Collagen degradation is an inevitable part of aging, and our bodies' ability to produce collagen also declines with aging. Thinning, wrinkling, dehydration, and other dermatological conditions make skin more fragile and dull. Additionally, our hair and nails are susceptible to the lack of collagen.
Collagen for hair growth is also readily apparent. Because it promotes healthy hair growth and strengthens hair follicles, collagen is an effective anti-hair-loss agent. Hair becomes more brittle, lifeless, and prone to falling out in those with collagen insufficiency. Collagen is also present in our nails. Strong and pliable nails are a result of enough collagen storage. Collagen shortage manifests as brittle nails, peeling, and sometimes even white patches.
In the following sections, we will explore critical attributes to consider when selecting the right collagen supplement for your hair health. By identifying high-quality products and understanding their ingredients, you can make informed decisions that potentially lead to thicker, healthier hair.
Why Collagen is Important for Hair Growth?
Collagen is important for hair growth because it provides structural support to hair follicles, promotes strength, enhances circulation, and helps maintain moisture, all of which contribute to healthier, thicker hair. The studies on collagen supplements conducted after 2021 and the thorough examination of their results have provided us with a wealth of credible information about collagen for hair. Research has shown that taking collagen orally raises blood collagen levels.
The hair and skin of Mozambique Tilapia (a species of mice) are significantly affected by collagen hydrolysate, according to Marine Drugs [1]. The research revealed that;
- CH (Collagen Hydrolysate) increases the activity of catalase, an antioxidant enzyme that protects cells from oxidative stress.
- CH increases the levels of IGF-1 and VEGF, which are hair growth factors that stimulate hair follicle growth and blood flow.
- CH was observed to reduce TGF-β1, a hair growth inhibitor, and the inflammatory factors TNF-α and IL-1β.
CH(Collagen Hydrolysate) improved hair growth by increasing hair length, diameter, weight, and density compared to the control group. As observed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), CH also increased hair shine.
5 Key Factors to Consider When Choosing Collagen for Hair Growth
Collagen is instrumental in the production of keratin, a protein that is crucial for the health of our hair, by maintaining the proper balance of minerals and moisture in the body. The process by which our bodies transform collagen into keratin begins with the hydrolysis of big collagen petis into amino acids, which in turn serve to stabilize keratin.
Numerous studies have shown that oral collagen can stimulate the skin to produce more hyaluronic acid, which helps stabilize keratin, a protein essential for hair growth. When shopping for a collagen supplement, whether for your hair, nails, or the entire body, there are a few key considerations to determine what is the best supplement for hair after chemo collagen.
1. Source of Collagen (Marine vs. Bovine)
If you have thinning hair, nails, or skin, it's recommended that you use products formulated with Type-1 and Type-3 collagen to replenish the resources lost in these areas. Another benefit is that the intestines easily absorb these collagens, which are primarily sourced from seafood.
Collagen peptides (CP), particularly those derived from marine vs bovine collagen sources, were found to influence the health of hair follicles, according to the Journal of Functional Foods[2]. It was also discovered in the study that;
- Collagen Peptides (CPs) and the Hair Follicle: CPs stimulate hair development, particularly through their effects on the cells and tissues surrounding the hair follicle.
- Growth Factors: CPs derived from marine sources have the potential to raise plasma levels of growth factors like IGF-1, which are known to boost hair growth.
- Antioxidant Properties: Particularly CPs obtained from marine sources exhibit high antioxidant capabilities. This prevents oxidative stress on the hair follicles.
- Hair Follicle Stem Cells: Chondrocyte Proliferators (CPs): CPs promote hair development by preserving the health of HFSCs. Evidence suggests that K15+, in particular, can aid in protecting hair follicle stem cells.
2. Hydrolyzed Collagen for Better Absorption
Collagen supplements are a great way to get the protein your body needs, particularly glycine. Nevertheless, collagen molecules have a molecular weight greater than 3,500 daltons. That is to say, lowering the molecular weight of collagen will help our bodies absorb it more easily. The most absorbable form of collagen is hydrolyzed collagen. In this regard, hydrolyzed collagen supplements offer the quickest benefit of collagen supplements.
