HYDROLYZED KERATIN

📋 Quick facts

Description: HYDROLYZED KERATIN — hydration, film-forming, strengthening.

All Functions: hydration, film-forming, strengthening

Quick Facts:

• Category: humectant

Proven Benefits At A Glance:

• Hydrolyzed keratin is a water-soluble form of keratin, the structural protein found in hair, skin, and nails
• Research in mice suggests oral hydrolyzed keratin peptide may promote hair growth by activating growth-related cellular pathways
• Different hydrolyzed keratin products vary significantly in their chemical properties depending on how they’re made and their molecular weight
• In laboratory settings, hydrolyzed keratin has shown ability to support skin cell vitality and proliferation

⚗️ Chemical Overview

Bromochloroacetic Acid can cause cancer according to The National Toxicology Program. Bromochloroacetic acid is a monocarboxylic acid that is acetic acid in which one of the methyl hydrogens is replaced by bromine while a second is replaced by chlorine. A low-melting (27.5-31.5C), hygroscopic crystalline solid, it can be formed during the disinfection (by chlorination) of water that contains bromide ions and organic matter, so can occur in drinking water as a byproduct of the disinfection process. It is a 2-bromocarboxylic acid, a monocarboxylic acid and an organochlorine compound.

Source(s): California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA), ChEBI, via PubChem

📊 Comedogenicity

🛡️ Safety rating

Safety tier is a starting heuristic from regulatory status and comedogenic rating, not a dermatological verdict — see our Terms for the full disclaimer. Research confidence reflects how many real cited studies back this ingredient, not the strength of their findings.

🌍 Regulatory Status

💧 Skin Type Compatibility

⚠️ Don’t Combine With

📚 Research & Evidence

🔬 The Science

Hydrolyzed keratin (HK) is created by breaking down keratin—a tough, fibrous structural protein—into smaller, water-soluble pieces using acid, alkali, enzymatic, or other chemical methods (ACS Omega, 2025). This processing changes keratin’s properties substantially, making it useful in skincare formulations where the original fibrous form wouldn’t work. #1: In mouse studies, oral hydrolyzed keratin peptide promoted the transition of hair follicles from a resting phase to a growing phase and increased markers of cell proliferation (like β-catenin, cyclin D1, and PCNA) in hair follicle cells and skin cells. Male mice also showed upregulation of growth factors and antioxidant enzymes (J Med Food, 2026).

#2: In human cell cultures, hydrolyzed keratin peptide enhanced the proliferation of follicle dermal papilla cells and improved antioxidant capacity in skin cells (J Med Food, 2026). Important caveat: these are early-stage findings from animal and lab studies—human clinical evidence is not presented in these sources. A critical limitation exists in understanding commercial hydrolyzed keratin products: they are not standardized. Research shows that different HK products marketed with the same ingredient name vary considerably in their chemical-physical properties, primarily due to differences in molecular weight (ACS Omega, 2025). Products with higher molecular weight (>3000 Da) and greater protein content show better emulsifying and thickening properties for topical formulations, while very small molecules (<1000 Da) don't provide these benefits (ACS Omega, 2025).

#3: In laboratory tissue models, hydrolyzed keratin-based materials successfully supported the vitality and proliferation of skin cells, including human skin fibroblasts, over a 4-day period (Front Bioeng Biotechnol, 2019). The sources suggest hydrolyzed keratin has potential as a functional ingredient, but human clinical data on topical or oral effectiveness in real-world use is absent from these abstracts.

📄 Related Research

Matched by search — not necessarily verified support for every statement above.

• Kim S et al. (2026). Hydrolyzed Keratin Peptide Enhances Hair Condition and Promotes Hair Regeneration. J Med Food.
• Perinelli DR et al. (2025). Exploring the Functional Properties of Hydrolyzed Keratin: Filling the Knowledge Gap on Surface Active, Emulsifying, and Thickening Properties. ACS Omega.
• Fortunato GM et al. (2019). Electrospun Structures Made of a Hydrolyzed Keratin-Based Biomaterial for Development of in vitro Tissue Models. Front Bioeng Biotechnol.

🧴 Products Containing HYDROLYZED KERATIN

• CONAXESS TRADE NORGE AS Brillance Hårfarge 872 Intense Red
• Henkel, Schauma Sports Power-Shampoo
• Henkel, Schauma, Schwarzkopf & Henkel Frucht & Vitamin Shampoo
• Henkel, Schauma, Schwarzkopf & Henkel Himmlisch Lang, Langhaar Shampoo
• Henkel, Syoss Repair gezielte Reparatur 02 Spülung
• Henkel,Syoss Power Shampoo for Men
• Skintec Advance Incorporated KERATIN plus Gold
• Henkel, Schwarzkopf Gliss Kur – Hair repair – Oil Nutritive Shampoo
• Henkel, Syoss Repair Therapy Conditioner
• Hosc distribution aps Jan Thomas Shampoo Volume 250ml
• Bioélixire Odżywka do włosów zniszczonych
• cadum cadum
• CONAXESS TRADE NORGE AS Live Urban Metallics U69 Amethyst Chrome
• CONAXESS TRADE NORGE AS Brillance Hårfarge 924 Choco Couture
• CONAXESS TRADE NORGE AS Live Urban Metallics U67 Blue Mercury
• CONAXESS TRADE NORGE AS Live Urban Metallics U72 Dusty Silver
• CONAXESS TRADE NORGE AS Blonde Blondering Highlights M1
• CONAXESS TRADE NORGE AS Blonde Blondering Ultra Lightener L1+
• primer amino keratina loquay
• Shampoo
• keratin protein mask
• Vitanove Après-shampooing Oléo-Nutrition
• keratin shampoo
• Belifor Coloration Douss Color 134 Marron Chocolat – 131ML – Beliflor
• INCO Osmo Luv
• Italpharma Cristalli Liquidi
• RoseBaie Masque Kératine et figue de barbarie
• Fresh Feel Shampooing Kératine
• Henkel, Schwarzkopf Palette Salon Colors 8.5
• brazilian keratin therapy
• naturalium extra nourishing keratin hair mask
• Protector termico Crowe
• Hoito Saç maskesi
• Unilever, Timotei Timotei Richesse Suprême Après Shampoing Femme Enrichie à l’Huile de Buriti Cheveux Très Secs
• Unilever, Timotei Vitalité Brillance Shampooing
• Apgogee Provitamin Conditioner
• Kenra platinum
• Tresemme shampoo collagen
• Unilever, Tresemmé Prostyletech Keratin Smooth Color Anti-Fade Conditioner
• Balea, Balea professional Glossy blond Spülung, naturblondes und blondiertes Haar