"Creatine makes you bloated"
Creatine draws water into muscle cells, which is intracellular volume, not under-the-skin puffiness. The research does not support meaningful bloat at standard daily servings.
"It causes hair loss"
This traces to one 2009 study that measured a hormone, not hair loss, and has never been replicated. Reviews since have found no evidence creatine causes hair loss.
"You need to cycle off"
There is no evidence-based reason to cycle creatine. Long-term studies ran it daily and continuously, which is exactly how the routine is designed to work.
"Only for bodybuilders"
Creatine is studied across strength athletes, team-sport players, women, and cognitive-performance contexts. If you train, sprint, compete or think for a living, the research applies to you.
"Caffeine cancels it out"
The interference idea comes from one small 1996 study that has not held up. Modern reviews find no meaningful conflict between daily creatine and your usual caffeine routine.
"Will I feel it working right away?"
Creatine isn't a stimulant, so there's no kick to feel. It works by gradually saturating your muscles' creatine stores over the first few weeks of daily use, supporting your training over time rather than any single session.*