You’ve likely seen the words “biology-first” and “biomimetic” associated with K18. But what do these terms mean, and how do they relate to our patented K18PEPTIDE™? To truly grasp this relationship, we must start by taking a deep dive into the hair itself. 

A seemingly simple fiber, hair “is actually a remarkable structure produced through the biology of our scalp and hair follicles,” says Fraser Bell, K18’s Vice President of Advanced Research. “Around 100 different types of keratin proteins are laid down in the follicle, where they assemble to create the hierarchical sub-structures of the hair–including the more crystalline and strength-giving intermediate filaments that make up the cortical cells, or the tough and protective cuticle cells that surround the fiber core.” 

In short, hair is far more complex than it appears, and understanding its biology at the molecular level requires in-depth research. That’s why, before formulating and launching K18, we committed to studying each component of the hair–creating a hair repair technology that intentionally aligns with this biology-first philosophy. 

biology-first and biomimetics

The marriage between biology and biomimetics is the foundation of K18. Our patented K18PEPTIDE™—found in products like the K18 Leave-In Molecular Repair Hair Mask and the award-winning K18 Molecular Repair Hair Oil—provides a durable, long-lasting solution to hair damage. We developed this active by using biomimetics, the practice of mimicking nature. In this case, the K18PEPTIDE™ mimics the natural structure of keratin building blocks, prompting the hair to recognize it as a natural part of its biology.

“Our ‘biology-first’ approach means that whenever we identify a haircare problem to be solved, we look to how nature solves similar problems and how biological systems and processes address these,” says Bell. “We understand the complexity of the biology of hair and how the products or chemical services used impact it, and we derive biology-led solutions to create functional actives and materials that can be incorporated into our products to protect and repair and improve the condition of the hair.”