Top 5 Benefits of Collagen for Hair [With Best Foods]

Collagen is the most prevalent protein present within the human body and works as a building component for many elements of the human body, including skin and hair. However, as you age, your body’s collagen production rate decreases, resulting in aging indicators including wrinkles, sagging skin, and hair loss.

If you are wondering what collagen can do for your hair? Collagen supplements have been proven to repair damaged hair and restore hair loss by boosting hair growth, which leads to longer and thicker hair. By enhancing the quality of life of the hair follicle, collagen may also contribute to reducing the occurrence of grey hair.

What exactly is collagen?

Collagen is present within the human body in excessive amounts. Collagen can be located all over your body. However, the majority of it is found in your skin, bones, tendons, and cartilage [1].

Similar to biotin, collagen plays an important part in the functioning of your body by providing structural support. Because the rate of collagen production rate declines with age, collagen supplements are frequently recommended to fight against aging.

Benefits of collagen for hair

Collagen is essential to the healthy function of the scalp and hair follicles. Collagen supplements, according to some individuals, can promote hair growth, prevent hair loss, and reduce graying. The most significant benefits of utilizing collagen supplements for hair are listed below.

Hair volume is increased by collagen

According to one study, the level of a certain kind of collagen around the hair follicles declines with age, resulting in hair loss. Furthermore, amino acids preserve hair by protecting it from the destructive effects of free radicals. Thus, collagen’s antioxidant qualities help increase hair volume by strengthening hair follicles [2].

Collagen adds shine to your hair

Your hair might become brittle and dull as you grow older. This is due to the presence of sebaceous glands beneath the hair follicles, which produce oil to keep the hair moist. The overall efficiency of this process, which produces lustrous and glossy hair, highly depends on collagen.

Hair becomes healthy by collagen

Your scalp and hair follicles are connected by collagen, which helps in maintaining healthy and strong hair. When collagen formation declines with age, your hair follicles become brittle and the scalp becomes dry, leading to hair loss.

Collagen reduces hair greying

Melanin, a pigment, gives hair its natural color. Grey hair is a result of the premature death of various melanin cells found in the hair as we get older. Although genetics play a big role in hair graying, free radicals accumulated from stress, poor diet, and chemical build-up from hair color and shampoos can also contribute to hair greying [4]. Collagen has antioxidant qualities that prevent hair greying caused by free radicals.

Helps in the treatment of split or broken ends

Dry and brittle hair can be treated quite well through collagen supplements. In addition to repairing broken ends, collagen supplements and topical solutions can help you stay adequately hydrated.

Best collagen foods

The collagen diet is an eating plan that avoids excessive sugar and processed carbohydrates in favor of foods that are high in collagen, which helps to preserve youthfulness, stamina, and beauty. A collagen-rich diet is thought to promote skin elasticity, anti-aging secrets and properties, and relieve joint discomfort in people.

Dietary sources of collagen include the following:

Bone Broth,

Salmon, chicken, and egg whites

Below dietary sources have vitamins and minerals which help in Collagen formation.

Berries and citrus fruits, which contains vitamins that

Red and yellow vegetables
Garlic, tomatoes, bell peppers, leafy greens, beans, and avocados
Cashews

Soy
Herbs such as gotukola, bala, and ashwagandha benefits and help with collagen formation.

How long does it take for collagen to work for hair growth?

Collagen turnover is a time-consuming process. Any substantial changes in your hair health regimen, including collagen supplements, should be monitored for at least 3–8 months to account for the natural timing of the hair growth cycle. As a result, you should be patient enough to wait for results.

Additional benefits of collagen for the skin

Every advertisement for a skincare product features collagen. It is a crucial protein required to lessen aging symptoms like fine lines, wrinkles, and sagging skin. Following are the few advantages of collagen:

Reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles

Collagen levels in the skin might drop as a result of sun exposure, pollution, unhealthy lifestyle choices, and the aging process itself. Fine lines and wrinkles begin to appear when collagen levels drop. These aging symptoms can be avoided with collagen supplements, which will also keep your skin elastic and smooth.

Enhance skin tone

Collagen contains amino acids that keep your skin appearing elastic, even, and robust. It’s strongly advised to use collagen supplements to smooth out uneven complexed skin.

Reduce deep scars and marks

Additionally, collagen can help to decrease the visibility of acne scars and dark spots. Collagen supplements enhance the healing process, allowing your skin to recover and heal naturally.

Moisturization

Your skin may feel dry and flaky as a result of environmental conditions or aging-related collagen loss. You can hydrate your skin and keep it a smooth and radiant appearance by introducing collagen to it.

Side effects of collagen for hair

Collagen supplements are generally well tolerated by individuals, but still few side effects have been observed.

Allergic reactions

Some products contain common dietary allergic food items such as fish, shellfish, and eggs [5]. People who have food allergies must stay away from collagen supplements that contain these ingredients.

Nausea, bloating, and digestive problems

Some people have suffered from nausea and bloating when using collagen supplements. Collagen supplements might induce digestive adverse effects, including heartburn and diarrhea [6].

Scleroderma: autoimmune disease

Scleroderma is a disorder caused by having too much collagen in the skin. Scleroderma is an autoimmune illness in which the body begins to damage the good tissues [7]. This encourages the overproduction of collagen in the skin, which can result in a number of skin-related problems.

