Pearl Extract for Hair: What the Research Shows

Pearl extract is used in skin care. We found no study of it on hair. The research is on skin: in lab studies it affected pigment production in cultured melanoma cells, and in mice it protected skin from UV damage and from induced aging.

Here's what those studies show and what they mean for hair.

Key Takeaways

• In cultured melanoma cells, a soluble pearl extract counteracted endothelin-1's effects on melanin synthesis and tyrosinase activity.
• In mice, a pearl extract gel protected skin from UV-induced wrinkles, laxity and dryness, and raised antioxidant enzyme activity.
• In another mouse study, extract from the nacre of pearl oyster shells reduced signs of D-galactose-induced skin and brain aging.
• We found no study of pearl extract for hair.

What Is Pearl Extract?

Pearl extract is made from pearls or pearl oyster shells. Pearl powder has been used for centuries in health and beauty, and the extract contains amino acids.

Does Pearl Extract Help Hair?

No evidence says so. All the research we found is on skin, and it is lab and animal work.

As a woman who has always dreamed of long, luscious locks, I understand the frustration of dealing with slow hair growth.

Using Pearl Extract

• Treat hair claims as unproven.
• Note the pigment research. In cells, it reduced melanin production. Whether it affects hair color has not been studied.
• Patch test new products.

What The Research Shows

Pigment Cells In The Lab

In B16 melanoma cells, endothelin-1 increased melanin synthesis, tyrosinase activity and expression of pigment genes. Soluble pearl extract abolished these effects, which the authors framed as skin lightening (Wang et al., 2021). This was a cell study, and hair color was not studied.

UV Damage In Mice

Pearl extract gel applied to shaved mouse skin before UV exposure contained 14 amino acids and inhibited UV-induced wrinkles, laxity, thickness and dryness. It also raised the activities of antioxidant enzymes and suppressed inflammatory factors (Zhang et al., 2022).

Nacre Extract And Aging

Extract from the nacreous layer of pearl oyster shells led to recovery of memory impairment in a D-galactose aging model in mice. It also suppressed D-galactose-induced skin wrinkle formation, loss of skin moisture, epidermal thickening and collagen disruption (Yamamoto et al., 2023).

See also: Serums for Gray Hair: What the Research Says About Care, Color & Sun · Uva Ursi Extract: Skin, Scalp & What the Research Shows

Frequently Asked Questions

Does pearl extract help hair growth?

We found no study showing that it does.

What does pearl extract do for skin?

In the lab and in mice, it affected pigment production and protected skin from UV damage and induced aging.

Is pearl extract safe?

We found no human safety data in these studies. Patch test and talk to your doctor if you have allergies.

References

1. Wang J, Chen Z, Lu Y, et al. Soluble Pearl Extract provides effective skin lightening by antagonizing endothelin. J Cosmet Dermatol. 2021. PubMed
2. Zhang Z, Xu Y, Lai R, et al. Protective Effect of the Pearl Extract from Pinctada fucata martensii Dunker on UV-Induced Photoaging in Mice. Chem Biodivers. 2022. PubMed
3. Yamamoto H, Shimomura N, Oura K, et al. Nacre Extract from Pearl Oyster Shell Prevents D-Galactose-Induced Brain and Skin Aging. Mar Biotechnol (NY). 2023. PubMed