Behind the scenes, the team at Kérastase has been working on a top-secret innovation in scalp and hair health. And now, after more than two years in the making, we can proudly unveil K-Scan - an in-salon camera and companion app – that will help hairdressers to prescribe ultra-personalized hair and scalp treatment to make you reach the glossy, healthy hair and scalp of your dreams.
The technology has been trained on a data set of more than 12,000 images of women and men with all types of hair and scalp, to allow great accuracy of analysis. Developed through a collaboration between optical engineers, AI researchers, L’Oréal scalp & and hair experts, dermatologists, UI/UX designers, software engineers, and external engineering partners, K-Scan can accurately assess the health of your hair and scalp.
The smart in-salon device, powered only by hairdressers, combines 3-light technology and a 4K resolution camera. Next, a highly accurate machine learning AI algorithm (trained by L’Oréal scalp & and hair experts) takes that imagery and reveals exactly what you need to focus on for your healthiest hair and scalp ever.
It’s so groundbreaking that the Kérastase team presented K-Scan at VivaTech 2023, the world's biggest tech event that celebrates innovation and is described as ‘a gathering of the world's brightest minds, talents, and products’.
K-Scan: Revolutionising The In-Salon Experience
Since the 1960s, when we launched our first diagnostic tool Kérascope, we have been creating smart tech solutions to help hairdressers diagnose their clients’ needs. We have always understood that beautiful hair starts with a good diagnosis, offering effective in-salon and online tools like our quick hair quiz.
But K-Scan is our most innovative hair diagnostic tool yet. Basically, it takes images of your scalp and hair and then distills that information so your hairdresser can accurately recommend in-salon treatments and at-home products. What’s great is that with this tool you can see a comparison of your hair and scalp at the start of your visit and at the end, as well as setting goals for the future health of your hair and scalp so that you can accurately track your progress through the companion app each time you visit your hairdresser.
K-Scan’s 3 lights work in synergy, giving the user an in-depth and ultra-personalized hair and scalp diagnosis. K-Scan lights act as eye amplifiers.
How K-Scan Works?
Now for the science part - stay with us, it’s fascinating. White LED light reveals surface features from sebum, hair fiber, and cuticle condition; cross-polarized white light removes glare and amplifies color differences accurately detecting capillaries, pigmentation, skin color, degree of redness and tone that can give a better picture of overall scalp health; finally UV light reveals what the naked eye cannot see - microorganisms and molecules such as porphyrins that become fluor red under UV light. “K-Scan’s 3 lights work in synergy, giving the user an in-depth and ultra-personalized hair and scalp diagnosis. K-Scan lights act as eye-amplifiers,” says Edine Ahbich, Global Scientific Director for Kérastase. Every detail of your scalp is captured in high definition.
Discover the 3 Lights Technology
AND WHAT EACH LIGHT IS ANALYSING
UV LIGHT
PORPHYRIN & DANDRUFF
Porphyrin is a molecule, revealed by UV light, that is secreted by the microbiome and supports scalp health: As Dandruff is caused by skin cells that regenerate too fast leading to a build-up of flakes, this can be detected by K-Scan’s camera. Got dandruff? Read our article to treat your scalp and get rid of it.
CROSS-POLARIZED LIGHT
SCALP ITCHINESS/DRYNESS
K Scan’s camera is able to see your scalp in detail, which can help it understand what could be causing itching and dryness at the scalp and how to fix it.
WHITE LIGHT
GREASYNESS
If you feel like you’re always needing to wash your hair, then it’s likely your scalp is producing too much sebum - something K Scan’s white LED light can detect.
THE K SCAN MEASURES THE FOLLOWING PARAMETERS:
Porphyrin - a molecule, revealed by UV light, that is secreted by the microbiome and supports scalp health.
Dandruff - UV light can detect pools of dead cells that the naked eye can sometimes miss.
Got dandruff? Read our article to treat your scalp and get rid of it.
Fiber diameter - analyzed with white light, this information can help optimize product recommendations.
Root density - the white light can also pick up on the number of hairs per cm2.
Powered By Artificial Intelligence
The AI algorithm Kérastase uses is exclusive, developed in-house for all hair types and that is a key element “that will enable us to better understand our consumers and empower hairdressers to give them ultra-personalized recommendations,” says Aldina Suwanto, K-Scan Project Manager at L’Oréal Research & Innovation. The algorithm relies on training data to recognize patterns and make predictions regarding scalp attributes like dandruff, scalp redness, hair density, and hair diameter.
K-Scan enables hairdressers to give a high standard of in-depth analysis at the consultation every time and from there your hairdresser can recommend in-salon and at-home care. What’s more, with K-Scan the consumer can see instant before and after results via the app’s imaging technology. “With skincare, consumers need to wait, on average, 21 days (about 3 weeks) to see the after results of a treatment, but with K-Scan consumers will be able to see the positive changes in their hair and scalp right after their treatment,” notes Aurelia Baudelaire Consumer Experience Director for Kérastase Global team, managing tech innovations, online services, CRM & data.
Beautiful Hair Starts At The Scalp
K-Scan is set to be so successful not only because of its advanced technology and future-is-now AI capabilities but also because it can expertly detect issues that start at the scalp.
This means you and your hairdresser can get to the root cause of what’s preventing your hair from looking its best. Discover the bases of how to respect your scalp. K-Scan detects several hair and scalp concerns and the types of products you could be recommended include:
Genesis Anti-hair Loss Serum
For normal to dry, weakened hair that is prone to falling due to breakage.
Specifique Potentialiste Hair & Scalp Serum
The first universal defence scalp serum to rebalance scalp.
Symbiose Bain Crème Anti-Dandruff Shampoo
Moisturizing anti-dandruff cellular shampoo, for dry sensitive scalp, prone to dandruff.
Nutritive Nourishing Shampoo
Ultra-nourishing shampoo for dry hair.
