A woman’s hair is her crowning glory.
That’s because a full head of healthy, shiny hair supports healthy hair growth, is a key factor in increasing hair density, and boosts confidence too.
No wonder why most women spend so much money on hair care products to keep their hair smooth, shiny, and healthy.
However, while losing hair is common, almost 50% of women in the U.S. suffer from significant hair loss, especially in their 50s.
According to the American Academy of Dermatologists, it’s normal for women to lose anywhere from 50 to 100 strands of hair per day.
Since there are more than 100,000 hair follicles on our scalp, losing 100 or so hair strands in a day isn’t really noticeable.
However, in the event that your bathroom drain is getting clogged with your hair or there’s too much coming out in your comb, you might be experiencing hair loss.
But don’t worry! There are simple things you can do to help minimize hair fall and restore your hair’s strength and thickness, one of which is using peptides for hair growth
How Peptides Work for Hair Growth
Just like what Elle Woods said in Legally Blonde…
“The rules of hair care are simple and finite.”
The problem is that some hair care products contain harmful ingredients that can make your hair dry and brittle, causing hair loss and thinning over time.
Two of these chemicals are sulfate and denatured alcohol, which are extremely drying to your hair.
In this case, what else can you do to help combat hair loss and thinning while keeping your hair clean and healthy?
Apart from not coloring it or using heat on your hair, using hair peptides can definitely make a difference.
In fact, in a study published by The Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology on women with thinning hair, it was shown that taking oral peptides twice a day for 90 days helped improve hair scalp coverage and thickness, as well as hair volume.
After 180 days, researchers also noticed that their hair became shinier, smoother, and better moisturized.
So how can peptides help with hair growth? Here are three ways.
Stimulates Hair Follicle Growth
Hair peptides can help stimulate keratin production, a protein important for healthy hair, which stops dihydrotestosterone (DHT) from causing hair loss.
Too much DHT can shrink follicles, causing hair to become thinner and shorter. As a result, hair can’t grow through the outer layer of the scalp.
This leads to bald patches and a receding hairline.
Boosts Blood Circulation to the Scalp
Some peptides can help boost oxygen, blood flow, and essential nutrient supply to the scalp. This helps in the healthy, natural growth of your hair.
Otherwise, you may experience brittle hair, thinning, and significant hair loss.
Anti-Inflammatory
Certain hair peptides can protect your scalp from irritation and inflammation that can affect hair growth.
Inflammation can trigger the immune system to mistakenly attack hair follicles. In this case, hair roots can’t get the sufficient nutrients they need to grow hair, thus leading to inflammation-based hair loss or alopecia.
Below, we share the crème de la crème of peptides that can help with hair growth and regrowth.
5 Best Peptides for Hair Growth
Whether you’re battling with hair thinning, hair loss due to stress, or you simply want to keep your youthful, healthy hair, these five science-backed peptides can hold the key to achieving healthier, fuller, and shinier hair.
GHK-Cu
GHK-Cu (glycyl-l-histidyl-l-lysine) is a copper peptide that was discovered in 1973.
As a powerful regenerative ingredient, this human copper-binding peptide is used in many haircare products for its proven benefits to hair growth.
GHK-Cu blocks dihydrotestosterone or DHT, a hormone produced by testosterone that inhibits hair growth. It works by blocking the enzyme 5-alpha reductase, which triggers the conversion of testosterone into DHT.
GHK-Cu peptide also has angiogenic properties. This promotes the growth of new blood vessels, improving blood flow to hair follicles and dermal papilla.
This copper peptide also helps in the production of collagen and elastin.
A study done by researchers from Yale University discovered that copper peptides help boost the production of more fat cells in the scalp, which strengthen hair follicles and increase hair growth.
It also extends the anagen, or the growth phase of the hair, resulting in hair growing more where it previously stopped.
Similarly, in a study published in the Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences, researchers discovered that GHK-Cu exhibits hair follicle-stimulating properties that help promote hair growth in mice.
The researchers investigated the hair follicle-stimulating properties of peptide copper complexes. They conducted experiments on C3H mice and examined the effects of these complexes on hair growth.
They found that the peptide copper complexes exhibited stimulating properties, promoting hair follicle development and hair growth in the mice.
In a publication in the Journal of Investigative Dermatology, another study showed that using GHK-Cu in rats for 3-4 months doubled their follicle size and increased their hair follicles by 80% in the anagen or growth phase.
