Five clinical ways Collagen can improve your hair.

Did you know collagen is the most abundant protein in your entire body? Your body actually makes collagen, but you can also get it from supplements like Holi (mane) from Agent Nateur and bone broth.

Here are five clinical ways it might improve your hair.

1. Supplies Amino Acids

Hair is mostly made up of a protein called keratin, your body uses amino acid to build this type of protein which is also found in collagen. When you ingest collagen, your body breaks them down into amino acids that are then used to build new proteins. Collagen is mostly made up of 3 non-essential amino acids: glycine, hydroxyproline and proline. Proline is also the major component of keratin, so consuming proline-rich collagen could give your body the help it needs to create hair. 

2. Collagen Improves Hair Follicles by Fighting Free Radicals

Collagen acts as an antioxidant that fights free radicals which are compounds that develop as a result of pollution, stress, smoking, poor diet, alcohol, and other environmental factors. Too many free radicals are harmful to your DNA, cells and proteins. Studies show that free radicals can also damage hair follicles, especially as we age. Our body needs plenty of antioxidants in order to fight free radicals and promote healthy hair. Studies have shown that collagen, especially from fish scales (which is what we is used in holi (mane), may have powerful antioxidant activity.

One study found that marine collagen was able to fight four different free radicals, while another study observed that the protein may be a more effective antioxidant than a well-known compound found in tea.

3. Collagen May Prevent Hair Thinning Associated With Getting Older

Collagen makes up 70% of your dermis, the middle layer of your skin that contains the root of each individual hair. It provides the elasticity and strength of your dermis. With age, the body becomes less likely to produce collagen and harder to replenish cells in the dermis. Providing your body with collagen may help prolong a healthy dermis and prevent hair thinning.

One eight-week study in 69 women aged 35–55 found that taking daily collagen supplements significantly improved skin elasticity compared to a placebo.

Another 12-week study in more than 1,000 adults found that a daily collagen supplement improved the amount of this protein in the skin and reduced signs of skin aging.

Because hair grows out of the skin, the possibility of collagen to prevent the effects of skin aging may contribute to better hair growth and decreased thinning. 

4. Collagen Might Slow Graying Hair

As you age, the cells that produce melanin which gives your hair its color begin to die. Adding antioxidant-rich collagen may delay this process. Free radicals can damage melanin-creating cells. Since collagen has been shown to fight free radicals in test tubes, it may help prevent damage to cells that produce hair color.  

5. Combining Vitamin C and Collagen

Collagen makes up the connective tissue of mammals and is found in the bones, scales skins, bones, and muscles of fish, chicken, beef and pork.

Broth made from animal bones contains both collagen and gelatin, which is a cooked form of collagen. Eating foods high in vitamin C can boost your body’s natural collagen production. Citrus fruit, kiwi, broccoli peppers, brussels sprouts, and strawberries are abundant sources of vitamin C.

You can shop Holi Mane HERE.

Written by Jena Scaccetti for Agent Nateur.