Peptide/ProteinAncient shineN° 013

Silk Amino Acids

Hydrolysed Bombyx mori · silk peptides

18 amino acids from silk — the closest protein match to human hair.

Region
🇨🇳 Jiangsu, China (silk heartland)
Form
Aqueous solution
Shelf life
24 months refrigerated
Category
Peptide/Protein
The briefHow it worksMolecularSignalHeritageField → phialPairsFormulasFAQSources

01The brief.

Origin

Hydrolysed from cocoons of Bombyx mori silkworms cultivated in the Yangtze delta, where sericulture has been practised for 5,000 years.

Extraction

Cocoons are degummed, dissolved in a mild alkaline bath, then enzymatically hydrolysed to release low-molecular-weight peptides (300–1,000 Da) able to penetrate the cuticle.

Concentration

0.5%–3% in leave-in serums and rinse-off treatments.

02How it works.

Silk peptides have a lower molecular weight than most hydrolysed proteins, so they diffuse through the cuticle and bond with damaged sites in the cortex. Because silk's amino-acid profile is closer to human keratin than any other protein source, the repair feels natural — soft, not stiff.

  • Benefits
  • ✦Delivers 18 hair-identical amino acids for internal repair
  • ✦Adds slip and detangling without protein overload
  • ✦Silk peptides bind excess UV — mild photo-protection
  • ✦Improves elasticity for less breakage during styling

03Molecular signature.

The active constituents that make Silk Amino Acids work — with standardised percentages where measured by HPLC.

  • Glycine + Alanine + Serine

    The three amino acids that make up 80% of silk fibroin — small, penetrating, humectant.

  • Tyrosine

    UV-absorbing amino acid that adds photo-protection.

04Signal profile.

EvidencePotencySafetyHeritageSensorySourcing

A living profile — the record that made Silk Amino Acids the house's choice.

  • Evidence

    1 peer-reviewed source

    52

  • Potency

    Standardised at 18

    20

  • Safety

    Broad tolerance

    92

  • Heritage

    Documented across 2 traditions

    69

  • Sensory

    Peptide/Protein profile

    64

  • Sourcing

    Traceable provenance

    78

05Heritage.

The record

Silk fibres appear in Chinese archaeological records from 3,600 BCE, and silk-water hair rinses were court beauty rituals under the Tang and Song dynasties. Modern hydrolysed silk peptides were commercialised in Japan in the 1970s.

Traditional use

Chinese imperial hair rinse; Japanese silk-cocoon face and hair mask; Ayurvedic silk-fibre scalp massage.

Naturally found in

  • ●Bombyx mori silkworm cocoons
  • ●Sericulture traditions across China, Japan, India, Thailand

Sustainability

Our supplier participates in the Peace Silk protocol — moths are allowed to emerge before harvest, breaking the historic ethical concern. Cocoons are otherwise agricultural by-products.

06Field → phial.

Every gram of Silk Amino Acids passes five gates before it enters a Ghori formula. No shortcuts, no re-labels — the paper trail runs from soil to seal.

  1. 𖤣01

    Stage 01

    Harvest

    Hydrolysed from cocoons of Bombyx mori silkworms cultivated in the Yangtze delta, where sericulture has been practised for 5,000 years.

  2. ❋02

    Stage 02

    Extract

    Cocoons are degummed, dissolved in a mild alkaline bath, then enzymatically hydrolysed to release low-molecular-weight peptides (300–1,000 Da) able to penetrate the cuticle.

  3. ◇03

    Stage 03

    Assay

    HPLC-verified. 18 standardised for amino acids — matching the profile of human hair keratin.

  4. ◉04

    Stage 04

    Formulate

    0.5%–3% in leave-in serums and rinse-off treatments.

  5. ⌘05

    Stage 05

    Deliver

    Stable 24 months refrigerated. Sealed under nitrogen where required.

07Best for. Pairs with.

Best for

  • Fine hair that goes limp with heavier proteins
  • Colour-treated strands losing softness
  • Detangling formulas for tangle-prone lengths

Works well with

  • Hydrolyzed Keratin
  • Camellia Seed Oil
  • Panthenol

08In 2 formulas.

09People often ask.

Silk vs keratin — which is better?

Silk is lighter and more penetrating; keratin has a stronger structural profile. We use both, at different doses, for balanced repair without stiffness.

Is silk peptide vegan?

No — it is derived from silkworm cocoons. Our supplier uses Peace Silk protocols, but strict vegans should choose our hydrolysed-keratin-only formulas.

10The paper trail.

  1. 01Kim H, et al. J Cosmet Sci. 2011 — Effects of silk protein hydrolysates on hair damage.

More in peptide/protein

Continue the dossier.

Structural repair

Hydrolyzed Keratin

The same protein hair is made of — pre-cut to slip inside a damaged cortex.

Barrier restoration

Ceramide Complex

The lipid mortar that stops your cuticle bricks from falling apart.

Cuticle sheen

Hydrolyzed Silk

Silk fibroin, pre-cleaved to a size the cuticle actually accepts.