US20070062956A1

US20070062956A1 - Products, packagings, displays, and methods relating to hair coloring

Info

Publication number: US20070062956A1
Application number: US11/231,984
Authority: US
Inventors: Kathy Roher; Carol Hamilton; Celine Brucker; Laura Azaria; Victoria Lerner
Original assignee: LOreal SA
Current assignee: LOreal SA
Priority date: 2005-09-22
Filing date: 2005-09-22
Publication date: 2007-03-22

Abstract

Products, packagings, display, and methods relating to hair coloring are disclosed. In some examples, a packaging for a hair coloring product includes a reflective portion configured to provide a reflection of a subject's hair color so as to permit the subject to compare the reflection of the subject's hair color to at least one representation of hair color. Certain examples may include multiple representations of hair after treatment with differing hair coloring products.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to hair coloring products. In particular, some aspects of the invention relate to hair coloring products, packagings, displays, and related methods.
2. Description of the Related Art
Hair coloring products include both hair dyes (e.g., substances that act to darken hair color) and hair lighteners (e.g., substances, such as bleaches and at least some highlighters, that act to lighten hair color). Several such products are currently available on the market. They are marketed by a variety of different companies under several different brands and product names. Even for a single product name, an array of several individual products are often provided in order to have a separate, respective product intended to treat a particular current hair color and/or to result in a particular finished hair color. For example, for a single product name, a separate product may be provided to change the color of blonde hair to brown and/or the color of brown hair to black, and separate additional products may be provided for different starting colors and/or resulting colors.
To aid consumers in selecting a product, some existing packaging arrangements for hair coloring products include one or more pictures. In some examples, such pictures include both a picture of a suggested, existing hair color prior to use of the hair coloring product and a picture of a resulting hair color following use of the hair coloring product. Sometimes the packaging may include multiple pairs of pictures illustrating different existing hair colors and the respective resulting hair colors that might result from using the product in the packaging. While pictures on packaging are helpful in giving consumers an idea of a hair color that might be attained by using a particular hair coloring product, there are drawbacks to some existing approaches. For example, in certain instances, consumers might not have a good understanding of their existing hair color (e.g., if the consumer colors their hair often and/or if the individual's hair color changes due to aging (e.g., graying of the hair) and/or due to sun exposure), which may sometimes result in selecting a hair coloring product intended to be used for an existing hair color other than the actual, existing hair color of the consumer. In some instances, even when the consumer might have a reasonable understanding of their existing hair color, the consumer may have difficulty appreciating the extent of coloration that a particular product might cause to their existing hair coloring.
Lack of adequate product information is sometimes another factor contributing to consumer confusion. For example, in many existing arrangements, a consumer with a particular existing hair color might not be able to accurately determine all of the hair coloring products suitable for treating their hair without inspecting the packaging of each hair coloring product at a point of sale and making individual determinations of whether each product is suitable for changing their existing hair color.
A further challenge relates to the current arrangements of many hair coloring products. In particular, many hair coloring product lines are positioned to deliver somewhat radical and drastic changes in the degree of hair coloration, rather than subtle, more subdued variations that are sometimes desired by consumers (e.g., when the desire is primarily to change the appearance of grey hair without significantly altering the overall hair color).
For these and other reasons, there is a need for alternative approaches that may at least partially overcome one or more of the above-outlined drawbacks and/or limitations of current arrangements.
Although the present invention may obviate one or more of the above-mentioned drawbacks, it should be understood that some aspects of the invention might not necessarily obviate one or more of those drawbacks.

