Does Collagen Help Hair Growth?

Let’s talk about the beauty industry’s favorite protein: Collagen. As proteins go, this one is big business — and it’s the most abundant protein in your body. Collagen supports your skin’s elasticity and helps it look healthier. It’s also an important component of bones, muscles, tendons, and cartilage.

But what about hair? Does collagen help hair growth? There’s not a lot of evidence to support collagen as a hair growth solution. That said, collagen may come with some hair benefits, like thicker hair. But research-backed hair loss solutions are your best bet for a lusher mane.

Read on to learn more about collagen and hair growth. Plus, get a breakdown of the science-backed hair loss solutions out there.

On a basic level, collagen helps provide structure and support to a variety of tissues in your body. But, the best place to start our conversation about collagen is its role in skin health.

Healthy skin is made up of many parts, including structural proteins. There are three that arguably matter the most: collagen, elastin, and keratin.  

Keratin is basically your body’s equivalent to armor — it’s a hard, barrier protein that protects you from things like viruses and bacteria. 

Elastin is more like a mesh that fastens your cells together, and returns them to their original positions so they don’t get “stuck” when your skin stretches. 

Collagen, meanwhile, is the largest connective tissue component in your skin (generally speaking). It helps to keep your skin firm and protect it from damage.

Your body naturally produces collagen. And you can get it from the food you eat. Foods that contain natural collagen include meat, poultry, fish, and bone broth in the form of gelatin. 

But how much does collage intake affect your cosmetic collagen levels? It’s unclear. Scientists haven’t fully established the link between what you eat and how your skin (and hair) looks. 

But there is research suggesting that increased collagen intake may help support joint health by reducing joint pain.

If you’re wondering about the benefits of collagen for hair growth because you’ve been seeing hair loss (say in the shower drain in each morning) — don’t worry.  

The typical person’s head has more than 100,000 hairs and sheds around 100 strands a day on average.

Your hair’s growth cycle is broken into three phases, and while they can be interrupted by a number of conditions and factors, collagen deficiency isn’t typically one of them 

That said, collagen production does naturally decrease as you age. This can manifest as skin aging (think sagging skin and wrinkles) and could potentially lead to thinning hair.

But, decreasing collagen levels alone can’t explain most hair loss. So what actually causes female hair loss?

• Androgenetic alopecia (AKA female pattern hair loss) is the most common cause of hair loss in women, often appearing as a widening part or thinning at the temples. A variety of genetic, hormonal, and environmental factors contribute to it.

•  Telogen effluvium is a temporary type of excessive hair shedding. It can be triggered by many things, including but not limited to stress, hormonal changes after giving birth, certain types of medications, and major surgery.

• Alopecia areata is another type of hair loss in women. It’s caused by an autoimmune reaction where your immune system mistakenly attacks hair follicles, resulting in patchy hair loss.

If you’re stressing over hair thinning or increased shedding, you may be wondering if collagen supplements will help you get back to a fuller mane. So does collagen help hair grow?

Collagen and Hair Growth

Collagen isn’t the main actor when it comes to hair growth. Instead, it plays more of a supporting role.

The main amino acids, or building blocks, of collagen are glycine, proline, and hydroxyproline. Glycine and proline are also common amino acids in keratin.

Remember keratin from earlier? As in the skin, keratin is the main structural protein in hair and helps to protect it from damage.

There’s not a ton of science to back a link between collagen supplements and healthy hair growth. But, some early research has shown benefits worth exploring. 

Animal Studies

Laboratory studies in mice have found that marine collagens, which are collagen peptides derived from fish, may increase hair growth. One study even found that oral collagen supplementation boosted certain types of keratin.

Another mouse study observed that a higher dose of collagen peptides had a positive effect on hair growth similar to finasteride, a common treatment for male pattern hair loss.

While it’s nice that collagen supplements may help mice grow hair, what about humans.

Collagen for Hair Growth in Humans

One 2024 study looked at the effect of collagen peptides on human hair follicle cells grown in a lab. It found that collagen boosted the growth of the cells and stimulated them to produce various growth factors.

Results from another 2024 study in a laboratory model of human hair follicles found that collagen from fish or cattle boosted the growth of stem cells in the hair follicle. Fish-derived collagen also increased the length of the anagen phase of the hair growth cycle, which is when hair is actively growing.

A 2022 study found that an oral supplement containing collagen improved hair density in participants with telogen effluvium.

A 2023 study reported that collagen-containing supplements improved the effectiveness of hair loss treatments for androgenetic alopecia or telogen effluvium.

There’s a disclaimer for these two studies, though. In addition to collagen, the supplements also contained other ingredients, like iron, zinc, selenium, and B vitamins, all of which are also important for hair health. Because of this, it’s hard to tell exactly how much collagen contributed to the results.

Collagen also has antioxidant properties. Because of this, it’s possible that increasing collagen intake may protect your scalp and hair follicles from free radicals and reduce oxidative stress. This may aid in creating a healthy environment for hairs to grow.

Indeed, a 2024 study found that a hydrolyzed collagen supplement also containing vitamin C had benefits for the skin and scalp, including an increased hair count.

So the TL;DR here is that some studies show potential benefits of collagen for hair growth. But, more research is still needed.

At the end of the day, if you need to address hair loss concerns, there are better ways to do it. Let’s cover these now. 

Collagen isn’t really a treatment for hair loss. There are much better, dedicated hair loss treatment options for women on the market right now. 

Take minoxidil, for example. Topical minoxidil is FDA-approved to treat female pattern hair loss and is available over the counter in a 2% solution and 5% foam for hair regrowth. It works by increasing the blood flow to your hair follicles, which can encourage them to grow hair again. 

Other proven hair loss treatments for women include:

• Medications like spironolactone or finasteride

• Low-level laser therapy

• Platelet-rich plasma therapy

• Hair transplant surgery

Nutritional deficiencies can also contribute to some types of hair loss. If you have a deficiency, consider dietary changes and potentially adding a supplement (like hers’ Biotin Gummy Multivitamins) to your daily routine.

Collagen can indirectly benefit your hair, but it’s not a replacement for research-backed hair loss solutions like minoxidil.

Let’s recap what we know about collagen for hair growth:

• Collagen supports skin and hair health. Your body produces less collagen as you age, which changes the look and feel of your skin and hair.

• Collagen might support hair health. But the research in humans is a bit thin. 

• Other proven hair loss treatments are a better choice. Minoxidil, finasteride, and spironolactone are backed by more evidence than collagen.

If you’re experiencing hair loss, your best bet is to consult with a healthcare professional about your hair issues. 

A great way to start is to make an appointment at a dermatology practice near you. In addition to treating skin conditions, dermatologists can also help with medical conditions that impact your hair and nails.

If you’re looking for more support, there are hair care products specially designed to help you thicken your hair. You also may want to check out hers’ Hair Growth Kit to narrow your options.