Overview
- Products: DNA test, Custom Topical Formula, Supplements, and Treatment Plan.
- Cost: DNA test costs $250
- Reports: Static PDF report focused on select SNPs related to hair and scalp health.
- Raw data access: No option to upload or download raw DNA data.
- Privacy: No clear statement on HIPAA or GDPR compliance. Limited transparency on data protection and privacy practices.
- Alternatives: SelfDecode provides a more comprehensive health platform with 1,250+ reports, ancestry-adjusted polygenic risk scores, and personalized recommendations based on DNA, labs, and lifestyle.
Roots by Genetic Arts Pros and Cons
Pros
- Simple DNA collection kit with clear instructions; customers report smooth delivery and onboarding.
- The treatments are reportedly well-packaged, pleasant-smelling, and easy to incorporate into a daily routine.
Cons
- Analyzes a small number of SNPs, lacks polygenic risk scoring, and doesn’t account for lifestyle, hormones, or labs.
- Privacy policy is vague, with no clear mention of HIPAA/GDPR compliance or data protection standards.
- Mixed reviews on responsiveness; some users report delays, unanswered emails, and confusion around results.
- The report often functions more as a tool to drive product sales than a comprehensive health analysis.
About Roots by Genetic Arts
Roots by Genetic Arts is a consumer platform founded in 2022 by Carla Brenner, focused on the hair loss market and aiming to offer personalized treatment recommendations using genetic data.
Genetic Arts positions itself as a precision health company that matches consumers with potential interventions for hair-related concerns. Roots is their flagship product, built around the idea that genetic predispositions can influence the effectiveness of different hair loss treatments.
The company primarily markets to consumers looking for tailored solutions to address hair thinning or loss.
Review of Roots by Genetic Arts Products & Services
Roots by Genetic Arts provides a genetic testing service and hair treatment products. Customers can submit a DNA sample for analysis, after which the company offers hair care treatments and products designed to target the underlying causes of hair thinning and scalp health issues.
Review of Roots by Genetic Arts Report
Roots by Genetic Arts centers around one main offering, which is a genetic test designed to identify the root causes of hair loss. The service claims to analyze your DNA to uncover how your genetics might be impacting hair growth, shedding, and overall scalp health. Based on that, they recommend a personalized treatment plan.
While the concept of tailoring hair loss treatments to genetics sounds promising, there are a few caveats.
The report analyzes a limited number of SNPs related to hair thinning, shedding, and scalp health, primarily variants associated with androgen sensitivity and inflammation.
While the company mentions using AI to interpret genetic data, the actual report is relatively surface-level. It does not offer transparency on the full list of SNPs analyzed or allow users to explore the data in depth.
The product appears to focus primarily on static genetic data, meaning it doesn’t consider other key factors like hormone levels, nutrient deficiencies, lifestyle habits, or underlying medical issues. That’s a big limitation, especially when you’re dealing with something as complex and multifactorial as hair loss.
The recommendations provided are mostly product-based, suggesting specific topical treatments, supplements, or routines tied to the company’s offerings.
Overall, the report functions more like a marketing tool to recommend certain products than a comprehensive health analysis.
Cost of Roots by Genetic Arts
Roots by Genetic Arts is priced on the higher end of the market for both genetic testing and hair loss treatments.
- DNA Test: $250.00
- Custom Topical Treatment: $98.00
- Other Treatments: $69.00–$98.00
Health Recommendations from Roots by Genetic Arts
Roots by Genetic Arts provides treatment recommendations based on the results of their DNA test. These recommendations focus specifically on hair loss and related concerns like thinning, shedding, and scalp health.
The suggested treatments typically include:
- Custom topical formulas
- Supplements aimed at addressing nutrient-related genetic variants
- Hair care routines to support scalp health
While the company promotes these as personalized solutions, the recommendations are relatively product-driven and limited in scope. They are primarily based on static genetic markers and do not account for other important influences on hair health, such as diet, hormones, lifestyle, or medical conditions.
Additionally, the platform does not appear to incorporate polygenic risk scoring, which could offer a more comprehensive view by considering the combined effects of multiple genetic variants. Without this level of analysis, the recommendations may oversimplify the genetic contribution to hair loss.
