I have been growing a beard since my teenage years, but before I hit the teenage stage I had no beard or signs of growing one. That kept me wondering why my beard came at puberty yet I was born with my scalp hair. I did some research to find out whether beard and scalp hair is made of the same thing. Here is what I found.
So, what is facial hair made of? Just like scalp hair and other types of hair in the body be it pubis, eyelashes, eyebrows facial hair is made of keratin. Keratin is a form of protein that is protective, less prone to tearing and scratching as compared to other cells in the body.
Keratin used in cosmetics can be made from wool, feathers, and horns of various animals. The fact that keratin is the structural building block of facial hair, most people are convinced that keratin supplements, treatments, and products can result in a strong and healthier beard.
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Benefits of using keratin on your facial hair
Using keratin on your facial hair has the following benefits; it makes your beard smooth and easy to manage. However, these results depend on the state of your beard, healthy facial hair yields better results.
Keratin smoothens cells that overlap to create facial hair strands. The hair cuticle which makes up these cells absorbs keratin in the hair strand. A keratin treatment is claimed to result in a straighter, easier to style-less frizzy beard.
Are keratin treatments safe for the beard? I did not find any study that focuses on beard keratin treatment. However, there are tons of anecdotal evidence of people who have had keratin scalp hair treatment and swear by how effective the treatment was.
Since this post is about what facial hair is made of, and as already established, keratin is the building block. We will talk more about how you can boost your levels of keratin and the side effects of having too much keratin in the body.
Keratin supplements
You can find several forms of keratin supplements on the market. These supplements come in capsule and powder form. However, caution should be exercised since too much keratin in the body can lead to protein build-up in the body.
Risks and side effects of keratin treatments
One of the components of keratin used for treatment in the salon is formaldehyde. In some cases, salon attendants have reported cases of respiratory issues and nosebleeds after administering these treatments.
Based on this study
, salon keratin treatment have high levels of formaldehyde that is five times higher than the recommended levels by the national safety standards for chemical exposure.
Do you have to take keratin supplements for beard growth?
No, you do not have to take keratin supplements for hair growth. Your body produces keratin naturally which most of the time is sufficient for your body’s needs. Consult a doctor in case you wish to take keratin supplements.
Foods that promote keratin production naturally
By eating foods that naturally contain keratin, you will end up boosting your keratin levels naturally. Some of the foods that promote keratin production include
- Vegetables: kale, onions, broccoli, garlic, and leeks.
- Liver
- Yogurt
- Protein-rich diet: lean meat, fish, eggs.
- Omega 3 fatty acids
- Include vitamin C in your diet
- Eat food rich in biotin
Wrap up
As we have already established, beards are made of keratin. While there are several sources of keratin, I recommend you get keratin from the food that you consume daily instead of buying keratin supplements.
