Hydrolyzed Quinoa

What it is

Hydrolysed quinoa protein is the most recent of the three records in this block and the one least known in the specialist literature. It appears in three products in this lexicon, exclusively in rinse-off hair care, and in each case together with further protein hydrolysates.

Until 12.09.2026 the short field credited the substance with “repair”. That was the strongest efficacy statement standing in any short field in the entire lexicon — and for this substance no evidence for it can be found. It has been removed.

Why

• Why “low risk” with “low confidence”: as with the rice protein, no cases are known that would point to a particular risk. Equally, studies that would support an all-clear are lacking. The classification says: probably unremarkable, but that is not documented.
• The efficacy statement “repair” has been removed from the short field. Hair that has once been damaged cannot be repaired like a workpiece — it is dead material without a metabolism. What protein hydrolysates demonstrably can do is deposit and, depending on molecular size, penetrate, and thereby measurably influence breakage resistance and combing behaviour. That is considerable, but it is not repair.
• The evidence for this comes from a study of hydrolysed keratin from wool. Small peptides of about 220 dalton and medium ones of about 2,600 dalton penetrated into the fibre core; large ones of around 75,000 dalton deposited on the surface. Medium and large increased stiffness and reduced breakage. For quinoa protein none of this has been examined separately.
• Molecular size is thus the decisive factor twice over in this block — once for the benefit and once, with the wheat protein, for the risk. In neither case does it appear on the packaging. That is why all three records in this block carry the same reservation in the field on when the assessment differs.
• In all three products quinoa protein stands alongside rice protein and further hydrolysates. A care result can therefore not be attributed to any single one of these substances, and no claim that does so can be justified from the ingredient list.

When the assessment differs

• Known quinoa allergy: rare, but described. Anyone affected should also consider a protein from the same plant in their care products.
• Irritated or broken scalp skin: through a disturbed barrier, protein fragments come into contact with the immune system more easily.
• Very fine hair: protein hydrolysates deposit. With frequent use that can weigh the hair down.
• Expecting repair: anyone buying the product assuming that damaged hair will be restored will be disappointed. What is possible are measurable improvements in breakage resistance and combability, for as long as the care is continued.
• Salon staff: daily contact with many protein-containing care products on the hands.

Open questions

• Molecular weight and manufacturing process of the raw material used: not documented.
• Concentration in the specific product: not available.
• Studies on the tolerability and efficacy of this protein on hair: none found here. That is not an all-clear but a gap.
• Whether the results on hydrolysed keratin transfer to plant protein hydrolysates: not examined.
• Regulatory status: not checked; statements on use and maximum levels are not quoted second-hand.

Sources for this assessment

• Malinauskyte E. u. a.: Penetration of different molecular weight hydrolysed keratins into hair fibres and their effects on the physical properties of textured hair. International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2021. Peptide von etwa 220, 2.600 und 75.000 Dalton im Vergleich; kleine und mittlere erreichen den Faserkern, große lagern sich an der Oberfläche an. Untersucht wurde Keratin aus Wolle. Begutachtete Fachzeitschrift, offener Zugang, abgerufen am 12.09.2026.

Related substances

Applies to: Proteins and protein hydrolysates

• Hydrolyzed Rice Protein — Protein hydrolysate, hair conditioning
• Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein — Protein hydrolysate, hair conditioning

Further substances from the same group for which a long-form assessment already exists.