The Effect of Cosmetic Formulations on the Appearance of Grey Hair.

April 29, 2026 updated by: Unilever R&D

The Effect of Cosmetic Formulations on the Appearance of Gray Hair

This study is a 6-month (180 days) single-center, double blind study designed to explore the effect of two cosmetic products on the appearance of gray hair.

Study Overview

Status

Status

Indicates the current recruitment status or the expanded access status.
Recruiting

Conditions

Conditions

The disease, disorder, syndrome, illness, or injury that is being studied. On ClinicalTrials.gov, conditions may also include other health-related issues, such as lifespan, quality of life, and health risks.

Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.

Detailed Description

This is a randomised, double blind, whole head study designed to evaluate the effect of two cosmetic leave on treatments on the appearance of gray hair. This study will accept up to 190 participants per cell (380 participants overall) who meet the inclusion/exclusion criteria to ensure that at least 150 participants per cell complete the study. Participants will be randomised to receive one of the two cosmetic hair products. The products will be applied to the whole scalp using a defined protocol.

If accepted onto the study, participants will be provided with marketed shampoo and conditioner products for use throughout the study.

Visual and instrumental assessments of hair color will be conducted throughout the duration of the study (6 months/180 days). Non-invasive skin surface samples will be collected at baseline, day 90 and day 180 for evaluation of target proteins and untargeted proteomic analysis of scalp and hair health.

Study Type

Study Type

Describes the nature of a clinical study. Study types include interventional studies (also called clinical trials), observational studies (including patient registries), and expanded access.
Interventional

Enrollment (Estimated)

Enrollment

The number of participants in a clinical study. The "anticipated" enrollment is the target number of participants that the researchers need for the study.
380

Phase

Phase

The stage of a clinical trial studying a drug or biological product, based on definitions developed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The phase is based on the study's objective, the number of participants, and other characteristics. There are five phases: Early Phase 1 (formerly listed as Phase 0), Phase 1, Phase 2, Phase 3, and Phase 4. Not Applicable is used to describe trials without FDA-defined phases, including trials of devices or behavioral interventions.
  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Contact

Study Contact

The name and contact information for the person who can answer enrollment questions for a clinical study. Each location where the study is being conducted may also have a specific contact, who may be better able to answer those questions.

Study Locations

  • United States
    • Minnesota
      • Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States, 55413
        • Recruiting
        • Comprehensive Research Group, Inc.
        • Contact:

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

The key requirements that people who want to participate in a clinical study must meet or the characteristics they must have. Eligibility criteria consist of both inclusion criteria (which are required for a person to participate in the study) and exclusion criteria (which prevent a person from participating). Types of eligibility criteria include whether a study accepts healthy volunteers, has age or age group requirements, or is limited by sex.

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Healthy Female or Male between the ages of 25 and 60 years old, both inclusive at the time of consent.
  • Of any race and ethnicity.
  • Able to read and understand all study instructions and any other relevant study documents and understand the test procedures (in English) and able to provide a free decision about participating in the study.
  • Has 15 - 35% naturally gray hair
  • Available to come to all study visits.

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Individuals with any relevant past or present medical history which may affect the study results or may lead to increased risk to the participant in the judgement of the Investigator or designee, including a history of cancer, insulin-dependent diabetes, acute or chronic renal insufficiency, chronic inflammatory disorders (arthritis, osteoarthritis, inflammatory bowel disease, colitis, etc.), asthma (not including exercise-induced asthma), epilepsy, uncontrolled hyperthyroidism, or uncontrolled hypothyroidism. Participants who have well controlled hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism (stable medication for greater than 6 months) will be permitted.
  • Pattern hair loss (Savin ≥ 2 for females, or Hamilton-Norwood ≥IV & excluding vertex hair loss for males) or any history of hair loss for medical reasons, including, but not limited to, alopecia areata, alopecia universalis, alopecia totalis or telogen effluvium.
  • Individuals that are sensitive/allergic to any of the ingredients in any of the test products adhesives, tattoo pigments/ink, or metals used in needles (i.e., chromium or nickel).
  • Individuals with an immunological disorder or bloodborne disease (e.g. HIV, HBC, AIDS, multiple sclerosis, Crohn's disease, rheumatoid arthritis) or currently using oral or systemic immunosuppressive medications and biologics (e.g., azathioprine, belimumab, Cimzia®, Cosentyx®, cyclophosphamide, cyclosporine, Enbrel®, Humira®, Imuran®, Kineret®, mycophenolate mofetil, methotrexate, Orencia®, prednisone, Remicade®, Rituxan®, Siliq™, Simponi®, Stelara®, Taltz®) and/or undergoing radiation or chemotherapy as determined by study documentation.
  • Individuals having started a long-term medication within the last 6 months or have changed brand, manufacture, or dosage of a long-term medication.
  • Individuals currently using or having regularly used corticosteroids (known as steroids), systemically or topically, topically anywhere on the body, except nasal, and/or ocular use is acceptable within the past 4 weeks (including but not limited to betamethasone, clobetasol, desoximetasone, diflorasone, fluocinonide, fluticasone, mometasone, halcinonide, and halobetasol) (see list in Appendix 8)
  • Individuals currently taking any other medications which, in the opinion of the Investigator or designee, may interfere with the study (e.g. prescription anti-inflammatory drugs, anticoagulants, etc.).
  • Individuals with hemophilia, anemia, or any other blood clotting disorder.
  • Individuals who have a history of systemic granulomatous diseases, active or inactive, (e.g., sarcoidosis, Wegener's granulomatosis, tuberculosis) or connective tissue diseases (e.g., lupus, dermatomyositis).
  • Individuals who are involved in any aspect of administration or an employee of Sponsor or testing facility.
  • Individuals currently used/taking or have used/taken within the last 3 months any topical or ingestible anti-gray hair or hair growth supplements/treatments (examples: Arey: Not Today, Anti-gray hair supplements, Heyhair: Gray Escape Advanced Anti-Gray Hair Growth Supplements, Vegamour: GRO Ageless Gray Delay Hair Supplements, Elon Essentials, R3 Extra Strength etc.).

