Peptides show up on a lot of skincare and hair-care labels. The word sounds technical, but the idea behind it is fairly simple. Here's a plain-language look at what they are and how to read claims about them.
What is a peptide?
Proteins are long chains of building blocks called amino acids. A peptide is a short chain of amino acids. Your body makes countless peptides and proteins on its own, and cosmetic chemists have learned to make specific peptides in the lab for use in formulas.
What do the names mean?
Cosmetic ingredients are listed using a standard naming system called INCI. That's why peptide names can look like codes. On the NANI 01 label, you'll see five:
- sh-Polypeptide-11
- sh-Polypeptide-1
- sh-Oligopeptide-2
- sh-Oligopeptide-10
- sh-Polypeptide-9
"Oligopeptide" generally means a shorter chain and "polypeptide" a longer one. The "sh" prefix is used in cosmetic naming for lab-made peptides designed to resemble ones found in the human body. The numbers simply distinguish one peptide from another.
What do they do in a formula?
In cosmetics, peptides are typically used for skin conditioning, helping keep skin, including the skin of your scalp, in good condition. Independent ingredient databases such as COSMILE Europe describe the cosmetic roles of individual peptides, and we link to those references on our formula page so you can read them yourself.
How to read peptide claims
Ingredient research comes in different forms, and it helps to know which kind you're looking at:
- Lab studies look at how an ingredient behaves in cells or tissue in a dish. They're useful for understanding an ingredient, but they aren't a test of a finished product on people.
- Studies of a finished product test the actual formula, the way customers use it.
A study about one ingredient doesn't tell you how a finished product containing it will perform. That's why we describe NANI 01 as cosmetic scalp care for fuller-looking hair, and why we don't promise specific results or timelines. Results vary from person to person.
The short version
Peptides are short chains of amino acids, widely used in cosmetics for skin conditioning. When you see them on a label, look for clear ingredient names, honest descriptions, and a clear line between ingredient research and product claims.
NANI 01 is a cosmetic product and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. If you're concerned about hair loss, please talk with a dermatologist.