Collagen benefits for hair and how to use it

Collagen plays an important role in building keratin, which is the main protein in hair, so it seems logical that there are a range of collagen benefits for hair and ways to use it. You have many benefits and if you are trying to dye your hair at home, the collagen products that are found in some brands help protect the hair from damage and annoying graying. This article will help you gain more knowledge about the benefits of collagen for hair and ways to use it because collagen is a complete protein that the body needs to get the elements it needs to stay healthy inside and out. Although the body naturally produces collagen, it slows down at an early age, which is 25 years, with a decrease in collagen production at an early age. Do not be surprised when you see many people suffering from nail cuts, wrinkles, and even early hair loss.Collagen has gained great popularity about the benefits of using collagen for hair because hair loss is not a sign of aging and becomes the appropriate way to protect our hair.

What is collagen?

To understand how collagen affects your hair and what benefits collagen provides for your hair. Collagen is something the body makes and plays a crucial role in the health of the body. Collagen is a fibrous protein that supports the formation of bones, tendons, cartilage, ligaments and skin, which helps you support a strong body structure and ease the binding of cells to each other, making the skin tight.

The body produces collagen by breaking down protein from food into amino acids. Dairy products, eggs and cheese are good sources of collagen-boosting protein, as well as plant-based proteins from foods such as beans, nuts, seeds, quinoa and tofu. Don’t forget that the main boosters in collagen production are vitamin C, zinc, copper and sulfur.

What is the difference between collagen supplements and collagen hair preparations?

Although the body produces collagen naturally, you can get collagen through cosmetics and supplements as an external source. Many companies promote hair products, shampoos and conditioners rich in collagen to get more shiny, healthy and strong hair, and supplements help you get healthy skin, relieve joint pain, and build muscles with thicker hair.

Collagen is available from three different sources:

1. Animal collagen is made from the skin, muscles, bones and tendons of cows or chickens. Marine collagen is obtained from the scales, skin and bones of various fish, including jellyfish and sponges.
2. Plant collagen is produced through animal products such as yeast and bacteria genetically modified with human genes that code for collagen and digestive enzymes.
3. You can also find collagen injections , which have many aesthetic and health benefits.

Why is collagen useful for hair?

When we are younger, collagen production is abundant. And it works quietly to maintain the health of the skin, hair and body in general and to get wrinkle-free skin, but the problem is that collagen production slows down over time, such as exposure to ultraviolet rays, smoking and other oxidative stress factors such as exposure to harsh detergents, strong chemicals, pollution elements and diets rich in fat and sugar.

Once you reach the age of 20, collagen begins to decline by 1% per year, and once you reach the age of forties, signs of low collagen begin to appear, such as the appearance of wrinkles, saggy skin, less elasticity in the joints, and possibly thinning hair and gray hair and some hair products promise us to provide benefits such as blowing the skin, get rid of wrinkles completely, and repair light and damaged hair completely.

The role of collagen in hair:

So, where do the promises of collagen-infused commercial products come from and how they can turn dull hair into attractive hair as mentioned in shampoo ads? The dermatologist stated that Shari Linder in New York City that collagen is not a component of hair, and that the main component of hair is keratin, which makes up about 90%. Then we move to the role of keratin because keratin needs amino acids from collagen, and thus the role of collagen in protecting hair from damage becomes clear.

Collagen benefits for hair:

1– hair grow:

A small study published in the Journal of Dermatology Drugs, 26 women suffering from hair loss took four capsules containing collagen and other nutrients daily for six months and at the end of the experiment had higher hair growth and more than 14 other women took another treatment. Collagen supplements helped alone, because the ingredients contain keratin and capsaicin, which help in achieving hair growth.

2Protecting hair from the factors of aging:

Often, collagen hair products promise to support collagen levels because they decrease over time. Although collagen is not an essential component of hair, it is found in the hair roots, which results in thinning of the hair follicles, says Rajani Kata, a dermatologist in Houston that the skin absorbs collagen easily.

3Fighting harmful free radicals:

Collagen has antioxidant properties that fight the harmful effect of free radicals on the body and hair as well. Free radicals are produced by many different things and sometimes environmental factors such as bad weather, stress, poor diet and smoking can contribute. Sometimes, free radicals damage hair follicles, resulting in hair loss. Antioxidants work to combat free radicals that damage hair and other parts of the body. Another effective source of antioxidants is marine collagen, which enables it to fight free radicals. The antioxidant properties inside it are greater than the antioxidants in tea, and thus the hair gets an adequate amount. of collagen for your hair, strengthening hair follicles and improving hair growth.

