Peptide serums have become a mainstay of skin-care routines for their ability to repair and improve skin—but why should your face exclusively reap those rewards? Welcome to the next era of everyone’s current ingredient obsession: peptides for hair growth.
Vogue’s Favorite Peptides For Hair Growth
Vegamour GRO+ Advanced Hair Serum
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Neutrogena Hair Restore Advanced Growth Support Serum
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Cécred Restoring Hair & Edge Drops
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Hair growth has been a top concern for many for years, and when applied to the scalp, peptides can help hydrate, prevent breakage, alleviate inflammation, and foster new, stronger strands. “I’m seeing more patients asking about peptides for hair growth, often after hearing about them through social media, dermatologist-led content, or ingredient-focused beauty coverage,” DiAnne Davis, MD, board-certified dermatologist at Bare Dermatology, tells Vogue of the growing trend. “Peptides are also starting to trend more because patients are looking for alternatives to finasteride (given long term systemic exposure) and minoxidil (due to concerns about increased shedding, and skin and scalp irritation).”
“Long story short, a healthy scalp leads to healthy hair,” adds trichologist Kerry Yates. The data also doesn’t lie. According to Jenny Zeng, a beauty analyst at Spate, peptides are considered a “rising star” ingredient. Zeng points to search on Google and across all our social feeds where the ingredient is at about 141 million impressions monthly, a 247.6% growth year over year. And though peptide hair serums specifically are still considered niche, she says that these products look like an “early-stage frontier” with almost 40% predicted growth.
Peptides are short chains of amino acids, which you may recall (from high school biology) are the building blocks of proteins. Your body naturally makes them, so when you apply peptides to skin, your body recognizes them and responds accordingly. “Our bodies combine peptides in various sequences to function as cellular messengers to help repair, rebuild, or regenerate,” explains board-certified internist and longevity expert Amanda Kahn, MD. In the case of your scalp, peptides work by telling cells to turn on genes for hair growth and thickness, as well as triggering the release of growth factors, says board-certified dermatologist Kiran Mian, MD. “They promote elongation of hair, an increase in the hair growth phase, and improve amino acid content of hair, for smoother healthier hair,” she adds. With that, the best peptides for hair growth below.
