Placenta hair treatments are made from processed extracts of animal placenta, most commonly from cows (bovine) or sheep (ovine). The placenta is broken down into its component proteins, amino acids, and growth factors, then formulated into ampoules, lotions, or deep-conditioning treatments. The core active ingredient is hydrolyzed placental protein, a concentrated mix of nutrients originally designed to nourish a developing fetus, repurposed for scalp and hair care.
Where the Placenta Comes From
Most commercial placenta hair products use bovine (cow) placenta, though sheep placenta appears in some formulations. The placenta is collected after an animal gives birth, then processed in a lab to extract the biologically active compounds. One well-known example is placenta hair tonic lotion made by VitalFarco in Italy, which is based on cow placenta extract.
Human placenta was historically used in some cosmetic products, but regulatory concerns have largely shifted the industry toward animal sources. The raw placenta goes through a process called hydrolysis, where the tissue is broken down using acids, enzymes, or other chemical methods. This converts the large, complex proteins into smaller fragments that are shelf-stable and easier for the skin and hair to absorb. The result is hydrolyzed placental protein, the ingredient you’ll see listed on most product labels.
The Active Ingredients Inside
Placenta is essentially a biological supply depot, and even after processing, the extract retains a rich mix of compounds. The key categories are growth factors, amino acids, and structural proteins.
The growth factors are what distinguish placenta extract from a standard protein treatment. These include compounds that promote blood vessel formation, stimulate cell growth, and support tissue repair. One particularly relevant growth factor for hair is FGF-7, which plays a critical role in pushing resting hair follicles back into the active growth phase (called anagen). Other growth factors in the extract encourage new blood vessel development around the follicle, which improves nutrient delivery to the hair root.
The amino acid profile is also notable. Arginine, found abundantly in placenta, is a building block for nitric oxide, a molecule that widens blood vessels and supports blood flow to the scalp. Glutamine, another amino acid in the extract, helps transport sulfur to the hair follicle. Sulfur is a key structural element in keratin, the protein your hair is made of. Other amino acids present include alanine, which supports energy metabolism in cells, and aspartic acid, which feeds into the body’s energy production cycle.
Beyond these, placenta extract contains structural proteins like collagen, fibronectin, and laminin, plus the iron-storage protein ferritin, along with various minerals, fats, and vitamins. Together, these components make placenta extract one of the more complex single ingredients in hair care.
How It Works on Hair and Scalp
Placenta hair treatments target the scalp more than the hair shaft itself. The growth factors in the extract are thought to stimulate hair follicles in two main ways: by encouraging dormant follicles to re-enter the active growth phase, and by promoting the development of tiny blood vessels around each follicle. Better blood flow means more oxygen and nutrients reaching the hair root, which supports thicker, stronger growth.
The amino acids serve a more direct structural role. Sulfur delivered via glutamine contributes to the cross-linked bonds that give hair its strength and elasticity. Arginine’s role in boosting local blood flow reinforces the effects of the growth factors. When used as a deep conditioner or leave-in treatment, the hydrolyzed proteins can also temporarily coat and fill gaps in the hair shaft, making hair feel smoother and appear shinier. This is a cosmetic effect rather than a biological one, similar to what any protein-based conditioner does.
A clinical study comparing cow placenta extract lotion to minoxidil 2% (a standard hair-loss treatment) in women with pattern hair loss found the placenta extract was a viable option, though the evidence base overall remains limited. Most claims about placenta hair treatments are based on the known biological activity of the individual components rather than large-scale clinical trials of the finished products.
What Else Is in the Product
The placenta extract itself is just one part of the finished product. Commercial placenta hair ampoules and lotions typically contain a carrier base of water and alcohol, which helps the active ingredients penetrate the scalp and evaporate quickly without leaving residue. Preservatives are added to prevent microbial growth, since the protein-rich extract would otherwise be a breeding ground for bacteria. Some formulations include additional conditioning agents, fragrances, or vitamins to complement the placental extract.
If you pick up a placenta hair product, the ingredient list will typically show hydrolyzed placental protein or placental extract alongside these standard cosmetic ingredients. The concentration of actual placenta extract varies significantly between brands, and most manufacturers do not disclose the exact percentage.
Plant-Based “Placenta” Alternatives
Some products marketed as “vegetal placenta” or “plant placenta” treatments contain no animal tissue at all. These use plant-derived proteins, often from soy, wheat, or other sources, that are hydrolyzed in a similar way to mimic the amino acid profile of animal placenta. The term “placenta” in these cases is a marketing label rather than a literal description. Plants do not have placentas in the biological sense, though some plant structures that nourish seeds share the name.
Plant-based versions can deliver hydrolyzed proteins and certain amino acids like arginine, but they lack the specific growth factors found in animal placenta extract. Whether those growth factors survive processing and actually penetrate the scalp in meaningful concentrations is still debated, which narrows the practical gap between animal and plant-based versions for everyday conditioning purposes.
Hormones and Safety Concerns
Raw placenta contains hormones, including estrogen and progesterone, which has raised safety questions over the years. The placenta naturally produces hormones specific to pregnancy, and unprocessed extracts could theoretically carry residual amounts. The Cosmetic Ingredient Review panel has assessed human and animal placental proteins, lipids, and enzymes for safety in cosmetic use, and the hydrolysis process is understood to break down or remove most hormonally active compounds.
The FDA has historically flagged concerns about hormone-containing cosmetics, particularly those marketed to children or used near the scalp where absorption is higher. Modern formulations of placenta hair treatments are generally processed to minimize hormonal content, but regulation varies by country. Products sold in the EU face stricter ingredient disclosure rules than those in some other markets. If residual hormones are a concern for you, plant-based alternatives sidestep the issue entirely.