Collagen for hair: what it provides and how to choose

Hair is made almost entirely of a protein, keratin, and it grows from the root, inside the skin of the scalp. Collagen is another protein, and many people take it with their hair in mind. Here we tell you what it provides and how to choose one.

If you want to know what collagen is and what studies say about the skin, you will find it in Is it good to take collagen?. And if you are not sure when to take it, see what time to take collagen.

What hair is made of

• The strand: it is keratin, a protein.
• The root: the follicle, which sits in the dermis, the layer of the skin with the most collagen.

That is why hair depends on the same thing as skin: on the body having what it needs to make its proteins.

What collagen provides

• Amino acids: the body breaks collagen down into amino acids, mainly glycine, proline and hydroxyproline, and uses them as raw material where they are needed.
• Protein in your diet: it adds to the protein of the day, which is what hair is made of.
• With vitamin C: vitamin C is necessary for normal collagen formation. Many products include it; if not, you can get it from fruits like orange, acerola or guava.

It is a support within a varied diet, not a substitute for it.

How to choose a collagen

• Hydrolyzed (peptides): it is collagen broken into small pieces. It dissolves easily in water or juice.
• Source: the label says where it comes from: bovine (beef), marine (fish) or another animal. If you do not eat fish or beef, pay attention to that.
• Amount per serving: compare the grams of collagen in each serving, not the size of the bottle.
• What else it contains: vitamin C, biotin or other ingredients.
• Form: powder, liquid or tablets. Choose the one that is easiest for you to take every day.

If you do not eat animal products, plant collagen does not exist as such: we explain it in the truth about plant collagen.

An example from our store

Neocell Pomegranate Liquid Collagen 16 oz is liquid beef collagen. This is what its label says:

• On the bottle: «Hair, Skin & Nails Support*».
• Per serving: 1 tablespoon (15 mL), with 4 g of «BioActive NeoCell Collagen Peptides™ (from Grassfed Bovine)». About 32 servings.
• How to take it: «Take one (1) tablespoon (15 mL) daily, alone or mixed into 6 oz. of water or juice.»
• Warnings: «Store unopened container in a cool, dry place.» «Refrigerate after opening.» «Warning: Keep out of reach of children.» «For adults only. As with any supplement, if you are pregnant, nursing, taking any medication or have a medical condition, consult your doctor before using this product. Discontinue use if any adverse events occur.» «TAMPER EVIDENT: Do not use if safety seal is broken or missing.»

*«This statement has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.»

All our collagen

The rest of the collagen we carry, in powder, liquid and tablets, is in Collagen Products.

For more details, call us at 787-304-0458.

These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.