'Skinification of Hair' Product Spotlight: Laura Polko's Hydrolyzed Collagen Volume Conditioner
Nov 14th, 2025
Inspired by the skin care sector, anti-aging hair care products, fueled by hair health and age-related hair concerns such as thinning, graying and hair loss, were valued at US $8.40 billion in 2024, according to Data Bridge Market Research. The market is projected to reach 12.46 billion by 2032, expanding with innovations like peptides, collagen, biotin and caffeine that can help to strengthen hair and restore its texture. This week's product spotlight, Laura Polko's Volume Conditioner featuring hydrolyzed collagen, provides an example.
It smells and feels great on my hair but it the bottle design makes it very difficult to get product out.
This conditioner promises to hydrate and give body to fine hair. And it delivers. Paired with the volume shampoo, my hair has never looked fuller. Plus I love the triangular packaging. It’s perfect for storing bottles without taking up too much space.
My hair is so shiny and smooth. This conditioner is amazing for my long, thick, usually wavy hair. I love the smell — it’s a very good, clean smell that reminds me of a high-end salon product. The conditioner was easy to apply and I left in my hair for about 5 min in the shower and it easily rinsed out. My hair was shiny all day and easily became smooth with my flat iron.
It makes my hair feel very soft and voluminous; I love that this brand has many conditioners according to your hair needs. The smell is amazing. I love that it adds volume without weighting it down.
This conditioner did not leave my hair feeling greasy or flat. The packaging is a 10/10. I enjoyed the light scent. This, paired with the shampoo, made my hair feel voluminous.
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Inspired by the skin care sector, anti-aging hair care products, fueled by hair health and age-related hair concerns such as thinning, graying and hair loss, were valued at US $8.40 billion in 2024, according to Data Bridge Market Research. The market is projected to reach 12.46 billion by 2032, expanding with innovations like peptides, collagen, biotin and caffeine that can help to strengthen hair and restore its texture. This week's product spotlight, Laura Polko's Volume Conditioner featuring hydrolyzed collagen, provides an example.
Laura Polko Volume Conditioner
The Laura Polko Volume Conditioner, by award-winning stylist Laura Polko, is part of a hair care duo designed to enhance the volume, body and movement of fine and thin hair. This product is formulated with the proprietary PRO-VOLU Plumping System, which incorporates hydrolyzed collagen and macadamia oil as its key actives to deliver 4x more volume to hair. These components are designed to work together to provide weightless hydration and nourishment.
The conditioner is intended for use following the volume shampoo. After shampooing, the conditioner should be applied to the mid-lengths and ends of hair, left to soak for a few minutes, then rinsed thoroughly. This process is reported to replenish and hydrate the hair without weighing it down, making it suitable for those seeking to improve hair texture and manageability.
In a 2024 consumer perception study involving 81 participants over the course of seven days, the results highlighted the product's effectiveness. After one wash, 98% of users reported that hair felt instantly refreshed, 85% felt hair was more hydrated, 84% observed healthier-looking hair, and 78% noticed improved body. These findings underscore the conditioner’s ability to deliver noticeable results in a short period.
The formulation is also notable for its clean and professional-grade quality. It is cruelty-free, dermatologist-tested and safe for color-treated hair. The inclusion of additional nourishing ingredients like coconut oil, shea butter and avocado oil further enhances its hydrating and restorative properties, making it a comprehensive solution for fine and thin hair.
Ingredients are listed as shown on the company website as of Nov. 14, 2025.
User Feedback: Laura Polko Volume Conditioner
Following are example user reviews (edited for style), selected for their anecdotal insights on product form and function; the examples given were taken from the third-party retailer Target's website.
It smells and feels great on my hair but it the bottle design makes it very difficult to get product out.
This conditioner promises to hydrate and give body to fine hair. And it delivers. Paired with the volume shampoo, my hair has never looked fuller. Plus I love the triangular packaging. It’s perfect for storing bottles without taking up too much space.
My hair is so shiny and smooth. This conditioner is amazing for my long, thick, usually wavy hair. I love the smell — it’s a very good, clean smell that reminds me of a high-end salon product. The conditioner was easy to apply and I left in my hair for about 5 min in the shower and it easily rinsed out. My hair was shiny all day and easily became smooth with my flat iron.
It makes my hair feel very soft and voluminous; I love that this brand has many conditioners according to your hair needs. The smell is amazing. I love that it adds volume without weighting it down.
This conditioner did not leave my hair feeling greasy or flat. The packaging is a 10/10. I enjoyed the light scent. This, paired with the shampoo, made my hair feel voluminous.
Hydrolyzed Proteins: Their Backstory and Optimization
In a 2021 C&T column, Nicola explained that today, hydrolyzed proteins are often positioned as green alternatives to synthetic conditioner ingredients but these ingredients are not new. The first hydrolyzed protein developed for personal care applications was prepared in the early 1900s.1
At that time, researchers at a German company verified that during bleaching and permanent waving, the addition of hydrolyzed collagen at a level as high as 10% proved markedly less damaging to the hair. Similar work also showed hydrolyzed proteins to reduce cuticle damage and fiber embrittlement when applied during bleaching and waving processes.2
Moreover, the German researchers identified the optimal molecular weight (1,000 to 2,000 Da) and pH (near neutral for bleached hair, slightly alkaline for virgin or permanent waved hair) for obtaining maximum substantivity. Significant amounts of hydrolyzed proteins can penetrate through the cuticle into the cortex, increased significantly with increasing damage, per: virgin < bleached < bleached + waved.
References
Johnson, V.L. (1966, Dec). Innovation in protein products and technology. Cosm & Toil, 92 29-36.
Bouthilet, R.J. and Karler, A. (2965, Dec). Cosmetic effects of substantive proteins. Proceedings of the Scientific Section of the Toilet Goods Association, 44 27-31.
