Collagen for hair: does collagen help with hair growth?

• Collagen promotes hair growth: Collagen starts at the base, namely in your skin. There, it stimulates the formation of new, healthy hair follicles, improves blood circulation and supplies hair roots with important nutrients. And that's exactly what you need to get your hair growing and sprouting again.
• Collagen improves hair structure: Another protein that helps repair damaged hair and make it more resilient and stronger is keratin. Collagen provides your body with important building blocks for this, namely amino acids.
• Collagen reduces hair loss: Strong hair and improved scalp health – these are the best conditions for counteracting hair loss. If you rely on collagen, you can also reduce hair loss and promote the regeneration of your hair follicles.
• Collagen prevents grey hair: Collagen fights free radicals, which not only makes your hair more resistant, but can also slow down the breakdown of melanin as you age.

Sounds interesting, right? But there's one thing you should know: not all collagen is the same – your body has a total of 28 different types! But don't worry, you don't need to know them all. The most important ones are collagen types 1, 2 and 3. And if you want to support your hair in particular, types 1 and 3 are the most relevant for you, as they target areas such as skin and hair, while type 2, for example, also contains substances that support the functionality of your cartilage and joints. However, since type 2 is also collagen, which therefore also provides the necessary amino acids, it would not be a bad choice in the end.

Let's now move on to the optimal diet, because in order to provide your body with an excellent supply of collagen, you need to eat the right foods. Collagen is mainly found in animal products such as:

• Meat
• Fish
• Bone broth
• Gelatin

You can support your body with high-quality dietary supplements. Collagen should be taken over several weeks to months, with the first improvements in hair structure becoming visible after 2–4 weeks.

Choose a product that you can easily integrate into your daily routine, because when it comes to collagen, regularity is the key to success. You can choose between powders and drinks, as well as capsules and tablets. All collagen products are derived from animal sources. The reason: plants simply do not produce collagen, as they strengthen their structure in a different way. Vegan collagen alternatives are now also available. However, as collagen can only be produced by humans and animals, these are not ‘real’ collagen – rather, these supplements provide you with collagen building blocks that your body uses to produce its own collagen.

Collagen is also added to many shampoos and other hair care products. So can hair be strengthened in this way? We say: yes and no. To date, there is no scientific evidence that collagen can stimulate hair growth when applied externally. However, your hair may benefit from its moisturising properties. Collagen retains moisture for a long time and also acts as a protective barrier. This makes your hair softer, shinier and less prone to frizz. Collagen also has antioxidant properties, which means that oxidative stress doesn't stand a chance

When it comes to collagen, most people think of the skin, because collagen is known to improve skin structure and health. But this protein can do even more. Your hair will also benefit from an extra dose of this active ingredient. Make sure you choose the right type of collagen – types 1 and 3 are ideal. A little patience is also required, as the effects do not happen overnight – but perhaps from this month to the next. Keep at it!