Hydrolyzed collagen for hair is processed with hydrochloric acid at a certain temperature and pressure. The acid breaks the collagen molecules into smaller pieces. Following this, specific enzymes are incorporated. These enzymes target collagen molecules and break them down more specifically.
Hydrolyzed collagens have no flavor or smell and dissolve in water. They are also highly adaptable to everyday life and easy to consume.
19 different studies on 1125 participants aged 20-70 years concluded that the skin of people who took hydrolyzed collagen supplements for 90 days showed effects such as increased moisture, increased elasticity, and wrinkle reduction compared to the placebo group, according to Roseane B de Miranda[3].
3. Added Ingredients for Enhanced Hair Health
Collagen supplements for nails and hair typically include collagen and other vitamins that promote hair growth, such as biotin, hyaluronic acid, and vitamin C. In addition to hydrating, shining, and revitalizing hair, these supplements accelerate the absorption of collagen.
But which vitamin do you actually need? That is the biggest deal. Those who do not suffer from biotin deficit would not see any noticeable improvements from taking biotin and collagen supplements, according to Skin Appendage Disord [4]. However, the study highlighted that those whose hair or nails are brittle because of biotin insufficiency will benefit greatly from biotin supplements.
Similarly, people who have a vitamin C shortage can benefit greatly from the vitamin C found in collagen supplements. For the simple reason that collagen absorption relies heavily on vitamin C. That is to say, no amount of collagen supplements can help if your vitamin C supplies are inadequate.
Although it does not directly impact hair, the gelatinous substance known as natural hyaluronic acid is found in our bodies. It is most densely packed in the skin, eyelids, and joint cartilage. This slows collagen deterioration and helps maintain an appropriate skin moisture balance.
4. Purity and Quality Standards
When you take a collagen supplement, you hope it won't do more harm than good. Animal tissues, such as the skin, joints, and bones, often contain supplemental ingredients like antibiotics and genetically modified organisms. To find grass-fed collagen sources, you should purchase collagen from reliable companies.
Despite warnings about heavy elements like mercury in seafood, marine collagen is a safer option. This is because animals do not produce collagen in their abdominal regions, where fatty tissues tend to collect, which could be a result of heavy metals in marine collagen. The hydrolysis of collagen by heat methods also allows for the separation of any residual heavy metals.
Yet, there are techniques to convert collagen into pure collagen, free of any harmful additives.
- Separation of Pigments: Removal of coloring pigments in collagen tissue using a substance such as hydrogen peroxide. This results in a purer collagen.
- Elimination of Non-Collagen Proteins: Proteins other than collagen are removed with an alkaline solution, such as sodium hydroxide. This step increases the purity of the collagen.
- Atelocollagen Preparation: Using the enzyme pepsin to remove parts of the collagen molecule and obtain a purer form of collagen.
- Hydrolysis: The breakdown of collagen molecules into smaller pieces using an alkaline hydrolysis agent. In this way, it becomes more easily absorbed by the body.
The collagen's unique amino acids, like hydroxyproline and glycine, were present in much higher concentrations, and the resulting product was quite pure, according to BioMed Research International[5]. The findings from Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) further demonstrate that the collagen's inherent structure is unaffected by the purifying procedures.
5. Flavor and Ease of Use
While some collagen supplements eradicate odor by neutralizing the collagen source material, others manufacture collagen without doing so. And when it comes to collagen's effects, the science is that scented collagen has superior effects. On the other hand, if we look at the most popular collagen capsule supplements on the market, we can see that there are many more odorless options.
However, odorless collagen is simple to include in regular life as a supplement if combined with beverages like water, juice, or coffee. Adding a teaspoon of your odorless collagen liquid to your morning coffee will be considerably easier than incorporating smelling collagen into your daily routine. Furthermore, Turkish scientists recommend the use of unscented collagen, as it is more easily assimilated into daily life, according to the Journal of Pharmaceutical Technology [6].
