Hair color palette

Abstract

An apparatus for measuring, mixing, identifying and applying several formulas of hair color or bleach, using a single container. The hair color palette includes a single rectangular tray made of a hard plastic, having a plurality of color mixing wells, aligned in a grid fashion. The interior of each well has the capacity to contain four ounces of liquid, and the ounce measurements are marked on the inside wall of each well for measuring, mixing and application purposes. The exterior of several of the wells are labeled at the opening of said wells with 10, 20, 30, and 40 VOL. To indicate the hydrogen peroxide strengths, or levels to be used in that particular well; thereby identifying the formula in each of said wells. The hair color palette may simultaneously contain at least six formulations of hair color or bleach.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

THIS APPLICATION IS A CONTINUATION IN PART OF U.S. application Ser. No. 10/924,941, FILED ON AUG. 24, 2004.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not applicable

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH

Not applicable

REFERENCE TO SEQUENCE LISTING, A TABLE, OR A COMPUTER PROGRAM LISTING COMPACT DISK APPENDIX

Not Applicable

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Hair coloring is a process of applying hair dye to strands of hair. Often two or more dyes or formulas of dye, hereby referred to as color, are needed during the same color service, thereby indicating the need for more than one container to hold the mixtures. With the need for more than one container, a need for more space is indicated. Traditionally hair stylists have used single or double cavity bowls to contain hair color formulas. If a hair stylist is in need of three or more colors or formulas of hair color, there is an even greater need for a more compact and condensed container in which to hold the hair color formulas. Often the work areas or stations in hair salons are limited in space. Hair stylists traditionally use a cart for many salon services as the primary work space. There is a need for a container that will easily fit the top surface of a typical hair salon cart. A multiple amount of hair color bowls take up a lot of space and run the risk of spilling the contents.

Hair color usually needs to be mixed with the correct strength, hereby referred to as levels, of hydrogen peroxide to obtain the correct and desired color. Traditionally, hair stylists have used measuring devices such as plastic applicator bottles with liquid measurements labeled on the applicator. If the hair stylist desires to use a bowl and a brush applicator to apply the color formula to the hair strand, the formula must first be measured in the measuring device and then added to the bowl. This brush application method is the preferred method when coloring hair with two or more colors or formulas. Often hair to be colored requires a multiple amount of formulas due to several different conditions, such as: If a client, has an inch of black hair at the new growth section and having lighter hair on the rest of the hair shaft, such as a light blonde in color, desires to have the already lightened hair even lighter and the new growth area lightened to match the newly lightened ends, at least two or three formulas of color and/or bleach will be needed to allow for such a procedure. Each of said formulas would require a different mixture of hair color and hydrogen peroxide to accomplish the desired color. At the root area a bleach or a high lift tint and hydrogen peroxide of at least 20 volume in strength would be needed. Usually a lower volume of hydrogen peroxide will be required, mixed with a bleach or hair color to lift the already lighter color at the end of the hair strand, and to deposit the new desired color. Finally, a third color, referred to as a toner is often applied over the lightened hair as a means of toning unwanted colors or blending the finished result.

With the necessity of several containers of hair color formulas there is a need to be able to identify each formula so as to apply the correct formula on the correct part of the hair. When hair color is mixed with hydrogen peroxide, the oxygen contained in the hydrogen peroxide causes the mixture to congeal and darken in the container, so it is no longer discernable with the other formulas of oxidizing hair color. It is difficult for the hair stylist, or consumer to determine the difference between the formulas. It would be desirable to have the formulas in labeled containers and to be able to measure and mix said formulas in the same container in which the formula is to be applied.

It would be desirable to have all hair color containers in a single, compact unit to save space. Such a unit would be preferably formed of a durable plastic and would clean up easily, store away easily and be inexpensive for the consumer.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

There is a need for a device that addresses the above described needs. The present invention provides the hair stylist and the hair color market an improved container for the purpose of coloring, highlighting and bleaching hair in a hair salon or by the consumer to use at home.

The multi-purpose hair color palette meets the needs of the industry by providing a container that has a plurality of color mixing wells, capable of containing a minimum of four liquid ounces in each well; thereby the palette has the ability to hold several hair color formulas simultaneously.

Several of the said wells are stamped or labeled at the exterior opening of said wells with the strength or herein, volume of the hydrogen peroxide to be used in each of said wells to identify for the hair stylist or consumer the formulas contained therein. Additionally, the wells are each stamped or labeled on the interior portion of said wells with fluid ounce measurements, thereby allowing for the measuring, mixing and application of the hair color formulas without a need for additional containers.