SUMMARY

In the following description, certain aspects and embodiments of the present invention will become evident. It should be understood that the invention, in its broadest sense, could be practiced without having one or more features of these aspects and embodiments. In other words, these aspects and embodiments are merely exemplary.
One aspect of the invention relates to a packaging for a hair coloring product. The packaging may include at least one wall defining an interior of the packaging. At least one part of the packaging visible to a subject viewing an exterior of the packaging may include at least one representation of hair color and at least one reflective portion adjacent to the at least one representation of hair color. The reflective portion may be configured to provide a reflection of the subject's hair color so as to permit the subject to compare the reflection of the subject's hair color to the at least one representation of hair color.
In some examples, the representation of hair color may include a representation of hair color before treatment with the hair coloring product and/or a representation of hair color after treatment with the hair coloring product. (As used herein, the term “and/or” and the symbol “/” have the same meaning and are used interchangeably; e.g., the expression ash/beige means ash and/or beige.)
According to a further aspect, a method of facilitating selection of a hair coloring product may include viewing a reflection of hair color provided by the reflective portion of the packaging and comparing the reflection of hair color to the at least one representation of hair color. In some examples, the method may further include selecting a hair coloring product based at least partially on the comparing.
Another aspect may relate to a packaging for a hair coloring product, including at least one wall defining an interior of the packaging. At least one part of the packaging visible to a subject viewing an exterior of the packaging may include a plurality of differing representations of hair color. At least one of the representations may include a representation of hair color after treatment with a hair coloring product contained in the packaging, and at least one other of the representations may include a representation of hair color after treatment with a hair coloring product other than the hair coloring product contained in the packaging.
In some examples, the representation of hair color after treatment with a hair coloring product contained in the packaging may be a first representation, the hair coloring product contained in the packaging may be a first hair coloring product, and said at least one of the other representations may include both a second representation of hair color after treatment with a second hair coloring product differing from the first hair coloring product, and a third representation of hair color after treatment with a third hair coloring product differing from the first and second hair coloring products. For example, the hair coloring products may be selected from a hair coloring product providing cooler hair color, a hair coloring product providing natural hair color, a hair coloring product providing warmer hair color, and/or a hair coloring product providing red hair color (e.g., for the same starting hair color).
According to another aspect, one or more packaged hair coloring products each may include the packaging and a respective hair coloring product contained in the interior of the packaging.
Yet another aspect may relate to a plurality of packaged hair coloring products. The plurality may include a first packaged hair coloring product including a first packaging, and a first hair coloring product contained in an interior of the first packaging. The plurality may further include a second packaged hair coloring product including a second packaging, and a second hair coloring product contained in an interior of the second packaging, the second hair coloring product differing from the first hair coloring product. The first packaging may include a representation of hair color after treatment with the second hair coloring product, and the second packaging may include a representation of hair color after treatment with the first hair coloring product. Some examples may further include a third packaged hair coloring product, which may include a third packaging including both a representation of hair color after treatment with the first hair coloring product, and a representation of hair color after treatment with the second hair coloring product.
One more aspect may relate to a method of facilitating selection of a hair coloring product. The method may include viewing the representations of the packaging and selecting, based on the viewing, a hair coloring product contained in the packaging and/or a hair coloring product other than the hair coloring product contained in the packaging.
An additional aspect may include a display relating to hair coloring products. The display may include a representation of a starting hair color and a first representation of the starting hair color after treatment with a first hair coloring product. The first representation may be a cooler color as compared to the starting hair color. The display may also include a second representation of the starting hair color after treatment with a second hair coloring product, wherein the second representation may be a natural color as compared to the starting hair color. In addition, the display may include a third representation of the starting hair color after treatment with a third hair coloring product, wherein the third representation may be a warmer color as compared to the starting hair color. Some examples may further include a fourth representation of the starting hair color after treatment with a fourth hair coloring product, wherein the fourth representation may be a red hair color as compared to the starting hair color.
One more aspect may relate to a method of facilitating selection of a hair coloring product. The method may include viewing the representations of the display, and selecting, based on the appearance of the first representation, the second representation, and the third representation, the first hair coloring product, the second hair color product, and/or the third hair coloring product.
Yet another aspect may relate to a method of marketing hair coloring products. The method may include providing the display at a point of sale for the first, second, and third hair coloring products.
One further aspect may relate to a plurality of hair coloring products, which may include a plurality of hair coloring product groups. Each of the hair coloring product groups may include a first hair coloring product, a second hair coloring product, and a third hair coloring product, and each of the hair coloring product groups may be associated with a respective starting hair color. The first hair coloring product may be a hair coloring product for treating the starting hair color to provide a cooler color as compared to the starting hair color. The second hair coloring product may be a hair coloring product for treating the starting hair color to provide a natural hair color as compared to the starting hair color. And the third hair coloring product is a hair coloring product for treating the starting hair color to provide a warmer hair color as compared to the starting hair color.
In at least some exemplary embodiments, a somewhat focused and possibly “limited” number of respective hair coloring products (e.g., no more than four products) may be associated with one or more of the starting hair colors (e.g., all of the starting hair colors). At least some such embodiments may facilitate selecting one or more of the products based on a starting hair color (e.g., by better enabling a consumer to select products from only a group of products associated with a particular starting hair color). Several alternatives are also possible.
Aside from the structural and procedural arrangements set forth above, the invention could include a number of other arrangements such as those explained hereinafter. It is to be understood that both the foregoing description and the following description are exemplary only.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification. The drawings illustrate exemplary embodiments and, together with the description, serve to explain some principles of the invention. In the drawings,
FIG. 1 is a partially schematic, perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a packaging for a hair coloring product;
FIG. 2 is a partially schematic top view of the packaging of FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a partially schematic back view of the packaging of FIG. 1, including an exemplary display that includes representations;
FIG. 4 is a partially schematic view of an exemplary packaged hair coloring product including the packaging of FIG. 1;
FIG. 5 is a partially schematic front view of an exemplary display in the form of a unit having a plurality of packaged hair coloring products at least similar to the product of FIG. 4;
FIG. 6 is a partially schematic plan view of an exemplary display in the form of a color match bar of the unit of FIG. 5;
FIG. 7 is a partially schematic plan view of an exemplary display in the form of a chart including representations of hair colored with the products shown in FIG. 5;
FIG. 8 shows a portion of an exemplary packaging for one of the products associated with the display of FIG. 5; and
FIG. 9 shows a portion of an exemplary packaging for another of the products associated with the display of FIG. 5.

DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

Reference will now be made in detail to exemplary embodiments of the invention. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers are used in the drawings and the description to refer to the same or like parts.
FIGS. 1 and 4 depict an embodiment of a packaged hair coloring product 100 including a packaging 10. The packaging 10 includes one or more walls 12 defining a packaging interior 14 partially shown in FIG. 4. The walls 12 may be formed of a variety of different materials, such as carton board, cardboard, paper, plastic, and/or any other material.
In the exemplary embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 4, the packaging 10 may be in the form of a box including a top flap 16 movable between an open position (shown in FIG. 4) permitting access to the interior 14 via an opening 18 of the packaging 10, and a closed position (shown in FIG. 1) closing the opening 18 leading to the interior 14. Several alternative packaging arrangements other than boxes and/or boxes having an opening and closable flap are also possible. For example, the packaging could be in any type of container form.
As shown in the example of FIG. 4, the hair coloring product contained in the packaging 10 may include one or more components, such as containers 40, 42, an applicator tip 44 configured to be connected to at least one of the containers 40, 42, a tube 45, a pair of gloves 46, and an insert 48 including instructions for using the hair coloring product to treat hair. One or more of the containers 40, 42 may contain a hair dye, one or more components of a hair dye (e.g., a color component and/or a developer component), a hair lightener, and/or one or more components of a hair lightener, and the tube 45 may contain a hair conditioner. In one example having one or more of containers 40, 42 containing a hair dye or component(s) of a hair dye, the hair dye may in a form that lacks any ammonia (e.g., a color component may lack any ammonia). Many alternative components and forms of products are also possible. For example, one or more alternative applicators, such as a brush and/or comb, may be provided.
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, one or more parts of the packaging 10 visible to a subject viewing an exterior of the packaging 10 may include one or more representations of hair color 20, 22 and at least one reflective portion 24. Each of the representations of hair color 20, 22 may include a depiction (e.g., drawing, photograph, and/or other printed image) simulating hair and hair color. For example, the representation 20 may be a representation of hair color before treatment with a hair coloring product contained in the packaging 10 (in other words, a representation of a starting hair color before using the product), and the representation 22 may be a representation of hair color after treatment with the hair coloring product contained in the packaging 10.
Although the representations 20 and 22 shown in FIGS. 1 and 4 depict a colored hair simulation, it should be understood that alternative arrangements are possible. For example, the representations 20 and 22 may merely show a depiction of a simulation of hair color without showing a simulation of hair. In accordance with the meaning of the term “representation” as used herein, a mere text identifier does not correspond to a representation (e.g., a textual list of terms describing colors such as dark brown, golden brown, etc. and having no depictions of such colors would not correspond to representations).
The reflective portion 24 may be located adjacent to the representation(s) 20, 22 (e.g., in close proximity to one or more of the representations 20, 22 and/or touching one or more the representations 20, 22). The reflective portion 24 may be configured to provide a subject (e.g., a consumer contemplating purchase of a hair coloring product) with a reflection of the subject's hair color so as to permit the subject to compare the reflection of the subject's hair color to the representation(s) of hair color 20, 22.
Comparing the hair color reflection to the “before” representation 20 may assist the subject in evaluating whether the subject's current hair color is suitable for use with the hair coloring product. In contrast, comparing the hair color reflection to the “after” representation 22 may assist the subject in evaluating the degree of hair color change that might occur if the subject were to use the hair coloring product.
In some embodiments, the reflective portion 24 may be configured to provide much less than a true mirror image of the subject's hair, e.g., a substantially accurate reflection of hair color without necessarily providing a substantially accurate image reflection. In some examples, the reflective portion 24 may include a reflective, metallized film having an adhesive adhering the film to a wall surface of the packaging 10. For example, the reflective portion 24 may be in the form of a reflective, metallized film that comprises polyester (e.g., Mylar) material and includes an adhesive back. Some exemplary metallized film examples may have one or more of the following features: a thickness ranging from 2 ml to 4 ml (e.g., 4 ml), a rigidity sufficient to maintain the film relatively flat and smooth (e.g., to minimize distortions in the reflection), and a flexibility to permit some flexing of the film (e.g., to permit flexing of the film when a wall surface to which it is mounted has some flexibility).
For some alternative embodiments, the reflective portion 24 may be configured to provide a reflection in the form of a true mirror image or a substantially true mirror image of a subject's hair.
