Our contract testing service provides an evidence-based claims support package, substantiating claims referring to the efficacy, benefits or improvements in hair attributes as a result of using your hair care products. Our measurement methods are based on peer-reviewed scientific publications, and can be adapted to suit all hair ethnicities.
Claim support:
Hair Tresses
- Ease of combing/conditioning
- Detangling
- Manageability
- Softness/suppleness
- Curl retention
- Combability after styling
- Styling hold/flexibility
- Long lasting
- Frizz
- Volume
- Fly-away
- Shine
Single Hair Fibres
- Anti breaking/strength
- Thickening
- Damage prevention/repair
- Hydration/moisturising
- Repeated grooming
- Heat protection
- Elasticity
- Depilatory cream claims
Visual claims on hair tresses
Hair frizz and volume
Visual aesthetics are an important way in which consumers perceive hair appearance. Quantifiable measurements of attributes such as volume, frizz, or flyaway help support robust product claims.
The Bossa Nova Vision Bolero Multi system captures images and makes time lapse recording of the visual appearance of hair tresses in a controlled humidity environment. The instrument can measure simultaneously up to 8 tresses, providing higher testing throughput and efficiency.
The Bolero Multi is the ideal system to quantify 2-dimensional visual properties of hair tresses, straight to curly, light to dark colours. The automated image analysis can effectively differentiate frizz/fly-away fibres within hair tresses and accurately assess the hair 2D volume, at a single time point, or as a function of time during a high relative humidity experiment.
Hair tress image analysis: raw image on the left, on the right, analysed image discriminating between 2d volume (green) and flyaway/frizz (red)
Generated data can support desirable volume and anti-frizz related claims. From data on images captured over time, percentage change can be calculated for frizz or volume as a function of time, to support claims on visual longevity or retention for example.
Hair style retention
Styling products are frequently designed to deliver style retention at high humidity.
Hair tress curls are created on curl formers. The curled samples are suspended in the Bolero Multi cabinet set to a high humidity. The drooping curls are regularly captured as a function of time.
Hair curl image analysis during curl retention experiment
The images are automatically analysed post-acquisition to estimate curl parameters: curl length, 2D volume or amplitude. Hair curl data can support hair style claims such as style retention, curl definition, or humidity resistance.
Hair Shine
Shiny, glossy, lustrous, mirror like, glass-like are some of the many descriptors used for products which deliver and enhance consumer hair shine, one of the most sought-after sensory attributes in hair care.
The Bossa Nova Vision Samba system uses polarisation imaging to separate the different components of light that are reflected from hair tresses. Up to 6 hair tresses are fixed onto a cylindrical mount and a series of measurements are automatically recorded along the length of the tresses from which a range of data parameters are calculated.
Lustre coefficients (calculated using the BNT and/or Reich Robbins methods) can demonstrate improvement on hair shine while data obtained from the chroma band may be used to show hair vibrancy, providing quantifiable data to support claims related to the lustre properties of hair.
Claims on hair tresses
Hair Breakage
Hair breakage is a frequent consumer concern and is influenced by the condition and alignment of the hair, tangle formation and fibre knotting. A common way in the cosmetic industry to evaluate hair breakage is to subject hair tresses to repeated cycles of combing and evaluate the number of broken fibres.
Bossa Nova Vision Sirtaki on the left, on the right, analysed image with automated broken fibre identification
The Bossa Nova Vision Sirtaki is an automated repeated combing system with fibre counting software making it ideal to substantiate anti-breakage, less-breakage and resistance to breakage claims for hair treatments!
What’s included in our contract testing service:
- You can either send us hair samples pre-treated with your products/device, or send a sample of the product/device for us to treat high quality hair sourced by Dia-Stron.
- We will test hair tresses/fibres in line with pre-agreed methodologies that fulfil your requirements.
- You will receive a full test report including statistical analysis.
- Our industry experts can also provide additional feedback to help you evaluate your product’s performance.
Whatever your needs, we can work with you to devise the most appropriate testing protocols for your requirements, including multiple treatments and heat damage. Our testing services are priced per group of samples, with prices varying according to the group quantity.
Prices are fully inclusive of: provision of hair fibres or tresses, sample mounting and consumables, treatment and/or damage and all testing requested.
Our timescales are extremely competitive, contact us today for a bespoke quotation and lead time!