EP4432879A1

EP4432879A1 - Hair styling apparatus

Info

Publication number: EP4432879A1
Application number: EP21830722.1A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Gary Sunderland
Original assignee: House Of Curls Ltd
Current assignee: House Of Curls Ltd
Priority date: 2021-11-17
Filing date: 2021-11-17
Publication date: 2024-09-25
Also published as: WO2023089291A1; CN118541060A

Abstract

A hair styling apparatus comprises a hair containment member for encapsulating an amount of hair and a heating apparatus for heating the hair containment member and the amount of hair encapsulated therein. The hair containment member includes upper and lower surfaces, the amount of hair being encapsulated between the upper and lower surfaces. The heating apparatus comprises first and second arms, each arm having a handle portion coupled to a clamping portion, the arms being coupled to each other adjacent the handle portions, allowing the clamping portions to be moveable relative to each other between an open position and a closed position in which the device encapsulating the amount of hair may be held between the clamping portions. The clamping portion of at least one of the first and second arms houses a heater element With the clamping portion in the closed position the apparatus substantially seals the encapsulated hair during heating thereof against egress of moisture liberated from the encapsulated hair during said heating from the apparatus to the surrounding environment and wherein during cooling, with the heating apparatus removed from the hair containment member, said hair con¬ tainment member confines substantially moisture between the upper and lower surfaces.

Description

Hair Styling Apparatus

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to apparatus for styling hair, and in particular to a hair styling apparatus that retains moisture in hair during a heating and cooling process.

Background of the Invention

Known apparatus for imparting curls to sections of hair include heated curling irons, curling tongs and wands, most of which comprise a cylindrical heated element attached to a handle. To use these devices each section of hair to be curled is wound around the heated element and then removed, repeating the action on different sections of hair around the head.

Rollers are also commonly used for curling hair. Rollers may be unheated or can be pre-heated before use. Heated rollers comprise a hollow cylindrical roller body which is heated before use. A section of hair is wrapped around the roller from starting at the end of the hair and rolling towards the scalp. The roller is then secured at the scalp and heat from the roller transfers to the hair wrapped around it as the roller cools. Heated rollers are typically quite heavy and there is always a risk that users may bum their fingers when putting the rollers into the hair. In addition, rollers can generally only be used to wrap hair in one direction, that is from the end of the hair to the scalp, thereby producing only one type of curl.

The temperature to which heated rollers heat hair can cause damage to the hair, including damage to the hair cuticle.

Curling irons and hair straightening irons also cause damage to hair due to the temperature to which they heat hair and their method of use, which might include passing hair through such irons numerous times.

CN 2497602 describes conventional rollers which may be heated after application to the head. A hand held apparatus includes heating elements shaped to surround the roller and the hair on each roller is heated individually through contact with the heating elements.

Heating the rollers directly in this way is also likely to heat the hair, at least the outermost hair, to a temperature sufficient to damage hair structure. In the Applicants earlier patent applications WO2017098282 and WO2019224529 a hair curler device is described which allows hair to be heated sufficiently to induce the changes in structure necessary to form a curl, whilst at the same time protecting hair from being heated excessively. The Applicants earlier patent application WO2019224530 describes a heater device for heating hair contained in a curler of the type described in WO2017098282 or WO2019224529.

The Applicant’s devices are typically used to form curls in dry hair, or hair that has had only small amounts of fluid added thereto so that it is substantially dry, rather than thoroughly wetted hair.

It has been found that when dry or substantially dry hair is heated in a chamber that is substantially sealed from the surrounding environment the treated hair has improved softness and shine when compared with hair that is heated such that the hair is not sealed from the external environment.

It would therefore be desirable to provide an improved apparatus for heating hair which substantially seals hair being heated from a surrounding environment.

Summary of the Invention

Hair that is dry and not heated relative to the surrounding environment has a moisture content that is in equilibrium with the surrounding environment. As the relative humidity within the environment changes so the moisture content of hair changes. When hair is heated relative to the surrounding environment moisture is released from the hair to the surrounding environment. As hair cools its moisture content increases until equilibrium with the surrounding environment is reached.