In the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 4, the exterior of the flap 16 includes the representations of hair color 20, 22 and the reflective portion 24. Alternatively (or additionally), one or more of the representations 20, 22 and/or reflective portion 24 may be located on parts of the exterior of the packaging 10 other than the flap 16 (e.g., on front, rear, and/or other side face(s)). For example, as shown in FIG. 1, the front side face of the packaging 10 may include a “before” representation 20 a having the same hair color and general appearance as that of the “before” representation 20, and the front face may also include an “after” representation 22 a having the same hair color and general appearance as that of the “after” representation 22. To show one more example, FIG. 3 illustrates a back side face of the packaging 10 including a display that includes “before” and “after” representations 20 b and 22 b having the same hair color and general appearance as the “before” representations 20, 20 a and “after” representations 22, 22 a, respectively. Alternative and additional arrangements are also possible.
In some examples (not shown), one or more of the representations 20, 20 a, 20 b, 22, 22 a, 22 b and/or reflective portion 24 might not even be located on the exterior of the packaging (e.g. in exemplary arrangements having packaging that includes windows and/or substantially transparent material permitting viewing of the inside of the packaging). Further, some examples might not include either the before representation 20 (and 20 a, 20 b) or the after representation 22 (and 22 a, 22 b).
Additional information may be included on one of more parts of the packaging 10 to facilitate selection of a particular hair coloring product. As shown in FIG. 3, the packaging 10 may include a prompt 26 arranged to prompt a subject to view a reflection of the subject's hair color in the reflective portion 24, and possibly also arranged to prompt the subject to compare the reflection of the subject's hair color to one or more of the representations 20, 20 a, 20 b, 22, 22 a, 22 b. In the example of FIG. 3, the prompt 26 includes text prompting a subject to use the reflective portion 20 as a guide to compare the subject's natural and current hair color to the “before” representation 20, 20 a, and/or 20 b, and the text is located adjacent to the “before” representation 20 b. Alternative (or additional) prompt arrangements are possible.
The packaging 10 may also include information about hair coloring products other than the hair coloring product contained in the packaging 10. For example, as shown in FIG. 3, the packaging 10 may include one or more representations 30, 32, and 34 of hair color after treatment with a hair coloring product other than the hair coloring product contained in the packaging 10. In the example of FIGS. 1-4, the packaging 10 is shown in the exemplary form of a packaging intended to contain a hair coloring product identified by an identifier “6N” (see the “6N” in FIGS. 1, 3, and 4), and the representations 30, 32, and 34 are representations of hair color after treatment with differing hair coloring products identified by 6C, 6W, and 6R, respectively.
In the exemplary embodiment of FIGS. 1-4, each of the hair coloring products (e.g., 6N, 6C, 6W, 6R) corresponding to the representations 22 b, 30, 32, 34 may be a hair coloring product for coloring the same starting hair color (e.g., light brown color). A number (e.g., 6) in respective identifiers for each of the products may provide an indication of the starting hair color for the product (e.g., the number “6” identifies that the product is for coloring starting hair color 6, which in this example is light brown). For example, the number in the identifier may reflect the level of the starting hair color.
Letters (e.g., C, N, W, R) in the product identifiers may provide a designation of the resulting hair color (e.g., the color tone of the resulting hair color) after treating the starting hair color with the particular product. In the example shown in the drawings, the letter “C” in a product identifier designates a hair coloring product providing cooler hair color (i.e., adding ash/beige tones to minimize red/orange tones), the letter “N” in a product identifier designates a hair coloring product providing natural hair color (i.e., substantially maintaining the natural tones of the hair color (e.g., changing the appearance of grey hair without significantly altering the overall hair color)), the letter “W” in a product identifier designates a hair coloring product providing warmer hair color (i.e., adding gold tones and enhancing warmth in the hair), and the letter “R” in a product identifier designates a hair coloring product providing red hair color (i.e., adding shear red tones to the hair). Accordingly, when the number “6” corresponds to a starting hair color that is light brown, the product 6C may be a product that changes a light brown starting hair color to a cooler hair color, the product 6N may be a product that changes such a starting hair color to a natural hair color, the product 6W may be a product that changes such a starting hair color to a warmer hair color, etc. In some examples, having at least a cooler hair color, natural hair color, warmer hair color may permit a subject to color their hair in a manner that enables the hair to stay at least close to its natural color while subtly enhancing the hair color without radical change.
Alternative hair coloring products arrangements, identifiers, and/or types of hair colors are also possible. For example, the product identifiers could be in many different forms (e.g., alternative numbers, letters, symbols, or other designations could be used to identify products and/or starting/resulting hair colors).
