Hair and Hair Product Texture Measurement

Let us show you a range of possibilities of how to measure the textural and physical properties of hair and hair products with a texture analyser.



Measure a multitude of textures from tube to head.

In a world full of mirrors and selfie sticks, we put a lot of stock in the way we look, with hair appearance often coming top of the list. It is no surprise, then, that haircare products take up an enormous part of the beauty industry. If they are to make the grade, today’s manufacturers have to achieve product consistency and high standards as well as novelty value and noticeable results that will keep consumers coming back for more.

The science of texture analysis has numerous applications in the manufacture of haircare products. The TA.XTplus Texture Analyser, with its wide range of compressive and tensile capabilities, can apply specifically-designed test methods to assess an unrivalled array of physical properties. Not only do these test methods allow refinement of formulations and assessment of suitability of proposed packaging materials but they can also be used to validate claims about product performance by quantitatively testing the effects on hair itself.

A wide range of HAIR AND HAIR PRODUCT test methods is built into Exponent Texture Analyser software and will automatically load at the click of a button. We help make your testing quicker to access and the analysis of your product properties already prepared for you.

Typical measurements include: • Fixative Film Tackiness • Dynamic Hairspray Analysis • Polymer Stiffness / Flexibility • Aerosol Actuation Force • Extrudability • Consistency • Combability • Content Removal Force •

Over the years we’ve worked with top scientists and companies in the field to develop such fixtures as the Film Support Rig for the assessment of polymer film characteristics or the Sachet/Tube Extrusion Rig for measurement of the force to remove contents from their packaging. When the test solution didn’t exist we went ahead and developed it – the Hair Combing Rig is a classic example of one of our Community Registered Designs.

We are totally dedicated to the physical property measurement of your hair and hair products – but don’t just take our word for it, read an example of what our customers have to say.


Any of the texture analyser range can be used for the product tests listed. 

A selection of special attachments and typical measurements which are commonly used in this application area are shown, although this does not necessarily include the complete range available for the testing of hair and hair products. Test procedures include: compression, puncture / penetration, tension, fracture / bending, extrusion, cutting / shearing.


Tensile test on hair strands

Tensile Grips

Tensile Grips can be used to support hair fibres to determine stiffness/ bending strength.
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Hair Combing Rig

Hair Combing Rig

Enables the comb to be disengaged at the end of each combing stroke for realistic assessment of hair combability.

Community Registered Design

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Hair Suppleness Rig

Hair Suppleness Rig

The Hair Suppleness Rig allows imitative, repeatable testing representing hair in the way in which it is felt and used in reality.

Community Registered Design

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Hair Stiffness Rig

Hair Stiffness Rig

Can be used as an indicator of softness/stiffness by measuring bending properties of hair before and after treatment.

Community Registered Design

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Thermal Cabinet fitted to TA.XTplus Texture Analyser

Thermal Cabinet

Wax firmness studies at different temperatures can be carried out with the use of a Thermal Cabinet.
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Dynamic Hairspray Analysis diagram

Dynamic Hairspray Analysis

The texture analyser, fitted with a sample holder and spraying devices, is used to determine stiffness of untreated and resin-modified hair, duration of tack, maximum value of tack force, and time of drying.
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Untreated and treated (stationary) tresses >> Archived scans of tresses

Hair Volume / Frizziness / Curl Retention

The Volscan Profiler is able to rotate the sample at various speeds whilst a laser maps the contours of the splayed hair tress and calculates volume related parameters as a result of tress preparation or added treatments.
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