NINE LESS Root-Biome™ Caffeine Scalp Shampoo

Values: 100% Genuine (Adilsons policy) · Halal-Friendly* · Vegan-Friendly*

Pros: genuine 1% caffeine (a meaningful, disclosed concentration for a rinse-off), cooling sensation, pairs directly with the matching ampoule, ferment complex for scalp comfort. Caveats: a full, ordered INCI list was not confirmed this research pass (see Sec 23D) — only the actives explicitly named in retailer summaries could be verified; contact time with hair actives in any shampoo is inherently brief.

In Mauritius heat, a "greasy by 2pm" scalp is usually sweat and sebum doing their normal job, not dirt — washing more than once daily (or scrubbing hard with fingernails) strips the scalp's protective oils and can trigger compensatory overproduction, the same rebound cycle facial over-cleansing causes. This shampoo is formulated around active ingredients (caffeine, niacinamide, adenosine) layered into a cleansing base rather than a maximum-strip clarifying formula, so the goal is genuine cleanse-plus-care rather than a squeaky-clean feeling that signals the barrier has been stripped too far.

GREEN — safe for all ages. As a rinse-off shampoo with brief scalp contact time and no clinical-strength exfoliating or retinoid actives, this is broadly appropriate; the cooling menthol note reported by some reviewers is the only sensory consideration for a first-time young user.

Step 1 (When): AM or PM, at your normal wash frequency (most people 2-4x/week is standard for scalp health, daily if your hair type tolerates it). Step 2 (How much): a coin-to-palm-size amount depending on hair length. Step 3 (How): massage into wet scalp for 60 seconds, let sit 1-2 minutes if time allows, rinse thoroughly.

Introduce this as the ONLY new hair product in your routine. Wait a full 14 days before adding anything else, so you can tell whether any scalp reaction is caused by this specific shampoo.

1) Wet hair thoroughly. 2) Apply NINE LESS Root-Biome™ Caffeine Scalp Shampoo to the scalp (not just the lengths) and massage for 60 seconds. 3) Let sit 1-2 minutes if your morning allows. 4) Rinse thoroughly. 5) Follow with the matching Root-Biome Ampoule on towel-dried scalp.

1) Wet hair. 2) Massage shampoo into scalp for 60 seconds, focusing on areas that felt oiliest or itchiest during the day. 3) Rinse. 4) Towel-dry and apply the Root-Biome Ampoule for the overnight leave-on step.

Technique: massage with fingertips, not fingernails, to avoid micro-abrasion on the scalp. 60-Second Rule: keep the lather on the scalp for at least 60 seconds for adequate surfactant and active contact time before rinsing. Required state: hair fully wet before application, for even distribution.

This is an encyclopedia map of all product types. You do not use all of these daily. You select modules based on your skin state.

Global execution rules: Viscosity ladder — thinnest to thickest, water-phase before oil-phase, treatments before seals. Wait-time defaults — watery layers 10-20s, serum layers 30-60s, before sunscreen 10-15 min if going outdoors or applying makeup. Amount defaults (unless brand-specific instructions override): watery toner/essence 5-8 drops per layer; serum/ampoule 2-3 drops or 1 pump (face), +1 drop for neck; eye product ½ rice-grain per eye; gel moisturizer 1-1.5 peas, cream 1-2 peas; occlusive seal rice-grain to pea-size max; sunscreen 2-finger rule for face, +1 finger for neck. Skin state rules — hydrators best on slightly damp skin; retinoids best on fully dry skin; exfoliating acids on dry or lightly damp skin, keep to one lane. Hard cap rule — if the routine pills, stings, or feels heavy, reduce layers, not increase.

AM Maximum Stack: 1. Rinse/Gentle Cleanse (optional). 2. pH-Prep/Balancing Toner (optional). 3. Hydrating Toner Layers (1-3, optional). 4. Essence (optional). 5. Mist/Thermal Water (optional). 6. Booster/Soothing Serum (optional). 7. Antioxidant Lane (choose ONE). 8. Pigment Support Lane (choose ONE). 9. Hydration Serum Lane. 10. Oil-Control/Sebum-Regulating Lane (choose ONE). 11. Peptides/Growth-Factor/Repair Lane. 12. Eye Serum/Cream. 13. Moisturizer. 14. Optional Sealing Layer. 15. Sunscreen SPF50+ PA++++ (non-negotiable). 16. Lip SPF (optional but ideal). In AM, prioritize comfort + SPF adherence over stacking. In high humidity, fewer layers often perform better.

