GB2270839A - Method for the treatment and shaping of hair - Google Patents

Abstract

A method for the treatment and shaping of hair, comprising washing the hair; locating the natural direction of the damp hair by combing it starting from the upper rear of the crown of the head; rolling and fixing tresses of hair in support elements positioned to cause the hair to adopt its natural form; determining the thickness of the curl in response to the thickness, width and location of the tresses of hair; leaving the supported hair to set on the support elements; rinsing the hair; drying the hair; and finally combining the hair. A reducer liquid may be used to set the hair.

Description

2270839 METHOD FOR THE TREATMENT AND SHAPING OF HAIR The present invention

relates to a method for treating and shaping hair.

Methods are already known for shaping hair, with a temporary or permanent effect. For example, it is possible to achieve permanent waving using chemical media or to set the hair temporarily with a hand dryer or similar apparatus.

In these cases, as in permanent waving, the type of curl or wave obtained, or a rolled effect achieved, does not have very clean final results, or it leaves the hair roughened or without a perfect capillary surface. Once dry the hair cannot be brushed or combed without disturbing the set.

All this implies that a permanent wave is an operation with limited and incomplete results for the general shaping of the hair.

These problems, which arise with current and known techniques, are solved by the method of the invention, since the resultant shaping of the hair is permanent, taking into account the natural and characteristic direction taken by the hair of individual people.

Furthermore, the process gives wave graduation and flexibility, applying the reducer liquid to the dry hair once the shape has been formed with a dryer; this operation is different from that currently used where the reducer liquid is applied with the hair damp, which means that the flexibility and texture of the wave are poor.

Accordingly the present invention provides a method for the treatment and shaping of hair, comprising washing the hair; determining the natural direction of the damp hair by combing it starting from the upper rear of the crown of the head; rolling and fixing tresses of hair in support elements positioned to cause the hair to adopt its natural form such that the thickness of the curl is determined by the thickness, width and location of the tresses of hair; leaving the supported hair to set on the support elements; rinsing the hair; drying the hair; and finally combining the hair.

The thickness, width and location of the portions of hair determine the effect of the thickness of the curl once 5 the hair is dry.

After these support elements have been applied, the hair is dried, producing physicochemical changes in the keratinic fibres of the hair, with the formation of new saline and hydrogen bonds on the fistinic chains that temporarily hold the shape given to the hair by the support elements. Thus the hydrogen and saline bonds are released. When the hair is allowed to dry the bonds reform, and also the rolling has been done in the natural shape of the hair. At the moment of contact with the reducer liquid the separ- ation process of the bonds is more intense. This, together with the direction given to the hair during the setting phase, takes maximum advantage of its nerve (flexibility), wave and texture.

The chemical composition of the reducer liquid is tioglycolic acid, ammonium, vegetable oil, water and perfume.

The proportions in which these components are used in the product, depends on the degree of intensity or strength needed to penetrate into the hair and therefore these proportions are variable. 25 In order that the process of the invention may more readily be understood reference will now be made to a practical example in which the execution is merely by way of non-limiting example. Reference will be made to the following drawings, in which:30 FIGURE 1 shows a view of a known support used to roll portions of hair; FIGURE 2 shows another view, similar to Figure 1, but showing a larger diameter roller; FIGURE 3 shows a view of an already known bar used to join or to bring together various supports; FIGURE 4 shows a schematic view of the different directions the hair takes, starting from the central point of the tuft in the centre of the crown; FIGURE 5 shows a schematic view indicating the division of the hair into portions and where the direction of the hair 5 in each tress is shown; FIGURE 6 shows a side view of one of the tresses with its arcuate direction starting from the base of the scalp and also shows the direction described by the support used; FIGURE 7 shows various supports after the portions of hair have been rolled on them, and also represents the interrelation of these supports using the bar in Figure 3; and FIGURE 8 shows an enlarged detail of Figure 6.

Referring now to the drawing. the different stages or phases used in the procedure are shown.

Thus, beginning with the central tuft 1 on the scalp 2, combing is effected in direction 3 shown by the roots.

Once the tuft is perfectly defined, and has been faithfully combed in its natural direction, in this same area a tress or part 4 of hair is taken up with the end of a comb and, because of the natural direction of the base of the hair, a direction 5 will be marked f rom the root and this must be the direction which the comb must f ollow. During combing, without changing direction, combing continues giving an arcuate, not straight, shape to the tress, as with traditional methods.

Once the tress of hair has been combed as indicated above, supports such as rollers 6 are applied and the hair rolled on them. The support must not alter the arcuate form of the hair made by the comb and, neither must the hair be pulled since if this would change the shape of the hair to straighten it, destroying the process and its consequent results.

Therefore the support must be rolled by the inner face 7 of the hair tress, turning on itself from the ends to the roots at the same time as a circular path 8 is followed, with the hair ending up totally rolled on the support as shown in Figure 7.

The width, thickness and number of tresses, as well as the number and diameter of supports, will determine the effect of the curl obtained. Thus with this any wave effect can be obtained.

Once all the hair has been placed on all the support elements, the flat bars 9 are placed inside the elastic straps 10 of the supports 6 to press the supports towards the 10 roots of the scalp and to stop them from moving.

If the hair is natural, it is dried before applying the reducer. If the hair is dyed, discoloured, naturally curled or curled with another permanent wave, the reducer is applied directly before drying.

C L A 1 M S A method for the treatment and shaping of hair, comprising washing the hair; determining the natural direction of the damp hair by combing it starting from the upper rear of the crown of the head; rolling and fixing tresses of hair in support elements positioned to cause the hair to adopt its natural form such that the thickness of the curl is determined by the thickness. width and location of the tresses of hair; leaving the supported hair to set on the support elements; rinsing the hair; drying the hair; and finally combining the hair.

2. A method according to claim 1, including a further preliminary drying step on the untreated natural hair once all the support elements are in place in the hair and are joined by bars that press on the supports and on the hair roots.

3. A method according to claim 1 or 2, and including the step of applying conditioner to the wet washed hair before combing.

4. A method according to any one of the preceding claims, including the steps of applying setting solution to the wet washed hair, rinsing out the setting solution and then neutralizing the hair after rinsing, and then f inal rinsing after neutralization.

5. A method of treating and shaping hair according to claim 1 and substantially as hereinbefore described.