The inventors have recognised that if moisture that is liberated from hair can be contained around the hair during a heating and cooling cycle, physical characteristics of hair, such as shine and softness to touch can be improved relative to hair exposed to the same heating and cooling cycle where moisture liberated from hair is not contained around the hair from which the moisture is liberated.

The invention therefore provides an apparatus in which hair may be heated in a controlled manner, that is without heating the hair to too high a temperature, which confines moisture liberated from the hair during heating and which during subsequent cooling of the hair continues at least partially to confine the liberated moisture.

According to the invention there is provided hair styling apparatus comprising a hair containment member for encapsulating an amount of hair and a heating apparatus for heating the hair containment member, and the amount of hair encapsulated therein, wherein the hair containment member includes upper and lower surfaces, the amount of hair being encapsulated between the upper and lower surfaces, wherein the heating apparatus comprises first and second arms, each arm having a handle portion coupled to a clamping portion, the arms being coupled to each other, allowing the clamping portions to be moveable relative to each other between an open position and a closed position in which the device encapsulating the amount of hair may be held between the clamping portions, wherein the clamping portion of at least one of the first and second arms houses a heater element and wherein with the clamping portion in the closed position the apparatus substantially seals the encapsulated hair during heating thereof against egress of moisture liberated from the encapsulated hair during said heating from the apparatus to the surrounding environment and wherein during cooling, with the heating apparatus removed from the hair containment member, said hair containment member confines moisture at least partially between the upper and lower surfaces the hair containment member.

Advantageously, the arms are coupled to each other adjacent the handle portions.

Advantageously, the heating apparatus is configured in its closed position to compress the hair containment member between opposing inner surfaces of the respective clamping portions and to cause the upper surface of the hair containment member to ride over and seal against the peripheral edge region of the lower surface of the hair containment member such that the upper and lower surfaces are in sealed engagement with one another.

Preferably, the hair containment member includes a connector portion extending between and connecting the upper and lower surfaces and wherein in closing the heating apparatus everts the connector portion. Preferably, the connector portion has a length of not more than 40mm. More preferably, the connector portion has a length not more than 20mm. Advantageously, the length of the connector portion is between 10mm and 15mm and more advantageously, 13mm. Preferably, the connector portion has an outer diameter of between 10mm and 30mm. More preferably, the connector portion has an outer diameter of between 12mm and 15mm. The upper and lower surfaces may be between 60 and 80mm wide and preferably between 65 and 75 mm wide and more preferably 70mm wide.

In one embodiment the heating apparatus includes seal means comprising a sealing element mounted on at least one of the clamping portions and adapted to seal the chamber when the heating apparatus is in the closed position.

Preferably, at least one of the upper and lower surfaces of the hair containment member includes a plurality of venting holes, and wherein, in use in the heating apparatus, the or each surface of the hair containment member containing venting holes is pressed against the or each corresponding clamping surface of the heating apparatus such that the venting holes are sealed against the clamping surfaces of the heating apparatus.

It is preferred that the hair containment member is a one piece construction.

The hair containment member is, preferably, formed of an elastomeric material.

Typically, the elastomer has a Shore A hardness of 60-80.

Preferably, the elastomeric material is silicone rubber.

Preferably, the elastomer has a heat conductivity of between 0.18 and 0.8 W/m-K.

Advantageously, the combination of the shape and dimension of the hair containment member and the thermal conductivity of the elastomer are such that the temperature of hair contained in the hair curler does not exceed 100C, and preferably 80C, when subjected to a temperature in the range of 90C to 235C for a period of between 15 and 30 seconds.

Preferably, in use, when the clamping portions are in a closed position, the clamping surfaces press onto the upper and lower surfaces of the hair containment member and the encapsulated hair is substantially sealed within the hair containment member whilst it is heated by the heating element.

Advantageously, the hair containment member is fabricated from a resilient material that is thermally conductive and heat resistant up to at least 100°C, preferably at least 235°C or a temperature therebetween.

Preferably, the heating apparatus includes biasing means for biasing apart the first and second arms into the open position. Preferably the biasing means is a spring. Preferably, the convex shaped clamping surface of the second arm is a heatable surface. Advantageously, the clamping portion of the second arm houses a heater element.

