Benefits of Collagen for Hair

1. Provides Amino Acids That Help to Build Hair

One of the benefits of collagen for hair is how it can help build strength. A protein known as keratin is the main substance used to create hair. Several amino acids, which can be found in collagen, are used to build keratin. By consuming collagen and other proteins, you are providing your body with fuel to break down into amino acids, which can be used to create new proteins.

Collagen is mostly made from 3 amino acids: proline, glycine and hydroxyproline. Since proline also is the main component of keratin, when you consume proline-rich collagen, you are providing your body with what it needs to create healthy hair.

2. Helps Prevent Hair Thinning Caused By Aging

According to the Chicago Hair Institute, two-thirds of men will experience hair thinning by age 35, and by age 50, nearly 85 percent of men will experience significant hair thinning. As your body ages, it becomes less efficient at producing collagen. This may be one reason why people’s hair gets thinner as they age. In theory, that’s why adding extra collagen to your body may help to prevent thinning hair.

Because collagen protects the dermis (the layer of skin that contains hair roots), using collagen for hair may contribute to hair growth.

3. May Keep Early Greys Away

How does collagen help hair? One way it may help is to stop early grey hair. Most people don’t really want to go grey gracefully, so they’re looking for options to keep those greys away. Instead of at-home hair dye kits, collagen can help prevent hair from turning grey in the first place. Collagen may act to fight cell damage, and research suggests that free radical damage to the cells that make hair color may be a reason for hair prematurely greying.

4. Helps Fight Damage to Hair Follicles

As mentioned above, collagen can act as an antioxidant and help fight damage caused by free radicals. What are free radicals? They are compounds that develop in your body due to stress, pollution, smoking and other environmental influences. Having too many free radicals in your body can cause harm to your cells, proteins and even hair follicles. One of the benefits of collagen for hair is that it may be able to stop hair loss and promote hair growth.

5. Is Easy to Add to Your Routine

Anyone looking to add collagen can do so easily through foods or dietary supplements. Because collagen makes up the connective tissue of mammals, you can find it in the skin, bones and muscles of beef, fish, pork and chicken. Any broth made from animal bones will contain collagen and gelatin, which is just a cooked form of collagen. Also, there’s evidence that adding foods high in Vitamin C to your diet can boost your own body’s natural collagen production.

Those looking for an extra boost can also take collagen through supplemental pills or powder. Collagen supplements are usually hydrolyzed, meaning they’ve already been broken down and are easier to absorb. Collagen powder is both flavorless and odorless and can easily be added to smoothies, coffee and other types of drinks. Flavored varieties are also available.