PM Maximum Stack: 1. Micellar (optional pre-cleanse). 2. Oil Cleanser/Balm (if SPF/makeup). 3. Water Cleanser. 4. pH-Prep Toner (optional). 5. Hydrating Toner Layers (optional). 6. Essence (optional). 7. Soothing/Barrier Serum (optional). 8. [Anchor Product] — bold placement, always. 9. Targeted Serum (optional, only if not conflicting). 10. Moisturizer. 11. Sleeping Mask (optional). 12. Occlusive Seal (optional). 13. Spot Treatment/Pimple Patch (as needed). 14. Lip Sleeping Mask (optional). Do not layer retinoids with AHA/BHA in the same night; keep "one lane" per night.

Lane strictness: One-lane rule — Retinoid OR Exfoliation OR Strong Vitamin C (LAA) OR Acne-control active per routine; barrier/hydration can always accompany. If unsure: default to the safest lane = barrier/hydration, and reduce layers. This shampoo sits outside the facial skincare ladder above — it is a hair-care rinse-off step, not a facial-skin layer.

As a rinse-off cleanser, this is the first step of the hair routine — applied to wet hair, fully rinsed before anything else follows. It does not layer with the leave-on Root-Biome Ampoule; it precedes it, in a separate step after towel-drying.

Prerequisites: None — a standalone rinse-off shampoo with no routine foundation required.

Scalp buildup/oil: Standard surfactant cleansing removes sebum, sweat, and product residue. Scalp comfort/circulation: Caffeine at a disclosed 1% and Adenosine support the same circulation-and-follicle-environment mechanism as the matching ampoule, though rinse-off contact time is inherently briefer than a leave-on.

What this shampoo cannot do: cannot regrow hair in bald patches, cannot substitute for a dermatologist's evaluation of diagnosed hair loss, cannot fully replace the leave-on ampoule's longer scalp contact time for circulation support.

Primary: NINE LESS Root-Biome™ Caffeine Scalp Ampoule — the matching leave-on step for extended scalp contact time with the same caffeine mechanism. Apply right after towel-drying post-shampoo.

Alternatives (as a conditioner follow-up after this shampoo): CP-1 Ginger Purifying Conditioner, Medicube Rosemary PDRN Hair & Scalp Conditioner, Aromatica Rosemary Hair Thickening Conditioner (very limited stock currently).

Chronic stress elevates cortisol, a known driver of telogen effluvium (stress-triggered hair shedding) and scalp inflammation. A short daily ritual — massaging the scalp for the full 60-second contact window while shampooing — is a small, genuine moment of self-care that some users find calming, distinct from any active-ingredient effect.

MYTH: "A caffeine shampoo works as well as the leave-on ampoule for hair growth." REALITY: Rinse-off contact time (roughly 1-2 minutes) is far shorter than a leave-on's hours of contact — the shampoo is a genuine complement, not a substitute, for the ampoule's longer exposure window.

MYTH: "Washing hair every day is always bad for the scalp." REALITY: Wash frequency should match your scalp's oil production and climate — in Mauritius heat, more frequent washing with a gentle, non-stripping formula like this one is often appropriate, not universally harmful.

Hard water note: Mauritius tap water hardness varies by region; hard water can leave a mineral film on the scalp after washing that contributes to a tight or dull-feeling finish — following with the leave-on ampoule can help offset this, and a clarifying rinse occasionally is reasonable if you're in a hard-water area.

Full INCI list: Full ingredient list not publicly disclosed by the brand at the time of writing — this research pass could only confirm the named actives above (Caffeine, Niacinamide, Adenosine, Hyaluronic Acid, and an unspecified ferment complex) via retailer/review aggregator summaries, not a complete ordered ingredient list from a directly-fetched source (egress-blocked in this environment). Do not treat the actives above as the complete formula.

Fragrance status: Not independently confirmed — reviewer summaries mention a "fresh" feel from menthol, which is a cooling agent, not necessarily an added fragrance. EU 26 allergen screen: Not assessable without a complete INCI list; treat as unconfirmed rather than "none detected."

