Acetyl Tetrapeptide-3 + Red Clover Extract Hair Complex, IO

What this ingredient is

Acetyl Tetrapeptide-3 + Red Clover Extract Hair Complex is a ready liquid complex built for scalp and hair care. It joins a signal peptide, Acetyl Tetrapeptide-3, with an extract of Trifolium pratense (red clover) flowers, a botanical rich in isoflavones such as biochanin A. The carrier is a blend of butylene glycol, water and dextran, so the product pours and weighs like a light syrup rather than a powder. The published INCI is Butylene Glycol (and) Water (Aqua) (and) Dextran (and) Acetyl Tetrapeptide-3 (and) Trifolium Pratense (Clover) Flower Extract, and the CAS number of the peptide is 827306-88-7. If you prefer to build your own blend, the peptide alone is listed as Acetyl Tetrapeptide-3 solution.

Properties that matter to a hair care developer

The peptide part of this ingredient is modeled on a fragment of matrix proteins found around the hair follicle, which is why suppliers describe it as supporting the anchoring area of the hair. Red clover extract contributes plant isoflavones that are popular in scalp care for men and women. Together they allow a brand to build a clear story around thicker, denser-looking hair without leaving cosmetic territory. The liquid is transparent and nearly odorless, so it does not tint clear tonics or change the scent of a finished product.

Where it is used

The typical home for this ingredient is a leave-on scalp tonic or spray applied after washing. Brands also put it into scalp serums with a dropper, light scalp lotions, masks, conditioners and shampoos, and into brow and lash serums sold in brush tubes. A common duo pairs it with Biotinoyl Tripeptide-1, and it sits well next to caffeine or panthenol in the same bottle. Other liquid peptides for hair and skin live in our peptide solutions aisle.

How to use it in a batch

This ingredient is water-soluble. Prepare the main water phase, cool it, and add the complex at the end below 40 °C with slow mixing. The site lists a working range of 0.5 to 5.0 percent of the finished product, with the lower half for maintenance products and the upper half for intensive programs. Check the final pH and keep it within 4.0 to 8.0, which is the range given in the specification.

Choosing a format for the market

US shoppers looking for scalp products tend to compare three formats: sprays, dropper serums and foams. This ingredient works in all three because it is a clear, water-soluble liquid. Sprays favor a thin hydroalcoholic base, dropper serums benefit from a light cellulose gel that stays where it is placed, and foams need a mild surfactant and a foaming pump. Whatever you choose, give the label a simple routine, such as daily application to a clean, towel-dried scalp.

Compatibility notes

The complex is happy in water, glycols and hydroalcoholic tonics with moderate ethanol. It mixes with most nonionic and anionic surfactant systems in shampoos. Strong oxidizers and very hot process steps are best avoided. When combining with other actives, add them one at a time and check clarity after each.

Product characteristics

Form: clear liquid solution. Solubility: water. PH range for use: 4.0 to 8.0. Country of origin: United States. Shelf life: 24 months from manufacture. INCI and CAS data are taken from the specification shown on this page; always compare them with the CoA that ships with your lot.

Original recipe: clear scalp tonic, 100 g

Phase A: distilled water 86.70 g, glycerin 3.00 g, panthenol 1.00 g. Stir until fully dissolved at room temperature. Phase B: ethanol 5.00 g premixed with PEG-40 hydrogenated castor oil 0.50 g and a drop of fragrance if desired. Pour B into A slowly. Phase C: Acetyl Tetrapeptide-3 + Red Clover Extract Hair Complex 3.00 g and a broad-spectrum preservative such as phenoxyethanol and ethylhexylglycerin 0.80 g. Add C, mix gently for five minutes, check pH and adjust to about 5.5 with a little citric acid solution. Fill into a spray bottle and apply to a clean scalp.

Storage

Keep the bottle closed in a cool, dark place away from heat. Use clean tools for every withdrawal and reseal at once. It ships from Florida in the liquid pack sizes shown in the selector above.