As a result, the recommendations may lack the depth and personalization needed for a truly holistic approach to treating hair loss.
Roots by Genetic Arts Privacy & Security
Roots by Genetic Arts does not provide detailed information about its privacy or data security practices on its website. There’s also no mention of compliance with common data protection standards like HIPAA or GDPR.
This lack of transparency may raise concerns for users who are submitting sensitive health data. Given the highly personal nature of genetic information, companies offering DNA testing services should clearly outline their data handling, storage, consent, and deletion policies, and Genetic Arts falls short in this regard.
If privacy is a top concern, customers may want to explore alternative services that offer clearer commitments to protecting user data and maintaining confidentiality.
Roots by Genetic Arts Reviews
Customer reviews for Roots by Genetic Arts are mixed on Google, Trustpilot, and Reddit, with a noticeable divide between glowing testimonials and more skeptical (and often frustrated) customer experiences.
Positive reviews tend to center around the convenience of the DNA testing process and the idea of personalized treatments. A few customers also mentioned that the topical formulas were pleasant to use and that customer support responded quickly to delivery issues.
However, negative reviews are more critical and revealing. Several customers described the service as misleading or overly reliant on marketing. Some noted that their “custom” formulas were nearly identical to others, raising doubts about how personalized the products really are. Others reported that ingredients shown as “not recommended” in their DNA reports still appeared in the prescribed formulas.
Frustrations with customer service, lack of transparency, and delays in shipping were common themes. One user even had to threaten a chargeback to receive a refund. Others questioned the scientific validity of the report, saying it lacked depth and didn’t seem to influence the treatment in a meaningful way. Some Redditors went further, warning that this kind of testing is often used more to upsell products than to provide true clinical insight.
While a handful of users say they experienced positive results, the overall impression suggests that Roots by Genetic Arts may overpromise on personalization and underdeliver on scientific rigor.
Alternatives to Roots by Genetic Arts
If you’re looking for more than just a product-based solution, SelfDecode stands out as a more robust and scientifically validated alternative to Roots by Genetic Arts.
While Roots offers a DNA test and topical hair treatment based on a limited number of SNPs, SelfDecode takes a more holistic and advanced approach to personalized health, including hair loss. Here’s how they compare:
While Roots centers its offering around a topical formula, SelfDecode provides actionable, evidence-based insights to help you understand why you may be experiencing hair loss, looking at hormones, inflammation, nutrient deficiencies, and more.
If you want more than just a cream and prefer a personalized strategy based on real science, SelfDecode is the clear alternative.
You can view a sample report from SelfDecode and a sample report from Roots by Genetic Arts to evaluate the difference in depth, clarity, and scientific support.
Roots by Genetic Arts Review Summary
Roots by Genetic Arts offers a DNA test that claims to identify the genetic causes of hair loss and provide custom topical treatments and supplements. While the idea of using genetic data to personalize hair care is appealing, the company’s approach has clear limitations.
The report is static, analyzes a small set of SNPs, and lacks the depth of polygenic risk scoring. It does not account for lifestyle, hormones, or lab data, which are critical factors in understanding complex issues like hair loss.
The platform is product-driven, with treatment suggestions closely tied to Roots’ own offerings, raising questions about the objectivity of the recommendations. Privacy policies are vague, with no clear commitments to HIPAA or GDPR compliance, and raw data access is unavailable.
Customer feedback is mixed. Some users praise the packaging and ease of use, but others report vague reports, delays, and inconsistent service. The scientific transparency and personalization also fall short of expectations for a precision health platform.
For those seeking a more comprehensive and data-driven approach, SelfDecode stands out. With over 1,250 reports, ancestry-adjusted polygenic risk scores, and recommendations based on DNA, labs, and lifestyle data, SelfDecode delivers a deeper, more holistic view of your health, including hair loss.
Ultimately, while Roots may be a fit for users looking for a simple, product-oriented solution, those wanting robust, scientifically grounded insights may find better value in alternatives like SelfDecode.
