The technology uses the science of touch, also known as haptics, to figure out how the sensation of running a hand through hair is based on the physical and chemical forces of that hairdo.

The research looks at what happens on a macro level when individual hairs interact.

Eva Max from the University of Bayreuth in Germany showed her findings to a conference for the American Chemical Society.

Her study used an atomic force microscope with an extremely high resolution.

Max’s research has already uncovered the causes of hair feeling harsh to the touch and being difficult to manage and comb.

The findings beat the standard comb test used by a beauty product industry that is worth an estimated £30bn per year and her work could eventually lead to the development of innovative products.

Max said that researchers were still “scrambling to put hair care on a firm scientific footing”.