Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for dyeing hair fibres, in particular a method which involves coating hair fibres with a hair dye composition and directing radio frequency electromagnetic radiation to the coated hair fibres to cause heating within the coated hair fibres by dielectric loss. The present invention also relates to kits and appliances for use in connection with the method, as well as the use of radio frequency electromagnetic radiation in reducing the effective dye-treatment time for hair fibres. In one aspect, there is provided a method of dyeing hair fibres, said method comprising the steps of: i) coating one or more hair fibres with a hair dye composition; and ii) directing radio frequency electromagnetic radiation having one or more frequencies from 1 MHz to 300 MHz to the one or more coated hair fibres to cause heating within the one or more coated hair fibres by dielectric loss.

Abstract: Apparatus for manipulating the shape of hair using dielectric heating is provided. Typically, the apparatus comprises opposing first and second electrodes respectively provided on first and second arms that are movable towards and away from one another; and drive circuitry for supplying electrical energy to the first and second electrodes, to cause an alternating electric field to be produced in the vicinity of the electrodes in use, and thereby cause dielectric heating of hair placed between the electrodes in use. Sensing circuitry may also be provided for sensing a change in coupling of energy from the alternating electric field to the hair during heating of the hair; and control circuitry for controlling the drive circuitry to vary the electrical energy supplied to the first and second electrodes in dependence upon the sensed change in coupling. A related method of manipulating the shape of hair using dielectric heating is also provided.

Abstract: The present invention provides a heating apparatus for heating a load. The heating apparatus comprises a heater having a heating element for receiving electrical power and for converting the electrical power into heat to heat a heating surface of the heater. The heating apparatus also comprises a temperature sensor for sensing and outputting a measurement of the temperature of the heating element, a power actuator for providing the electrical power to the heating element of the heater, a power sensor for sensing and outputting a measurement of the power provided to the heating element by the power actuator, and control circuitry for controlling the power actuator to control the power delivered by the power actuator to the heating element.

Abstract: A beauty product device is disclosed which includes a variety of sensors for sensing the way in which a user is operating the device. The sensor data can be processed and compared with pre-stored data representative of a desired style and feedback messages generated and provided back to the user to help them achieve the style they wish to achieve based on the comparison.

Abstract: The present invention provides a heating apparatus for heating a load. The heating apparatus comprises a heater having a heating element for receiving electrical power and for converting the electrical power into heat to heat a heating surface of the heater. The heating apparatus also comprises a temperature sensor for sensing and outputting a measurement of the temperature of the heating element, a power actuator for providing the electrical power to the heating element of the heater, a power sensor for sensing and outputting a measurement of the power provided to the heating element by the power actuator, and control circuitry for controlling the power actuator to control the power delivered by the power actuator to the heating element.

Abstract: A hair styling appliance for dual supply voltage operation is described comprising a body having at least one arm bearing a hair styling heater (560), wherein the hair styling heater comprises one or more heater electrodes (630,632,634,636) for heating the hair styling heater. A first power input is connectable to a battery power source (564) and a second power input is connectable to a mains powered source (561). The first power input and the second power input are each coupled to at least one of the one or more heater electrodes. Such a hair styling appliance is useable for styling when coupled to the mains powered source and when coupled to the battery power source increasing the versatility of the appliance.

Abstract: A hair styling apparatus includes a first and a second arm each having a heatable plate and an arm member. The first and second arms are moveable between a closed position, in which the heatable plate of the first arm is adjacent the heatable plate of the second arm, and an open position, in which the heatable plates of each arm are spaced apart. The heatable plate of at least one of the arms is coupled to a respective arm member about a pivot arranged to allow the heatable plate to move relative to the respective arm member about an axis transverse to the length of said respective arm member such that the plate pivots.

Abstract: A hair dryer (10) has a hand-held housing comprising an air inlet (12), an air outlet (14), a motor (1) between said air inlet (12) and said air outlet (14) to draw air in from said air inlet (12) and drive air out from said air outlet (14). A heating element (17) is located in said air flow between said air inlet (12) and said air outlet (14). The hair dryer (10) further comprises a filter on said air inlet (12). The filter comprises a metal filter plate (20) bearing a plurality of holes, wherein at least some of said holes have a maximum lateral dimension of less than 1.5 mm and wherein vertical walls of said holes through a thickness of said filter plate are substantially straight or at least partially concave.

Abstract: The invention relates to hair dryers. Various techniques for improving air flow in hair dryers are described, including a hair dryer providing laminar flow air. In another variant a hair dryer has a two air flow channels: one a hot air channel the other a cool air channel, with the cool air channel circumscribing the hot air channel. The nozzle end of the hair dryer is arranged such that the cool air channel extends forward of the hot air channel outlet. This allows a hair dryer to be placed close to, or on, a person's hair/head without and risk of burning the person's head. A hair dryer with external power supply is also described which reduces the weight of the housing held by a user.

Abstract: An apparatus manipulates the shape of hair using dielectric heating. Typically,the apparatus includes opposing first and second electrodes respectively provided on first and second arms that are movable towards and away from one another. Drive circuitry supplies electrical energy to the first and second electrodes, to cause an alternating electric field to be produced in the vicinity of the electrodes in use, and thereby cause dielectric heating of hair placed between the electrodes in use. Sensing circuitry senses a change in coupling of energy from the alternating electric field to the hair during heating of the hair. Control circuitry controls the drive circuitry to vary the electrical energy supplied to the first and second electrodes in dependence upon the sensed change in coupling. A related method manipulates the shape of hair using dielectric heating.

