US3749105A

US3749105A - Hair-coloring method and apparatus therefor

Info

Publication number: US3749105A
Application number: US00066908A
Authority: US
Inventors: J Sestita
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1970-08-25
Filing date: 1970-08-25
Publication date: 1973-07-31
Anticipated expiration: 1990-07-31

Abstract

Hair-coloring method and device therefor whereby smaller strands of hair are simultaneously separated from larger strands or locks by means of a series of co-planar hooks, preferably on the back of a comb; the separated strands are then separately colored to provide frosting, highlighting, or shadowing (reverse highlighting) effects.

Description

United States Patent 1 [111 3,749,105

Sestita 1 July 31, 1973 HAIR-COLORING METHOD AND 3,390,689 7/1968 Newman 132/9 APPARATUS THEREFOR 2,871,865 2/1959 Anderson 132/7 [76] Inventor: Joseph J. Sestita, 4348 W. 134 St.,

Cleveland Ohio 44135 Primary Examiner-Louis G. Mancene Assistant Examiner-Gregory E. McNeill 1 Flledr 25, 1970 AttorneyEly & Golrick [21] Appl. No.: 66,908

Related u.s. Application Data 57 ABSTRACT 62 1 Division of Ser No 682'315Nov Hair-coloring method and device therefor whereby [52] U S Cl 132/7 smaller strands of hair are simultaneously separated [51] In. .CI 7/00 from larger strands or locks y means of a Series of [58] Fie'ld "i 9 53 planar hooks, preferably on the back of a comb; the

v separated strands are then separately colored to pro- 56] Rderences Cited ridlptrostirt tg, highlighting, 0r shadowing (reverse high- 115. UNITED STATES PATENTS mg) e co 2,618,274 11/1952 Nell 132/9 3 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures HAIR-COLORING METHOD AND APPARATUS THEREFOR This application is a divisional application with respect to my copending application, Ser. No. 682,315, filed Nov. 13, 1967.

This invention relates to a method of coloring hair to provide so-called frosting effects or highlights or shadows which closely approximate the appearance of lively natural shades of hair. This invention also encompasses and relates to a novel device which is requisite for the economical performance of the method. More particularly, this invention relates to a device comprising a series of co-planar hook members carried by a base, preferably the back ofa comb, by which the hook members may be manipulated to effect a simultaneous separation of smaller strands of hair from combed locks of hair, which separated strands are then bleached and- /or colored to provide frosting, highlighting, or shadowing (reverse highlighting) effects.

Except for black or very dark brown shades or, at the other end of the spectrum of human hair colors, the white hair of the very aged or albinos, it has long been appreciated that adjacent hairs in the human scalp are seldom of precisely the same shade, even when the hair color, overall, is not noticeably streaked, as is frequently evident when naturally colored hair has commenced to grey. In fact, the absence of such variations in the shades of individual hairs or strands can be a contributing factor to the artificial appearance and lack of liveliness which characterizes many coiffures of bleached and/or dyed hair. Accordingly, either by techniques and/or by the take of the dyes or bleaches used, the more skilled hair-colorings effect a variation in the shades of different strands in the coiffure; this is done in order to achieve a liveliness which simulates that of a natural hair color or, frequently, a frankly obvious cosmetic coloring of the hair.

Heretofore the method of obtaining the above described variation in hair coloring which has been ost efficient, from the point of view of time and labor involved, has been the cap technique; by this technique a cap similar to a bathing cap is worn by the patron whose hair is to be treated. The film of the cap is preferably transparent and may be provided with preformed perforations through which the strands of hair is to be bleached or dyed are pulled by means of a crochet-hook inserted and then withdrawn through the perforations. If the cap is imperforate or if the operator wishes to treat a strand other than one drawn through a pre-formed perforation, the film of the cap is perforated by the crochet hook and a strand of hair is withdrawn. In either case, the cap then serves to separate the hair so that only that which is outside the cap will be treated.

It is an object and advantage of this invention that it eliminates the time and labor heretofore involved, either in the above described cap technique or otherwise, in the strand-by-strand separation of the strands of hair to be treated. It is another advantage and object of this invention that the separated strands of hair may be treated to the roots of the hair, whereas, by the cap technique, for example, only end portions of the strands are certain to be withdrawn for treatment and those hairs which are treated to the roots are in the minority.

Accordingly, it is an object and advantage of this invention that it avoids or substantially minimizes the piebald effect frequently obtained by the prior art methods and, thus, a more natural and attractive coiffure may be obtained. By using the device invented for carrying out this objective, an operator can quickly segregate a plurality of strands which may be treated throughout their entire length so that the ultimate color of the hair which has been so treated will extend outwardly from the scalp.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will be apparent from the folloiwing specification, claims, and drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 shows a preferred form of a strand-separating device made according to this invention wherein it is combined and is integral with a hairdressers comb.

FIG. 2 shows a preliminary step of the method, using the device shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 shows a subsequent step, and

FIG. 4 shows a still further step.

