised to use a bottle of Coca-Cola straight from the fridge, there’s a risk of screaming as you pour the cold stuff over you!