4Supplying hair with amino acids:

As we mentioned, collagen consists of amino acids and the body uses some of these acids to produce keratin, the protein needed for hair growth. Marine collagen is also rich in proline, which is an essential building block for the formation of keratin and hair and when you add it to your diet you can get the necessary supply for hair growth. And when you eat collagen along with other proteins, it is broken down inside the body into amino acids that the body uses to build proteins that hair follicles need.

5Hair Scalp Improvement:

Collagen is one of the beneficial elements to add strength and elasticity to the skin and this is the reason behind using topical collagen products that fight wrinkles. Hair roots are located within the dermis layer of the skin, which consists largely of collagen, in fact, the dermis is 70% collagen. Over time with age, our bodies produce less collagen, which helps maintain cells in the dermis. This means that the dermis is not effective in growing and maintaining hair. Adding more marine collagen helps prevent hair loss when added to your diet, improves skin elasticity and reduces signs of aging.

6Supporting the health of hair follicles:

Several studies have found that during the hair growth stage, the collagen levels surrounding the hair follicles actually condense and increase. With age, the follicles decline. Because our bodies produce collagen, the layers regenerate and this supports the hair follicles during growth. When collagen is consumed, it allows the body to obtain a greater number of amino acids. This increases the protection of hair follicles from damage.

7Preventing graying of hair (gray hair):

Collagen also helps reduce the appearance of more gray hair in the hair follicles, according to Hadley King, a board-certified dermatologist, that collagen is rich in antioxidants, which neutralize the effect of free radicals caused by exposure to sunlight and pollution factors. One of the studies found that the effect of free radicals on the hair results in loss of color and suffering from graying of hair. Of course, graying hair is a natural part of the aging process, but the loss of pigment is accelerated due to the oxidative stress to which the follicles are exposed.

When do you need to see a doctor?

Before using collagen products for hair, it may be best to ask your doctor or dermatologist about the cause of hair thinning or hair loss. Protein deficiency can cause hair loss. Usually the reason behind thinning hair or hair loss is a lack of nutrients or a lack of collagen 

Should collagen be used for hair?

Dermatologists remind that you should not resort to collagen products directly before trying to get collagen from proteins in the diet, because the amino acids in collagen are found in many foods, and therefore there are other ways in which you can help your body obtain amino acids. And if you want to take collagen supplements for hair, you can check well the safety and security elements associated with the ingredients.

What should you look for in a collagen hair supplement?

Of course, collagen is not the only ingredient that you should look for in collagen supplements. It needs a variety of other nutrients in order for the hair to look attractive and wonderful, and to improve the results you get from using collagen for hair, it must get the other elements:

 

Here are some of the elements that should be found in collagen supplements for hair:

• Silica : Collagen supplements that contain silica have been proven to enhance the strength and growth of hair and get shiny and stronger hair and are believed to help increase keratin.
• Vitamin E : Vitamin E has anti-inflammatory properties for the skin and scalp, which slows down the damage of free radicals around the follicles, which results in premature graying, damaged limbs or hair loss.
• Omega-3 acids: Omega-3  fatty acids are considered healthy fats that do a lot to improve the general level of health, and research indicates that omega-3 acids support the health of your skin and hair when taken with other antioxidant supplements.
• Iron:   Do we not know exactly how iron affects hair growth? We know that without adequate iron intake, the follicles do not function well. However, it is not necessary to obtain iron supplements without consulting the doctor before starting the routine.
• Vitamin C: Vitamin C can  help hair in several ways, first because it supports collagen production, which is important for the scalp, second, it reduces the buildup of free radicals, and third, it helps the body absorb iron, which is an important component of hair growth.

Is biotin or collagen better for hair?

Biotin or collagen can be competing ingredients in hair products. Unfortunately, experts have agreed through research that one is better than the other when it comes to hair. Collagen helps hair in many ways as mentioned above, and it is believed that biotin supports healthy growth because it is involved in the production of keratin. Regardless of biotin or collagen, they come with a lot of benefits for skin and hair health, and if you choose one of them, you can combine it with vitamin C to improve hair growth and enhance its antioxidant capacity.

How to benefit from collagen for hair?

You can easily add collagen to your diet through foods or supplements. Since it forms the connective tissue of mammals, it is found in the skin, bones and muscles of chickens, cows, and fish as well. Broth made from animal bones contains both collagen and gelatin, from which you can get collagen. In addition, foods rich in vitamin C enhance the production of natural collagen. Oranges, sweet peppers, and strawberries are excellent sources of vitamin C, or resort to collagen supplements or collagen powder and add it to juices, coffee and other hot or cold liquids. According to research, collagen supplements are safe for most people, but reports indicate that long-term supplementation can cause heartburn or stomach pain