We Know That Collagen Supplements Help The Skin—But What’s The Deal With Hair?

“Collagen is not a component of hair,” says Rachel Maiman, M.D., board-certified dermatologist at Marmur Medical. “But the main component of hair, about 95% of it, is the protein keratin.” In order for the body to make keratin, amino acids (or building blocks of protein) are necessary. And that’s where collagen comes into play.* 

Certified trichologist and founder of Advanced Trichology, William Gaunitz, FWTS says the primary amino acid that is most helpful is called proline. It’s a physical component of keratin and impacts new hair growth. So, in short, collagen peptides that contain proline can help create the protein that makes hair and supports growth.* 

mbg’s director of scientific affairs Ashley Jordan Ferira, Ph.D., R.D.N., provides this pragmatic tip: “Check out the collagen brand’s amino acid profile to see the breakdown of these protein building blocks with more transparency. This will inform proline percentage and all the other amino acid contributions too.”.