Preferably, the heating apparatus further comprises a controller to control the temperature of the convex shaped clamping surface of the second arm. Advantageously, the user may be able to select the temperature of the convex shaped clamping surface of the second arm from a predetermined choice of a plurality of temperatures. Preferably the convex shaped clamping surface of the second arm can be heated to a temperature selected from the group comprising: 0°C, 70°C, 100°C and 220°C, or any temperature with the range 0°C to 235°C.

Preferably, the heating apparatus further comprises a temperature sensor to detect the temperature of the or each heatable surface.

Preferably, the or each heatable surface may be heated to a temperature of up to 220C, or 230C or 235 C or higher.

The controller may control the temperature of each heatable surface, allowing a user to select the temperature of each heatable surface, and preferably the controller may be configured to control heating of one or each of the heatable surfaces to a desired temperature, such as one of the aforementioned temperatures or to a temperature in the aforementioned temperature range.

According to another aspect of the invention there is provided a method for forming a curl in hair using the hair styling apparatus described above comprising the steps of:

(a) encapsulating a section of hair in the hair containment member;

(b) heating the heatable surface(s) of the heating apparatus;

(c) grasping the hair containment member between the clamping portions of the hair styling device;

(d) compressing the curl forming apparatus between the clamping surfaces of the heating apparatus for a predetermined period of time; and

(e) releasing the hair containment member from the heating apparatus;

(f) allowing the encapsulated section of hair to cool to a threshold temperature in the hair containment member. The predetermined period of time is in the range of one of: 10 to 40 seconds; 10 to 30 seconds; 10 to 20 seconds; 10 to 15 seconds; 15 to 20 seconds or is 18 seconds.

The method may further comprise an additional step of applying a heat protection and / or setting and/or straightening hair product to the section of hair prior to step (a).

The method may further comprise an additional step of applying a heat protection and setting hair product to the section of hair after step (a) and before step (b).

The hair styling product may be a keratin based product.

The steps (c) to (f) may be repeated at least once at spaced apart time intervals. Where certain hair styling products are used, for example a keratin based product, different hair styling effects can be obtained by heating the hair more than once at spaced part time interval.

The invention provides an improved apparatus and method for styling hair for use both in salon and home environments.

The inventors have found, surprisingly, that by confining moisture liberated from hair during heating and cooling thereof to the environment immediately around the hair a significant improvement in the condition and/ or shine of the hair can be observed.

Brief Description of the Drawings

In the drawings, which illustrate a preferred embodiment of a hair styling device, and are by way of example:

Figure la is a perspective view of a hair styling device in an open configuration;

Figure lb is a side view of the hair styling device of Figure la;

Figure 1c is a side view of the hair styling device of Figures la and lb in a closed configuration;

Figure 2a is a plan view of a heater device for use with a device of the type illustrated in Figures la to 1c; Figure 2b is a schematic cross-sectional view on the axis B-B of the heater device for use with a device of the type illustrated in Figures la to 1c;

Figure 2c is a schematic cross-sectional view, taken along the line A- A, of the hair styling device of Figure 2a, with the hair styling device in an open configuration;

Figure 2d is a schematic cross-sectional view, taken along the line A- A, of the hair styling device of Figure 2a, with the hair styling device in a closed configuration;

Figure 3a is a schematic cross-sectional view of the heater device illustrated in Figures 2a to 2d with a hair styling device of Figures la to 1c therein, the heater device in an open configuration;

Figure 3b is a schematic cross-sectional view of the heater device illustrated in Figures 2a to 2d with a hair styling device of Figures la to 1c therein, the heater device in a first partially closed configuration;

Figure 3c is a schematic cross-sectional view of the heater device illustrated in Figures 2a to 2d with a hair styling device of Figures la to 1c therein, the heater device in a second partially closed configuration;

Figure 3d is a schematic cross-sectional view of the heater device illustrated in Figures 2a to 2d with a hair styling device of Figures la to 1c therein, the heater device in a fully closed configuration;

Figure 4 illustrates an alternative embodiment of a heater device.

Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments

Referring now to Figures la to 1c, an embodiment of a hair styling device takes the form of a curler shown generally at 10. Curler 10 is formed as a one piece moulding of an elastomer, silicone rubber in the illustrated example, the curler comprising two spaced apart side portions 12, 14 connected by a connector portion 16. The first side portion 12 is substantially flat in profile and the second side portion 14 is curved in shape. In this embodiment, the first side portion 12 is provided with barrier members in the form of five elongate protrusions, or posts 18 which extend towards the second side portion 14, in substantially the same direction as the connector portion 16. The elongate protrusions 18 may be located on either of the side portions, but it is preferable, as shown in the illustrated example, that the elongate protrusions 18 are spaced apart on the first side portion 12 and positioned in-between the connector portion 16 and the outer circumference of the first, substantially flat, side portion 12. The second side portion 14 is configured such that it has two fixed states. The elastomer from which the hair curler 10 is formed is sufficiently flexible that it may be moved between the two fixed states by hand.

Typically, the elastomer has a Shore A hardness of 60-80.

The first fixed state is illustrated in Figures la and lb, where the second side portion 14 is convex in shape and curves away from the first side portion 12. This is the open configuration of the curler 10, and allows for hair to be wound around the connector portion 16. The second fixed state is illustrated in Figure 1c, whereby the second side portion 14 has been folded over so that it is now concave in shape and curves over the top of the connector portion 16 and the first side portion 12. This is the closed configuration of the curler 10, and allows hair wrapped around the connector portion 16 to be secured within the curler 10. In the illustrated example the curler 10 has a diameter of approximately 70mm, the length of the connector portion 16 is approximately 15mm and the length of each of the elongate protrusions 18 is approximately 9mm. The width of each elongate protrusion is approximately 4mm. Typically, the side second side portion 14 is slightly wider than the first side portion 12. In Figure 1c it can be seen that the peripheral edge 14a of the second side portion 14 is situated adjacent and in engagement with the peripheral edge 12a of the first side portion 12. The length of the elongate protrusions 18 should be less than or equal to the length of the connector portion 16 to allow hair to be easily wound around the connector portion 16, however the elongate protrusions 18 should also have sufficient length such that they form a bridge between the first and second side portions 12, 14 when the curler is in the closed configuration. In the illustrated embodiment the barrier members 18 are aligned with holes 20 in the second side portion, the free ends of the posts 18 engaging with respective holes 20 when the second side portion is in the closed configuration. The holes have a diameter of 4mm. In the illustrated example the first side portion has fifteen holes and the second side portion has twenty holes.

Typically, the silicone rubber from which the hair curler 10 is formed is heat resistant to a temperature up to 235C. Typically, the silicone rubber has aheat conductivity of between 0.18 and 0.8 W/m-K. The combination of the shape and dimension of the hair curler 10 and the thermal conductivity of the silicone rubber ensure that the temperature of hair contained in the hair curler does not exceed 100C, preferably 80C when subjected to a temperature in the range of 90C to 235C for a period of between 15 and 30 seconds. The silicone rubber may have at least one thermo-chromic pigment therein. The thermo-chromic pigment selected will depend on the temperature indication(s) required for particular hair treatments.

The curler holds a section of hair between the first and second side portions 12, 14 and wrapped around the connector portion 16. Typically, the section of hair is wrapped around the connector portion 16 from the root ends of the individual hairs making up the section of hair. The size of the section of hair, i.e. the number of hairs in the section, is selected so that the space around the connector portion 16 and between the first and second portions, when the second portion is in the configuration showing Figure 1c, is filled. The size of the section of hair, or the physical characteristics of the hairs of the section of hair, may result in the space around the connector portion 16 and the first and second portions being over filled, that is with the second portion in its closed configuration (as shown in Figures 1c and Id), the peripheral edge 14a may not sit directly adjacent to and against the peripheral edge of 12a of the the first side portion 12. The peripheral edge 14a may lie adjacent to but slightly above the peripheral edge 12a, or there may be a small gap between the peripheral edges 12a, 14a.

The posts 18, which are preferred but not essential to the invention, assist in preventing the hair contained in the curler 10 from unwinding. They also assist in conducting heat from a heating apparatus to the section of hair contained within the curler 10. The function of the holes 20 in the first and second side portions is to provide for more rapid cooling of hair contained within the curler 10 after heating than would be the case if the holes were absent. The presence of holes 20 and/ or the number of holes 20 is dependent on the size of the curler 10 and the desired performance parameters thereof.

