HAIR EXTENSIONS
The present disclosure is drawn to a hair weft, a system for applying a hair extension to subject, and a method of attaching a hair extension to a subject. In one example, the hair weft can comprise a first hair weft portion with a first weft band supporting a first plurality of extension hairs, and a second hair weft portion with a second weft band positioned in a doubled-up configuration against the first weft band. A plurality of intergap attachment regions can be positioned along the first weft band and the second weft band, adjoining the first weft band to the second weft band. The hair weft can further comprise a plurality of weft band gaps defined laterally by adjacent pairs of intergap attachment regions, and further defined radially by the first weft band and the second weft band.
There are several different types of hair extensions, but the most common types include loose hair strand extensions that are not attached to one another, and hair weft extensions that are gathered together in some manner along a common edge or band. Loose hair strand extensions can be very time consuming to apply, and with the improvement in hair weft technologies, application of hair weft extensions has become more and more popular.
Methods used to attach different hair wefts available on the market are widespread, including the use of mechanical attachment, such as with clips, beads, clamps, or the like; the use of adhesives including chemical and heat setting types; or the use of natural hair for the attachment, e.g., braiding, weaving, tying, knotting, etc. There are advantages and disadvantages to each of these attachment approaches. For example, though adhesives can be relatively firm their binding power, they can be difficult to remove and/or can be injurious to the hair or painful to the scalp. Mechanical attachment devices, on the other hand, if they are too large, can be highly visible and can interfere with hair care.
In accordance with these shortcomings, it would be desirable to provide a hair weft or hair weft system that is both relatively easy to apply to a subject, provides an acceptable way of hiding mechanical hardware, and is not damaging to the hair or scalp.
SUMMARYThe present disclosure is drawn to a hair weft and method of making the same, a system for applying a hair extension to subject, and a method of attaching a hair extension to a subject. In one example, the hair weft can comprise a first hair weft portion with a first weft band supporting a first plurality of extension hairs, and a second hair weft portion with a second weft band positioned in a doubled-up configuration against the first weft band. A plurality of intergap attachment regions can be positioned along the first weft band and the second weft band, adjoining the first weft band to the second weft band. The hair weft can further comprise a plurality of weft band gaps defined laterally by adjacent pairs of intergap attachment regions, and further defined radially by the first weft band and the second weft band.
In another example, a system for applying a hair extension to a subject can comprise the hair weft described herein, and a wire extension loop for pulling natural hair of a subject through the weft band gaps. Other components can include micro-link beads for feeding the natural hair therethrough and holding the hair weft in place against a scalp of the subject, and a crimping tool for crimping the micro-link beads onto the natural hair of the subject.
In another example, a method of attaching hair extensions on a subject can comprise obtaining a hair weft comprising a doubled-up weft band including a plurality weft band gaps between a first weft band and a second weft band, and feeding a portion of natural hair attached to a scalp of the subject through a weft band gap. Additional steps can include applying a micro-link bead to the portion of natural hair that was fed through the weft band gap, and deforming the micro-link bead on the portion of natural hair and against the doubled-up weft band to secure the hair weft in place against the scalp.
In still another example, a method of making a hair weft can comprise obtaining a first hair weft portion comprising a first weft band supporting a first plurality of extension hairs and a second hair weft portion comprising a second weft band supporting a second plurality of extension hairs, and aligning the first weft band with the second weft band. An additional step can include attaching the first weft band to the second weft band at multiple locations to form a plurality of intergap attachment regions, while leaving a plurality of weft band gaps defined laterally by adjacent pairs of intergap attachment regions, and further defined radially by the first weft band and the second weft band.
Before the present invention is disclosed and described, it is to be understood that this invention is not limited to the particular structures, process steps, or materials disclosed herein, but is extended to equivalents thereof as would be recognized by those ordinarily skilled in the relevant arts. It should also be understood that terminology employed herein is used for the purpose of describing particular examples only and is not intended to be limiting. The same reference numerals in different drawings represent a corresponding element of the same or similar embodiment. Numbers provided in flow charts and processes are provided for clarity in illustrating steps and operations and do not necessarily indicate a particular order or sequence.
In accordance with examples herein, the present disclosure is drawn to a hair weft and method of making the same, a system for applying a hair extension to subject, and a method of attaching a hair extension to a subject. In one example, the hair weft can comprise a first hair weft portion with a first weft band supporting a first plurality of extension hairs, and a second hair weft portion with a second weft band positioned in a doubled-up configuration against the first weft band. A plurality of intergap attachment regions can be positioned along the first weft band and the second weft band, adjoining the first weft band to the second weft band. The hair weft can further comprise a plurality of weft band gaps defined laterally (side-to-side, as shown in
In another example, a system for applying a hair extension to a subject can comprise the hair weft described herein, and a wire extension loop for pulling natural hair of a subject through the weft band gaps. Other components can include micro-link beads for feeding the natural hair therethrough and holding the hair weft in place against a scalp of the subject, and a crimping tool for crimping the micro-link beads onto the natural hair of the subject.
In another example, a method of attaching hair extensions on a subject can comprise obtaining a hair weft comprising a doubled-up weft band including a plurality weft band gaps between a first weft band and a second weft band, and feeding a portion of natural hair attached to a scalp of the subject through a weft band gap. Additional steps can include applying a micro-link bead to the portion of natural hair that was fed through the weft band gap, and deforming the micro-link bead on the portion of natural hair and against the doubled-up weft band to secure the hair weft in place against the scalp. Additional optional steps can include feeding a second portion of natural hair attached to the scalp of the subject through a second weft band gap; applying a second micro-link bead to the second portion of natural hair that was fed through the second weft band gap; and deforming the second micro-link bead on the second portion of natural hair against the doubled-up weft band to further secure the hair weft in place against the scalp. Typically, the hair weft has more than two weft band gaps, e.g., from 3 to 100 weft band gaps, and thus, the method can further include feeding discrete portions of natural hair through each of the weft band gaps, applying a micro-link bead to each the discrete portions of natural hair, and deforming each micro-link bead against the doubled up weft band to further secure the hair weft in place against the scalp.
