Does taking collagen really make hair thicker and richer?

“Director, I am taking collagen because my hair is thinning. Is it really effective?”

As awareness spreads that collagen, which is known to be good for skin elasticity, is also good for hair health, many people are looking for collagen supplements. In fact, there is clear scientific evidence for the connection between collagen and hair. However, in order to achieve the desired effect, we need to accurately understand the role of collagen and approach it wisely.

1. Scientific basis: deep relationship between collagen and hair

Collagen is a key ingredient that makes up about 30% of the protein in our body, and is essential for the health of not only skin, bones, and cartilage, but also the scalp and hair follicles that support hair.

Hair follicle stem cells and collagen

Recent studies especially emphasize the importance of ‘Type XVII Collagen’. This collagen plays a critical role in keeping hair follicle stem cells, which produce hair, healthy. It has been found that when this type 17 collagen is damaged or reduced due to age or stress, hair follicle stem cells die and the hair follicles themselves become smaller (miniaturized), which eventually leads to hair thinning and hair loss.

Hair loss and collagen loss

In fact, research has shown that collagen content decreases in scalps experiencing hair loss. This shows how important collagen is for the structural stability of the dermal layer of the scalp, which holds hair tightly. It is a clear scientific fact that collagen is an essential substance for hair regeneration and growth.

2. Pitfalls of collagen supplements: Will I become collagen just by eating it?

So, will taking collagen supplements solve all these problems? Here is a point that many people misunderstand. The collagen we take as a supplement is not reassembled into collagen in our bodies. The collagen we ingest is broken down into amino acids or small peptide units during the digestion process. And our body uses these amino acids as ‘raw materials’ to synthesize collagen where it is needed. In other words, you can understand that taking collagen supplements is the same as increasing protein intake.

3. The real key: Increase the body’s collagen ‘synthesis ability’

In conclusion, what we should consider important is not how much collagen we 'inject' from outside, but how well our body 'produces' collagen on its own. The key is to keep the body's collagen synthesis factory active.

How to Promote Collagen Synthesis

• Consume quality protein:Amino acids, which are the raw materials for collagen, must be supplied sufficiently. The basic rule is to consistently consume a variety of protein foods such as lean meat, fish, eggs, beans, and tofu.
• Vitamin C is an essential helper:Vitamin C is essential for our body to synthesize collagen using amino acids. If you lack vitamin C, collagen will not be produced properly no matter how much protein you eat.
• Zinc and copper are also important:Zinc and copper are also important minerals involved in collagen synthesis.
• Avoid collagen-destroying factors:Ultraviolet rays, smoking, and excessive sugar intake should be avoided as they destroy collagen and interfere with its synthesis.

It is true that collagen is good for hair health, but eating collagen does not necessarily improve collagen synthesis in the body. Therefore, rather than relying on collagen supplements, the smartest and most fundamental way to achieve ‘Super Hair’ is to increase your body’s collagen production ability through a healthy diet and lifestyle. And if you are going to take collagen, we recommend taking a supplement containing vitamin C, zinc, and copper.