Get strong, glossy locks with this must-have ingredient.
A darling of skincare formulations as well as haircare products, peptides are small-chain amino acids that make up larger proteins. We might not associate protein with hair health but, in reality, more than 90% of our locks are made of the stuff. ‘Peptides are crucial for keeping our hair healthy,’ says GP Dr Simmy Kaur. ‘They’re very small, which means they can penetrate both the hair follicle and shaft easily.’ Here, they work to nourish and repair damage. ‘Our hair strands are essentially dead (they cannot repair themselves) and need extra TLC to cope with damage,’ she explains. ‘Peptides can work to restore our hair’s inner bonds, which is crucial to helping reverse damage from drying, bleaching and heat styling.’
At the scalp, peptides also work to nourish hair follicles. ‘This is the alive part of our hair,’ says Dr Kaur. ‘Peptides enhance cuticle production, which helps hair to grow and can make individual hairs thicker too.’
Q Can peptides prevent hair loss? ‘Peptides facilitate stronger follicles and strands – so yes, they can help. They also prevent breakage and increase elasticity, making our hair more resilient and less likely to shed. Prevention is the best policy when it comes to hair loss. If you’re using peptides consistently, your hair will get stronger and be more able to withstand damage.’
Q Who will benefit