These effects were essentially a stimulation of the follicular cell proliferation, resulting in an enlargement of the anagen follicles from vellus to terminal type (therapy) or maintenance of pre-bald terminal follicles (prevention).
A copper-binding peptide had the effect of follicular enlargement on the back skin of fuzzy rats, covering the vellus follicles; the effect was similar to that of topical minoxidil.
In another study published by The International Peptide Society, researchers discovered that GraftCyte, a hair growth product that contains GHK-Cu, can help stimulate hair growth in hair transplantation surgeries.
A commercial product known as GraftCyte, which contains GHK-Cu, was clinically evaluated and proven to improve the outcome of hair transplantation surgeries and healing.
Within the hair follicle, GHK-Cu has been shown to promote collagen production and strengthen already existing hair by stimulating growth in areas that lack thickness.
Not only that, but copper hair growth peptides are also anti-inflammatory.
Inflammation plays a major role in many types of hair loss, specifically androgenetic alopecia or male-pattern baldness.
GHK-Cu hair growth peptides help reduce inflammation and stop free radicals from creating oxidative stress that may damage hair follicles. Instead, they create a healthy scalp environment, enlarging follicle size.
As concluded by researchers:
“GHK is a safe, inexpensive, extensively studied compound that has a wealth of positive and health-promoting effects in many tissues and systems.”
PTD-DBM
PTD-DBM or protein transduction domain-fused disheveled binding motif is a synthetic peptide originally formulated in South Korea as a topical agent for treating baldness.
It is considered one of the best peptides for reversing hair loss, helping especially with androgenetic alopecia.
Androgenetic alopecia is progressive hair loss that can begin any time after puberty. It is considered a predetermined disorder, as more or less 50% of the population experience it.
In males, hair loss is most prominent in the vertex and frontotemporal regions.
Meanwhile, in women, the frontal hairline is typically spared, with diffuse hair loss at the crown and top of the head and loss often marked by a wider center part.
Fortunately, PTD-DBM can prevent androgenetic alopecia from happening.
Β-catenin, a protein responsible for healthy hair growth, is expressed in the dermal papilla. This is where it promotes anagen induction, duration, and keratinocyte differentiation and regulation.
However, this pathway is usually hindered by CXXC-type zinc finger protein 5 (CXXC5).
The protein acts as a negative regulator because, when it binds with disheveled protein, it can prevent hair follicles from growing.
This is where PTD-DBM comes in.
PTD-DBM stops the binding process of CXXC5 and disheveled protein, allowing the Wnt/β-catenin-signaling pathway to progress smoothly.
This stimulates the follicular development process, which helps with hair growth.
In a rodent study published in the Journal of Experimental Medicine, researchers discovered that PTD-DBM could help grow new hair follicles after 28 days of applying PTD-DBM on the bare skin of laboratory mice.
This is because it regulates the Wnt/β-catenin-signaling pathway, which hastens wound healing and hair growth in mice.
AHK-Cu
AHK-Cu or L-alanyl-L-histidyl-L-lysine-Cu2+ is another peptide that you can use for hair growth.
It is naturally found in the bloodstream of our bodies and is considered an important element in the growth and development of hair.
The hair follicles are made up of protein cells, which are nurtured by blood from blood vessels.
AHK-Cu can help in the development of new blood vessels by boosting the number of fibroblasts and activating vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) production.
This promotes the elongation of hair follicles, along with the proliferation of dermal papilla cells.
A rodent study showed that AHK-Cu helps increase blood supply to existing hair follicles, resulting in thick, long, and healthy hair growth.
Similarly, it also helps inhibit the secretion of transforming growth factor-beta1 in fibroblasts, reducing oxidative stress and restoring hair growth via dermal papilla cells.
The hormone dihydrotestosterone (DHT) is the primary culprit behind why men and women suffer from baldness and thinning hair.
Studies have shown that AHK-Cu helps mitigate oxidative stress that increases DHT production, thus protecting hair follicles and maintaining healthy, robust hair.
It also helps in the production of superoxide dismutase (SOD), which neutralizes superoxide and other free radicals that may lead to hair loss.
This goes to show that AHK-Cu can nourish hair follicles by promoting healthy blood flow to the scalp, resulting in more hair growth.
APN5
Research teams from Korea discovered a new peptide that can suppress hair loss and promote hair growth. They named it APN5.
They found out that APN5 binds to adiponectin receptors to help with androgenetic alopecia.
Adiponectin is a protein secreted by fat cells. It helps to prevent obesity, diabetes, and high blood sugar.
