The 12th TRI International Conference on Applied Hair Science will take place on Tuesday 2nd to Thursday 4th June 2026, at the Oyster Point Hotel, Red Bank, New Jersey.
The 12th TRI International Conference on Applied Hair Science is a world-leading biennial conference for hair science. The conference features scientific advances made in hair biology, hair structure and properties, hair damage and new methods and technologies.
The conference is a great networking event for hair scientists in the US and beyond, fostering collaborations between many research groups and companies. Many great projects have started over a conversation at the coffee break at our event!
Keynote Speakers
A keynote-driven program with additional invited and contributed presentations across all four sessions.
Like all biological things, hair varies. This includes curl, diameter, ellipticity, strength and colour. Although hair is technically dead, it originates from a living hair follicle. It is the processes within hair follicles that defines the product inexorably growing at glacial speed from our scalp. In this talk I’ll focus on a few hair properties and explore what we know about their origin during hair growth, as well as factors that may influence them. While some aspects of hair, such as melanin deposition, are largely independent of other factors, other factors, such as strength and shape, are almost certainly emergent properties. These are shaped by a complex interplay of parameters, including those active in the living cells near the follicle base, the dead cells above the bulb, and those in various transitional stages. A better understanding of how specific hair properties arise may lead to products that intervene to modulate innate hair properties, or it may simply deepen our appreciation for the remarkable and intricate processes behind our natural style.
Human hair keratins belong to the class of Intermediate Filament Proteins and represent the key structural components of hair fibers. The fundamental building unit is a Keratin Intermediate Filament Dimer, composed of one acidic and one basic keratin molecule, both adopting an alpha-helical conformation. The alpha-helix is stabilized by intramolecular hydrogen bonds, while the dimer itself is held together by a hydrophobic core and ionic interactions between oppositely charged amino acid residues. Upon stretching the hair by approximately 2%, these hydrogen bonds are elongated, resulting in a nearly linear relationship between strain and applied force—commonly referred to as the Hookean region of the stress-strain curve. This initial elastic response is characteristic of many materials and will be discussed from a materials science perspective. Further elongation leads to structural transitions, including unravelling and most probably unwinding of coiled-coil filaments and a transformation from alpha-helical to beta-sheet structures, occurring in the yield region of the curve. The influence of various chemical treatments that cause hair damage will be analyzed with respect to their impact on the Hookean region. Comparative data from Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) will also be presented to support these findings.
Hair plays a significant role in human personal and social identity. Therefore, fundamental hair research, cosmetic formulation, and hair assessment innovation will benefit from an awareness and appropriate integration of perception and behavior research relevant to hair. This talk will summarize the known scientific dimensions of human hair diversity and conceptually map them in relation to hair perception and behavior studies. Specific examples of behavioral investigations using human data will be presented, along with a summary of the relative strengths of the methodologies applied and how such studies can help to improve hair fiber and assembly experimentation. Additionally, cross-country and cross-cultural perspectives, and their relevance to hair innovation and claims, will be discussed.
Abstract Coming Soon
Scientific Program
Tuesday 2nd June 2026
Session 1
Hair & Scalp Biology
12:00 - 12:45pm
Registration
12:45 - 1:00pm
Welcome Presentation
1:00 - 1:45pm
☆ Keynote Presentation
"Growing Style - The Origin of Hair Shape & Strength"
Duane P. Harland
Bioeconomy Science Institute, New Zealand
1:45 - 2:15pm
30 Minute Comfort Break
2:45 - 3:15pm
"Decoding the Scalp Flare-Up: What Happens Before Visible Dandruff Emerges?"