The present invention lies in the provision of an apparatus which contains moisture that is liberated from hair contained within a hair styling device during heating and which continues to contain the liberated moisture within the hair styling device and the hair contained therein during cooling of the heated hair. At all times hair has a moisture content that is related to the temperature of the hair and the relative humidity of the surrounding environment. Increasing the temperature of hair by applying heat thereto without changing the relative humidity of the surrounding environment results in moisture being driven from the hair to the surrounding environment. If the heat is removed the moisture content of the hair gradually returns to an equilibrium with the surrounding environment.

Referring now to Figures 2a to 2d, a heating apparatus 1 includes first and second arms 2, 3. Each arm has a handle portion, 5, 6 which is coupled to a clamping portion 22, 24. The arms are coupled together via a hinge 7 at one end, adjacent the handle portions. The hinge 7 is preferably of a type which biases apart the clamping portions 22, 24 of the two arms of the hair styling device into an open position, as illustrated in Figure 2c. A user can apply a squeezing force to the handle portions 5, 6 to push the clamping portions 22, 24 together, closing the hair styling device 1. Figure 2d illustrates the device 11 in a closed position. The heating apparatus 1 is substantially the same as the hair styling device described in WO2019224530 which is incorporated herein by reference.

Figures 2c and 2d illustrate cross-sectional views through the heating apparatus 1. As shown in these figures, the upper clamping portion 22 includes a concave inner clamping surface 28, and the lower clamping portion 24 includes a convex shaped inner clamping surface 30.

Figures 3a to 3d show the heating apparatus 1 and hair curler 10 in different states of compression within the hair styling device 1. In Figure 3a the hair styling device 1 is open (as shown in Figure 2c) and the hair curler 10 situated between the upper and lower calming portions 22, 24, prior to compression of the hair curler 10.

In Figure 3b the first and second arms 2, 3 and hence the upper and lower clamping portions 22, 24 have been closed to a point where the first and second side portions 12, 14 of the hair curler 10 have been engaged by the lower and upper clamping portions 24, 22 respectively. It can be seen that the shape of the hair curler 10 has changed, resulting in the first and second side portions taking up the curved shape of the lower and upper clamping surfaces 30, 28 respectively. In this configuration the height ‘h’ of the connector portion 16 has not changed substantially from that of the curler 10 in the confutation shown in Figure 1c. The gap g indicates that the hair styling device 1 is not fully closed. In Figure 3c the first and second arms 2, 3 and hence the upper and lower clamping portions 22, 24 have been closed further. The hair curler 10 has been compressed, reducing the height of the connector portion 16 from h to hl. As the height of the connector portion 16 is reduced the elastomer material of the hair curler is everted at each end of the connector portion 16. The effect of this eversion is that the first and second side portions 12, 14 become enlarged with the peripheral edge 14a of the second side portion 14 riding over the peripheral edge 12a of the first side portion 12. In this configuration the conformity of the first 12 and second 14 side portions of the curler 10 to the curved shape of the lower and upper clamping surfaces 30, 28 respectively is increase in comparison to the configuration of Figure 3b. The gap gl, whilst smaller than the gap g in Figure 3b indicates that the hair styling device 1 is not fully closed.

In Figure 3d the first and second arms 2, 3 and hence the upper and lower clamping portions 22, 24 have been closed further to the fully closed position The hair curler 10 has been compressed, further reducing the height of the connector portion 16 from hl to h2. As the height of the connector portion 16 is reduced the elastomer material of the hair curler is further everted at each end of the connector portion 16. The effect of this further eversion is that the first and second side portions 12, 14 become further enlarged. As can be seen, the second side portion 14 immediately inward of the peripheral edge 14a sits on top of and is pressed against the peripheral edge 12a of the first side portion 12 forming a seal around the periphery of the hair curler 10. The whole surfaces of the first and second side portions are pressed against the lower and upper clamping surfaces 30, 28 respectively, thereby sealing the holes 20 (where such holes are present) and providing for effective heat transfer from the hair styling device to the hair, within the hair curler 10, indicated by cross-hatching. The gap g2, is smaller than the gap gl in Figure 3b and indicates that the hair styling device 1 is fully closed.

