Keratin dosage

Keratin is a structural fibrous protein, naturally present in the epidermis, hair, nails, feathers, and horns. It plays a key role in the cohesion, strength, and impermeability of keratinized tissues. Today, keratin is widely used in:

• Hair cosmetic formulations (repairing treatments, strengthening shampoos, anti-hair loss treatments)
• Food supplements intended to strengthen nails, hair or skin
• Functional foods enriched with natural proteins
• Veterinary products or animal nutrition containing hydrolyzed animal proteins

Keratin dosage allows the concentration of functional proteins to be controlled, to ensure compliance with product claims (cosmetic or nutraceutical), and to optimize formulations.

Available analytical methods

The assay method is selected based on the matrix to be analyzed (powder, extract, solution, complex formulation) and the expected level of precision.

• UV-Vis spectrophotometry: a method commonly used for soluble protein extracts, particularly via biuret, Bradford or Lowry assays.
• HPLC-DAD or HPLC-MS: for the separation and specific quantification of peptides resulting from keratin hydrolysis.
• LC-MS/MS: to precisely identify and quantify peptide markers characteristic of keratin in complex matrices.
• Global methods (Kjeldahl, Dumas): used to estimate total nitrogen content, then converted to total protein levels.

These analyses apply to cosmetic ingredients, food supplements, care products, but also to enriched formulations (capsules, creams, shampoos, hydrolyzed extracts, protein powders).

Industrial applications

Keratin dosage is essential in many contexts:

• Quality control of finished products enriched with hydrolyzed keratin
• Validation of labeling in cosmetic or nutraceutical products
• Standardization of extracts or functional ingredients
• Development of new hair supplements or dermo-cosmetics
• Verification of bioavailability or stability in formulations

Recommended internal links

To complete your analytical approach around proteins and functional extracts, also discover:

• Hydrolyzed Collagen Dosage : Another Structural Protein Widely Used in Beauty Supplements
• Amino acid profile analysis : to determine the nutritional and functional quality of a protein extract

Why choose YesWeLab?

At YesWeLab, we provide you with a network of expert partner laboratories, ISO 17025 accredited and proficient in functional protein analysis. Our teams assist you in choosing analytical techniques, designing analysis plans, and managing sample logistics to ensure reliable, reproducible results that meet market requirements.

Need a quote or a specific analysis?
Contact our scientific team via the YesWeLab digital platform to assist you with your analytical project on keratin or any other active ingredient.