Gelatin vs Collagen, What’s Better For Hair Growth?

Scouring Google for some hair growth remedies? There is a lot of information out there. Maybe you just finished reading about the wonders ACV can do for your hair, or you’ve just looked at a nice hair growth kit or shampoo.  Maybe you’ve heard claims about collagen and/or gelatin for your hair, and have since fallen down that rabbit hole.

Although they may seem a little more eccentric than other hair remedies, collagen and gelatin both have hair growth properties and both can do wonders for your hair. But, which one is better? Do they do different things? Keep reading to find out.

Collagen & gelatin for your hair

Gelatin and Collagen have recently risen in popularity as a remedy for hair. Studies have claimed that collagen and gelatin can prevent hair loss, strengthen and thicken hair follicles, increase hair density, regrow hair, and possibly even prevent graying hair.

Hair is mostly made up of keratin, a protein. Collagen and Gelatin are also made up of protein and can help strengthen the dermis and scalp. Often you may find collagen listed as an ingredient in some shampoos. While research is still ongoing in the full benefits of collagen and gelatin, they are said to play a big role in hair health.

Which one is better for your hair? And how do you take it? Let’s start with a quick review on collagen and gelatin and then we’ll dive right in.

What is collagen?

Collagen is one of the main proteins that the body produces. It is made up of amino acids, namely,  glycine, proline, and hydroxyproline. These amino acids form what is called a triple helix structure, because those three amino acids form three strands. It is the most abundant protein in humans, and other animals- making up around 35% of the protein altogether.

Collagen is also one of the main components in any connective tissue, and other things like bones, skin, and cartilage. It plays an important role in the body, holding cells together, helps with skin elasticity, protects organs, and promotes joint health.

There are two forms of collagen. The first is referred to as “Endogenous Collagen.” This is just collagen that the body naturally produces. The other type, “Exogenous Collagen,” is collagen that is synthetic and comes from an outside source, such as a protein powder containing collagen, or a collagen supplement. People can take

Your body needs collagen. If someone doesn’t produce a lot of collagen their joints and bones become brittle and painful, signs of aging happen quicker, and muscles become weak and tired. Some external factors can come in to play as well with a lack of collagen, such as more wrinkles, saggy skin, and brittle hair and nails.

What is gelatin?

Gelatin is the cooked form of collagen. When you make a bone broth or a roast and a jelly like substance forms at the bottom- that’s gelatin.

Gelatin is made from boiling the skin, bones, or ligaments of animals- most often cows or pigs. Gelatin is derived from collagen and used to make things like jello, gravy, gummy bears and more. Most of the jelly-like foods out there typically became jelly-like through gelatin.

What is the difference between collagen and gelatin?

Collagen and gelatin are pretty similar when it comes to the benefits they can do for your body. They are the same in the amount of protein they contain, and they are both easy for the body to digest. Depending on if the animal source used for collagen and gelatin was different there may be some differences in the nutritional make up, but collagen and gelatin are pretty similar in that way as well.

Sometimes gelatin can be sweetened with sugar or artificial flavoring to help it flavor desserts, so that would change the nutritional composition as well.

The only really big difference in collagen and gelatin is how they dissolve. Collagen can dissolve in hot or cold water. It will act the same in a cold smoothie, or in a hot tea. And it won’t really change the taste, consistency, or thickness of whatever it is added to.

Gelatin on the other hand, can only dissolve in hot liquid. It may be fine in a hot tea, but if you put it in a cold smoothie your smoothie will get chunky, jelly-like, and gross. Gelatin is typically used to thicken soups, sauces, and gravies. Or used to make a dessert with a jelly-like consistency.

Collagen is usually added to things as a nutritional supplement, whereas gelatin is mainly used as a gelling agent in culinary desserts or other dishes.

Is collagen or gelatin better for your hair?

Both collagen and gelatin have been known for their strengthening benefits to hair, skin, and nails. They both help the hair follicles grow, boost hair shine, and promote hair growth. They both keep your hair strong and healthy (as well as your bones, muscles, and joints.) This, like other hair remedies, isn’t something that happens overnight. But, as you continue to use collagen or gelatin, this benefits can happen.

It’s hard to pick one or the other when it comes to “which one is better for hair growth,” since collagen and gelatin are pretty similar- one is just a cooked version of the other. Both do the same thing, and both can help your hair a lot.

While it is harder to say whether gelatin or collagen is better health wise for your hair, it is possible to say which one is easier to use. If you are looking for something quick to put into your coffee, protein shake, or smoothie in the morning, a powdered form of collagen (sometimes called collagen peptides) is probably your best bet. If you are drinking a hot drink or making a soup then adding gelatin is a great way to go.

Collagen and gelatin can also be taken in a pill form, and are many times ingredients in lotions, ointments, cosmetics, and hair washing soaps.

While eating foods with gelatin and collagen can be very helpful, the only problem with taking collagen or gelatin internally is that you don’t have a say on how your body uses it.

It can be a great remedy overall for your bones, joints, skin, and hair, but if you are trying to just target your hair, you can add collagen into your shampoo, or use make a gelatin hair mask.