Patent Application
20060219254
This application claims priority to Application No. GB 0506295.5, filed Mar. 29, 2005, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a device for an improved method of curling hair.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Various types of hair curlers are commercially available. Most hair curlers consist of a rigid material, such as wire mesh, or perforated plastics, shaped into a cylindrical hollow body, and once the hair is curled around the rollers, they are kept in place by hair pins or the like. Some hair curlers are provided with a roughened surface, such as bristles, to reduce slippage of the hair on the roller and so facilitate the curling. However, such rollers, also, must be kept in place by hair pins or the like.
Other hair curlers may be composed of a cylindrical foam body, which are held in the hair by either pins or clamps or the like. However, the foam is easily compressed due to a low resilience, and it becomes difficult to hold the hair taut enough to produce the elastic stressing needed to produce curls. These rollers also must be kept in place by hair pins or the like.
With known hair curlers, the setting or conditioning lotion is sprayed onto the hair once the hair has been wound around the roller, which, especially if long hair is to be treated, can result in the outer region of the hair wound being more intensely moistened with the setting or conditioning lotion than the underneath layers. As a result, a non-uniform waving occurs and the hair is subjected to different conditions over its length. Also, as the setting lotion is sprayed directly onto the head, the lotion comes into direct contact with the scalp, which can cause irritation.
Generally, the tension achieved by winding the hair around such known cylindrical hair rollers is insufficient on its own to cause curling, and as such the hair is often dried in the presence of heat in order for the curls to set. The combination of the heat and setting lotion can however be damaging to the hair, and cause it to become weak and brittle.
It is an object of this invention to overcome the various disadvantages of known hair curlers and to provide a convenient device that does not require any fixing pins or clamps, does not require heat or steam, and enables an even and measured distribution of the setting or conditioning lotion over the hair to be curled, while also reducing the contact of the setting lotion with the scalp thereby protecting the scalp from possible scalp irritation. It is a further object of the invention to provide improved means for applying a variety of liquid treatment materials to the hair, for example dyes, setting lotions and conditioners.
The device of the invention comprises a woven or non-woven fabric which is impregnated with the desired setting or conditioning lotion, and shaped into conveniently sized strips. The non-woven fabric may be similar to the fabric commonly used for baby wipes. The fabric strips may be held in a resealable air-tight container, which allows the sequential removal of one fabric strip at a time through a hole in the container. The fabric strips may be loosely joined to one another at either end, for example by using perforations, allowing many or single strips to be removed in one action, and so that the removal of each strip pulls the end of the next strip through the hole in the container enabling its subsequent removal. The hole in the container can be covered when not in use, to prevent evaporation of the liquid impregnant.
The fabric strips are preferably used on dry hair. The hair should be divided into manageable sections and the fabric strip placed next to the first length of hair. Ideally, the section of hair to be curled is twisted along its length, and then beginning at the tips of the hair the hair should be neatly and uniformly wound around the central portion of the fabric strip, allowing a short length at both ends of the fabric strip. The two ends of the fabric strip may then be tied together in a knot, which should be tight enough to hold the curl in place, but loose enough to be able to remove once the curl has set. The fabric strips are made of a non-woven material which is preferably relatively non-elastic, and thus allows a relatively tight knot to hold the curl tightly in position. The hair is then left to allow the curls to set.
As the conditioner or setting lotion is already impregnated into the fabric strip, and therefore does not need to be sprayed onto the hair once the hair is wound around the fabric strip, the setting lotion or conditioner is in full contact with the full length of hair, allowing any excess lotion that is absorbed by the hair to be reabsorbed by the fabric, and any lotion that is not absorbed by the hair to be retained by the fabric. Thus, the hair only retains the required quantities of setting or conditioning lotion, which ensures a natural wave and is preferable for the condition of the hair.
The hair may be wound relatively tightly around the fabric strip, thereby achieving a sufficiently high level of tension within the hair to eliminate the need for heat drying, which can be damaging to the hair. The curls in the hair may therefore be allowed to set naturally at room temperature.
As only the ends of the fabric strip are required to secure the device, there is no need for pins or similar to secure the device. Hence, the number of parts needed is reduced.
The size of the curl may be determined by the width and the thickness of the fabric strip. In order to achieve a larger curl, the thickness of the fabric strip may be increased either by simply folding the fabric or by laying more than one fabric strip together.
In a further embodiment of the invention, the lotion impregnated fabric strips may be used in conjunction with the already commercially available cylindrical hair rollers. The fabric strip may be placed along the length of the hair, between the hair and the hair roller, and the hair can be wound around the roller and secured with a pin or the like in the usual way. The lotion impregnated into the fabric strip is therefore in contact with the full length of the hair to be curled, thus allowing lotion to be absorbed into the hair, and any water in the hair or excess lotion to be reabsorbed into the fabric strip. The size or diameter of the hair roller may be varied to achieve the desired size of curl.
Different lotions may be impregnated into the fabric strip depending upon the desired treatment for the hair. These may include a mild conditioner, an intense conditioner, a hair colour lightener, a setting lotion for fixed curls, and a lotion for smoothing and conditioning the hair to reduce hair frizz.
The device is inexpensive to manufacture, relatively compact in size, and comes as a single part thereby eliminating the need for pins or other such securing means and the need for setting or conditioning lotion.
Further objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which illustrate preferred embodiments thereof.
FIGS. 1 to 4 are schematic perspective views showing successive steps in a hair curling method, and using a hair curling device, embodying the invention;
In
Similar sections of hair may be wound using the procedure illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 4 until the full head of hair has been wound onto the fabric strips. Alternatively, the hair may be wound beginning at the end of the hair. The hair is then left to set at room temperature, after which the fabric strips may be removed.
It should be appreciated that modifications and alterations obvious to those skilled in the art may be made within the scope of the present claims. For example, while it is preferred for the fabric strip to be of a non-woven material, which has the advantage of being permeable and thus readily allowing the impregnation of hair lotions and allowing the reabsorption of excess water in the hair and excess hair lotion, whilst also being relatively non-elastic to allow the curl to be tightly secured during drying, other woven or non-woven fabrics may be used.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0506295.5 | Mar 2005 | GB | national |
