How Long Does Collagen Take to Work for Hair and Skin?
How Long Does Collagen Take to Work for Hair and Skin?
Collagen is the supplement that everyone is talking about, and for good reason. Quickly becoming a kitchen cupboard staple, collagen has made its name for boosting hair, skin, nails, joints, and muscles. But the real question on everyone’s mind is: how long does collagen take to work?
Here’s the thing: in a world of bold beauty promises and expectations that way too often fall short – that £90 face cream probably isn’t worth even the delivery cost – it’s not unrealistic to want to see results from collagen fast.
The truth is, collagen takes time and consistent use to see real benefits. The good news? Thousands of people experience real benefits (just check our reviews), so we don’t think your expectations will fall short either. So, here’s everything to expect and when to expect it.
What is collagen and how does it work?
Collagen is a naturally occurring protein in the human body, produced using amino acids from the proteins we eat. It’s actually the protein we have the most of, as it acts as a key building block for skin, hair, nails, joints, bones, muscles, and connective tissues.
The bad news: collagen production starts to decline from the mid-20s and can be damaged more by lifestyle factors such as smoking, sun exposure, stress, and poor diet.
Collagen supplements, like our Bovine Collagen Peptides Powder, are packed full of collagen peptides, which are broken down during digestion into amino acids, giving the body the raw ingredients it needs to boost skin, hair, nails, joints, and bones.
How long does collagen take to work?
The short answer: around four to 12 weeks, depending on the person and the benefits they want to see.
The end? We wouldn’t leave you short like that.
Here’s the thing: the speed of the benefits of collagen really depends on the person, and a lot can affect the performance (more on that later). Key factors such as age and overall health can impact how collagen is absorbed into the body, but patience always pays off.
Here’s a breakdown of how fast science (and our reviewers) predict how fast collagen will work (this varies from person to person):
- Skin
- Four weeks: May experience a visible change
- Four – eight weeks: Skin hydration may improve
- Eight – 12 weeks: Skin texture and elasticity may improve
- Hair and nails
- Eight – 12 weeks: Nails may appear less brittle with reduced splitting and stronger growth
- Three – six months: Hair appearance and strength may improve with consistent use and plenty of patience (it’s worth it)
- Joints and muscles
- Four – eight weeks: Improvements might become obvious
- Eight – 16 weeks: May see improvements in mobility
Why does collagen take longer to work?
If you made a little groan when you read ‘six months’ for the full benefits of collagen, we’d like to mount a defence for our hard-working friend.
Your body is one smart cookie and is constantly trying to renew tissues. It will take what it needs and repair what needs repairing, when it needs it. And that’s why we see the benefits of collagen at different speeds and why it can seem like it takes a long time to work.
Your body has it all worked out. Just give it the tools.
What actually affects how fast collagen works?
It’s worth knowing that there are things that you can do to make sure you’re getting real bang for your buck:
- Consistent use: A high daily dose of collagen is essential for seeing the fastest benefits
- Lifestyle: Diet and lifestyle factors such as eating your vitamins in a varied diet (vitamin C and collagen are a great team), good sleep quality, plenty of water, and steering clear of excessive sun can all help to boost collagen benefits
- Product quality: Top-quality bovine collagen is one of the most effective collagens on the market. Luckily for you, we have all that covered already.
Why does WillPowders collagen use bovine collagen rather than marine collagen?
Right, now we’re getting to the real science. There are around 28 different types of collagen, but the collagen in the human body can be split into three groups:
- Type I collagen makes up around 90% of the collagen in the body and can be found in skin, hair, nails, bones, and ligaments. This is the collagen that contributes to skin health and elasticity.
- Type II collagen is found in elastic cartilage and supports mobility and bones.
- Type III collagen works with Type I collagen to support skin, arteries, organs and muscles.
If you’re a seasoned collagen researcher, you’ll know that most supplements are either marine collagen or bovine collagen.
Marine collagen is sourced from fish and often only contains Type I collagen, while bovine collagen comes from cattle and contains both Type I and Type III, making it a stronger option for supporting skin, hair, nails, organs, and muscles.
Our Bovine Collagen Peptides deliver Type I and Type III collagen to the body using grass-fed Swiss bovine, so you know you’re getting the cream of the crop every time you drop a shot into your coffee, smoothie or yoghurt bowl.
So, how long does collagen take to work?
Like most things in life, it’s complicated. Many people report seeing benefits from consistent collagen use around the four-week mark, with skin hydration being the first to show itself.
Nails and muscles come in second at around eight weeks, with hair benefits making an appearance around three months.
The truth is, collagen isn’t a magic potion that can work overnight. It demands daily use, lifestyle changes, and patience. But trust us on this one, it’s so worth it.
Stick with us and our Bovine Collagen Peptides range, and we’ll have you glowing in approx. four to eight weeks.