Referring to the drawings, FIG. 1 shows an embodiment 10 of the type of strand-separating device which is requisite for performing the hair-coloring technique of this invention. As illustrated, it comprises a series 1 l of hooks, 11-1, 11-2, and so forth, to and including, in the particular device shown, a final hook 11-6. It is to be noted that all of the hooks are substantially coplanar, although it is not necessary that all be turned in the same direction, though they may be. In the specific embodiment shown, the final hook in the series is turned inwardly so that it faces the other hooks of the series. Such an arrangement whereby at least the first and last hooks of the series are turned toward each other provides the advantage that the device is less likely to hook into another instrument, a drawer lining, or table cover as it is picked up or set aside during use. Otherwise, so long as the hooks are co-planar, the extent to which they point in the same direction is essentially a matter of choice. The distance between the first and last hook of the series is essentially the width of a flat lock of hair which may be conveniently held by one hand, that is, usually from two to three inches. The hooks in the series are substantially equally spaced and the number may vary upwardly from three or four, as a minimum; in practice, eight hooks appear to be a practical maximum with six, as shown, being the preferred number when the bights of the hooks are on aaproximately half-inch centers.

In the illustrated embodiment 10, the strandseparating array 11 is of separately formed wire hooks which have been inserted or molded in the back 12 of a conventional hairdressers comb 13. The hook 11 may, of course, be molded of suitable plastic integrally and simultaneously with the comb 13. In either case, whether the array of co-planar hooks 11 are separately formed and inserted or molded into the comb 13 or are molded simultaneously and integrally with the comb, it is preferable that the array of hooks 1 also be co-planar with the teeth 14 of the comb; this minimizes the possibility of the hooks interfering with the comb teeth and vice versa. It is also to be understood that rather than being combined with a comb 13, the array 11 may be formed on or carried by a suitable hande forming a support for the array so that it may be used as a separate hair-dressing instrument. Or the array may be provided on hair-dressing instruments other than combs. However, it is generally preferable to have the array located on the back of a comb (or a brush if the larger lock is thus separated from the head of hair); this enables the strands of hair which are to be separately treated according to the following method to be selected from the larger lock of hair with the same instrument with which the larger lock of hair was formed and, thereby, avoids the operators loss in time and motion which would be entailed if one instrument had to be put down and another selected and picked up.

To frost hair according to the invention using the above described strand-separator 10, a flat lock 20 is selected and formed by combing (and/or brushing)so that the lock may be held in the fingers of one hand by the operator as it is formed and may be so held thereafter, as shown in FIG. 2. Withthe lock 20 so formed and held, the instrument is then inverted, the hooks of the array 11 are passed down through the lock and then lifted up so as to pick up separated strands 21 on the hooks of the array 11, as shown in FIG. 3. As thus separated, the balance of the lock 20 may be dropped and the separated strands 21 may be picked up and held on the conventional bleaching or dyeing foil wrapper 30 while a bleaching preparation such as bleaching foam 40, is brushed on the strands 21, as shown in FIG. 4. The foil 30 is thereafter'wrapped around and secured to the selected strands while they are acted on by the foam 40.

This operation is repeated with other locks of hair until, according to the hairdressers taste, a sufficient number of strands of hair in appropriate positions on the head of hair have been selected and wrapped in foil with a bleaching material. The bleaching operation is then completed and the hair is dressed according to the coiffure desired by the patron and/or the operator.

Although a plurality of strands are selected simultaneously by the above-described technique, thereby saving the operator's time and labor, each selected strand may be bleached to its roots; this avoids the pie-bald or blotched effect when strands are pulled through a cap of film for subsequent treatment. By first determining the thickness of the lock of hair and then by amnipulation of the device 10 in selecting strands, the operator, according to this invention, can quickly select the strands of hair to be frosted both as to location and sizes (i.e., the number of hairs in a strand). The difference between coiffures of frosted hair made according to the prior cap technique and the technique of this invention is readily apparent, especially in a side-byside comparison, and the appearance of the coiffure obtained by this invention but otherwise identical with that frosted by the prior cap method appeals to the taste of most patrons as being more effective and attractive.

A technique for highlighting" hair according to this invention involves frosting, according to the above technique, a head of hair which has been dyed according to the color desired or which may retain its natural color as the "base" color. After completion of the bleach, but prior to final dressing, the head of hair is then treated with a creme type of hair-coloring which takes only on the bleached strands. By selecting a creme color which is lighter than the base color, the hair will be highlighted, by selecting a darker shade, a shadowing or reverse highlighting effect will be obtained.

A still further technique for reverse highlights or shadowing is to first color the hair to the desired light base color and, thereafter, following the technique illustrated in FIGS. 2 to 4, coloring selected strands with a darkening dye, rather than a bleach.

Still other and further variations of the abovedescribed techniques, using a multiple-strand selecting device of the type claimed will occur to and be practiced by those of expected skill in the art without departing from the scope of spirit of this invention as set forth in the following claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A method of coloring hair, including the steps of forming and holding flat locks of hair, separating from each of said locks spaced strands of hair by means of an array of hooks placed in a lock and then lifted therefrom in order to lift out said strands, applying haircoloring material to said separated strands and wrapping said strands to maintain them separate from other hair while being subject to said hair-coloring material.

2. A method of frosting hair comprising the steps as defined in claim 1 and in which said hair-coloring material is a bleach.

3. A method of highlighting hair comprising the steps as defined in claim 1 and the further step of coloring the hair with a dye imparting to the bleached strands of hair a color lighter than the color of the unbleached locks of hair.

i i t t

Claims

1. A method of coloring hair, including the steps of forming and holding flat locks of hair, separating from each of said locks spaced strands of hair by means of an array of hooks placed in a lock and then lifted therefrom in order to lift out said strands, applying hair-coloring material to said separated strands and wrappIng said strands to maintain them separate from other hair while being subject to said hair-coloring material.