Halal status: *Self-assessed by Adilsons based on available (partial) INCI data. No porcine-derived or haram animal-derived ingredients were identified among the actives confirmed this pass. This is NOT a formal Halal certification, and the incomplete ingredient list means this assessment carries lower confidence than a fully-confirmed formula would. Muslims with stricter requirements should consult their own scholars.

Vegan status: *Self-assessed by Adilsons based on available (partial) INCI data. No animal-derived ingredients were identified among the confirmed actives. This is NOT a formal vegan certification, and confidence is limited by the incomplete ingredient list.

Cruelty-free status: *Brand-stated policy. Not independently certified by Leaping Bunny, PETA, or equivalent third-party audit.

MFDS classification: No functional-cosmetic certification claim found; treated as General Cosmetic. Evidence confidence: Low-Medium* — the caffeine/niacinamide/adenosine actives have real ingredient-class rationale, but no SKU-specific clinical trial was located, and rinse-off contact time inherently limits how much any topical active can achieve versus a leave-on formula.

Assessment: Not applicable. As a rinse-off shampoo, it is fully washed out before any other product is applied, so pilling with other products is not a relevant concern.

Storage: Keep the cap closed between uses to limit bathroom-humidity contamination; a shower caddy with drainage helps avoid water pooling in the cap. Spoilage signs: off/sour smell, separation, or a visible color change — discard if seen.

Patch test: apply a small amount to a section of scalp and wait 24 hours before full use if you have a history of scalp sensitivity. Emergency stop signals: hives, significant swelling, or breathing difficulty — seek emergency care and discontinue immediately.

1) Rinsing immediately without the 60-second scalp-contact window. 2) Applying mainly to hair lengths instead of massaging into the scalp. 3) Expecting shampoo alone to match the leave-on ampoule's results. 4) Scrubbing with fingernails instead of fingertip pads. 5) Over-washing daily in a way that leaves the scalp feeling stripped rather than clean.

At a coin-size dollop per wash, 2-4x weekly, a standard bottle in this product's international 300ml format lasts approximately 2-3 months of regular use; more frequent washing or longer hair will deplete it faster.

Reorder roughly 2 weeks before the bottle is expected to run out to allow for shipping time.

This shampoo is the cleanse step of a two-part scalp system. Routine: 1) NINE LESS Root-Biome™ Caffeine Scalp Shampoo — massage into wet scalp 60 seconds, rinse. 2) Towel-dry. 3) NINE LESS Root-Biome™ Caffeine Scalp Ampoule — apply to sectioned scalp for the longer-contact leave-on step.

If you double-cleanse for heavy product buildup: a second, shorter application after the first rinse can help before the ampoule step. If your scalp is currently irritated: skip the ampoule that session and use only this shampoo, gently.

After purchasing, you will receive our skincare education email series covering this product in depth. The recommendations above are based on formulation synergy with this shampoo, not on margin or stock levels. If you already own a product that fills the same role, use what you have first.

We do not currently carry another dedicated caffeine scalp shampoo at a different tier — this is NINE LESS's only shampoo format in the Adilsons catalog at the time of writing.

This product's PRIMARY function is: gentle daily/regular scalp cleansing with added caffeine, niacinamide and adenosine. You do NOT need this if you already own another shampoo you're satisfied with and don't need the added actives — finish your current bottle first.

Stacking assessment: Significant Benefit if your current shampoo has no scalp-comfort actives at all; Marginal Benefit if you already use another caffeine-forward shampoo.

This product is sourced through authorized Korean distributors — primarily Craver Co., Ltd (South Korea), alongside other verified distribution partners. Craver is a major Korean beauty distributor and the parent company of SKIN1004, handling authorized distribution for multiple K-beauty brands. All products are shipped directly to Mauritius via verified channels.

For comprehensive information about how we verify authenticity, our layered verification system, and how to check your product at home, visit our dedicated Authenticity and Trust page.

NINE LESS positions itself as a dermatologist-adjacent, single-active-per-product Korean skincare and haircare brand — its Root-Biome scalp/hair line extends the same single-active-clarity philosophy the brand uses in its A-Control (azelaic acid) and MELA-PRO (tranexamic acid) skincare lines into caffeine-forward scalp care. Parent company and manufacturing model are not publicly disclosed.

