Phytoceramides for Hair: What They Are and What the Research Shows

Phytoceramides are plant-derived ceramides, fats that help build the skin barrier. The research on them is mostly about skin, and the hair findings are early: synthetic ceramides stimulated hair-papilla cell growth in the lab, and a ceramide shampoo reduced breakage of relaxed hair in a brushing test. We found no trial of oral phytoceramides for hair.

Here's what the studies found.

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Key Takeaways

• In a 6-week, placebo-controlled trial of 51 people, an oral konjac extract providing 5 mg of glycosylceramides a day reduced skin dryness, redness, itching and oiliness.
• In human dermal papilla cells, synthetic ceramides increased proliferation and activated Wnt/β-catenin signalling in the lab.
• A ceramide-containing shampoo reduced breakage of chemically relaxed African-American hair in a brushing test.
• We found no trial of phytoceramides for hair in people.

What Are Phytoceramides?

Ceramides play a fundamental role in skin barrier function. Phytoceramides are ceramides from plants, taken as supplements or used in products.

Do Phytoceramides Help Hair?

They may help hair fibers in products, and the lab work on follicle cells is early. Oral phytoceramides haven't been tested for hair.

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Using Phytoceramides

• Think skin first. The oral evidence is for skin.
• For hair, the evidence is for topical products and lab work.
• Ask your doctor about supplements if you're pregnant, breastfeeding or take medication.

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What The Research Shows

Oral Ceramides And Skin

Fifty-one healthy volunteers took a placebo or 100 mg a day of a konjac tuber extract standardized to 5% glycosylceramides (5 mg) for 6 weeks. The extract significantly decreased skin dryness, hyperpigmentation, redness, itching and oiliness, and was well tolerated (Heggar Venkataramana et al., 2020).

Ceramides And Hair Follicle Cells

Synthetic oleyl and stearyl ceramides increased proliferation-related proteins and several growth factors in human dermal papilla cells and promoted Wnt/β-catenin and BMP2/4 signalling. The authors suggested ceramides stimulate hair growth by inducing papilla cell proliferation (Oh et al., 2019). This was a cell study with synthetic ceramides.

Ceramides And Hair Breakage

A ceramide found in human hair (C18-dhCer) bound to African-American hair and protected it from weakening by chemicals. In a brushing breakage test on relaxed hair, a shampoo with the ceramide caused less breakage (Bernard et al., 2002). The ceramide studied is not a phytoceramide.

See also: Vitamin F (Linoleic Acid) for Hair: What the Research Shows · Milk Thistle for Hair: What the Research Shows

Frequently Asked Questions

Do phytoceramides help hair growth?

We found no trial in people. In the lab, synthetic ceramides stimulated growth of hair papilla cells.

What are phytoceramides?

Ceramides from plants, used in supplements and skin products.

Are phytoceramides safe?

The 6-week trial found them well tolerated. Talk to your doctor first.

References

1. Heggar Venkataramana S, Puttaswamy N, Kodimule S. Potential benefits of oral administration of AMORPHOPHALLUS KONJAC glycosylceramides on skin health - a randomized clinical study. BMC Complement Med Ther. 2020. PubMed
2. Oh JH, Jeong KH, Kim JE, et al. Synthesized Ceramide Induces Growth of Dermal Papilla Cells with Potential Contribution to Hair Growth. Ann Dermatol. 2019. PubMed
3. Bernard BA, Franbourg A, François AM, et al. Ceramide binding to African-American hair fibre correlates with resistance to hair breakage. Int J Cosmet Sci. 2002. PubMed