The Investigator may exclude participants for other conditions, factors, or medications that they believe may affect the response of the skin or the interpretation of the test results.

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Treatment
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: Quadruple

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm

Participant Group / Arm

A group or subgroup of participants in a clinical trial that receives a specific intervention/treatment, or no intervention, according to the trial's protocol.
Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.
Experimental: Cosmetic product U82
Cosmetic scalp leave on product to be used once daily on the whole scalp for 6 months.
Other: U82
Cosmetic scalp leave on product
Experimental: Cosmetic product Z63
Cosmetic scalp leave on product to be used once daily on the whole scalp for 6 months.
Other: Z63
Cosmetic scalp leave on product

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, the planned outcome measure that is the most important for evaluating the effect of an intervention/treatment. Most clinical studies have one primary outcome measure, but some have more than one.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Visual assessment of percent gray hair
Time Frame: 0 - 6 months
Percent gray hair assessed over the whole head by expert assessor
0 - 6 months
Image analysis of appearance of gray hair
Time Frame: 0 - 6 months
Image analysis of global photographs of the head
0 - 6 months

Secondary Outcome Measures

Secondary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, a planned outcome measure that is not as important as the primary outcome measure for evaluating the effect of an intervention but is still of interest. Most clinical studies have more than one secondary outcome measure.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Image analysis of individual hair fibre color
Time Frame: 0 - 6 months
Image analysis of macro photographs of selected areas of the scalp
0 - 6 months
Consumer perception of scalp and hair condition and hair grayness
Time Frame: 0 - 6 months
Questionnaires
0 - 6 months

Other Outcome Measures

Other Outcome Measures

For clinical trials, a planned measurement described in the protocol that is used to determine the effect of an intervention/treatment on participants. For observational studies, a measurement or observation that is used to describe patterns of diseases or traits, or associations with exposures, risk factors, or treatment. Types of outcome measures include primary outcome measure and secondary outcome measure.
Outcome Measure
Time Frame
Proteomic analysis of scalp surface proteins associated with scalp and hair health
Time Frame: 0 - 6 months
0 - 6 months

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Sponsor

The organization or person who initiates the study and who has authority and control over the study.
Unilever R&D

Collaborators

Collaborators

An organization other than the sponsor that provides support for a clinical study. This support may include activities related to funding, design, implementation, data analysis, or reporting.
Comprehensive Research Group, Inc.

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

Study Start

The actual date on which the first participant was enrolled in a clinical study. The "anticipated" study start date is the date that the researchers think will be the study start date.
December 15, 2025

Primary Completion (Estimated)

Primary Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention to collect final data for the primary outcome measure. Whether the clinical study ended according to the protocol or was terminated does not affect this date. For clinical studies with more than one primary outcome measure with different completion dates, this term refers to the date on which data collection is completed for all the primary outcome measures. The "anticipated" primary completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the primary completion date for the study.
October 1, 2026

Study Completion (Estimated)

Study Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention/treatment to collect final data for the primary outcome measures, secondary outcome measures, and adverse events (that is, the last participant's last visit). The "anticipated" study completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the study completion date.
December 1, 2026

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

First Submitted

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submitted a study record to ClinicalTrials.gov. There is typically a delay of a few days between the first submitted date and the record's availability on ClinicalTrials.gov (the first posted date).
December 1, 2025

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submits a study record that is consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. The sponsor or investigator may need to revise and submit a study record one or more times before NLM's QC review criteria are met. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
December 1, 2025

First Posted (Actual)

First Posted

The date on which the study record was first available on ClinicalTrials.gov after National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review has concluded. There is typically a delay of a few days between the date the study sponsor or investigator submitted the study record and the first posted date.
December 12, 2025

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

Last Update Posted

The most recent date on which changes to a study record were made available on ClinicalTrials.gov. There may be a delay between when the changes were submitted to ClinicalTrials.gov by the study's sponsor or investigator (the last update submitted date) and the last update posted date.
April 30, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator submitted changes to a study record that are consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
April 29, 2026

Last Verified

Last Verified

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator confirmed the information about a clinical study on ClinicalTrials.gov as accurate and current. If a study with a recruitment status of recruiting; not yet recruiting; or active, not recruiting has not been confirmed within the past 2 years, the study's recruitment status is shown as unknown.
April 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

Other Study ID Numbers

Identifiers or ID numbers other than the NCT number that are assigned to a clinical study by the study's sponsor, funders, or others. These numbers may include unique identifiers from other trial registries and National Institutes of Health grant numbers.
  • HMN-BIO-4402

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

NO

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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