How to Use Collagen for Maximum Hair Growth Results?
Taking the correct collagen supplement with the correct ingredients is essential if you wish to reap the benefits of collagen for your hair. In this case, taking collagen supplements on a daily basis is essential. Maintaining healthy hair requires more than just taking collagen supplements; you also need to drink enough water every day. On the other hand, staying hydrated will enhance collagen's effects.
Before beginning a collagen supplement program for your hair, it is helpful to determine your biotin and vitamin C levels. To get the most out of collagen supplements, it's best to address any inadequacies in these areas first.
Potential Side Effects of Collagen Supplements
Adults in good health can take collagen supplements without experiencing any serious side effects of collagen. Collagen supplements can be helpful for some people, but those with health conditions or dietary allergies should exercise caution. There are other collagen sources to try if you have an allergy to bovine or fish collagen. However, there may be a connection between some allergies as well. Allergens to eggs, for instance, could be present in marine collagen. For this reason, those who are egg-allergic should begin with a little bit of marine collagen.
As a rule of thumb, it's best to gradually increase your collagen consumption. This is because there are measures you can take to lessen the likelihood of collagen supplements' side effects.
Best Time to Take Collagen for Hair Growth
Collagen is most effective when taken first thing in the morning, just before breakfast, or right before bedtime, when hunger strikes. Because the stomach is empty first thing in the morning, the intestines absorb collagen much higher when taken. For better sleep, particularly for those who suffer from sleep disorders, taking collagen supplements before bed is the best time to take collagen.
Conclusion
Unlike with other collagen requirements, the advantages of taking a collagen supplement for your hair and nails are more of an indirect benefit. Collagen helps the body maintain an ideal moisture balance and increases enzymes that are necessary for hair and nail production. Supplementing with collagen also increases the enzymes that block the bleaching of hair. Enzymes like these stop the body's natural bleaching process by neutralizing hydrogen peroxide minerals.
Therefore, evaluating your body's moisture and fluid balance is crucial before using collagen supplements for your hair and nails. Then, you'll notice a significant improvement in the efficacy of the collagen supplements you're going to use. With the Collavita line of collagen peptides, we can offer you reliable collagen peptides for your specific requirements.
SOURCES
- Hwang, S.B.; Park, H.J.; Lee, B.-H. Collagen Hydrolysate from the Scales of Mozambique Tilapia (Oreochromis mossambicus) Improve Hair and Skin Health by Alleviating Oxidative Stress and Inflammation and Promoting Hair Growth and Extracellular Matrix Factors. Mar. Drugs 2023, 21, 475.
- Karin I. Pappelbaum a, Nicolina Virgilio b, Lisa Epping a, Bastiaan van der Steen b, Francisco Jimenez c d, Wolfgang Funk e, Janne Prawitt b, Marta Bertolini Revealing novel insights on how oral supplementation with collagen peptides may prevent hair loss: Lessons from the human hair follicle organ culture.
- de Miranda RB, Weimer P, Rossi RC. Effects of hydrolyzed collagen supplementation on skin aging: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Int J Dermatol. 2021 Dec;60(12):1449-1461. doi: 10.1111/ijd.15518. Epub 2021 Mar 20. PMID: 33742704.
- Patel DP, Swink SM, Castelo-Soccio L. A Review of the Use of Biotin for Hair Loss. Skin Appendage Disord. 2017 Aug;3(3):166-169. doi: 10.1159/000462981. Epub 2017 Apr 27. PMID: 28879195; PMCID: PMC5582478.
- Lee EH, Chun SY, Lee JN, Yoon BH, Chung JW, Han MH, Kwon TG, Ha YS, Kim BS. Optimized Collagen Extraction Process to Obtain High Purity and Large Quantity of Collagen from Human Perirenal Adipose Tissue. Biomed Res Int. 2022 Mar 31;2022:3628543. doi: 10.1155/2022/3628543. PMID: 35402618; PMCID: PMC8989554.
- Fargana Musayeva1* , Saniye Özcan2 , Mustafa Sinan Kaynak3- A review on collagen as a food supplement.