You may feel constipated

It’s possible for collagen supplements to block you up. Constipation can result from consuming protein excessively without enough fiber and liquids. Therefore, after eating collagen, you can get constipation.

How to use collagen for hair

The best approach to getting the advantages of collagen for hair is to ingest it. This can be achieved through the use of supplements or a healthy and well-balanced diet. Moreover, dermatologists or hair experts indicate that there are certain benefits to applying collagen peptides topically. However, they differ from those obtained by oral absorption.

Take collagen supplements orally

The easiest way to reap the benefits of collagen peptides is to take them orally. Oral supplements may be taken daily, and you should take the supplement for 3-6 months to see whether it is useful, as hair growth can take time. There are several collagen peptide supplements on the market that can be integrated into your daily routine.

Take advantage of collagen-infused products

When used topically, collagen does not have the same efficacy as hyaluronic acid, but it does provide moisture. According to hair specialists, any hair product with collagen peptides will give hydration, skin nourishment, and antioxidant support to fight against free radical damage.

Best collagen for hair growth

Though there are more than 16 forms of collagen, type 1 is optimal for preserving youthful hair, skin, and nails. Look for collagen that is rich in type 1 collagen, which can be found in both marine and bovine collagen.

And neither are Type 1 collagen molecules shorter and more bioavailable, but they are also high in hydroxyproline, an amino acid that’s also necessary for hair health, skin, and nails.

Other types of collagen have additional benefits aside from better hair. Types 2 and 3 are high in glycine and proline, two amino acids that seem to be essential for bone, joint, and organ health. Both bovine and marine collagen, on the other hand, are high in type 1 collagen, making them ideal for transforming your brittle and dull hair into healthy hair follicles.

Biotin vs collagen for hair

Dermatologists frequently recommend biotin and collagen to promote hair health. However, collagen is considered to be healthier for hair growth than both of these supplements.

Biotin, as a vitamin, tends to boost hair health by trying to break down important nutrients in the body. This allows for cell regeneration and development. Collagen, on the other hand, directly encourages hair follicle development with the help of amino acids and proteins.

Collagen also nourishes the scalp and helps antioxidants in their fight against free radicals in the body hair damage. It is an anti-aging protein that can even prevent hair loss due to aging. More collagen in the tissues of your skin replaces cells and keeps the skin tight but elastic, ensuring that your hair follicles form on a healthy scalp.

If you want strong hair, you should ideally take both collagen and biotin. Collagen and biotin naturally interact to give a mix of nutrients that prevent hair loss and provide numerous health advantages.

Is collagen a long-term supplement?

You can continue using collagen supplements forever. Animal connective tissues include a protein called collagen. It is what gives our skin its flexibility and firmness. As we age, our skin begins to lose collagen, which can result in wrinkles, fine lines, and saggy skin.

It’s a good idea to start ingesting collagen supplements in your early 20s to stop further collagen loss as your body starts to lose more collagen in your late 20s.

Substitute for collagen

Although collagen’s amino acid structure differs from that of other proteins, the available alternatives or combinations are constrained. For topical skin and hair maintenance, collagen has been compared to keratin, a fundamental protein that is found in hair, nails, and skin [8].

Symptoms indicating lack of collagen

When you become older, your body makes less collagen. You can’t quantify exactly how much collagen your body drops, but when it decreases, you could experience symptoms like stiff tendons or ligaments or joint pain. Moreover, you may also observe fine lines, wrinkles, dryness, and saggy skin that is papery.

FAQs

How much collagen should I take on every day to promote hair growth?

To get the beneficial properties of collagen protein powder, people should drink 1 to 3 servings per day, or 10 to 30 grams of collagen per day by mixing it into smoothies, shakes, or even coffee or tea.

Does collagen thicken hair?

Collagen is well recognized as an excellent option for hair strengthening. It can both prevent and improve hair loss. The ability of collagen to promote skin suppleness extends to your scalp as well. Damage to your scalp may cause age-related hair thinning and loss. Collagen-rich foods and supplements can help strengthen your scalp, improve follicle health, and encourage hair growth.

Is collagen or biotin more significant for hair growth?

Collagen appears to have a slightly greater influence on hair growth and development than biotin. Biotin, like vitamin supplements, promotes hair growth by trying to break down macronutrients in the body. This allows for cell renewal and development. Collagen, on the other hand, directly promotes hair follicle growth via amino acids and proteins.

Does collagen help hair growth?

Collagen is the most prevalent protein present in the human body. It supports the growth and repair of bone, ligaments, joints, muscles, hair, and skin, especially the outer layer of the scalp.

Collagen is vital for the health and function of something like the scalp and hair follicles. Collagen supplements, according to some individuals, can assist in regenerating hair follicles to regrow hair, thicken hair density, prevent hair loss, and possibly influence hair graying.

Wrapping Up

Collagen is the most vital protein in your hair, since it keeps hair together, gives them volume, and helps them retain natural moisture. The stunning results of collagen hair growth before and after astonish the majority of people.

As you age, you may eventually lose collagen, causing hair loss. Collagen supplements are an efficient way to replenish lost collagen and improve the quality of your hair.