SCI TECH SALON Human vs Robotic Hairdressers By Simone Lee

Not so long ago, I began researching Artificial Intelligence (AI) use within the Hairdressing industry for the Australian Institute of trichology and a previous HairBiz contribution Sci-Tech Salon.

The investigation revealed that as the craving by people for tailored personal care services rises, the quantity of artificial intelligence necessary for salon practitioners to remain competitive will also increase in this rapidly growing sector market set to be worth USD $805.61 billion by 2023 according to Orbis research. Mintel Marketing group also released statistics in this area that indicated young consumers trust science ahead of other decision-making marketing campaigns.

“AI systems extract insights from large quantities of data to serve as a tool for decision making, scaling knowledge gained from human experts for automation to process and correlate the data”.

The debate continues as to whether a robot could someday replace a hairstylist. AI machines exist that scientifically evaluate hair and provide hair care recommendations, such as Henkels “The Salon Lab Eco Changer” that analyses strands of hair on a molecular level using infra-red and visible light sensors to determine hair’s strength, moisture content and actual hair colour. The information is run through a data app which offers advice on how to treat the hair and the salon lab creates a customised shampoo optimized for the hair. Consumers now have a different alternative to look towards when seeking hair care advice rather than their trusted hairdresser, and if the literature is correct young people might prefer the AI option. But what about the practical work that a hairstylist provides?

A new article by Hair Science News titled “Tear-free hair brushing? All you need is math details that researchers have “developed a mathematical understanding of detangling hair that could be used for robotic hairdressers”.

Researchers Mahadevan and co-authors Thomas Plumb Reyes and Nicholas Charles examined the mathematics involved in hair combing and found the best process for brush strokes to avoid pain. The hair brushing mathematical methods formed by Plumb-Reyes, Charles and Mahadevan have now been subsequently used by Professor Daniela Rus and A team of MIT researchers to create algorithms for brushing hair by a robot. This new technology begs me to ask the question, if a robot is able perform hair distribution hair through brushing and combing, practice hair stylists also perform when cutting how long will it be before robots will be able to perform scientific brushing, combing and hair distribution whilst simultaneously cutting the hair?

Over fifteen years ago, I invented a mathematical hairstyling tool known as Thredlox. The flat small rectangular Teflon tool consisted of holes and slits in a grid-like pattern. The tool enables sections of hair to be swiftly distributed into each slit and hole in different positions. Stylist can document their hair placement pattern for accurate repeated client services (e.g., row two, position three creates a spiral curl, and tie die colour effect when hair die is placed on either side of the tool and processed). Hair could also be cut at each grid section for precise repeatable hair texturizing and other cutting techniques. Unlimited curl and unlimited hair forms can be created such as the ‘Link Kink” beach effect when thermal irons are glided down the tool filled with placed hair once the hair is removed from the tool.

I envisioned one day the development of a computer application where thredlox codes could be typed in by a stylist. The consumer would be able to view the type of hair curl, colour or cut pattern they would receive

before their service commenced. I formed a contract with a cosmetic company for the release of the tool that unfortunately went into administration before thredlox could reach the industry. In one way, today, I am glad this happened, (even though all thredlox prototypes sold out at hair Hair Expo Australia in 2014) because if a robot will be able to safely distribute hair using a comb or a brush, a tool like thredlox might assist the future of total robotic hairstyling.

I believe that the un-replicable art of what we do as hairstylists is the most remarkable part of our profession and cannot be replaced by a robot. I have found that no haircut or colour is ever the same. When a client asks me for “the same as I had last time”, I always reply “What I create will never be the same as last time. I doubt a painter could paint with 100 percent accuracy the same picture repeatedly again and again either., neither do I feel artistically they would want to. However, subtle differences make a work of art unique, exciting, and truly personalized, I can offer you a perfectly imperfect hair design and this is what I can do for you!” Literature and research have shown that computers, AI and even robotics can help us to improve the canvas we work on as artists (hair, scalp), and offers new approaches to practical processes we do. I for one will be investigating further these new scientific “pain free” hair brushing techniques.

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