Abstract: A hair styling apparatus having a pair of closable jaws to engage a user's hair. The jaws have complementary shapes with a first said jaw defining a curved ridge and a second said jaw defining a curved recess. One or both of the jaws includes a heater such that, when said jaws are closed, hair is heated in a heating region between the ridge of the first jaw and the recess of said second jaw. The second jaw has a curved longitudinal surface having an active cooling region. The heating region is located on the forward curve and the active cooling region is located on the reverse curve.

Abstract: An apparatus for drying hair includes first and second mutually-opposing arms adapted for movement between an open configuration for receiving a length of wet hair therebetween and a closed configuration adjacent the hair. A vibrator imparts vibration from at least one of the arms to the length of hair in use, to move and separate hair fibres for improving drying of the hair. A method of drying hair includes using the apparatus to impart vibration to a length of wet hair held within the apparatus. The method may further include using the apparatus to style the hair substantially simultaneously with drying the hair.

Abstract: A hair dryer comprising: a housing defining a first air flow channel and a second air flow channel, whereby the first air flow channel at least substantially circumscribes the second air flow channel; an air flow regulation means to regulate the flow of air along the first air flow channel and/or the second air flow channel.

Abstract: This invention relates to apparatus and methods for regulating a parameter on a handheld appliance, such as a hair styling appliance. A hair styling apparatus comprises a body having at least one arm bearing a hair styling heater; a temperature sensor arranged to sense a temperature of the hair styling heater and generate a temperature sense signal; and a power supply unit comprising a magnetic energy transfer element, an AC input coupled to a first side of the magnetic energy transfer element, a heater drive output coupled to a second side of the magnetic energy transfer element and to the hair styling heater to power said hair styling heater, and a power controller configured to regulate the heater drive output. A power controller is coupled to the temperature sense signal and configured to regulate the heater drive output of the power supply so as to control the temperature of the hair styling heater responsive to the temperature sense signal.

Abstract: A hair styling appliance for dual supply voltage operation is described comprising a body having at least one arm bearing a hair styling heater (560), wherein the hair styling heater comprises one or more heater electrodes (630, 632, 634, 636) for heating the hair styling heater. A first power input is connectable to a battery power source (564) and a second power input is connectable to a mains powered source (561). The first power input and the second power input are each coupled to at least one of the one or more heater electrodes. Such a hair styling appliance is useable for styling when coupled to the mains powered source and when coupled to the battery power source increasing the versatility of the appliance.

Abstract: An apparatus for drying hair includes first and second mutually-opposing arms adapted for movement between an open configuration for receiving a length of wet hair therebetween and a closed configuration adjacent the hair. A vibrator imparts vibration from at least one of the arms to the length of hair in use, to move and separate hair fibres for improving drying of the hair. A method of drying hair includes using the apparatus to impart vibration to a length of wet hair held within the apparatus. The method may further include using the apparatus to style the hair substantially simultaneously with drying the hair.

Abstract: We describe a hair styling apparatus and method of heating a ceramic heater in a hair styling apparatus, the ceramic heater comprising a ceramic layer and a heating element thermally coupled to said ceramic layer, the method comprising: heating the ceramic layer in at least two successive phases, wherein in a first phase the ceramic layer is heated at a first rate of heating to a first temperature; pausing the heating of said ceramic layer at the first temperature; and wherein in a second phase the ceramic layer is heated at a second rate of heating from the first temperature to a second temperature.

Abstract: A shoulder assembly for connecting two arms of a hair styling apparatus, the shoulder assembly comprising: a housing; a first coupling member which is attached to the housing and which projects from the housing to couple the housing to a first arm; a second coupling member which is attached to the housing and which projects from the housing to couple the housing to a second arm; wherein both the first and second coupling members are flexible so that the first arm is movable relative to the second arm when the shoulder assembly is connected to the first and second arms.

Abstract: A hair styling apparatus including a first and a second arm moveable between a closed position in which a contacting surface of the first arm is adjacent a contacting surface of the second arm and an open position in which the contacting surfaces of each arm are spaced apart, whereby the contacting surfaces of each arm have complementary profiles so that, in use, a section of hair is clamped between the contacting surfaces when the arms are in the closed position, and where a heating zone on at least one of the contacting surfaces is provided to heat the section of hair between the contacting surfaces, a cooling zone on at least one of the contacting surfaces is provided for cooling the section of hair after the section of hair has been heated, and the cooling zone is curved whereby, in use, as the hair styling apparatus is moved along the section of hair in a generally linear fashion, the section of hair is curled.

Abstract: A shoulder assembly for connecting two arms of a hair styling apparatus, the shoulder assembly comprising: a housing; a first coupling member which is attached to the housing and which projects from the housing to couple the housing to a first arm; a second coupling member which is attached to the housing and which projects from the housing to couple the housing to a second arm; wherein both the first and second coupling members are flexible so that the first arm is movable relative to the second arm when the shoulder assembly is connected to the first and second arms.