Methods for simulating custom hair color results and thereby formulating custom hair coloring compositions

Abstract

Methods are disclosed for simulating custom hair color results, for selecting a resulting custom hair color from among possible custom hair color results, and for formulating custom hair coloring compositions which impart to hair such custom hair color results.

Description

Claims

1. A method for simulating a resulting custom hair color imparted to hair by a custom hair coloring composition formulated from a mixture of at least two different color shade components selected from a defined collection of different color shade components available for mixing, said method comprising the steps of: (a) inputting into a computer system an initial hair color of said hair;(b) inputting into a computer system an amount of a first color shade component for adding to said mixture, wherein said first color shade component is selected from said defined collection;(c) inputting into said computer system an amount of a second color shade component for adding to said mixture, wherein said second color shade component is selected from said defined collection;(d) inputting, optionally, into said computer system an amount of one or more additional color shade components for adding to said mixture, wherein each of said additional color shade components is selected from said defined collection;(e) predicting with said computer system a likely resulting custom hair color based on the inputted initial hair color of said hair and the inputted amounts of each of said first, second, and optionally additional color shade components for adding to said mixture;(f) generating with said computer system a visual image representative of said likely resulting custom hair color; and(g) displaying said visual image representative of said likely resulting custom hair color to simulate said resulting custom hair color.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein said step (a) comprises selecting said initial hair color from a predetermined group of possible initial hair colors.

3. A method according to claim 2, wherein said predetermined group of possible initial hair colors comprises a plurality of visual images of hair of different colors.

4. A method according to claim 3, wherein said plurality of visual images of hair of different colors comprises visual images representative of light blonde hair, dark blonde hair, and medium brown hair, respectively.

5. A method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of inputting into said computer system a hair type of said hair.

6. A method according to claim 5, wherein said step of inputting a hair type of said hair comprises selecting said hair type from a predetermined group of possible hair types.

7. A method according to claim 6, wherein said predetermined group of possible hair types comprises a plurality of visual images of hair of different types.

8. A method according to claim 7, wherein said plurality of visual images of hair of different types comprises visual images representative of straight hair, wavy hair, and curly hair, respectively.

9. A method according to claim 1, wherein said step (g) comprises displaying a visual image of a color circle and said visual image representative of said likely resulting custom hair color is an indicated point in said color circle.

10. A method according to claim 1, wherein said step (g) comprises displaying a visual image of hair having a color which is said likely resulting custom hair color.

11. A method for selecting a desired resulting custom hair color imparted to hair by a custom hair coloring composition formulated from a mixture of at least two different color shade components selected from a defined collection of different color shade components available for mixing, said method comprising the steps of: (a) performing a method according to claim 1 to simulate a first possible resulting custom hair color, wherein said first possible resulting custom hair color has a corresponding visual image representative of said likely resulting custom hair color and corresponding inputted amounts of each of said first, second, and optionally additional color shade components for adding to said mixture;(b) saving said visual image representative of said likely resulting custom hair color which corresponds to said first possible resulting custom hair color and the inputted amounts of each of said first, second, and optionally additional color shade components for adding to said mixture which correspond to said first possible resulting custom hair color;(c) performing a method according to claim 1 to simulate a second possible resulting custom hair color, wherein said second possible resulting custom hair color has a corresponding visual image representative of said likely resulting custom hair color and corresponding inputted amounts of each of said first, second, and optionally additional color shade components for adding to said mixture;(d) saving said visual image representative of said likely resulting custom hair color which corresponds to said second possible resulting custom hair color and the inputted amounts of each of said first, second, and optionally additional color shade components for adding to said mixture which correspond to said second possible resulting custom hair color;(e) performing, optionally, a method according to claim 1 to simulate one or more additional possible resulting custom hair colors, wherein each of said additional possible resulting custom hair colors has a corresponding visual image representative of said likely resulting custom hair color and corresponding inputted amounts of each of said first, second, and optionally additional color shade components for adding to said mixture;(f) saving, optionally, said visual image representative of said likely resulting custom hair color which corresponds to each of said additional possible resulting custom hair colors and the inputted amounts of each of said first, second, and optionally additional color shade components for adding to said mixture which correspond to each of said additional possible resulting custom hair colors;(g) displaying for visual comparison each said visual image representative of said likely resulting custom hair color which corresponds, respectively, to said first, second, and optionally additional possible resulting custom hair colors; and(h) indicating a preference for one of the displayed visual images representative of said likely resulting custom hair colors which correspond, respectively, to said first, second, and optionally additional possible resulting custom hair colors to select said desired resulting custom hair color.