Combining one or more of the “after” representations 22, 22 a, 22 b along with one or more of the “after” representations 30, 32, 34 for product(s) other than the product contained in the packaging 10 may facilitate selecting one or more of the products (e.g., by providing a somewhat focused and possibly “limited” identification of particular hair coloring products intended for a particular starting hair color). For example, a subject having an existing hair color corresponding to the hair color represented by the “before⇄ representation 20, 20 a, 20 b may view one or more of the “after” representations 22 b, 30, 32, 34 that correspond to that existing hair color, and then, based on such viewing, select one or more of the products corresponding to those representations. Such a process may possibly avoid the need for the subject to consult packaging of other products and/or avoid the need to further consider products that are not for coloring the subject's existing hair color and/or products that do not provide a resulting color desired by the subject.
FIG. 5 illustrates an exemplary display in the form of a unit 200 including the packaged hair coloring product 100 of FIGS. 1-4 and numerous additional packaged hair coloring products 100 a, 100 b similar to the product 100. The packaged hair coloring products may be arranged on the unit 200 to group together hair coloring products for treating the same starting hair color. For example, the unit 200 may include a plurality of shelves, wherein each of the hair coloring products on a particular shelf is a hair coloring product for coloring the same starting hair color. To illustrate one example, each of the hair coloring products 6C, 6N, 6W, 6R for treating a starting hair color of light brown, may be arranged on the same shelf 200. To show another example, each of the hair coloring products 9C, 9N, 9W for treating a starting hair color of light to medium blond may be arranged on the same shelf of the unit 200. Similar product arrangements may be provided for other groups of products for treating the same starting hair color.
In the example of FIG. 5, a total of seven shelves may be provided. The lower-most shelf may include products 3C, 3N, 3W for treating darkest brown/black starting hair color 3, the shelf above that may include products 4C, 4N, 4W, and 4R (see FIG. 7, discussed below, which shows exemplary identifiers and “after” representations for all of the products shown in FIG. 5) for treating dark brown hair color 4, the shelf above that may include products 5C, 5N, 5W, 5R for treating medium brown starting hair color 5, the shelf above that may include products 6C, 6N, 6W, 6R for treating light brown hair color 6, the shelf above that may include products 7C, 7N, 7W for treating dark blonde starting hair color 7, the shelf above that may include products 8C, 8N, 8W for treating medium to dark blonde starting hair color 8, and the upper-most shelf may include products 9C, 9N, 9W for treating light to medium blond hair color 9.
Although no red (“R”) product is illustrated for starting colors 3, 7, 8, and 9, it should be understood that one or more such products may be provided. Furthermore, it should be understood that many other different products and hair colors could be substituted in place of (or added in addition to) one or more the products shown in FIG. 5.
To facilitate designating the groups of hair coloring products, the display unit 200 may include additional representations of starting hair colors associated with each of the shelves. For example, adjacent the shelf including the hair coloring products 6C, 6N, 6W, 6R, the display unit 200 may include a representation 20 c having a hair color and appearance like the “before” representation 20, 20 a, 20 b discussed above in connection with FIGS. 1 and 3. Similarly, respective “before” representations may be provided adjacent to each of the other shelves (e.g., a representation of starting hair color darkest brown/black 3 may be adjacent to the bottom-most shelf, etc.)
Although the display unit 200 of FIG. 5 includes separate shelves for grouping together each of the products for treating the same starting hair color, it should be understood that several alternative arrangements are possible. For example, an alternative display may group products together according to similar “after” treatment colors, e.g., all of the cooler products (identified with “C”) may be placed on one shelf, all of the natural products (identified with “N”) may be placed on the same shelf, etc. In other examples, the products might be grouped in other arrangements (e.g., without using shelves) or possibly not even grouped together.
In the example shown in FIG. 5, the hair coloring products 100, 100 a, 100 b associated with the display 200 may be packaged in respective packagings that are configured substantially similar to one another. The packaging for each of the products for treating the same starting hair color may include the same “before” representations. For example, the packaging for each of the products 6C, 6W, 6R have “before” representations identical to the “before” representations 20, 20 a, 20 b of the product packaging 10 shown in FIGS. 1-3 for product 6N, and like arrangements are provided for the products associated with other starting colors.
Each packaging of a group of products for treating the same starting hair color may include “after” representations for each product in the group. For example, as shown in FIG. 8, the packaging of the product 6C includes an “after” representation 30 a for the product 6C as well as “after” representations 22 c, 32, 34 for the products 6N, 6W, 6R, respectively. To illustrate another example, as shown in FIG. 9, the packaging of the product 6W includes an “after” representation 32 a for the product 6W in addition to also including “after” representations 30, 22C, 34 for the products 6C, 6N, 6R, respectively. A similar arrangement may be provided for the packaging of the product 6W. In addition, for each of the other groups of products for treating the same starting hair color (e.g., the group of products 3C, 3N, 3W, etc.) the packagings may be configured in an analogous manner. Alternative arrangements are also possible.
