In this preliminary examination of various ingredients used in hair color rinses, thermal analysis studies were concluded for adipic acid. The instrument used was a simultaneous TG-DTA unit. The sample was subjected to thermal treatment in a nitrogen atmosphere at various heating and Row rates. At the very least, the data collected was used in ''finger printing" the material, so that its presence in a formulation might be detected by this method. However, it has proved to be possible to offer a more detailed description than just fingerprinting and identification. By using the TG plot. the rate of evaporation for adipic acid was calculated and shown to agree with models for evaporation.