The present invention may contain several hair color formulas simultaneously, function as a measuring device for liquid hair color, peroxides, and bleaches and also has the strength or volume of the hydrogen peroxide indicated at several of the color mixing wells to ensure proper identification of the formulas contained within.

Although specific embodiments of the invention have been described above, it should be understood that such embodiments are by way of example only and merely illustrative of a small number of many possible specific embodiments which can represent applications of the present invention. Various changes and modifications obvious to one skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains are deemed to be within the spirit, scope and contemplation of the present invention as further defined in the claims herein.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the hair Color Palette

FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of the Hair Color Palette, depicting fluid ounce measurements on the interior of a color mixing well and the hydrogen peroxide volume either stamped or labeled on the top tray portion corresponding to said well.

FIG. 3 is a side view of the Hair Color Palette.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The present invention depicted in FIG. 1 consists of a single tray 8 having a generally planer top 8 portion from which a plurality of hair color mixing wells protrude 16 downwardly. Each well includes a circular top 18 and extends downwardly 16 at a predetermined angle to define a side 16 and a bottom 12, to allow for pooling of liquid. The top 18 or open end of the color mixing well is generally larger than the bottom 12 of each said well, which is also round in shape. The tray portion 8 of FIG. 1 depicts 10 VOL., 20 VOL., 30. VOL, and 40. VOL. at the open end of several of the mixing wells 14 to indicate and identify for the hair stylist or consumer the levels of hydrogen peroxide, herein referred to as VOL. or volume, contained in formula of said well. FIG. 1 depicts the stamped or otherwise labeled interior of the color mixing wells that indicate the measurements 20 contained therein. FIG. 1 indicates 22 that said well remains unstamped and unlabeled to allow greater flexibility for formulation of hair color solutions. FIG. 1 depicts the length 24, and the width 26 of the present invention. FIG.2 is an enlarged view of a single color mixing well 16 contained within the present invention. FIG. 2 depicts the liquid ounces stamped or labeled on the interior of a color mixing well 20 and further depicts the volume 14 of hydrogen peroxide that would be contained in said well. 10 volume peroxide is generally used in hair coloring as a lower strength peroxide. Usually hair stylists use peroxides in 10-40 volume, with 40 volume being the highest in strength. As a general rule 20 volume peroxide is used most often as a developer in most permanent hair colors. It may be seen in in FIG. 1 that the tray 8 of the present invention contains two wells that are stamped or labeled 28 with the words, 20 VOL. therefore allowing for a greater capacity to mix more permanent colors. With reference to FIG. 1, it is preferred that the embodiment of the tray 8 to be approximately 10 inches in length 24, and 6.5 inches 26 in width. It is preferred that six color mixing wells are provided 16 with each well having a bottom outside diameter 12 of approximately 2.20 inches and a top diameter of approximately 2.75 inches 18, with spacing across the tray 8 being 0.5 inches from the nearest adjacent well 32 and 0.25 inches from the outside rim 30. It is preferred that said wells have a depth of 1.25 inches, to hold a minimum of four fluid ounces of formula. FIG. 3 depicts a side view of the wells, aligned 34 in a grid fashion.

Abstract

A hair coloring palette comprising of a single tray, being formed of a hard and durable plastic. The hair color palette has a plurality of color mixing wells that are in a grid alignment. Each color mixing well has the capacity to contain a minimum of four fluid ounces of a liquid. Liquid measurements are stamped or labeled in ounce increments on the interior of each well. The tray containing said wells is stamped or labeled at several of said wells openings to indicate the strength, herein referred to as volume of hydrogen peroxide to be contained in each of the several wells. At least one of the wells has no hydrogen peroxide level stamped or labeled to indicate a formula therein.

Claims

1. A hair color palette comprised of a single tray, having a plurality of uniformly spaced wells wherein the wells are aligned in a grid fashion.

2. The hair color palette of claim 1, wherein the top portion of the tray has levels of hydrogen peroxide stamped or labeled on several of the corresponding wells, being marked in varying degrees of volumes.

3. The hair color palette of claim 2, wherein one of the wells remains unstamped or unlabeled.

4. The hair color palette of claim 3, wherein the wells have liquid ounce measurements stamped in the interior of each said well, with each well having a capacity to contain at least four ounces of a liquid.

5. The hair color palette of claim 1, wherein the hair color palette is formed of a hard, durable plastic.

6. The hair color palette of claim 5 is rectangular in shape