Kerasylium is a vegan biomimetic alternative to keratin that repairs & stabilizes damaged keratin bonds and protects the hair from daily aggressors. It is an upcycled Milk Thistle Seed Extract that has been optimized to contain concentrated micro-peptides that accumulate in the cuticle and diffuses into the cortex of the hair. This allows Kerasylium to repair & protect the structural integrity of hair. After evaluating the IR-spectra of damaged hair treated with Kerasylium, damaged disulfide bonds are stabilized & strengthened which reduces hair breakage. Kerasylium also protects the hair from heavy-metal mediated damage. It was tested in a rinse off format on an inclusive study design panel including straight, wavy, curly, and coily hair.