How to get better hair - naturally!
How to Get Healthier Hair Naturally
If you've tried every straightener, tong and expensive product going and still aren't happy with how your hair sits, there are gentler, more natural habits worth trying first — many of them about what you put into your body and how you treat your hair day to day, rather than another product. Here's an honest guide, including a straight answer on the collagen-and-hair question. For the wider picture on collagen, see our complete guide to liquid marine collagen.
Give Your Hair a Break From Heat
We know it's a scary thought, but heated tools like straighteners and curling tongs do damage hair over time, contributing to split ends and dullness. You don't have to give them up entirely — just give your hair regular time off, use a heat-protectant when you do style, and keep the temperature as low as you can. Saving the hot tools for special occasions makes a real, visible difference.
Eat Enough Protein
Hair is made mostly of protein, so getting enough each day matters. The good news is that most people on a balanced diet — including vegetarians and vegans — get plenty, because protein is in so many staple foods. Make sure your diet regularly includes sources like beans, nuts, pulses, soy and tofu, leafy greens, eggs, dairy, meat and fish.
Get Your Omega-3s
Omega-3 fatty acids support overall skin and scalp health, and a healthy scalp is part of the foundation for healthy hair. Oily fish like salmon and mackerel are excellent sources, along with flaxseed, walnuts and some fortified foods. If you don't eat fish, a quality omega-3 supplement can help you hit your intake.
Mind Your Iron and Zinc
This is where nutrition and hair genuinely connect: deficiencies in iron and zinc are well-recognised causes of hair shedding. Zinc is found in nuts (Brazil nuts, cashews, pecans, walnuts), seeds, wholegrains and shellfish; iron in red meat, pulses and leafy greens. If you're noticing significant or sudden hair shedding, though, that's worth a GP visit and a simple blood test rather than guesswork — it can have several causes.
Where Does Collagen Fit? An Honest Answer
You'll see a lot of bold claims about collagen and hair, so here's the truthful version. Collagen provides amino acids the body uses, and it's the best-evidenced supplement for skin — but the direct clinical evidence that collagen makes hair grow thicker, longer or faster is limited. Importantly, a couple of common claims simply aren't accurate: collagen doesn't "build keratin" (hair is made of keratin, which is a different protein), and there's no evidence it prevents grey hair. We'd rather tell you that than repeat the hype. If you take collagen, take it for its well-supported skin benefits, and treat any hair benefit as an unproven possibility rather than a promise.
Hair Habits at a Glance
| Habit | The honest picture |
|---|---|
| Less heat styling | Well supported — reduces damage, split ends and dullness |
| Adequate protein | Important — hair is mostly protein; most balanced diets cover it |
| Omega-3s | Support scalp and skin health |
| Iron & zinc | Deficiencies are real causes of shedding — see a GP if it's significant |
| Collagen for hair | Limited direct evidence — strong for skin, unproven for hair |
The Natural Approach
- Be gentle — less heat, lower temperatures, a heat protectant when you do style.
- Eat for your hair — enough protein, plus iron, zinc and omega-3 sources.
- Get checked if needed — significant or sudden shedding deserves a GP and a blood test.
- Be realistic about supplements — collagen is strong for skin; its hair evidence is limited.
- Give it time — hair grows slowly, so any nutrition change takes months to show.
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Premium Liquid Marine Collagen
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Shop Now →The Bottom Line
Healthier hair naturally comes down to gentler handling and good nutrition far more than any single product. Ease off the heat, eat enough protein and the right micronutrients, and see a GP if shedding is significant. As for collagen — it's a genuinely strong supplement for skin, but its hair benefits are unproven, and we won't pretend otherwise.
If you take collagen for its skin benefits, Kollo's 10g daily sachet is an easy way to stay consistent. Our complete guide to liquid marine collagen has the detail, our collagen powder guide compares formats, and for women thinking about skin and wellness together in midlife, our women's wellness guide for over 40s ties it together.
Kollo Health was co-founded by Jenni Falconer - TV presenter, Smooth Radio breakfast host, ten-time London Marathon runner and host of the RunPod podcast. Read her story and why she created Kollo.
