Everything you need to know about peptides for hair growth

Peptides for hair growth are having a moment, much like their skin-care counterparts, which have become a beauty mainstay. When applied to the scalp, these ingredients can help hydrate, prevent breakage, alleviate inflammation, and foster new, stronger strands. “Long story short, a healthy scalp leads to healthy hair,” says trichologist Kerry Yates.

Peptides are short chains of amino acids, which you may recall from high school biology, are the building blocks of proteins. Your body naturally makes them, so when you apply peptides to skin, your body recognises them and responds accordingly. “Our bodies combine peptides in various sequences to function as cellular messengers to help repair, rebuild, or regenerate,” explains board-certified internist and longevity expert Dr Amanda Kahn. In the case of your scalp, peptides work by telling cells to turn on genes for hair growth and thickness, as well as triggering the release of growth factors, says board-certified dermatologist Dr Kiran Mian. “They promote elongation of hair, an increase in the hair growth phase, and improve amino acid content of hair, for smoother, healthier hair,” she adds.

Do peptides actually work for hair growth?

Yes, peptides can support healthy hair growth, though there are some caveats. “The right peptides can help with hair growth by stimulating blood flow to the scalp, reducing inflammation to protect follicles, stimulating collagen and extracellular matrix production around the follicle and signalling hair follicles to stay in the growth phase,” says Dr Azizzadeh. But hair growth—and hair loss—are complex, and peptides alone may not be your answer to stronger strands. “Peptides support active follicles only,” Yates reminds us. “If the follicle is no longer active, then peptides or any ingredients (topical or ingestible) cannot reanimate a follicle that is essentially ‘dead.’”

There are many reasons why hair growth could be inhibited, including genetic, hormonal, environmental, and systemic factors, so it’s important to consider a multi-pronged treatment approach. That could include in-office or at-home topical exosomes, oral supplements for hair growth, and other options—it’s best to see a dermatologist, trichologist, or other hair expert for a customised plan.