To verify nail strength claims, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) is a useful technique. DSC involves heating a sample over a given temperature range.  As the sample is heated, a temperature is reached where the keratins inside the nail start to change in structure and denature. This change is similar to that seen when heating an egg yolk; upon heating, the proteins in the nail, and in egg yolk, restructure and change irreversibly.  The temperature at which nail keratins denature changes with the degree of keratin cross-linking, so DSC is as a good measure of how much a particular product can interact with the nail and alter the nail properties.

DSC measurements are sensitive to many experimental factors.  TRI is able to provide expert advice on designing the best protocols and on interpretation of the data.