Independent review coverage found for the matching Root-Biome duo (arktastic.com) reports that the shampoo "cleans the roots and oil well without leaving the scalp dry or stiff," feels fresh due to the menthol note, and contains soothing ingredients (niacinamide, panthenol) that help sensitive or irritated roots. The same source notes the shampoo works primarily to deeply cleanse and balance the scalp rather than reversing hair loss on its own.

Common praise theme: non-stripping, comfortable daily-use feel. Common caution theme: reviewers are clear this is a scalp-comfort/cleansing product, not a hair-loss treatment. No Reddit-specific thread for this exact product was found this research pass.

Does this shampoo alone regrow hair? No — it supports a clean, comfortable scalp environment; pair with the leave-on ampoule for the longer-contact caffeine exposure most caffeine-hair-thinning products rely on.

How often should I wash? Match your scalp's oil production and climate — in Mauritius heat, 2-4x weekly to daily is reasonable with this gentler formula; there's no universal rule.

Will it strip hair color? No bleaching or oxidizing agents were found among the disclosed actives, but the full surfactant base wasn't independently confirmed — color-treated hair users should monitor fade rate as with any new shampoo.

Is the cooling sensation from added fragrance? It's most likely from menthol/a cooling agent rather than perfume, though the complete INCI wasn't confirmed this pass.

Rinse-off

A product washed out shortly after application, as opposed to a leave-on.

Telogen effluvium

Stress- or illness-triggered temporary hair shedding.

Ferment/postbiotic

Beneficial metabolites from fermentation added for scalp comfort — not live bacteria.

Contact time

How long a product stays on the skin/scalp before rinsing, which limits how much a rinse-off active can achieve versus a leave-on.

Impact: Supportive. Retailer summaries reference an unspecified ferment complex in this formula, consistent with the matching ampoule's Bacillus Ferment and Lactobacillus Ferment. This is POSTBIOTIC — beneficial metabolites from fermentation, not live bacteria.

Assessment: Consult Oncologist. Reviewer summaries mention a cooling/menthol note in this shampoo, which can be more irritating on a chemotherapy- or radiation-sensitized scalp even in a brief rinse-off contact window.

Consult your oncology care team before introducing any new scalp or hair product during treatment.

Every product sold by Adilsons Beauty is 100% genuine, sourced through authorized Korean distribution channels. Full details on our verification system: Authenticity and Trust.

Our team is available to help you build a routine, troubleshoot reactions, and answer ingredient questions. WhatsApp: +230 5 778 2336.

For in-depth skincare education, visit our blog at adilsons.mu/blogs/k-beauty or subscribe to our email to get our guided education series delivered to your inbox.

Coverage: Island-wide delivery (Mauritius).

Processing and Timing: Orders process in 1-2 business days; usually ready by Day 3 for pickup by our delivery partners/regional team. Partner collection can take up to 1 week. After pickup, delivery typically takes 1-5 business days (weekdays only).

Express: May be available by region; request on WhatsApp: +230 5 778 2336.

Liquids/Sensitive Items: Serums, toners, liquid makeup (and kits containing liquids) are pickup or door-to-door only; checkout enforces this.

Scheduling: Deliveries run by region on set schedules; we will contact you the evening before.

Pickup: Citadelle Mall pickup available.

Returns: No change-of-mind exchanges.

Refunds (Summary): For defective/damaged on receipt (report within 48h), wrong item, or manufacturing defect within 6 months. Refunds via bank transfer (7-10 business days); card refunds may incur a 5% processor fee (fee not charged for defects/order errors). Opened skincare/personal-care items are non-returnable (except if damaged on delivery).

Source of Truth: This is a quick snapshot. If anything differs, the policy pages are final.

Store Policies: For the most up-to-date information, please review our Shipping Policy and Refund Policy.

Best for: anyone who wants a daily-comfortable, non-stripping shampoo with genuine added scalp-comfort actives, especially as the cleanse half of the Root-Biome duo.

Key benefits: disclosed 1% caffeine, gentle non-stripping feel reported by reviewers, direct pairing with the leave-on ampoule.

Keep in mind: a rinse-off's contact time is inherently brief, so pair with the ampoule for the fuller effect; the complete INCI list was not independently confirmed this research pass, so treat undisclosed-ingredient claims (fragrance-free, full allergen screen) as open questions rather than settled facts.