The product packagings may arranged on the display unit 200 of FIG. 5 so that the front face of each packaging is visible when viewing the front of the display unit 200. Each product packaging may include a respective 37 after” representation like the “after” representation 22 a of FIG. 1 so that “after” representations of each of the products may be viewed when looking at the front of the unit 200.
To facilitate marketing the products, the unit 200 may be located at a point of sale for the hair coloring products. For example, the unit 200 may be located in a cosmetics store, hair salon, department store, drug store, grocery store, convenience store, or any other location where hair products might be sold.
The unit 200 may further include a display in the form of a color match bar 300 shown in FIG. 6. The color match bar may include “before” representations and “after” representations for each of the products associated with the display. For example, the color match bar 300 may include a “before” representation 20 d having the same hair color as the “before” representations 20, 20 a, 20 b, 20 c, as well as other “before” representations for other starting colors. In addition, the color match bar 300 may include “after” representations in the form of strands of hair and/or strands of simulated hair dyed to have a respective color representing the hair color provided by the respective products. For example, strands of representation 30 b may have substantially the same color as that of the representations 30 and 30 a; strands of representation 22 d may have substantially the same color as that of the representations 22, 22 a, 22 b, 22 c; strands of representation 32 b may have substantially the same color as that of the representations 32, 32 a; and strands of representation 34 a may have substantially the same color as representation 34. Analogous arrangements may be provided for strands of other representations.
The color match bar 300 may include a mirror 310. In addition, the color match bar 300 may be configured so that each hair strand representation and/or group of hair strand representations of the same starting hair color (e.g., the group of representations 22 d, 30 b, 32 b, 34 a) may be moved adjacent to the mirror 310 so as to permit a subject to simultaneously view a reflection of the subject's hair along with a reflection of one or more of the hair strand representations so as to facilitate selection of a hair coloring product.
FIG. 7 illustrates another display in the form of an exemplary printed chart 400 including both “before” representations 420 and “after” representation 422 for each of the products shown in FIG. 5. The chart 400 could be displayed at a point of sale for the products. Additionally (or alternatively), the chart 400 could be inserted within the packaging of the products and/or or distributed though any known marketing means (e.g., via advertisement in magazines, newspapers, journals, flyers, etc; via signs, banners, etc.). Alternative chart arrangements are also possible.
As shown in FIG. 7, the exemplary arrangement of products shown in FIG. 5 includes seven different grouping of products, and each grouping has respective products for coloring one of seven starting hair colors. Other arrangements are possible. To illustrate one exemplary alternative, products could be grouped for a greater number of starting colors. For example, rather than having a single grouping of products for starting color 3 of darkest brown/black, one grouping of products could be provided for darkest brown starting color and another grouping of products could be provided for black starting color; and/or rather than having a single product grouping for starting color 9 of medium to light blond hair color, one or more respective product groupings for respective starting hair colors of light blonde, very light blonde, and lightest blonde could be provided.
FIG. 7 also illustrates that the exemplary arrangement of products shown in FIG. 5 has a relatively focused and possibly limited number of hair coloring products for each group of products for a particular starting hair color. For example, each of the product groups has no more than four products for a particular starting hair color, and the product groups for certain starting colors (e.g., 3, 7, 8, and 9) may have no more than three products. (Several alternative arrangements (e.g., having more or less products per grouping are also possible.) In at least some exemplary arrangements, providing a somewhat focused and possibly “limited” number of hair coloring products associated with a starting hair color may facilitate selecting one or more of the products based on a starting hair color (e.g., by better enabling a consumer to select products from only a group of products associated with a particular starting hair color).
In the examples shown in the drawings, each of the products is labeled with the same product name (i.e., NATURAL MATCH) and the same brand name (i.e., “L'ORÉAL”). It should be understand that the invention is not so limited. For example, the products may be products having one or more differing product names and/or brand names.
It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made to the structures and methodologies described herein. Thus, it should be understood that the invention is not limited to the subject matter discussed in the specification. Rather, the present invention is intended to cover modifications and variations.

