Glossy, shiny hair — that’s pretty much the dream, right? There are some claims made about collagen for hair, a protein that the body uses to build skin, tendons and ligaments. But, how true are those claims? And if collagen really is the answer to great hair, which products should we be using? Keep reading to find out.

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What Is Collagen?

The most abundant protein found in the human body (accounting for between 25 and 35 percent of all proteins in our bodies), collagen is essentially the glue that holds us together, giving structure to our bones, muscles, skin and tendons. Created naturally by our bodies as we break down dietary protein into amino acids, collagen production plays a large part in the health of our hair, skin and nails.

The problem is that the rate at which we produce collagen naturally declines as we get older (by about 1 per cent a year from our mid-twenties). On top of that, environmental factors like smoking, pollution and UV light can also break down collagen, causing ageing and damage to our hair and skin.

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Collagen Supplements for Hair

Thinking about trying collagen for hair growth? Ranging from everything from edible gummies to powders to add to your morning smoothie; these supplements promise to top up collagen levels, improving everything from hair to skin and even joints. In fact, collagen supplements have become so popular in recent years that the market for them is expected to grow to $293 million this year in the US alone, according to Nutrition Business Journal.

Advertisement Although our bodies make collagen naturally, when ingested in the form of a supplement, the body breaks this down into amino acids, which are the building blocks used to create keratin (hair is mostly made up of this).

This, as well as collagen’s positive effects on skin (and therefore scalp health), have led to claims that collagen supplements could be the key to healthy, shiny hair.