A study correlating between instrumental and consumers' subjective luster values in oriental hair tresses.

Hair luster has long been a key objective for consumers in the hair care market and many researchers have sought to quantitate the luster of hair fibers or tresses. Recently, a fast polarimetric video camera called SAMBA with a high polarization contrast was introduced that can effectively separate specular and diffuse light. Instrumental measurement of shine using SAMBA was conducted to quantitate the luster on phenyl trimethicone-treated hair tresses. We confirmed with atomic force microscopy that phenyl trimethicone's luster-enhancing effect was related to its reduction of hair surface. Panel tests by 15 untrained panelists were carried out to determine whether their assessment corresponded with instrumental results. The instrumental data showed an excellent correlation with subjective assessments from the 15 panelists. This study shows that SAMBA has utility as an instrumental technique for hair luster evaluation and is in good agreement with consumers' subjective evaluation of luster.