Apart from that, two research teams led by Professor Chung Jin Ho of Seoul National University Hospital and Professor Hyung Ho of Seoul National University believe that adiponectin deficiency has a direct relationship with the severity of androgenetic alopecia.
They discovered a site where the protein binds to its receptor.
Therefore, they designed a peptide that can act as an adiponectin from its original sequence. This is to allow transdermal delivery and determine if the adiponectin receptor will be activated in the laboratory and in vivo.
That peptide is now known as APN5.
The results showed that hair follicles grew faster when they used the APN5 peptide.
Not only that, but in a rodent study, it was shown that APN5 penetrates the skin and helps with hair growth in vivo.
When 0.007% of the APN5 peptide was applied to rats, it showed a hair growth-promoting effect similar to that of minoxidil 3%, a hair growth agent approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
According to the research teams, this result shows that APN5 peptide has a superior effect than minoxidil in terms of concentration.
Therefore, using APN5 topically can promote hair growth and help people suffering from alopecia.
Thymosin Beta-4
Thymosin beta-4 is a 4.9-kDa actin-sequestering peptide that contains 43 amino acids. It plays an important role in cell motility and promotes wound healing, angiogenesis, and hair growth.
It regulates the action of actin, a cell-building protein that’s essential in tissue repair. Thus, this peptide helps with regeneration, cellular protection, and remodeling of injured or damaged tissue.
In fact, it’s been reported that rats topically applied with TB4 had faster wound healing and grew back their hair in 7 days.
This is because TB4 stimulates the active phase of the follicle cycle, promoting stem cell migration.
Similarly, another study on mice published in Molecular Genetics and Genomics showed that thymosin beta-4 boosts the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), creating new blood vessels around the hair follicles.
The researchers found that compared to the control mice, the mRNA and protein expression of MMP-2 and VEGF were increased in the Tβ4 overexpressing mice, while the level of E-cadherin (E-cad) remained the same.
Further, in the Tβ4 global knockout mice, the mRNA and protein levels of MMP-2 and VEGF decreased dramatically and the level of E-cad was stable.
Based on the above results, we believe that Tβ4 may regulate the levels of VEGF and MMP-2 via the Wnt/β-catenin/Lef-1-signaling pathway to influence the growth of blood vessels around HFs and activate cell migration.
Not only that, but thymosin beta-4 also helps hair growth in patients with alopecia areata.
Alopecia areata is an autoimmune disease where the immune system attacks hair follicles. This results in hair loss on different parts of the body where hair normally grows, including the scalp, eyebrows, eyelashes, and legs.
We also implemented Octapeptide-2 (Thr-Ala-Glu-Glu-His-Glu-Val-Met) in the formulation.
It is a mimetic of thymosin-β4 growth factor, a well-known stimulator of hair growth that acts on angiogenesis and promotes the migration of stem cells and their progeny to the base of the follicle.
It also stimulates differentiation and extracellular matrix remodeling.
In a nutshell, thymosin beta-4, with its regenerative properties, stimulates hair growth, resulting in thick, healthy hair.
How to Use Peptides for Hair Growth
Peptides are available in different forms, which can help reverse hair loss. Here are three ways you can use peptides for hair loss.
Topical application
Topical application is the most common, non-invasive way of using peptides for hair growth.
You can apply these peptides directly to your hair and scalp using products such as serums, conditioners, shampoos, and hair masks
Injection
Peptide injection for hair growth works at the cellular level. It provides rapid and uniform absorption of the peptide. It also bypasses the first-pass metabolism of the drug.
Unlike oral peptides, injections avoid the gastric factor that may affect its absorption.
Oral supplementation
Oral supplements containing peptides are also available for hair growth. These supplements typically come in capsules or tablets.
However, they may not be as effective as topical applications or injections because they are easily broken down within the digestive system before they can be absorbed into the bloodstream.
Conclusion
It’s undeniable that peptides support hair growth. Nonetheless, individual results may vary.
If you’re worried about possible side effects, peptide supplements won’t likely cause any serious issues, as they are very similar to the peptides you get from food.
On the other hand, topical peptides for hair growth could cause itching, skin sensitivity, or rashes.
Therefore, it’s best to use hair growth products that contain high-quality peptides, are clinically tested, and have proven effective ingredients that support hair growth.
Therefore, we recommend Limitless Life Nootropics, as this brand has the best formulations of peptides for hair growth in the market.
Not to mention that it offers the BEST deals on both price and peptide purity.
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