Study: NDS HairActive Collagen Peptides Significantly Increase Hair Thickness
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For the first time, a peer-reviewed clinical trial has demonstrated that a specific collagen peptide can significantly increase hair thickness - not as an assumption extrapolated from skin research, but as a directly measured outcome in a randomised, placebo-controlled study.
Collagen has long been associated with skin elasticity and hydration, supported by a substantial body of clinical research. What has been far less understood - and far less studied - is whether the same collagen peptides could meaningfully affect hair, beyond the assumption that “healthy skin probably means healthy hair too.”
A new study changes that. Published research on NDS® HairActive® Collagen Peptides (VRS 55) is the first peer-reviewed study to clearly demonstrate a positive effect of specific collagen peptide intake on hair metabolism and structure - not by inference, but by direct measurement.
The study at a glance
What the results showed
At the end of the 16-week supplementation period, the two groups diverged clearly. The comparison revealed a statistically significant increase in hair thickness in the NDS HairActive group compared to placebo - a meaningful clinical finding, not a marginal trend.
Measured and confirmed as statistically significant when compared directly against the placebo group over the 16-week period.
The placebo group did not maintain hair thickness over the same period — reinforcing the significance of the active group’s improvement.
Hair thickness is a key aspect of healthy hair appearance - it influences how hair looks, feels, and behaves, including its resistance to breakage and its overall visual density. A measurable increase in thickness, sustained over 16 weeks, represents a structural change rather than a temporary cosmetic effect.
Beyond thickness: what was happening at a cellular level
The study didn’t stop at measuring hair thickness. Researchers also wanted to understand whether the previously demonstrated efficacy of NDS HairActive in stimulating cells of the skin’s extracellular matrix could extend to hair follicle cells - and whether it could promote their proliferation.
The in vitro finding: exposure to NDS HairActive Collagen Peptides for just 4 hours produced a statistically significant 31% increase in the proliferation rate of human hair follicle cells, compared with untreated control cells.
This finding builds on previous data showing that NDS HairActive increases mitochondrial activity in hair follicle cells - in other words, the peptide appears to be supporting the cellular energy production that underpins healthy follicle function, not just providing a passive structural input.
Taken together, the in vitro and clinical findings tell a consistent story: a peptide that stimulates follicle cells to proliferate more actively is also the same peptide associated with measurably thicker hair after sustained use. The mechanism and the outcome align.
Why this matters - and why it’s the first study of its kind
As researchers involved in the study noted, the positive effects of NDS HairActive on skin elasticity and wrinkle reduction had already been demonstrated by several clinical trials performed over the previous decade, testing nearly 500 study participants in total. What had not previously been established with this level of rigour was a direct, measured effect on hair.
With this new study, improved hair structure joins the established list of benefits associated with NDS SkinActive and HairActive formulations. Researchers note it can reasonably be assumed that the increased hair thickness observed also leads to improved textural and physical properties of hair - making it stronger and more resistant to breakage, although this was not the specific endpoint measured in this study.
“In summary, this is the first published, peer-reviewed study to clearly demonstrate a positive effect of specific Collagen Peptides intake on hair metabolism and structure.”
- Oesser, S. (2020)
An important caveat: specificity matters
One of the most clinically important points raised by the researchers is one that the wider collagen supplement market rarely acknowledges. Collagen peptides can exhibit different biological activities depending on their specific molecular structure and source - and the effects measured in this study apply only to the specific Collagen Peptides tested.
In other words, these results cannot necessarily be applied to other collagen products on the market, even those marketed for similar purposes. This is precisely the principle behind NDS’s tissue-specific approach: peptides are not interchangeable, and a result demonstrated for one specific peptide — in this case, VRS 55, the active compound in NDS HairActive - should not be assumed to apply to generic or undocumented collagen sources.
Where this fits in the bigger picture
NDS HairActive Collagen Peptides use the same VRS 55 peptide fraction found in NDS Collagen SkinActive and in NDS Multi Collagen Total - the tissue-specific peptide formulated to target fibroblasts in the skin’s extracellular matrix. This study extends what was already understood about VRS 55’s effect on skin to a directly measured, statistically significant effect on hair thickness and follicle cell activity.
For anyone evaluating a collagen supplement specifically for hair health, the distinction this study draws is an important one: look for documented, peer-reviewed evidence behind the specific peptide in the product - not general claims about collagen as a category.
Frequently asked questions
How long before I would expect to see results similar to the study?
The study measured outcomes at 16 weeks of consistent daily use. This aligns with the timeline NDS practitioners generally recommend for collagen supplementation - a minimum of 90 days, with the most significant results typically reported toward the 12–16 week mark.
Was this study specific to women experiencing hair thinning, or general hair health?
The study was conducted on 44 healthy women aged 39 to 75 - a broad age range rather than a group selected specifically for diagnosed hair loss or thinning conditions. The findings relate to hair thickness as a general marker of hair health within this population.
What is the difference between NDS HairActive and NDS SkinActive?
Both use the same VRS 55 peptide fraction, which targets fibroblasts in the skin’s extracellular matrix and supports skin, hair and nail tissue. HairActive is formulated and dosed specifically with hair outcomes as the primary focus, building on the broader evidence base established for SkinActive.
Does this mean any collagen supplement will improve hair thickness?
No - and this is one of the central points the researchers make. The effects measured in this study apply specifically to the Collagen Peptides tested and cannot necessarily be applied to other collagen products, even those with similar labelling. Peptide specificity, not the general category of “collagen,” is what the clinical evidence supports.
Is the 31% follicle cell proliferation finding from human trials or lab testing?
This specific finding was an in vitro test - human hair follicle cells exposed to NDS HairActive Collagen Peptides for 4 hours in a laboratory setting, compared against untreated control cells. It is a separate piece of evidence from the 16-week human clinical trial measuring hair thickness, and the two findings together build a more complete picture of how the peptide works.
NDS HairActive Collagen Peptides use VRS 55 - the tissue-specific peptide behind the first peer-reviewed study to demonstrate a measurable increase in hair thickness. Developed over 20 years of Danish clinical research.
Explore NDS HairActive →Source: Oesser, S. (2020). Randomised, placebo-controlled study on NDS® HairActive® Collagen Peptides, 44 participants, 16 weeks.