Claims

1. A packaging for a hair coloring product, comprising:

at least one wall defining an interior of the packaging,

wherein at least one part of the packaging visible to a subject viewing an exterior of the packaging comprises

at least one representation of hair color and

at least one reflective portion adjacent to the at least one representation of hair color, the at least one reflective portion being configured to provide a reflection of the subject's hair color so as to permit the subject to compare the reflection of the subject's hair color to the at least one representation of hair color.

2. The packaging of claim 1, wherein the packaging comprises a box, and wherein the at least one part of the packaging comprises an exterior of the box.

3. The packaging of claim 2, wherein the box comprises a flap movable between a closed position closing an opening leading to the interior and an open position permitting access to the interior via the opening, and wherein the flap comprises at least one of the representation of hair color and the reflective portion.

4. The packaging of claim 3, wherein the flap comprises both the representation of hair color and the reflective portion.

5. The packaging of claim 4, wherein the at least one representation of hair color comprises one representation of hair color before treatment with the hair coloring product and another representation of hair color after treatment with the hair coloring product.

6. The packaging of claim 1, wherein the at least one representation of hair color comprises one representation of hair color before treatment with the hair coloring product and another representation of hair color after treatment with the hair coloring product.

7. The packaging of claim 1, further comprising a prompt arranged to prompt the subject to view the reflection of the subject's hair color.

8. The packaging of claim 7, wherein the prompt is further arranged to prompt the subject to compare the reflection of the subject's hair color to the representation of hair color.

9. The packaging of claim 7, wherein the packaging comprises the prompt.

10. The packaging of claim 1, wherein the reflective portion comprises a reflective, metallized film.

11. The packaging of claim 10, wherein the reflective, metallized film comprises an adhesive adhering the reflective, metallized film to a surface of the at least one wall.

12. A packaged hair coloring product, comprising:

the packaging of claim 1; and

a hair coloring product contained in the interior of the packaging.

13. The packaged hair coloring product of claim 12, wherein the hair coloring product comprises at least one of a hair dye and at least one component of a hair dye.

14. The packaged hair coloring product of claim 13, wherein the hair coloring product further comprises a hair conditioner and a pair of gloves.

15. The packaged hair coloring product of claim 13, wherein the hair coloring product further comprises at least one of a hair lightener and at least one component of a hair lightener.

16. The packaged hair coloring product of claim 12, wherein the hair coloring product comprises at least one of a hair lightener and at least one component of a hair lightener.

17. A method of facilitating selection of a hair coloring product, the method comprising:

viewing a reflection of hair color provided by the reflective portion of the packaging of claim 1; and

comparing the reflection of hair color to the at least one representation of hair color.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the at least one representation of hair color comprises a representation of hair color before treatment with the hair coloring product.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the at least one representation of hair color comprises a representation of hair color after treatment with the hair coloring product.

20. The method of claim 17, further comprising selecting a hair coloring product based at least partially on the comparing.

21. A packaging for a hair coloring product, comprising:

at least one wall defining an interior of the packaging,

a plurality of differing representations of hair color,

wherein at least one of the representations comprises a representation of hair color after treatment with a hair coloring product contained in the packaging, and

wherein at least one other of the representations comprises a representation of hair color after treatment with a hair coloring product other than the hair coloring product contained in the packaging.

22. The packaging of claim 21, wherein the representation of hair color after treatment with a hair coloring product contained in the packaging is a first representation, wherein the hair coloring product contained in the packaging is a first hair coloring product, and wherein said at least one of the other representations comprises

a second representation of hair color after treatment with a second hair coloring product differing from the first hair coloring product, and

a third representation of hair color after treatment with a third hair coloring product differing from the first and second hair coloring products.

23. The packaging of claim 22, wherein each of the first, second, and third hair coloring products is selected from a hair coloring product providing cooler hair color, a hair coloring product providing natural hair color, and a hair coloring product providing warmer hair color.

24. The packaging of claim 23, wherein each of the hair coloring product providing cooler hair color, the hair coloring product providing natural hair color, and the hair coloring product providing warmer hair color is a hair coloring product for coloring the same starting hair color.

25. The packaging of claim 22, wherein said at least one of the other representations further comprises a fourth representation of hair color after treatment with a fourth hair coloring product differing from the first, second, and third hair coloring products and providing red hair color.

26. The packaging of claim 21, wherein the packaging comprises a box, and wherein the at least one part of the packaging comprises an exterior of the box.

27. The packaging of claim 26, wherein a single wall of the box comprises the plurality of differing representations of hair color.

28. A packaged hair coloring product, comprising:

the packaging of claim 21; and

the hair coloring product contained in the interior of the packaging.

29. The packaged hair coloring product of claim 28, wherein the hair coloring product contained in the interior of the packaging comprises at least one of a hair dye and at least one component of a hair dye.

30. The packaged hair coloring product of claim 28, wherein the hair coloring product contained in the interior of the packaging comprises at least one of a hair lightener and at least one component of a hair lightener.

31. A plurality of packaged hair coloring products, comprising:

a first packaged hair coloring product comprising

a first packaging, and

a first hair coloring product contained in an interior of the first packaging; and

a second packaged hair coloring product comprising

a second packaging, and

a second hair coloring product contained in an interior of the second packaging, the second hair coloring product differing from the first hair coloring product;

wherein each of the first packaging and the second packaging is a packaging according to claim 21,

wherein the first packaging comprises a representation of hair color after treatment with the second hair coloring product, and

wherein the second packaging comprises a representation of hair color after treatment with the first hair coloring product.

32. The plurality of packaged hair coloring products of claim 31, wherein each of the first and second hair coloring products is a hair coloring product for coloring the same starting hair color.

33. The plurality of packaged hair coloring products of claim 32, wherein each of the first packaging and the second packaging comprises a substantially identical representation of hair color before hair coloring treatment.