Kathryn C. S. Locker,
Procter and gamble, Mason, USA
3:15 - 3:45pm
Presentation Slot Open to Submissions
Expert Panel Discussion
3:45 - 4:45pm
Expert Panel - Digital Hair Science: Impact of AI & Other Software Tools on the Practice of Hair Science
4:45pm
End of Day 1
Wednesday 3rd June 2026
Session 2
Insights into Hair Structure & Mechanical Properties
9:00 – 9:15 am
Introduction Presentation
9:15 – 10:00 am
☆ Keynote Presentation
"The Molecular Structure of Keratin Intermediate Filaments & Its Impact on Hookean & Yield Regions of the Stress-Strain Curve"
Bernd Noecker
Kao Germany GmbH, Germany
10:00 – 10:30 am
"Fatigue Failure Investigations and Direct Weibull Analyses of Bleached Hair"
Jessica Welzel
Henkel, Germany
30 Minute Comfort Break
11:00 – 11:30 am
"From Moisture Uptake to Frizz: A Physical View of Hair Bundle Deformation"
Jonghyun Ha
Ajou University, Republic of Korea
11:30 am – 12:00 pm
"Hair Hydration: Enlightening its Correct Meaning and Adjusting the Instrumental Method of Proof to Brazilian Consumers Perception"
Juliano Suzin Bocca
Boticário Group, Brazil
Lunch
Session 3
Hair Insults & Treatments
1:00 – 1:15 pm
Registration
1:15 – 2:00 pm
☆ Keynote Presentation
"Human Hair Diversity: Integrating Science & Consumer Realities’"
Gabriela Daniels
Director of Science Programs, London College of Fashion
2:00 – 2:30 pm
"Peptides for Hair Repair: Linking Keratin Binding Specificity to α-Helix Restoration"
Guojin Zhang
Croda, UK
30 Minute Comfort Break
3:00 – 3:30 pm
Presentation Slot Open to Submissions
3:30 – 4:00 pm
Presentation Slot Open to Submissions
Poster Session & Drinks Reception
4:00 – 6:00 pm
Poster Presentations
Conference Dinner
Next Door at The Molly Pitcher Inn - Included w/ Your Registration
10:00 pm
End of Day 2
Thursday 4th June 2026
Session 4
Innovations in Testing & Data Analytics
9:00 – 9:15 am
Introduction Presentation
9:15 – 10:00 am
☆ Keynote Presentation
Expanding The Hair Typing System With Science-Backed, AI-Powered Personalization
Candace V. Mitchell
MYAVANA
10:00 – 10:30 am
"Unconstrained Shine: Extending Optical Hair Evaluation Beyond Aligned Geometries"
Thomas Davies
Bossa Nova Vision, USA
30 Minute Comfort Break
11:00 – 11:30 am
"Hair Curl Classification: From Subjective Categories to Measurable Values"
Alice Fiorito
Henkel, Germany
11:30 am – 12:00 pm
Presentation Slot Open to Submissions
12:00 – 12:15 pm
Closing Remarks
12:15 pm
End of Conference
Sponsors & Exhibitors
Gold Level
Platinum Level
Silver Level
Exhibitors
Apply for Sponsorship
The conference cannot take place without the generous sponsorships received from our member companies. We are very grateful to the kind donations made in previous years that have keep the event afloat, financially speaking.
Sponsorships help keep down ticket-prices, which, together with online access that TRI provides, makes sure that the event is as inclusive and accessible as possible. We aim to give access to high quality science and education to as many people as is possible. Please contact us at TRI if you would like to support our event.
Travel & Accommodation
Everything you need to plan your in-person experience, from venue details to local recommendations.
The Oyster Point Hotel
146 Bodman Place
Red Bank, New Jersey, 07701
(732) 530 - 8200
Group Discount Rate (two nights, 2nd June and 3rd June) = $235
Just mention the event to reception to claim your discount rate.
Rates are for single/double occupancy and are subject to 6.625% sales occupancy tax and 8% state occupancy tax per room per night. Taxes are subject to change. There will be an additional person charge of $15.00 per third and fourth person per room, per night. Children under 17 years of age may share the same room accompanied by an adult at no additional charge. Rollaway beds are subject to a $15.00 fee per night and are based on availability for only certain room types. There is a maximum of 4 people per room.
Transport
Red Bank Station (NJ Transit) is half a mile from the venue, a 10 to 15-minute walk, or short taxi drive.
Red Bank station is on the North Jersey Coast Line. This line runs directly to Newark Liberty International Airport, and NY Penn Station, Manhattan. Visit www.njtransit.com for train information.
New York & New Jersey Tourism
Red Bank is perfectly situated for exploring New Jersey’s beautiful and historic coastline, and for travelling into New York City. For information about state parks, museums, historical buildings, etc. visit www.nj.gov/nj/things/
Submitting Your Work
We are open for abstract submissions. Abstract submissions for podium and poster presentations should be submitted to the conference Scientific Program Committee at events@triprinceton.org
Abstracts should describe original scientific work that has not been previously published and does not include animal testing. Original research undertaken for commercial purposes is welcome, as long as it has sufficient scientific merit. Abstracts, presentations and posters should use chemical names as far as possible and avoid direct promotion of any products or services. All abstracts will be evaluated by a panel of experts of the Scientific Programme Committee. Results will be communicated to authors as soon as possible to allow them to make travel plans.
Podium and poster presentations must be given in-person at Red Bank. Contact us for information about assistance with registration and travel costs.
Our 2024 Conference
440+
Attendees
29
Countries
24
Speakers
4
Sessions