As the hair curler 10 is heated, heat is transferred to the hair within the hair curler 10. The hair curler 10 is sealed substantially against egress of moisture to the atmosphere in which the hair curler 10 and heating apparatus 1 are being used. The hair temperature rises in the regions closest to the source of heat, heat being conducted through the hair curler to the hair contained therein. A drying front develops and moves through the hair as it heats up, the hair on the hotter side of the drying from having a reduced moisture content and the hair on the less hot side of the drying front having an increased moisture content. Due to the sealed nature of the hair curler 10 and heating apparatus 1 the application of heat also increases the pressure within the hair styling device. Typically, the hair curler and hair therein are heated for a period of between 15 and 30 seconds. The heating apparatus is then removed. The holes 20 are then open to the surrounding environment permitting heat to escape from the hair contained in the hair curler by convection. However, the surface area of the first and second side portions 12, 14 that is dedicated to holes 20 is small compared to the total surface area of the first and second side portions. This reduces the potential for exchange of moisture between the surrounding environment and the hair within the hair curler 10. Also, some of the holes 20 are filled by the posts 18 with which they engage. In the illustrated example there are five posts 18. Furthermore, the hair is packed tightly within the curler and therefore pathways between individuals hairs through which moisture may travel are constricted, thereby reducing the possibility of moisture exchange between the hair in the hair curler and the surrounding environment during cooling of the hair.

The hair curlers 10 are left on the hair until the hair has cooled below a threshold temperature, for example 30 degrees C. The hair curler 10 may have a thermo-chromic dye which causes the hair curler 10 to change colour at a desired threshold temperature, such as 30C, giving an indication that the hair has cooled sufficiently. Suitable threshold temperatures are temperatures that are close to the ambient temperature in which hair styling is being carried out. When the hair curlers 10 are removed the hair has a degree of shine and softness that is not found where the hair is heated cooled to the same temperatures without being in a sealed substantially against egress of moisture.

Figure 4 illustrates a second embodiment of the invention. Instead of the heating apparatus T acting on the hair curler 10 to create a seal between the first and second portions 12, 14 of the hair curler 10 and between the first and second side portions 12, 14 at the peripheral edges 12a, 14a thereof, the heating apparatus T provides a seal 25 between the upper and lower clamping portions 22’, 24’. The seal 25 is in the form of an O-ring which is seated in a seal seat 26 in the upper clamping surface 28’ of upper clamping portion 22’. When the upper and lower clamping surfaces 28’, 30’ are pressed together a chamber is formed between the upper and lower clamping surfaces which is sealed substantially against egress of moisture liberated from the hair contained in the hair curler 10.

The lower clamping portion 24' comprises a lower clamping surface 30’, which in this embodiment is flat, although the lower clamping plate 30’ could be similar in shape to the lower clamping plate

30 of the heating apparatus 1 illustrated in Figures 2 and 3a to 3d. The upper clamping surface 28’ is concave in the same way as the upper clamping surface 30 of the heating apparatus 1 illustrated in Figures 2 and 3a to 3d. The distance between the upper and lower clamping surfaces 30, 28 on the centre line x-x is less than the height h of the hair curler 1. In the closed configuration of the hair styling device T the connector portion 16 is therefore everted by the downward pressure on the second side portion with the result that a substantial part of the second side portion conforms in shape to the concave shape of the upper clamping surface.

Figures 5a and 5b illustrate an alternative type of heating apparatus 100. The heating apparatus 100 is a set of hair straightening irons comprising a bottom part 110 mounting a plate 110a and a top part 120 mounting a top plate 120a, the two parts 110, 120 hinged together at a hinge 130. At least one of the bottom and top plates 110a, 120a includes an electrically powered heating element (not shown), receiving electrical power from an electrical power source, which in this example is cable 140.

The top and bottom plates 110a, 120a each have a length and a width that are fractionally shorter than the length L of the heating apparatus 100 and narrower than the width W of the heating apparatus 100.

The heating apparatus 100 may be specified with a peripheral seal in a similar way to the hair styling device illustrated in Figure 4.

