Plantur

Plantur is a German haircare brand specialising in caffeine-based products aimed at reducing hair loss and supporting hair growth in women. It is owned and manufactured by Dr. Kurt Wolff GmbH & Co. KG, the cosmetics arm of the Dr. Wolff Group, a fourth-generation family business based in Bielefeld [5]. The name covers two distinct lines: Plantur 39, formulated for women over forty experiencing hormone-related thinning, and Plantur 21, marketed to younger women who want stronger, longer hair.

The brand sits within a wider portfolio of pharmacy- and drugstore-oriented Dr. Wolff brands and remains actively sold across Europe and further afield. Its parent company reported net sales of 384.4 million euros for the 2025 financial year [5].

⚑ Thinner sourcing. The article relies largely on the brand's own statements (T2–T3). Glowpedia is seeking independent sources.

Plantur belongs to the Dr. Wolff Group, listed among the company's brands from Bielefeld alongside Alpecin, ALCINA, KAREX, Linola, Bioniq and Vagisan [1]. Both Plantur lines are manufactured and owned by Dr. Kurt Wolff GmbH & Co. KG [2].

The group traces its origins to 1905, when Dr. August Wolff founded the business in Bielefeld under the name Sudbracker Nährmittelwerke Vinces, initially producing cough syrup, cod liver oil and various teas [4]. The "Dr. Wolff" name today represents two companies named after their founders: Dr. August Wolff on the pharmaceutical side and Dr. Kurt Wolff on the cosmetics side [5]. Kurt Wolff took over management in 1942 and laid the foundations for the cosmetics business by developing care products on a scientific basis [4]. The company describes itself as a family firm that has "remained true to these values" for more than 120 years, and positions itself against larger multinationals as the self-styled "Gauls of East Westphalia" [5].

The founding year of the Plantur line specifically is not documented in the available sources; the 1905 date refers to the parent company rather than to Plantur.

Plantur is built on the premise that hair loss is not exclusively a male concern. On its Plantur 39 site, the company states that "during menopause, millions of women also suffer from a dwindling hair quantity," attributing this to a fall in oestrogen and a corresponding rise in the influence of male hormones, which it says causes hair to thin, fall out prematurely and expose the scalp.

The two lines address different audiences. Plantur 39 is positioned "for hair over forty" and targets menopausal, hormone-induced hair loss. Plantur 21 is aimed at younger women wanting longer hair, describing insufficient "growth energy" in the hair roots during stressful periods and presenting its products as a way to balance that deficit. Its marketing centres on the hashtag "#longhair," with secondary slogans such as "push your hair growth."

Both lines are organised around caffeine as the central active. Plantur 39's signature product is its Phyto-Caffeine Shampoo, part of a range that also includes a Phyto-Caffeine Scalp Tonic. According to the company, the formulation combines caffeine, zinc and niacin with an active-ingredient complex of phytoflavonoids derived from white tea or the soy plant. Dr. Wolff describes this as a "phyto-caffeine complex" developed to protect the hair roots from what it calls premature exhaustion of hair growth. The company links the underlying research to the dermatological institute of the University Clinic Jena, where it says caffeine properties were found to help reduce hair loss in women during menopause.

Plantur 21 is built around a separate "nutri-caffeine complex," which the brand says activates the hair roots and improves hair growth. Its range includes the #longhair Nutri-Caffeine Shampoo, a Booster scalp serum, a conditioner and other accessories. The company states that all products are manufactured in Germany to European Union and ISO standards [2].

Independent assessment of Plantur's efficacy is mixed. A review by Illuminate Labs noted that the products contain research-backed ingredients such as caffeine, tea-leaf extract, hydrolysed wheat protein and niacinamide, but observed that the line "doesn't appear to be clinically tested" as a product range [6]. The same review declined to recommend the products, citing inactive ingredients including fragrance, the synthetic preservative phenoxyethanol and BHT [6]. Third-party commentary has also questioned how well topical caffeine works for women specifically, noting evidence that caffeine may counteract the effects of testosterone on hair growth more effectively in men [6].

Plantur is an active, globally distributed brand. Plantur 39 maintains international brand sites spanning around nineteen European country and language variants, with additional e-commerce reach in Asia Pacific, the Middle East, Africa and the United States. Its parent, the Dr. Wolff Group, describes itself as active in more than 60 countries and reported revenue of 384.4 million euros for the 2025 financial year [5].