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K18 Peptide Prep pH Maintenance Shampoo

Common questions

Is K18 Peptide Prep pH Maintenance Shampoo healthy?

K18 Peptide Prep pH Maintenance Shampoo scores 75/100 on Scout's independent analysis of ingredients, additives, and lab results — a fair-to-good score — solid, with tradeoffs. K18 Peptide Prep pH Maintenance Shampoo scores 75/100 -- the cleanest formula in the salon-prestige tier currently scanned, by a wide margin.

How does K18 Peptide Prep pH Maintenance Shampoo compare to other hair care?

K18 Peptide Prep pH Maintenance Shampoo ranks #28 of 47 hair care in Scout's independent rankings. The current top score in the category is BASED Shampoo at 97/100.

Which ingredients drive K18 Peptide Prep pH Maintenance Shampoo's score?

In Scout's ingredient-by-ingredient analysis, sh-Oligopeptide-78 (K18PEPTIDE), Sodium Phytate, Sodium Methyl 2-Sulfolaurate + Sodium Lauryl Sulfoacetate + Disodium 2-Sulfolaurate count in its favor; Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate, Fragrance (Parfum) + Limonene are flagged as ingredients of concern. The full breakdown, with why each one matters, is in the Key ingredients section on this page.

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K18 Peptide Prep pH Maintenance Shampoo

K18 Biomimetic Hairscience
75 Good
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At a glance

Beneficial ingredients 7
Harmful ingredients 2
Owned by K18 Biomimetic Hairscience
Category Hair Care
Summary

K18 Peptide Prep pH Maintenance Shampoo scores 75/100 -- the cleanest formula in the salon-prestige tier currently scanned, by a wide margin. The active is the patented sh-Oligopeptide-78 (K18PEPTIDE) -- a biotech-derived peptide with documented evidence for reconnecting broken keratin chains from chemical and thermal damage. The supporting formula is unusually clean for a salon shampoo: no silicones, no PEGs, no parabens, no phenoxyethanol, no MCI/MIT, no behentrimonium/cetrimonium chloride, no dyes, no formaldehyde-releasers. Uses Sodium Phytate (rice-derived phytic acid) as chelator -- the cleanest commercial chelator, replacing the Tetrasodium / Disodium EDTA used in nearly every drugstore formula. The Caprylyl Glycol + Caprylhydroxamic Acid preservative pair is clean (EWG 1). The score is held below the 90s tier by two soft demerits: (1) Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate primary surfactant -- milder than SLS/SLES but harsher than glucosides (EWG 2-3, can be drying), (2) undisclosed Fragrance with one itemized Limonene allergen.

Key ingredients 10

sh-Oligopeptide-78 (K18PEPTIDE)
Very Good

Patented biotech-derived peptide; documented evidence for reconnecting broken polypeptide chains and disulfide bonds in keratin. The K18 active.

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Panthenol (Pro-Vitamin B5)
Very Good

Provitamin B5; penetrates the hair shaft and improves softness and elasticity (Greaves 1999).

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Sodium Phytate
Good

Rice-derived phytic acid chelator; the cleanest commercial chelator. Replaces Tetrasodium / Disodium EDTA. EWG 1, biodegradable.

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Sodium Methyl 2-Sulfolaurate + Sodium Lauryl Sulfoacetate + Disodium 2-Sulfolaurate
Good

Gentle modified-sulfate/sulfolaurate co-surfactant blend; significantly milder than SLS/SLES and the conventional 'lauryl' surfactants. Often confused with sulfates by name but chemically distinct (esters, not anhydrous sulfates).

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Glycerin
Good

Humectant that draws moisture to the skin — a beneficial base ingredient.

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Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride
Good

Plant-derived cationic conditioning polymer. EWG 1.

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Caprylyl Glycol + Caprylhydroxamic Acid
Good

Coconut-derived clean preservative pair; EWG 1. Replaces phenoxyethanol.

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Cocamidopropyl Betaine
Neutral

Coconut-derived surfactant — milder than sulfates, though an occasional allergen.

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Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate
Bad

Anionic surfactant; milder than SLS/SLES but harsher than glucosides. EWG 2-3, can be drying with daily use. The one weak link in an otherwise unusually clean formula.

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Fragrance (Parfum) + Limonene
Very Bad

Undisclosed fragrance plus one itemized fragrance allergen (Limonene). Light fragrance load by industry standards.

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