DHT shampoo · 4 min read

Capixyl Shampoo and Conditioner: Capixyl and Procapil Explained

By Shiny Leaf Team · October 26, 2026

Capixyl™ and Procapil™ sound like two robots from the same movie. They're actually two ingredient complexes, and once you know what they're made of, the back of a shampoo bottle gets a lot easier to read.

This is the plain-English version: what each one is, how to find it on a label, and where they sit in our formulas.

What is Capixyl?

Capixyl™ is a trademarked blend of two things: a short peptide called acetyl tetrapeptide-3 and an extract of red clover flower (Trifolium pratense). On an ingredient list you'll usually see them side by side, sometimes with "Capixyl™" in brackets, sometimes not.

Red clover is the small pink-purple wildflower you've seen in meadows. The peptide is the lab-made half. Together they're a popular pairing in scalp-care shampoos and conditioners.

In our range, Capixyl™ is in the DHT Pro Shampoo and Conditioner Set, in both bottles. The same pair of ingredients, acetyl tetrapeptide-3 and red clover flower extract, also appears in our Peptide Shampoo.

Capixyl™ = a peptide (acetyl tetrapeptide-3) + red clover flower extract. That's it.

Red clover blossoms in a white ceramic dish beside a dropper bottle and a magnifying glass on linen — Red clover: the botanical half of Capixyl™.

What is Procapil?

Procapil™ is also a trademarked complex, and it has three parts: biotinoyl tripeptide-1 (a peptide linked to biotin), apigenin (a flavonoid found in many plants, including chamomile and citrus peel) and oleanolic acid (a plant compound found in olive leaves, among others).

On a label the three names appear together, often inside brackets after "Procapil™", or spelled out in a row.

Procapil™ shows up across our range: the Original DHT Blocker shampoo, the DHT Pro shampoo and conditioner, and the Peptide shampoo. If you want both Procapil™ and Capixyl™ in a matching shampoo and conditioner, the DHT Pro set is the one.

Procapil™ = biotinoyl tripeptide-1 + apigenin + oleanolic acid.

Where do they sit on an ingredient label?

Ingredient lists run from the largest amount to the smallest. Water, cleansers and conditioning agents come first. Peptides and botanical extracts are used in small amounts, so they sit in the back half of the list, usually near the plant oils.

That placement is normal, not a red flag. These are not ingredients a formula uses by the cupful.

How to find them on any label

Flip the bottle and find the "Ingredients" block, not the marketing panel.
Scan the second half of the list for Biotinoyl Tripeptide-1, Apigenin and Oleanolic Acid. Together, that's Procapil™.
Look for Acetyl Tetrapeptide-3 and Trifolium Pratense (Clover) Flower Extract. Together, that's Capixyl™.
Check both bottles. A shampoo and conditioner "set" doesn't always carry the same actives in each.
If the brand hides the full list, move on. We print ours on every product page.

Illustration of a shampoo label with the Procapil and Capixyl ingredient lines highlighted under a magnifying glass — An example label, not one of ours: the two complexes sit in the back half of the list.

What else is in a Capixyl shampoo and conditioner?

Peptides rarely travel alone. In the DHT Pro set, the shampoo pairs Capixyl™ and Procapil™ with caffeine, biotin, hydrolyzed quinoa and amla fruit extract, plus lavender, tea tree and lemongrass oils for a spa-like scent. Sesame seed oil and coconut oil round it out.

The conditioner carries the same two complexes, with cocoa seed butter, coconut oil, sesame seed oil and vitamin E so hair feels soft, smooth and easy to detangle.

Both are sulfate-free, paraben-free, color-safe and made in the USA. The full ingredient lists are on the product page, down to the last line.

Same two complexes in both bottles. Different textures, same routine.

How do you use a Capixyl shampoo and conditioner?

Exactly like any scalp-care shampoo: give it contact time.

Massage the shampoo into a wet scalp with your fingertips, leave it on for 2–3 minutes, then rinse until your scalp feels clean. Follow with the conditioner on mid-lengths to ends for another 2–3 minutes, then rinse. Both are made for daily use; every other day is fine if your scalp runs dry.

Give any new routine at least 90 days before you decide whether it's for you. Habits are built in weeks, not in one wash.

Capixyl or Procapil: do you need both?

You don't need anything. Think of them as two different flavors of the same idea: a peptide paired with plant compounds, used in small amounts in a scalp-care formula.

If you like a fresh rosemary scent and a simpler list, the Original set (Procapil™ only, with rosemary and castor oil) is a lovely place to start. If you want both complexes plus caffeine and amla, the DHT Pro set is the bigger recipe. Compare them side by side in the DHT collection.

Pick the blend that suits your scalp and your nose. Both follow the same two-minute routine.

Frequently asked questions

Is Capixyl the same as Procapil?

No. Capixyl™ is acetyl tetrapeptide-3 with red clover flower extract. Procapil™ is biotinoyl tripeptide-1 with apigenin and oleanolic acid. Different peptides, different botanicals.

Which Shiny Leaf products contain Capixyl?

The DHT Pro Shampoo and the DHT Pro Conditioner, sold separately or as the DHT Pro set. The Peptide Shampoo carries the same two ingredients. The Original DHT Blocker line uses Procapil™ without Capixyl™.