What Does Collagen Do
Collagen Provides Amino Acids That Help Build New Hair Follicles & Repair Damaged Ones
Each hair follicle consists of three layers: the cuticle, the cortex, and the medulla. The cuticle is the outermost layer of your hair and is made up of hundreds of flattened, overlapping cells that form a protective layer around the other cell layers . Keratin is a structural protein found throughout every layer of our hair follicles. Keratins primary function is to not only smooth the overlapping cell layers of the cuticle to give your hair a smooth and glossy look, but to also produce new hair follicles that form at the root of the existing follicle.
You see, your body uses several amino acids to create keratin. Some of these amino acids, like proline and glycine, for example, are also found in collagen. Although glycine and proline are considered conditionally non-essential amino acids, consuming proline-, glycine-, and hydroxyproline-rich collagen should provide your body with the building blocks needed to create new hair follicles.
How Does Collagen Help Hair
Collagen contains numerous properties that can help improve the overall health of your hair. Consistent use can even reveal longer, stronger, glossier, thicker, and more luscious hair! Collagen provides a combination of amino acids and proteins that can boost keratin production, provide antioxidants that fight free-radical damage, and increase blood circulation to not only create new hair follicles, but repair and strengthen damaged or thinning hair. But, no matter what benefits youre hoping to achieve by taking collagen for hair, its important that youre using the right type of collagen in order to get the job done.
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Collagen Contains Amino Acids
You may be wondering, “how can amino acids help my hair grow?”
Our hair is primarily comprised of a protein called keratin, which is built using several amino acids. Some of the amino acids essential for keratin growth are found in collagen.
Collagen contains 3 nonessential amino acids: proline, glycine, and hydroxyproline. Although the word nonessential can make us believe we dont need those amino acids, what it actually means is that our body can produce them naturally.
Essential amino acids, on the other hand, can only come from the food we eat.
While we may be able to produce these nonessential amino acids, it doesnt mean that we are producing enough to build proteins like keratin that promote healthy hair.
As with other proteins we consume, when we ingest collagen, our body breaks down the protein into amino acids. We can then use these amino acids to build new proteins, compounds, and tissues.
So, when taking some collagen supplements, our body is converting them directly into amino acids that we need. The added boost of proline from collagen supplements essentially provides the necessary tools for our body to construct keratin and build up healthier hair.
May Help Maintain A Healthy Scalp
Just like the presence of collagen improves the health of our complexions, this protein is beneficial for the scalp, too: “Collagen supports the scalp’s thickness,”* Maiman says. “A thin scalp with insufficient collagen is less robust and less capable of holding the hair follicle bulbs in place.”*
She continues that this suboptimal structural support may contribute to hair loss. And since a healthy scalp is the foundation for healthy hair and hair growth, we consider collagen a major factor when it comes to scalp health.*
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What Does The Research Say
No direct, randomized clinical trials have shown sound evidence that collagen helps with hair loss. Most studies have been undertaken by companies that sell collagen supplements themselves. Therefore, most studies on collagen for hair loss have shown weak data or strong bias.
There are theories and hypotheses, however. For example, evidence has shown that hair loss is attributed to damage from free radicals. Free radicals from the environment can damage the proteins and lipids that make up hair cells. It is suggested that collagen supplementation can help replenish damaged hair follicles, although its not certain if collagen can directly protect against free radical activity.
One randomized, controlled clinical trial assessed the effects of collagen peptides on the skin. According to the study, collagen supplementation may help improve skin hydration, elasticity, and overall appearance. Some experts believe that improved skin hydration and elasticity may have a role in maintaining the appearance and structure of hair follicles. However, more research is needed on this matter.
More recently, a stronger study in the form of a literature review was conducted. It found that collagen supplementation may have promising effects for wound healing and skin aging. While the study concluded that more research is needed, it did support the use of oral collagen supplements for maintaining skin health. Still, no mention of hair loss was included in this study.
Theory: Collagen Peptides Prevent Hair Thinning
As we age, our bodies produce less collagen, our dermis becomes weaker and its suggested that because of this or, at least partly because of this our hair follicles miniaturize, which eventually leads to hair loss.
But because collagen supplementation has been shown to improve skin elasticity and hydration, some believe that it may help prevent hair thinning as we age.
However, its worth noting that this is one of the many areas involving collagen and hair health that still requires more research.
Hair loss treatments, delivered
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Collagen Reduces Hair Greying
Hair gets its natural color from melanin, a pigment, that is produced by the melanin-producing cells. As we age, the melanin producing cells begin to die, thus turning the hair grey.
Although greying of hair is largely controlled by genes, free radicals that accumulate from stress, poor diet, and chemical buildups from hair color and shampoos can further cause hair greying. Collagen is known to have antioxidant properties that negates the hair greying from these free radicals.
Can It Protect Aging Hair
Collagen products often promise to support collagen levels as they decrease with age. Even though collagen isnt a direct component of hair, it is in the hair roots, which may cause the hair to thin as we age. In theory, collagen products could recharge the cells in the dermis to support the roots, which may result in less thinning hair. But again, this is a theorynot exactly reality.
Collagen is a large molecule, and although you might try to apply it to the skin, theres no evidence it would be able to be absorbed through the skin or hair, says Houston-based dermatologist Rajani Katta, MD, who also serves as volunteer clinical faculty at Baylor College of Medicine and McGovern Medical School at UT Health.
