Reviewed by Lindsey Wilson, Certified Integrative Nutrition Health Coach (IIN) · Updated November 2026
Bone broth contains some of the building blocks your skin and hair are made from: protein, collagen broken down into gelatin, and amino acids like glycine and proline. That's why it has a reputation as a beauty food. The honest answer is that no good studies have tested drinking bone broth for skin or hair. The amount of collagen in a cup also varies a lot from broth to broth. So it's a nourishing, protein-rich part of a good diet. It is not a wrinkle treatment or a hair-growth remedy, and we wouldn't sell it as one.
Here's what's actually known, and what tends to matter more.
What's in bone broth that relates to skin and hair
When bones, joints, skin and connective tissue simmer for hours, their collagen breaks down into gelatin. That's what makes a well-made broth set when it's cold. Gelatin is mostly protein, rich in glycine, proline and hydroxyproline, the amino acids your body uses to build its own collagen.
The catch is quantity and consistency. When Australian researchers measured these collagen building blocks in homemade and commercial broths, they found the levels were low and varied widely from batch to batch, well below the doses used in collagen supplement studies. A mug of broth gives you some protein and some of these amino acids. It doesn't give you a measured dose of anything.
Does drinking collagen help your skin?
This is where most bone broth skin claims come from, so it's worth being clear.
Dozens of trials have tested hydrolyzed collagen supplements, usually 2.5 to 10 grams a day for a few months. Many reported modest improvements in skin hydration and elasticity. But a 2025 meta-analysis of 23 of those trials in the American Journal of Medicine found something important. When the authors looked only at higher-quality studies, or studies not funded by collagen companies, the benefits largely disappeared. The supplement industry disputes that reading. The fair summary is that the evidence for collagen and skin is weaker than the marketing suggests.
Bone broth wasn't tested in any of these trials. It contains less collagen, in amounts nobody can standardize. If someone tells you broth will erase fine lines, they're going well past what anyone has shown.
For a side-by-side of broth and collagen powder, see bone broth vs. collagen.
What about hair?
Hair is made mostly of a protein called keratin. When people don't get enough protein, iron or certain other nutrients, hair can thin or shed, and the American Academy of Dermatology lists low protein and low iron among common causes of hair loss. Bone broth is one easy way to add protein to your day.
That's the extent of it. There's no evidence that broth grows hair or reverses thinning. If you're noticing new shedding or thinning, see a dermatologist or your doctor. It can be a sign of something worth checking, like low iron or a thyroid issue, and that's more useful than any food.
What has the strongest evidence for skin
If healthy-looking skin is the goal, these do the heavy lifting, and none of them are glamorous:
- Sun protection, every day. UV exposure causes most visible skin aging. The AAD's top advice for preventing skin aging starts with sunscreen and shade.
- Not smoking.
- Enough protein, spread across the day.
- Vitamin C from food. Your body needs vitamin C to make collagen. Citrus, berries, peppers, broccoli and leafy greens are easy sources.
- Plenty of colorful plants, decent sleep, and enough water.
Broth fits into this as food, not as a fix. It's a warm, satisfying way to get protein and fluids, and a base for cooking vegetables you'd otherwise skip.
How we'd actually use it
- A mug in the afternoon instead of a second coffee or a snack, if that works for you.
- Cook grains in it. Rice, quinoa or congee made with broth instead of water carries more protein and flavor.
- Build a vitamin C–rich soup on it: broth, greens, peppers or broccoli, finished with lemon.
- More ideas: how to use bone broth: 12 everyday ways.
Our grass-fed, grass-finished Beef and organic Chicken Bone Broth Elixirs are simmered without onion or garlic. We make them to taste good enough to drink daily, which is the only way any food habit sticks.
What about joints?
We cover that separately, with the same honesty, in bone broth for joints: what the research actually says.
FAQs
Does bone broth have collagen?
It contains collagen that has broken down into gelatin, plus collagen-related amino acids. The amount varies a lot depending on the bones, the cooking time and how much water is used.
Will bone broth reduce wrinkles?
There's no evidence that it does. Even collagen supplements, which provide more collagen in a standard dose, have mixed and contested results for skin aging.
Is bone broth good for hair growth?
It's a source of protein, and getting enough protein matters for hair. But broth hasn't been shown to grow hair or stop hair loss. New shedding is worth checking with a doctor.
Is bone broth better than collagen powder for skin?
Neither has strong evidence. Collagen powder gives a measured dose; broth gives a variable amount alongside other nutrients and flavor. Choose based on what you'll actually use.
How much bone broth should I drink?
There's no researched amount for skin or hair. A cup a day is a reasonable habit if you enjoy it. If you have a histamine intolerance, long-simmered broth may not suit you.
Keep reading: Bone Broth Benefits: What It Can (and Can't) Do · Bone Broth vs. Collagen · Bone Broth for Joints · How to Use Bone Broth