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)
• Dietary supplements designed to strengthen nails, hair or skin
• Functional foods enriched with natural proteins
• Veterinary products or animal nutrition containing hydrolyzed animal proteins

Keratin dosage allows control of the concentration of functional proteins, ensures compliance with product claims (cosmetic or nutraceutical), and optimizes formulations.

Available analytical methods

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

• UV-Vis spectrophotometry: a method commonly used for soluble protein extracts, notably 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 accurately identify and quantify characteristic peptide markers of keratin in complex matrices.
• Global methods (Kjeldahl, Dumas): used to estimate the total nitrogen content, then converted into 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 measurement is essential in many contexts:

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

Recommended internal links

To complement your analytical approach to 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, accredited to ISO 17025 and proficient in functional protein analysis. Our teams support you in selecting analytical techniques, designing analysis plans, and managing sample logistics to guarantee reliable, reproducible results that meet market requirements.

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