Figure 6 illustrates an alternative embodiment of hair containment device 10”. In this embodiment the hair containment device, formed of the same silicone rubber as hair curler 10 has two parts 50, 50’ joined by at a region of silicone of reduce thickness 60, which forms a hinge. The part 50 is shown with depressions 51 in its upper surface and the piece 50’ without. However, either one, neither or both of the parts 50, 50’ may be provided with depressions 51. It can be seen that the depressions

51 end before peripheral edge 53 of the part 50. The part 50’ has an upstanding lip 52 so that when the parts 50, 50’ are closed about hinge 60, the lip 52 comes into engagement with the peripheral edge of the part 50, thereby enclosing hair contained therein. The hair styling device illustrated in Figures 5a and 5b is then used to apply pressure to the hair containment device 10”, creating a seal between the lip

52 and the peripheral edge 53. Moisture in the hair and any chemical treatment that has been applied to the hair is therefore retained within the device 10” during heating thereof and a subsequent cooling cycle where a fastener is provided to prevent the parts 50, 50’ opening about the hinge 60. An elastic band may be used to prevent opening about the hinge 60, or a fastener may be incorporated into the silicone rubber moulding of the device 10”. One or both of the parts 50, 50’ may be provided with holes in a similar manner to the hair curler 10 illustrated in Figures la to 1c.

Typically, the hair styling apparatus of the invention is used as follows:

(a) a section of hair is encapsulated the hair containment member;

(b) the heatable surface(s) of the heating apparatus are heated to preset or selected temperatures;

(c) the hair containment member is grasped between the clamping portions of the heating apparatus;

(d) the hair containment member is compressed between the clamping surfaces of the heating apparatus for a predetermined period of time;

(e) the hair containment member is released from the heating apparatus;

(f) the encapsulated section of hair is allowed to cool to a threshold temperature in the hair containment member.

Steps (b) and (c) are not necessarily carried out in that order. For example, the hair containment member may be grasped between the clamping portions of the heating device prior to heating of the heatable surface (s).

The predetermined period of time is in the range of one of: 10 to 40 seconds; 10 to 30 seconds; 10 to 20 seconds; 10 to 15 seconds; 15 to 20 seconds; or is 18 seconds.

The hair styling apparatus may also be used with a product which may be a heat protection/ conditioning and /or setting and/or straightening hair products, such products being applied to the section of hair prior to step (a) or after step (a) and before step (b).

The product may be a keratin based product. Keratin based products are typically used for straightening hair and hair straightening can be performed with the apparatus of the invention utilise gate hair containment device 10” illustrated in Figure 6 and a suitable heating device such as that illustrated in Figures 5a and 5b. However, it has been found that keratin based products are useful with the hair curler illustrated in Figures la to 1c to produce an effect that lasts for an extended period of time, for example a number of weeks. When used with hair that is curled tightly, using the hair curler illustrated in Figures la to 1c with a keratin product produces a looser curl. When used with hair that is straight, using the hair curler illustrated in Figures la to 1c with a keratin product produces a long lasting curl or wave. These effects are achieved without heating the hair to high temperatures. Typically, in hair straightening hair is heated a number of times to temperatures well over 100°C, the hair in direct contact with hair straightening irons being heated to the surface temperature of the hair straightening iron, for example 220°C or 230°C. Using the hair styling apparatus of the invention, straightened hair may be achieved without exposing hair to temperature above 80°C.

When using hair products with the hair styling apparatus steps (c) to (e) or (c) to (f) may be repeated at least once at spaced apart time intervals. The time interval between heating any one curler for a second or subsequent time typically depends on how many curlers are in the hair. The stylist starts by heating a first curler, then proceeds to heat the rest of the curlers in turn, before then restarting at the first curler for each subsequent round of heating.

Styling hair with the apparatus of the invention results in hair that is more shiny and softer than hair treatment devices that do not retain moisture that would normally be removed to the atmosphere during heating. When used with straightening/ setting products, the desired result may be obtained without heating hair to the high temperatures often associated with straightening/ setting products such as keratin.

Claims

1. A hair styling apparatus comprising a hair containment member for encapsulating an amount of hair and a heating apparatus for heating the hair containment member and the amount of hair encapsulated therein, wherein the hair containment member includes upper and lower surfaces, the amount of hair being encapsulated between the upper and lower surfaces, wherein the heating apparatus comprises first and second arms, each arm having a handle portion coupled to a clamping portion, the arms being coupled to each other adjacent the handle portions, allowing the clamping portions to be moveable relative to each other between an open position and a closed position in which the device encapsulating the amount of hair may be held between the clamping portions, wherein the clamping portion of at least one of the first and second arms houses a heater element and wherein with the clamping portion in the closed position the apparatus substantially seals the encapsulated hair during heating thereof against egress of moisture liberated from the encapsulated hair during said heating from the apparatus to the surrounding environment and wherein during cooling, with the heating apparatus removed from the hair containment member, said hair containment member confines at least partially moisture between the upper and lower surfaces.

