TRI Princeton is an independent, not-for-profit, scientific institute with world-leading expertise in applied measurement sciences, with a global reach.
We focus on hair and skin claims testing for product development, scientific research and the development of new measurement techniques, as well as providing internationally renowned courses and events in hair and skin science.
Our History
The Textile Research Institute (TRI) Princeton is an independent, non-profit, scientific research and education organization. Over the years, TRI has provided research solutions to a wide variety of domestic and international industrial companies, governmental organizations, and academic institutions.
TRI was created by the American government in 1930 to support the country’s textiles industry. The institute founded the Textile Research Journal and was a leader and innovator in the textiles area for many years, forging close links with Princeton University.
In the 1980’s, TRI gradually moved its focus from textile fibers to hair fibers. Today, TRI is a leading-edge, global center for cosmetic science research, focused mainly on the hair care and skin care categories, although we do still do some work on textiles. As well as publishing original research, TRI organizes many conferences and educational courses. TRI also provides high-quality contract testing services to companies. TRI’s test reports are held in high regard by scientists and regulators around the world.
TRI has a Board of Trustees, which is responsible for senior appointments and checking the finances. The Trustees also use their considerable business and scientific experience to help guide TRI in the right direction and to keep the institute focused on the needs of industry.
TRI is based in Princeton, New Jersey. Our facilities are set in the middle of 18 acres of woodland, 2 miles from the center of Princeton and overlooking Lake Carnegie. Our original laboratories, library and seminar rooms are based in a converted manor home built in 1913. More up to date facilities are provided in an adjacent laboratory building.
The institute has three principal goals,
Research
- to advance scientific methods and scientific understanding for the cosmetics and personal care products industry, and other closely associated industries
Education
– to provide high quality educational services and training opportunities for scientists and students around the world
Services
– to offer high quality and timely contract testing services. Mainly, hair, skin, lip, nail and textiles testing for claim substantiation
Recent Success Stories
Hair Fatigue Strength Testing
TRI has a long history of research into the mechanical properties of textile and human hair fibres. Indeed, the first record of fatigue testing on textile fibers goes back to 1961 https://library.triprinceton.org/1fq5ejs/ More recently, however, the Hair Research team has investigated the use of fatigue testing for the measurement of hair strength https://library.triprinceton.org/1d2t7nn/ and https://library.triprinceton.org/1skbofi/ With ever-rising demand for more efficacious hair repair treatments, the fatigue method, developed in TRI, has become the industry technique of choice for product testing and claim support. Work continues, at TRI, to develop this method and to further understand hair breakage and hair strengthening treatments.
Textured Hair Research
In 2019 TRI pulled together 10 leading global companies in the cosmetics and personal care industry to create a consortium project focussed on developing better products for consumers with textured hair. The project raised $1m in funding, and involved two large scalp clinicals, one in the US and one in South Africa, and extensive laboratory work in TRI. The project, completed in 2021, delivered important new insights into the causes of hair breakage in textured hair, and ways to mitigate it https://library.triprinceton.org/201e4bo/ Discoveries were also made into the origins of increased levels of scalp irritation for consumers with this hair type, and novel solutions were proposed https://library.triprinceton.org/1vtmgh6/ Finally, new hair product evaluation methods were developed to help companies deliver better products for this hair type https://library.triprinceton.org/20g5nf7/ Key new discoveries were shared at the 3rd Multi-Ethnic Hair and Scalp care Symposium in 2023 https://library.triprinceton.org/20gt4jr/ The Hair Research team continue to work at the leading edge of textured hair research.
Sunscreen Research
The Skin and Bio-substrates team at TRI have worked since 2018 on understanding how easily organic UV filters might penetrate the skin. This is of significant interest to the public and to regulators. The team have presented and published work on the use of encapsulation to prevent sunscreen penetration into the skin https://library.triprinceton.org/1d3050q/, the effects of film-formers on sunscreen absorption https://library.triprinceton.org/1ko39bp/, and on the effects of skin temperature on sunscreen penetration https://library.triprinceton.org/22mgeup/ The team will continue to bring new scientific understanding to this important product category.