34. The plurality of packaged hair coloring products of claim 31, further comprising

a third packaged hair coloring product comprising

a third packaging, and

a third hair coloring product contained in an interior of the third packaging, the third hair coloring product differing from the first and second hair coloring products;

wherein the first packaging further comprises a representation of hair color after treatment with the third hair coloring product,

wherein the second packaging further comprises a representation of hair color after treatment with the third hair coloring product, and

wherein the third packaging comprises a representation of hair color after treatment with the first hair coloring product, and a representation of hair color after treatment with the second hair coloring product.

35. The plurality of packaged hair coloring products of claim 34, wherein the first hair coloring product is a hair coloring product providing cooler hair color, wherein the second hair coloring product is a hair coloring product providing natural hair color, and wherein the third hair coloring product is a hair coloring product providing warmer hair color.

36. The plurality of packaged hair coloring products of claim 35, wherein each of the first, second, and third hair coloring products is a hair coloring product for coloring the same starting hair color.

37. The plurality of packaged hair coloring products of claim 34, wherein one of the first, second, and third hair coloring products is a hair coloring product providing red hair color.

38. A method of facilitating selection of a hair coloring product, the method comprising:

viewing the representations of the packaging of claim 21;

selecting, based on the viewing, at least one of the hair coloring product contained in the packaging and the hair coloring product other than the hair coloring product contained in the packaging.

39. A display relating to hair coloring products, the display comprising:

a representation of a starting hair color;

a first representation of the starting hair color after treatment with a first hair coloring product, wherein the first representation is a cooler color as compared to the starting hair color;

a second representation of the starting hair color after treatment with a second hair coloring product, wherein the second representation is a natural color as compared to the starting hair color; and

a third representation of the starting hair color after treatment with a third hair coloring product, wherein the third representation is a warmer color as compared to the starting hair color.

40. The display of claim 39, further comprising a fourth representation of the starting hair color after treatment with a fourth hair coloring product, wherein the fourth representation is a red hair color as compared to the starting hair color.

41. The display of claim 39, further comprising a plurality of differing starting hair color representations, and respective first, second, and third after treatment representations for each of the starting hair color representations.

42. The display of claim 39, wherein the display is part of a packaging for a hair coloring product.

43. The display of claim 39, wherein the display is located at a point of sale for the hair coloring products.

44. The display of claim 39, wherein the display is at least part of a printed chart.

45. The display of claim 39, wherein the first, second, and third representations comprise representations that are part of one or more product packagings.

46. The display of claim 39, wherein the first, second, and third representations comprise at least one of dyed strands of hair and dyed strands of simulated hair.

47. The display of claim 46, wherein the display further comprises a mirror.

48. The display of claim 39, wherein the display is configured to group together respective first, second, and third hair coloring products associated with the same starting hair color.

49. A method of facilitating selection of a hair coloring product, the method comprising:

viewing the representations of the display of claim 39; and

selecting, based on the appearance of the first representation, the second representation, and the third representation, at least one of the first hair coloring product, the second hair color product, and the third hair coloring product.

50. A method of marketing hair coloring products, the method comprising:

providing the display of claim 39 at a point of sale for the first, second, and third hair coloring products.

51. A plurality of hair coloring products, comprising:

a plurality of hair coloring product groups, each of the hair coloring product groups comprising a first hair coloring product, a second hair coloring product, and a third hair coloring product,

wherein each of the hair coloring product groups is associated with a respective starting hair color,

wherein the first hair coloring product is a hair coloring product for treating the starting hair color to provide a cooler color as compared to the starting hair color,

wherein the second hair coloring product is a hair coloring product for treating the starting hair color to provide a natural hair color as compared to the starting hair color, and

wherein the third hair coloring product is a hair coloring product for treating the starting hair color to provide a warmer hair color as compared to the starting hair color.

52. The plurality of hair coloring products of claim 51, wherein at least some of the hair coloring product groups further comprise a fourth hair coloring product for treating the starting hair color to provide a red hair color as compared to the starting hair color.

53. The plurality of hair coloring products of claim 51, wherein each of the hair coloring products is packaged in respective packaging including respective representations of hair color after treatment with each of the products of a product group.

54. The plurality of hair coloring products of claim 51, wherein a separate product group is associated with each of the following starting hair colors: light to medium blonde, medium to dark blonde, dark blonde, light brown, medium brown, dark brown, and darkest brown/black.

55. The plurality of hair coloring products of claim 51, wherein no more than four hair coloring products are associated with each of the starting hair colors.

56. A method of facilitating selection of at least one of the hair coloring products of claim 51, the method comprising:

viewing respective representations of hair color, each of the representations being associated a respective hair coloring product of one of the hair coloring product groups; and

selecting, based on the appearance of the representations, at least one of the first hair coloring product, the second hair color product, and the third hair coloring product.