Adam ZeloofJul 10
I reverse engineered the firmware loading utility of a $17 beauty salon spectrophotometer to load the firmware of its "big boy" sibling:
https://adam.zeloof.xyz/2025/07/10/x-rite-pantone-spectrophotometer-unlock/
Show threadbovaz
@azzeloof I didn't know beauty salons had spectrophotometers. What do they use them for?
Jul 11 at 7:17amWeb
Show threadAdam ZeloofJul 11
@bovaz my understanding is they can be used to read someone's skintone to match makeup colors. The stock firmware on the device came with a color fan deck that would only register skintones. I think they're also used to read "supplementary" colors like lipstick, etc.
Show threadbovazJul 11
@azzeloof that makes sense, but I wasn't expecting it.
I suppose I expected things in a beauty salon to be more based on the experience/guts of the professional. I mean, when I got to get an haircut, they don't measure my hair, but rather go by how it looks.
Show threadAdam ZeloofJul 11
@bovaz agreed, it was a bit surprising to learn. Perhaps there's a use case for "measure face, find the exact right shade of foundation, then order it" so not everything has to be kept in stock.
Show threadbovazJul 11
@azzeloof however, now I kinda wish my hairdresser would measure my hair before and after cutting it.
Show threadAdam ZeloofJul 11
@bovaz waiting for Starrett cosmetics-grade calipers?
Show threadbovazJul 11
@azzeloof I don't know that a caliper is the right tool for me, as last I checked my hair was more than 80cm long.