Is hyaluronic acid good for your hair or not?

What is hyaluronic acid?

Hyaluronic acid (HA) is a molecule naturally produced by our bodies.

It plays a major role in the hydration of many tissues, particularly the skin, joints and eyes.

It is also involved in the suppleness and elasticity of these same tissues.

How does hyaluronic acid work in our body and hair?

Hyaluronic acid owes its effects to its ability to retain water (up to 1000 times its weight) and to structure the extracellular environment (1).

It is found in joints, for example, where it lubricates cartilage and cushions shocks.

It also makes up a large part of the vitreous humour in the eyes.

As for the hair, hyaluronic acid helps maintain a healthy scalp by supporting the hydration and integrity of the skin barrier, creating an environment conducive to healthy hair follicles (2-3).

Unfortunately, the natural synthesis of hyaluronic acid decreases with age or under the effect of factors such as oxidative stress.

This deficit can lead to a loss of hydration, elasticity and suppleness in the tissues, and can therefore have an impact on the health and appearance of the hair.

The different options for the external supply of hyaluronic acid

To compensate for the reduced natural production of hyaluronic acid, there are various ways of providing it externally.

There are three main types:

• skin injections, performed in beauty salons or medical clinics;
• skin and hair care products (serums, creams, lotions, shampoos for dry hair, etc.);
• food supplements (powder, tablets, capsules, etc.).

Hyaluronic acid injections are used in aesthetic medicine to restore volume and hydration to the skin.

They are most often used to treat the face and, occasionally, the neck.

However, micro-injection techniques into the scalp appear to have a revitalising effect on people suffering from alopecia (3).

Cosmetic treatments containing hyaluronic acid, particularly those proposed for curly hair, split ends or to provide anti-frizz action, could help to hydrate the scalp to support its health, as well as promote hair repair (4).

However, it is important to bear in mind that HA molecules need to be small enough to penetrate the hair shaft.

Finally, hyaluronic acid-based dietary supplements are sometimes recommended to improve the hydration of tissues from within.

One study suggests that oral intake of hyaluronic acid promotes skin hydration after 2 to 8 weeks and increases epidermal thickness after 12 weeks (5).

As a skin tissue, the scalp could therefore benefit from these effects.

Food supplements of interest for the hair

Hyaluronic acid supplements that are good for hair

Reduced-weight hyaluronic acid

The patented Injuv® ingredient is based on a technique that reduces the molecular weight of hyaluronic acid without altering its chemical nature.

This allows it to be easily absorbed by the body, which then distributes it to the tissues that need it (find out more about the Injuv® Hyaluronic Acid supplement).

HA combined with other natural active ingredients

Some formulas combine hyaluronic acid with other targeted active ingredients with various benefits (collagen, vitamins, minerals, etc.).

These supplements aim to have an overall effect on the skin, nails and hair (like our Daily Beauty formula, which notably contains hyaluronic acid, collagen peptides, biotin and zinc).

Hair supplements without hyaluronic acid

Other food supplements of interest for the skin and hair do not contain hyaluronic acid, but can be used in synergy with formulas that do.

Brewer's yeast

Brewer's yeast, for example, contains B-group vitamins valued for hair health, such as vitamin B8 (biotin), which helps maintain normal hair and skin.

It also contains vitamin B6, which contributes to the synthesis of cysteine, a constituent of the keratin that makes up hair (discover our brewer's yeast, like that in our Brewer's Yeast Hair Boost supplement).

Millet and rosemary extracts

The patented active ingredient Keranat™  includes, in particular, a millet extract titrated in miliacin, whose effect on keratinocytes is being studied by experts, and a rosemary extract recommended by naturopaths to tone the scalp (you can find this patented active ingredient in the Keranat™ supplement).

Solubilised keratin

Finally, some synergistic formulas combine zinc and biotin, which help maintain normal hair, with patented solubilised keratin (discover such a combination of ingredients for hair with the complete Hair & Nails Formula).