12. A method according to claim 11, wherein said step (g) of displaying for visual comparison comprises simultaneously displaying each said visual image representative of said likely resulting custom hair color which corresponds, respectively, to said first, second, and optionally additional possible resulting custom hair colors.

13. A method according to claim 11, wherein said step (g) of displaying for visual comparison comprises further displaying a visual image representative of said initial hair color of said hair.

14. A method for formulating a custom hair coloring composition which imparts to hair a desired resulting custom hair color and which comprises a mixture of at least two different color shade components selected from a defined collection of different color shade components available for mixing, said method comprising the steps of: (a) performing a method according to claim 1 to simulate said desired resulting custom hair color, wherein said desired resulting custom hair color has corresponding inputted amounts of each of said first, second, and optionally additional color shade components for adding to said mixture;(b) providing a mixing vessel for containing said mixture;(c) dispensing into said mixing vessel an amount of each of said first, second, and optionally additional color shade components selected from said defined collection according to the inputted amounts of each of said first, second, and optionally additional color shade components which correspond to said desired resulting custom hair color; and(d) mixing the dispensed amounts of said first, second, and optionally additional color shade components to formulate said custom hair coloring composition.

15. A method for formulating a custom hair coloring composition which imparts to hair a desired resulting custom hair color and which comprises a mixture of at least two different color shade components selected from a defined collection of different color shade components available for mixing, said method comprising the steps of: (a) performing a method according to claim 11 to select said desired resulting custom hair color, wherein said desired resulting custom hair color has corresponding inputted and saved amounts of each of said first, second, and optionally additional color shade components for adding to said mixture;(b) providing a mixing vessel for containing said mixture;(c) dispensing into said mixing vessel an amount of each of said first, second, and optionally additional color shade components selected from said defined collection according to the inputted and saved amounts of each of said first, second, and optionally additional color shade components which correspond to said desired resulting custom hair color; and(d) mixing the dispensed amounts of said first, second, and optionally additional color shade components to formulate said custom hair coloring composition.

16. A method according to claim 14, wherein each of said defined collection of different color shade components is in the form of granules, and wherein said step (c) of dispensing is performed with the use of a plurality of dosing devices, each of said plurality of dosing devices corresponding to one of said different color shade components, wherein each of said dosing devices comprises (i) a storage vessel containing said granules, (ii) a dispensing head connected to said storage vessel and having a dispensing opening, and (iii) an actuating means within said dispensing head for controlling dispensing of said granules from said storage vessel and through said dispensing opening.

17. A method according to claim 14, wherein at least one of said step (c) of dispensing and said step (d) of mixing is performed by said professional colorist within the visual observation of a hair coloring client.

18. A method according to claim 17, wherein at least one of said step (c) of dispensing and said step (d) of mixing is performed by said professional colorist at a portable hair coloring service cart in an area of said hair salon physically proximate to a chair in which said hair coloring client is sitting.

19. A method according to claim 1, wherein said defined collection comprises a plurality of different color shade components which, when added to said mixture, affect the color tone of said desired resulting custom hair color.

20. A method according to claim 1, wherein said defined collection comprises at least one color shade component for providing color tone representative of a point on a color circle corresponding to a color selected from the group consisting of ash, rose, gold, orange, red, violet, and blue.

21. A method according to claim 1, wherein said defined collection comprises at least one color shade component which, when added to said mixture, affects the color depth of said desired resulting custom hair color.

22. A method according to claim 1, wherein said defined collection comprises: (a) a color shade component for providing ash color tone;(b) a color shade component for providing rose color tone;(c) a color shade component for providing gold color tone;(d) a color shade component for providing orange color tone;(e) a color shade component for providing red color tone;(t) a color shade component for providing violet color tone;(g) a color shade component for providing blue color tone; and(h) a color shade component for adjusting the depth of any one of the color tones of (a) to (g) or a color tone of any mixtures thereof.

23. A method according to claim 1, wherein each of said defined collection of different color shade components is in a form selected from the group consisting of a cream, a powder, and granules, preferably granules.