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How To Choose The Best Collagen For Hair Growth
For the best hair-thickening results with collagen, not only is it essential to choose type 1 collagen, but its also key to choose a product with the highest standards for sourcing. This helps to ensure the fewest amount of toxins, heavy metals, and other harmful compounds .
The best marine collagen is sustainably sourced from wild-caught fish and the best bovine collagen comes from grass-fed cows.
Were proud to say that Natural Forces collagen is the best of the best. Our is sourced from wild-caught and highly-sustainable codfish and our Bovine Collagen comes from grass-fed cows. To produce our collagen supplements, we use fish skin and scales or cowhides that would otherwise be thrown away and hydrolyze them into an easily-digestible, completely tasteless and odorless powder that will mix easily into your favorite drink or recipe.
In addition to our top-notch sourcing, we back up our products with third-party testing results that we openly share so you can feel confident in that youre getting the highest quality product, absent of toxins and unnecessary fillers, synthetic colors, or heavy metals like mercury.
What Does Collagen Do For Hair
Collagen is known to be extremely beneficial for improving the appearance, texture, and overall health of your hair. Numerous collagen supplements, like SkinnyFit Super Youth, aim to strengthen and nourish hair, maximize hair growth, and even prevent hair lossall of which sound incredible! But, what does collagen do for hair on a more scientific level? How is it that collagen can achieve such amazing results? Lets take a closer look at the evidence to better understand how taking collagen for hair might just be the life-changing solution to all our hair needs
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How To Choose A Collagen Supplement
There are multiple collagen supplements, and it’s essential to choose the right kind of supplement to match your health goals. The main differences in collagen supplements are the source of collagen- marine or bovine, powder or capsules, flavored on unflavored and the ingredients added to collagen.
What is your goal in taking the collagen peptides?
If you would like to improve the health and quality of your hair, skin, and nails, you will need to look for collagen type I. This collagen type is more prevalent in marine collagen than in bovine collagen. If your main goal is improving your gut health, look for bovine collagen.
What is the best source of collagen peptides?
Collagen powder vs. collagen capsules – what is better?
Due to their size, Collagen capsules contain a tiny amount of collagen. To take n adequate amount for collagen, look for collagen peptides powder. The powder contains much more collagen than capsules and is easier to consume in hot and cold drinks.
Flavored or unflavored collagen – what is better?
Look for unfavored collagen powder. These products do not contain sugar and can easily dissolve in every liquid you drink.
What are the best ingredients added to the collagen peptides?
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Best Collagen For Hair
The best collagen for hair are Types I, III, and V. There are at least 16 different types of collagen, each serving a unique function in the human body. In order to experience the collagen benefits for hair, your collagen supplement must contain Type I, III, or V collagen, but preferably all three. About 80-90% of the collagen in our bodies consists of Types I and III, but Type V is essential for their formation and for them to be effectiveso you need all three!
Type I and III collagen are present in scar tissue, tendons, ligaments, muscle, skin, teeth, bone, and joints, and Type V supports optimal tissue quality in hair, skin, nails, and vital organs.
The Best Collagen For Hair Loss Prevention
While the type of collagen is an important factor in how well your collagen supplement will prevent hair loss, how well our bodies can absorb may play an even more significant role.
Even if we take a collagen supplement, if our body cannot absorb or break down the amino acids or antioxidants, it wont do any good.
Youll still be scratching your head and asking yourself, does collagen really help hair loss?
To really see results and prevent hair loss, the best kind of collagen is hydrolyzed collagen. And, even better, nano hydrolyzed collagen, such as our ProT Gold.
The reason nano hydrolyzed collagen is so effective is because of the size of the molecules. During the hydrolysis of collagen, the molecules are broken down into smaller and smaller pieces that are easier for us to digest. This makes the collagen supplement more bioavailable for our bodies and helps us get the most out of the benefits.
If you are struggling with or trying to prevent, thinning hair, see if collagen for hair loss could be the answer to your problems.
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Benefits Of Collagen For Hair And Skin
Collagen youve heard it advertised in every skin product commercial! This essential protein is necessary to reduce the signs of aging, such as fine lines and wrinkles, saggy skin, and uneven skin tone. Here are just a few of the benefits you can receive from collagen:
Diminish wrinkles and fine lines
Exposure to the sun, pollution, poor health choices, and aging can all cause collagen levels to decrease in the skin. When collagen levels decrease, fine lines and wrinkles start making an appearance around your mouth and eyes. Collagen products and supplements can help prevent these signs of aging and keep your skin supple and smooth for longer.
Improve skin tone
The amino acids found in collagen help keep your skin looking smooth, even, and healthy. To improve an uneven complexion, collagen is the answer.
Minimize scars
Collagens amino acids can also help minimize the appearance of dark spots and scars from acne or other skin issues. Collagen supplements have been found to promote healthy tissue formation, which speeds up the healing process so your skin can naturally repair itself.
Moisturize
The loss of collagen due to aging or environmental factors can leave your skin feeling dry and flaky. By adding collagen back into your skin, you can give your skin the hydration it needs to maintain a smooth, soft, radiant appearance.
Firm and tone skin
The benefits of collagen dont stop with the skin adding collagen to your hair care routine can be extremely beneficial as well!