Collagen supplements are exploding in popularity, mainly because people want to improve their appearance and beauty levels.
Among the many advertised benefits of collagen supplements, improved hair is one of the top ones.
Hair loss, thinning hair, and other hair issues can be embarrassing and frustrating. But collagen supplements are touted to restore strength, health, and fullness to your hair, so you look younger and feel better.
In this article, we’re going over the best collagen supplements for hair to make sure you know which ones will really give your hair that a boost in thickness, shine, and strength.
Best Collagen Supplements For Hair
After reviewing and going through many different supplements, we’ve determined the top collagen products for hair to be:
- Vitauthority Multi-Collagen Protein
- Manna Liposomal Collagen Peptides
- Live Conscious Collagen Peptides
Vitauthority Multi-Collagen Protein
Best Overall
Vitauthority Multi-Collagen Protein is the overall winner for collagen-based hair supplements. Each scoop of Multi-Collagen Protein contains nearly 8g of collagen from five different sources to provide your hair with vital nutrition.
There’s also added vitamin C and hyaluronic acid to further enhance collagen production and hair health. Additionally, Vitauthority Multi-Collagen Protein comes in unflavored and six different sweet flavors. It’s also made in the USA, non-GMO, and lab-tested.
Manna Liposomal Collagen Peptides
Best Liquid
If you want a liquid collagen supplement, Manna Liposomal Collagen Peptides is the top choice. There’s 5g of collagen in just a tablespoon-serving, which comes from grass-fed bovine sources. Manna also uses Nanofuse liposomal technology which potentially enhances absorption by up to 10x more than standard supplements. In the end, this may provide advanced collagen support for the strength and health of your hair.
Manna Liposomal Collagen Peptides is also non-GMO, made in the USA, and lab-tested for purity and potency.
Live Conscious Collagen Peptides
Best Value
No other collagen supplement is priced more affordably than Live Conscious Collagen Peptides. Each serving provides 11g of hydrolyzed collagen peptides for hair strength, health, and fullness. And while each container has 41 servings, the most you’ll pay is $34.99. With the bulk and subscription savings, you could pay as low as $23.99 per bag, which is just a little over 50 cents per serving.
Live Conscious Collagen Peptides doesn’t skimp on safety and quality either as it is third-party tested, made in the USA in a cGMP, FDA-registered facility, and non-GMO.
What is Collagen?
Collagen is one of the main structural proteins found in the body’s connective tissues. In fact, it accounts for about 30% of the proteins in your body! It is needed for the skin, bones, cartilage, connective tissue, hair, skin, nails, and other areas.
Collagen provides several different amino acids that can upregulate collagen and protein synthesis in the body, while also enhancing total body health.
Traditional diets were high in collagen due to the use of bone broths and general nose-to-tail eating. However, modern diets are typically woefully low (or even absent) in collagen, which is why supplementing can be beneficial.
Not to mention, as we age, collagen production naturally slows down. And many of the classic signs and symptoms of aging, such as joint pain and wrinkles, are related in part to decreased collagen levels.
Benefits of Collagen Supplements
Collagen supplements have a wide variety of potential benefits, some of which are more well-researched than others.
Generally speaking, collagen supplements may provide the following health benefits:
- Healthier Skin
- Joint Support
- Healthier Hair
- Nail Support
Healthier Skin
The most well-researched benefit of collagen supplementation is improved skin. Collagen may be able to enhance skin hydration, firmness, and elasticity. Regular use could also lead to reduced wrinkles and fine lines.
These all likely occur to collagen’s ability to enhance collagen synthesis in the skin and prevent skin health from declining over time.
Joint Support
There is also evidence that collagen supplements can improve joint health. This is done by bolstering the connective tissue surrounding the joints. In fact, collagen can reduce joint pain and other symptoms of arthritis, while also enhancing joint flexibility and mobility.
Healthier Hair
Users of collagen supplements may also experience healthier hair. Collagen can provide critical nutrition for the hair, which may also help slow down the effects of aging on hair damage. In particular, collagen may be able to improve hair thickness and fullness, slow down hair loss, and promote shinier, more lustrous hair.
Nail Support
Lastly, collagen likely offers support for the nails, mainly by enhancing the collagen production in the nails. Some research shows that collagen can improve nail thickness and reduce nail brittleness.
How to Choose the Right Collagen Supplement for Hair
When choosing the right collagen supplement for hair, it’s important to consider some general guidelines as well as more specific concerns.
First, the dose of collagen needs to be at least 2.5g to be effective, preferably more in the 5 to 10g range per serving.
Along with the dose, it’s also important to consider the types of collagen offered. The more collagen sources they include, the greater number of types of collagen are in there, which likely makes it more beneficial.
Also, you may want additional ingredients that offer further support for collagen synthesis and hair health, such as vitamin C, hyaluronic acid, or perhaps various antioxidants.
Safety and quality are also very important too, of course! That’s why we only recommend getting supplements that are made in cGMP, FDA-registered facilities, third-party tested (or at least individually tested), and fully transparent with their labeling and information. And if possible, choose supplements that source their collagen from grass-fed cows, pasture-raised chicken, wild-caught fish, and/or other quality sources, where applicable.
Additional Information (FAQ)
Still have questions about collagen supplements for hair health? Read down below where we’ve provided answers to common questions about collagen supplements and hair.
How long does it take for collagen supplements to work for hair?
This depends on a variety of factors. But overall, it will likely take at least a few weeks before any noticeable benefits. It may take up to several months before optimal results are achieved for hair fullness, thickness, etc. Also, keep in mind that it’s not a cure-all and isn’t able to fully reverse hair loss nor is it able to treat any severe hair problems.
Does collagen really make my hair grow?
Collagen seems to indirectly support hair growth. The amino acids in collagen can promote an increase in hair-building proteins. Plus, it supports hair follicle strength and health, which may lead to hair growth and improved fullness.
Are there ways to get collagen in my diet to support hair health?
Yes. Most often, you can get collagen from bone broths, poultry with skin, or gelatin (which is essentially collagen just in a different form.)
With that said, most people will find that it’s easier to get the recommended dose from supplementation.
Is there a limit on how much collagen I can take?
Collagen doesn’t seem to be harmful even in high amounts. However, it shouldn’t make up more than 30% of your total protein intake for the day. Generally, we recommend sticking to the guidelines of 2.5 to 15g per day, possibly up to 25g per day in some cases.
Are there side effects?
Collagen may cause digestive side effects, such as upset stomach, nausea, or bloating. It may also cause allergic reactions in a small percentage of people.
Also, if the supplements have other ingredients, such as vitamin C, hyaluronic acid, or herbal extracts, these also have potential side effects.
Always talk with your doctor before taking any supplement, especially if you take prescription medications, have chronic health conditions, and/or are generally worried about side effects.