From Root to Tip: Top 5 Collagen Benefits for Your Hair

Collagen has become a buzzword in the beauty and wellness industry, and for good reason! As the most abundant protein in our bodies, collagen plays a very crucial role in maintaining the structure and health of our skin, bones, and hair. Our modern lifestyles, characterized by stress, hectic schedules, poor eating habits, and pollution, can take a toll on our hair health. Additionally, constant treatments and styling can leave hair dull and lifeless.

If you're seeking a natural and effective way to enhance your hair's vitality, understanding the benefits of collagen for hair can be transformative. Collagen is essential for maintaining the strength and elasticity of hair strands. It provides the necessary amino acids to produce keratin, the protein that makes up the majority of your hair. This helps in reducing hair breakage and promoting thicker, stronger hair.

Let’s take an in depth look into five evidence-based collagen benefits for hair and how collagen for hair growth actually works and how it can lead to noticeable improvements in hair health, making your locks more resilient, vibrant, and full of life.

5 Evidence-Based Ways That Collagen May Improve Your Hair and Collagen Benefits for Hair

1. Strengthens Hair Structure

Think of your hair like a house or a building, like a house needs strong bricks for a strong foundation. Your hair needs strong building blocks to stay healthy and resilient. These building blocks are proteins, and one of the most important proteins for your hair is keratin (makes up about 95% of our hair). Now, collagen is rich in amino acids, particularly proline, which is a major component of keratin.  By consuming collagen, you provide your body with the building blocks it needs to produce more keratin, which can lead to stronger, healthier hair. When you eat foods rich in collagen or take collagen supplements, your body breaks down the collagen into these amino acids so your body can make plenty of keratin, which helps your hair stay strong. Incorporating collagen for hair in your diet can make your hair less prone to breakage and split ends.

2. Promotes Hair Growth

One of the most interesting aspects of collagen benefits for hair is its potential to promote hair growth. Hair follicles are embedded within the dermal layer of the skin, which provides the necessary structural support for hair growth. The presence of enough collagen ensures that the dermis remains healthy and capable of supporting the hair follicles, facilitating optimal conditions for hair growth. As we age, collagen production decreases, leading to weaker dermal layers and, subsequently, hair thinning. By supplementing with collagen, you can strengthen these dermal layers, providing a healthier environment for hair follicles and potentially boosting hair growth. This is a key reason why many turn to collagen for hair growth.

3. Protects Hair Follicles

Another one of the collagen benefits for hair is how it protects hair follicles. Oxidative stress, caused by the accumulation of free radicals, can damage hair follicles and impair hair growth. Collagen has powerful antioxidant properties that help neutralise these free radicals, protecting your hair follicles from damage. Additionally, collagen supplementation can boost the levels of other antioxidant enzymes in the body, further enhancing the protective effect against oxidative stress. By reducing oxidative stress, collagen benefits for hair include maintaining the integrity of your hair follicles, which is essential for healthy hair growth and preventing hair loss.

4. Improves Hair Elasticity and Thickness

Collagen can improve the overall elasticity and thickness of your hair. Collagen fibres are a major component of the extracellular matrix (ECM) in the dermis (the layer of the scalp) which helps maintain skin elasticity and hydration. A healthy, hydrated scalp provides a stronger foundation for hair growth which indirectly benefits hair health. Healthy, hydrated scalp provides a better foundation for hair growth, leading to thicker, more resilient hair. Using collagen for hair can lead to noticeable improvements in bounce, health, and thickness, making hair less prone to breakage.

5. Slows Hair Greying

Hair greying is a natural part of ageing, but oxidative stress can accelerate this process. 

Hair follicles, especially melanocytes (the cells responsible for melanin production), are particularly susceptible to oxidative stress. By protecting the cells responsible for hair colour, collagen benefits for hair extend to potentially preserving your natural hair colour for a longer period. Collagen improves the elasticity and density of blood vessels in the dermis, enhancing blood flow which ensures melanocytes receive the necessary nutrients and oxygen to function optimally, thereby supporting continued melanin production and delaying hair greying.

While collagen  won't stop greying entirely, collagen for hair can help you maintain your youthful appearance a bit longer.

How to Incorporate Collagen for Hair Growth Into Your Routine

Adding collagen for hair growth to your daily routine is easier than you might think. You can find collagen supplements for hair in various forms, including capsules, collagen powder and even through collagen rich foods, including them in your diet directly or as a part of the ingredients in certain foods and beverages. To maximise collagen benefits for hair, consider incorporating a high-quality collagen supplement into your diet. Additionally, consuming foods rich in vitamin C, such as citrus fruits and leafy greens, including fish in your diet if you eat fish is also a great way to enhance your body’s natural collagen production.

Collagen is a vital protein for ensuring healthy bones and joints, skin, nails and obviously hair. Collagen benefits for hair are many from strengthening hair structure to promoting hair growth and protecting hair follicles. By understanding and leveraging these collagen benefits for hair, you can achieve healthier, more resilient hair. So, if you're looking to give your hair a boost, incorporating collagen for hair into your wellness routine is a great place to start.

But remember the research on the effects of collagen on human hair is still limited, and like with any supplementation it is best to consult your healthcare advisor to make an informed decision.

Here's to stronger, shinier, and more vibrant hair!