2. A hair styling apparatus according to Claim 1, wherein the heating apparatus is configured in its closed position to compress the hair containment member between opposing clamping surfaces of the respective clamping portions and to press the peripheral edge regions of upper and lower surfaces of the hair containment member against each other providing a peripheral seal around the hair containment member.

3. A hair styling apparatus according to Claim 2, wherein the hair containment member includes a connector portion extending between and connecting the upper and lower surfaces and wherein in closing the heating apparatus everts the connector portion.

4. A hair styling apparatus according to Claim 1, wherein the heating apparatus includes seal means comprising a sealing element mounted on at least one of the clamping portions and adapted to seal the chamber when the heating apparatus is in the closed position.

5. A hair styling apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the shape of the hair containment member is one of: circular and rectangular.

6. A hair styling apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the hair containment member is formed of an elastomeric material.

7. A hair styling apparatus according to Claim 6, wherein the elastomeric material is silicone rubber.

8. A hair styling apparatus according to Claim 6 or 7, wherein the elastomer has a heat conductivity of between 0.18 and 0.8 W/m-K.

9. A hair styling apparatus according to Claim 6 to 8, wherein the combination of the shape and dimension of the hair containment member and the thermal conductivity of the elastomer are such that the temperature of hair contained in the hair curler does not exceed 100C when subjected to a temperature in the range of 90C to 235C for a period of between 15 and 30 seconds

10. A hair styling apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein each of the clamping portions of at least one of the first and second arms houses a heater element.

11. A hair styling apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the clamping portion of the first arm houses a heater element and includes a concave shaped surface heatable by the heater element and the clamping portion of the second arm includes a convex shaped clamping surface, and wherein when the clamping portions are in a closed position, the heatable surface of the first arm and the clamping surface of the second arm press against and seal the upper and lower surfaces of the hair containment member.

12. A hair styling device according to any preceding claim, further comprising a controller to control the temperature of the convex shaped clamping surface of the second arm.

13. A hair styling device according to Claim 10, wherein the temperature of the convex shaped clamping surface of the second arm can be heated to a temperature selected from the group comprising: 0°C, 70°C, 100°C, 220°C, 230°C, and 235°C.

14. A hair styling device according to Claim 12 or 13, wherein the controller controls the temperature of each heatable surface.

15. A hair styling device according to any of Claims 12 to 14, further comprising a temperature sensor to detect the temperature of the or each heatable surface.

16. A hair styling device according to any preceding claim, wherein the or each heatable surface may be heated to a temperature of up to 235°C.

17. A hair styling device according to any preceding claim, wherein the or each heatable surface is fabricated from a material selected from the group comprising: aluminium, steel, titanium and ceramic and/or is coated with a material selected from the group comprising: ceramic, tourmaline and teflon.

18. A method for forming a curl in hair using the hair styling apparatus of any of claims 1 to 16 comprising the steps of:

(a) encapsulating a section of hair in the hair containment member;

(b) heating the heatable surface(s) of the heating apparatus;

(e) releasing the hair containment member from the heating apparatus;

(f) allowing the encapsulated section of hair to cool to a threshold temperature in the hair containment member.

19. A method according to claim 18, wherein the predetermined period of time is in the range of one of: 10 to 40 seconds; 10 to 30 seconds; 10 to 20 seconds: 10 to 15 seconds: 15 to 20 seconds; or is 18 seconds.

20. A method according to any of claims 18 or 19, further comprising an additional step of applying a hair styling product and/or heat protection to the section of hair prior to step (a).

21. A method according to any of claims 18 or 19, further comprising an additional step of applying a hair styling product and/or heat protection to the section of hair after step (a) and before step (b).

22. A method according to Claim 20 or 21, wherein the hair styling product is a keratin based product.

18

23. A method according to any of Claims 20 to 22, wherein steps (c) to (f) are repeated at least once.

19