L'Oreal Japan develops musical way to get a grip on hair damage

L'Oreal Japan develops a way to reveal the level of hair damage through sound and plans to roll out devices in salons next year.

The Japanese branch of the leading beauty and personal care producer plans to commercialise a device based on this technology in 2017, following recognition of its award-winning research.

Using a high-sensitivity sensor to measure minute changes in friction, the new technology enables complete scanning of the hair from root to tip to explore hair damage.

The sensor then collects data, which is converted into real-time sound and music through a proprietary algorithm.

The innovative device uses sound to demonstrate hair damage to the customer and how it can be rectified and restored through hair treatment.   

Sound selection​

Consumers will be played different music genres depending on the extent of their hair damage. Those with considerable damage will hear rhythmically strong and lively music, while smooth and healthy hair will create calm and peaceful sounds.

L'Oreal Japan believes that adding the musical element to hair care analysis communicates information in an innovative way, that in turn, adds to hair care understanding through a sense other than touch: sound.  

As a result of employing the novel technology, L'Oreal Japan hopes that professional salons will use the device to demonstrate the extent of hair damage and the beneficial capabilities of hair care treatments.

Overall, it aims to enhance the consumer experience through improved consumer evaluation.

Hailed as the first-of-its-kind in the cosmetics industry, L'Oreal Japan has seen the success of adopting music in the medical field, which has been used to monitor patients’ blood flow.

As well as hoping to launch the tool in salons in 2017, the beauty retailer believes there is sufficient scope to expand the technology to other beauty sectors including skin care and make up.

Award-winning technology​

L'Oreal Japan recently  the “basic research award” at the 29th IFSCC Congress.

The event, which took place In Florida, US, on 30th October - 2nd November, saw the Japanese arm of the global hair care leader earn the coveted prize for its study, entitled “Sonification: How to representation by converting the surface condition of the hair to the music (Sonification: Translating the human hair surface state into sound)”.

The research, which was carried out by Mariko Nomura and her research team at L'Oreal Japan’s Research and Innovation Centre delved into sound production techniques and advanced technology to make the discovery.