Keratin Amino Acids For Repairing and Strengthening Hair

While different molecules make up the complex hair structure, a protein called helical protein or Keratin makes up almost 95% of hair. Keratin in itself contains 18 specific amino acids that bond together to form each hair strand. Out of the 18 keratin amino acids, the most prominent are cystine, serine, glutamic acid, glycine, threonine, arginine, valine, leucine, and isoleucine.

Visually, there are three main parts of hair namely the hair shaft, hair follicle, and hair root. As the most visible part of the hair structure, the hair shaft can be seen growing out of the scalp and sticks out of the skin. The hair root, on the other hand, is found in the deeper inner layer of the skin and is surrounded by the hair follicle also known as sebaceous glands.

For one to have great-looking and healthy hair, maintaining their levels of keratin amino acids and production is vital. However, with different hair processing techniques like heat styling, bleaching, and coloring, keratin damage is inevitable. With this loss of keratin due to treatments, one could potentially experience hair issues like breakage, hair loss, reduced hair flexibility, and just all-around hair damage.

As popular treatments and daily styling techniques cause keratin loss, it is important that professionals, consumers, and brands understand the structure of hair and how keratin amino acids play a role in its repair and strengthen one’s overall hair health. Keep reading to find out more about keratin and the role it plays in hair.

What are the most common amino acids in Keratin?

As mentioned earlier there are a total of 18 keratin amino acids that bond together to form hair. Out of these 18, these are the most abundant that play a significant role in hair structure:

1. Arginine
   Arginine is an amino acid in hair that plays a structural role. Starting from the hair follicle, this amino acid helps improve hair growth and strength. Arginine’s ability to produce nitric oxide which improves blood circulation in the area promoting the movement of molecules to boost hair growth and strength.
   
2. Cysteine
   Cysteine, another structural amino acid, forms a protective shield around the hair, preventing breakage and contributing to a softer and straighter appearance.
   
3. Proline, methionine, and lysine
   Proline, methionine, and lysine work together to form keratin and collagen in hair, serving as essential building blocks while promoting hair growth and elasticity.

Topical Applications and Products For Keratin Production and Protection

Primarily, the amino acids needed for healthy hair come from a healthy and balanced diet. However, in conjunction with a good diet, it’s been found that a topical application can help with the production of keratin to repair and strengthen hair. This topical application is specifically beneficial for a more targeted and localized treatment on the scalp and hair.

Provital’s Keranutri For Hair

When it comes to topical applications, not all topical keratin products are made equal. It is also important to find one that is potent and best fits one’s daily and personal care routine. For example, a great all-around product with keratin amino acids that can be easily integrated into any routine is Provital’s Keranutri from their Careactives line.

Keranuti contains several amino acids used for keratin production and hair repair derived from carob tree hydrolyzate and soy. Both have high concentrations of cystine and methionine amino acids which are ideal in keratin hair care treatments. 

In addition to these, carob tree hydrolyzate contains glutamic acid, arginine, and aspartic acid while soy contains leucine, lysine, phenylalanine, valine, isoleucine, threonine, tyrosine and tryptophan all of which are beneficial to the growth and production of keratin.

However, what makes these derived amino acids more potent than other commercial products is that they are free amino acids. These free-form amino acids are more easily absorbed by the body allowing more nutrients to penetrate leading to a more effective treatment.  With these free amino acids, the active ingredients of Keranuti have been proven to

1. Improve structure and strength of overall hair health.
2. Reduced hair permeability and improves hair texture.
3. Forms a protective layer around the hair cuticle that leads to healthy hydrated hair. 

How Can You Increase Hair Keratin?

With Keranutri, one can easily integrate it into their routine to either prevent damage or repair hair by adding it to their current hair care products or treatments. 

1. Using Keranutri to maintain healthy hair, one can mix it in their daily shampoo or conditioner to add the active ingredient directly onto their scalp. One can also use it as a hair serum and directly apply it to the hair. 
2. Alternatively,  if one is planning to get a hair treatment like bleaching and coloring done, Keranutri can also be used to minimize and prevent unnecessary hair damage or keratin loss. By adding Keranutri to the bleach directly, it is possible to get great hair color without the severe damage bleach can cause.  

Overall the addition of a treatment with keratin amino acids like Provital’s Keranutri protects hair structure. With amino acids and keratin as the building blocks of hair, a good topical treatment can help target areas and help anyone achieve healthy strong hair.