Up to now, research on the “dead hair” and “live follicle” has been completed separated. However, responses occurring in the “live follicle” are likely to contribute to important changes in the “dead hair” structure, and quality.
By partnering up with a major institution in the “dead hair” research, TRI Princeton, we have now established the first preclinical assay that allows the modulation of activities of the “Live Follicle” and simultaneous measurement of parameters involved in “Dead Hair” fiber quality. This new assay allows us the testing of cosmeceuticals or nutraceuticals to predict beneficial responses in the “Live Follicle” that would translate in improved hair shaft quality, and signalling pathways involved in such modulation.
Different stressors have been implicated in negative effects on the “live follicle” and “dead hair”, including peroxide treatment. We can now also predict the protective effects of cosmeceuticals or nutraceuticals towards peroxide-induce oxidative damage in the hair shafts (changes in a-helics structures, lipid content, DNA content) and in the living hair follicle (catagen induction, changes in the expression of keratins or keratins associated proteins).
The Monasterium Laboratory and TRI Princeton teams have only began to understand the potential of such pre-clinical assay and additional efforts is currently being invested in exploring these in details.
Applications
This assay can be employed to substantiate important claims as: improved hair structure, hair strength, hair quality, and hair growth.
