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What is Keratin? Here's What a Dietitian Has to Say About It

You're might be familiar with collagen and elastin, even if that means you're just semi-aware of the benefits of collagen. Well, keratin is another protein just like collagen and elastin. It's also a critical structural component in your hair, skin, and nails. And like collagen and elastin, our bodies make less keratin as we get older. (Can you hear me groaning?). So, what is keratin? Keratin isn't just one protein—it's a mixture of different amino acids. And there are various types of keratin (mm-hmm, just like collagen again). You'll find keratin in—and it's extracted from—animal horns, hooves, wool, and feathers. From there, it's typically turned into supplements you can eat, or added to hair…

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 What is Keratin and How Does it Help My Hair?

The hair care world is filled with new tricks, trends and techniques to keep your hair as healthy and as beautiful as possible. It can be difficult to assess which ones to follow! As one example, you may see many hair products gracing the shelves with "keratin" on the label. Or, maybe you’ve heard your hair stylist recommend investing in a keratin treatment. In other words – keratin is the treatment you must try now.

Articles of Interest

Structure and functions of keratin proteins in simple, stratified, keratinized and cornified epithelia

This review focuses on keratins and keratin filaments in mammalian tissue but keratins in the tissues of some other vertebrates are also considered.

Things You Need to Know About Keratin

Keratin is a biological material and protective protein. These proteins are a group of cysteine-rich filament-forming proteins that act as a protective layer or shield, that can be derived from several animals. Keratin is predominantly sourced from horns, claws, beaks, wool, hair, and feathers and is a common ingredient for skin, hair and nail cosmetics, treatments, and supplements.

What is Hair Keratin Protein? And Do You Need It?

Simply put... Keratin protein is a type of protein that makes up your hair, skin and nails, and is even found in your internal organs. The reason it has become a buzzword is because it plays a large role in hair protection and repair. Your hair is made up of over 90% protein. Fifty different types of proteins, in fact, but keratin is the major one — and it is responsible for keeping your hair shaft protected from everyday stress by smoothing down the layers of cells that overlap to form your hair strands — aka your hair cuticle. The result when adding keratin to your hair regimen?

What Is Keratin And What Does It Do For My Hair

Keratin, just like collagen, is a structural protein naturally produced by human cells. Keratin is found in the hair, nails and horns of animals. It is responsible for the strength of these body parts. Keratin is the go-to guy if you want strong, beautiful hair that doesn’t break or fall off easily. Since Keratin makes hair healthier and stronger, hairstylists and beauticians believe that applying Keratin directly to the hair or ingesting keratin supplements will improve hair quality, and they are right.

What is keratin?

Keratin is rich in cystine, an amino acid with many health benefits for our phaneres. Cystine is an association of two cysteins, each containing one sulfur atom. During its formation, disulfide bridges are created between the sulfur atoms. These chemical bonds strengthen the strength of the keratin fibers between them.

Resources

10 Foods That Boost Your Body's Keratin Levels

Keratin supplements are often said to help prevent hair loss, increase nail growth, and improve skin texture. Yet, plenty of healthy foods may naturally support your body’s synthesis of keratin.