This fourth TRI Talk of 2025/26 was given by Dr. Ernesta Malinauskyte and was a whistle-stop tour of the work that TRI has recently undertaken into the world of hair lipids. While Ernesta is greatly interested in this area, it’s also receiving a great deal of attention from the haircare industry, and the more that we learn about hair lipids, the more it’s becoming clear that they are a vital part of hair and scalp health.

After a brief introduction to the molecular structure of the hair fiber, including how the adjacent peptide chains with hair structure interact with each other, Larry gave an overview of vibrational spectroscopic techniques, including when to use IR or Raman to probe samples and a discussion of the advantages and disadvantages of each, with examples.

The TRI talks are 60-minute on-line seminars on a wide range of topics designed to both inform and inspire new ways of thinking.  The fourth talk in the series is by Dr. Ernesta Malinauskyte, Director of Hair Research at TRI, and will give insights into the hidden world of hair and scalp lipids.  

The third talk in the series is by Dr. Larry Senak, a Principal Scientist at TRI, and will consider the use of confocal Raman spectroscopy to determine the alterations to disulfides bonds in hair structure after chemical treatments (such as bleaching or relaxing), or thermal treatments (e.g. blow-drying and flat ironing). 

Martin gave an overview of the reasons for studying essential oil composition within plants, as well as the importance of identifying secondary metabolites formed as part of natural processes within the plant’s life cycle. Understanding the chemical structure was also touched upon, as a means for derivatization in later research for improving potency if necessary.

A total of 154 people registered to listen to Murielle’s talk, entitled “Pin Straight to Ringlet Coil and Every Frizz In Between: Laboratory Methods that Quantify Straightness and Alignment”. The presentation featured research undertaken in partnership with Bossa Nova Vision (USA) and Ayton Global Research (UK).

The second TRI Talk in the series is by Dr. Martin Zorde, a postdoctoral researcher at TRI, and will consider the use of plant extracts in the development of insect repellent products.  His talk will be titled, ‘Bioprospecting of Catmints and Sages: The Cat’s Meow of Natural Insect Repellents’.

TRADING TEXTURES WITH FLAT IRONING: A CASE OF THE ERODING CORTEX WITH THE PERMANENT CHANGE IN CURL TYPE In the last of the four talks...

Ayin will present a talk titled ‘Trading Textures with Flat Ironing: A Case of the Eroding Cortex with the Permanent Change in Curl Type’.

Dr Jessica Cardenas Turner (Staff Scientist, TRI Princeton) will present a talk titled ‘Unveiling the Skin.

AN UPDATE ON MEASURING HAIR MOTION In the second of four talks this season  Dr Trefor Evans (Institute Fellow, TRI Princeton) will...

Vibrational spectroscopy techniques are underestimated by cosmetic and biomedical companies.

The TRI Talks 2024 Series opens its doors on Wednesday 23rd October, 1pm (ET) with a presentation from Dr Samuel Gourion-Arsiquaud.