In a related embodiment, once the hair weft is applied to the scalp, there will be inevitable hair growth. Thus, after hair growth, tightening of the hair weft can be carried out by the steps of opening one or more deformed micro-link bead; sliding the doubled-up weft band up against the scalp; and re-deforming the micro-link bead on the portion of natural hair and against the doubled-up weft band to secure the hair weft in place against the scalp. Depending on the micro-link bead chosen for use, they can typically be reused a few times (e.g., 2 to 4 times), and then replaced. If the weft does not move up or tighten easily on the subject, then the hair professional can run the natural hair between the index finger and thumb and pull down on the natural hair, allowing hair to become disentangled, making it easier to tighten as described herein.
In still another example, a method of making a hair weft can comprise obtaining a first hair weft portion comprising a first weft band supporting a first plurality of extension hairs and a second hair weft portion comprising a second weft band supporting a second plurality of extension hairs, and aligning the first weft band with the second weft band. An additional step can include attaching the first weft band to the second weft band at multiple locations to form a plurality of intergap attachment regions, while leaving a plurality of weft band gaps defined laterally by adjacent pairs of intergap attachment regions, and further defined radially by the first weft band and the second weft band.
In each of the various embodiments described herein, whether discussing the hair weft, or related systems or methods, there may be some common features of each of these embodiments that further characterize options in accordance with principles discussed herein. Thus, any discussion of the hair wefts, systems, or methods, either alone or in combination, is also applicable to the other embodiments not specifically mentioned. For example, a discussion of the weft band in the context of the hair wefts is also applicable to the related systems and/or methods, and vice versa.
In each of these examples, it is noted that the hair weft band can be any of a number weft band types. In one example, the hair weft band (either one or both of the first and second hair weft bands) can be machine weft band. Machine wefts are made by sewing strands of the extension hair together a hair sewing machine. Thus, the hair itself is bound together along the weft, and there is no need for the use of other support material, such as polyurethane, fabric, etc. Typically, machine made wefts provide one continuous track of hair, and are sometimes glued at the ends to keep them from unraveling, though other techniques can also be used. Typically, the machine is used to prepare the machine weft band at a location along the hair near one end, leaving a portion of hair on one side of the weft band, and a shorter portion on the other side of the weft band. This is done to maximize the length of the hair on one side of the weft. That being said, the weft band can be prepared anywhere along the length of the hair, from the middle to near one end (leaving a “mustache” along one side of the machine weft. Furthermore, with machine wefts, these can be prepared by double wefting (regular) or by a newer single weft process, sometimes called thin weft or light weft. Whatever technique is used to prepare the machine weft, the key unifying principle is that a hair sewing machine uses the hair itself to form the hair weft band. Though machine hair wefts are described herein in some detail, and the exemplary FIGS. set forth an example that uses a machine weft, it is noted that alternatively, the hair weft band can be of any other type that is practical, as long as it can be effectively “doubled up” to form the weft band gaps described herein. For example, the hair weft band can be of a polyurethane or other skin-like material, fabric or other thin gauze-like material, transparent or translucent materials that are difficult to see, or the like. Alternatively, the hair wefts of the present disclosure can be hand tied as well, though this can be much more labor intensive.
As mentioned herein, the present disclosure provides hair wefts that are “doubled-up” along the hair weft band, and the “two” hair weft bands are attached together at various locations at intergap attachment regions. In certain examples, these intergap attachment regions are provided by stitching, gluing, clipping, binding, tying, or the like. In one example, these intergap attachment regions can be configured to be substantially perpendicular (See
Turning now to the FIGS., it is noted that the drawings herein are not to be considered as being to scale, and are thus, merely schematic to assist in showing and describing an embodiment of the present disclosure. Furthermore, to keep the drawings simple, such as in
Turning more specifically to the hair weft system that is also shown in
Reference throughout this specification to “an example” or “an embodiment” means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the example is included in at least one embodiment of the present disclosure. Thus, appearances of the phrases “in an example” or “in an embodiment” in various places throughout this specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment.
As used herein, a plurality of items, structural elements, compositional elements, and/or materials may be presented in a common list for convenience. However, these lists should be construed as though each member of the list is individually identified as a separate and unique member. Thus, no individual member of such list should be construed as a de facto equivalent of any other member of the same list solely based on their presentation in a common group without indications to the contrary. In addition, various embodiments and example of the present invention may be referred to herein along with alternatives for the various components thereof. It is understood that such embodiments, examples, and alternatives are not to be construed as de facto equivalents of one another, but are to be considered as separate and autonomous representations of the present invention.
Furthermore, the described features, structures, or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments. In the description herein, numerous specific details are included to provide a thorough understanding of embodiments of the disclosure. One skilled in the relevant art will recognize, however, that the teachings of the present disclosure can be practiced without one or more of the specific details, or with other methods, components, layouts, etc. In other instances, well-known structures, materials, or operations are not shown or described in detail to avoid obscuring aspects of the invention.
While the forgoing examples are illustrative of the principles of the present disclosure in one or more particular applications, it will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that numerous modifications in form, usage and details of implementation can be made without the exercise of inventive faculty, and without departing from the principles and concepts of the disclosure. Accordingly, it is not intended that the invention be limited, except as by the claims set forth below.
Claims
1. A hair weft, comprising:
- a first hair weft portion comprising a first weft band supporting a first plurality of extension hairs;
- a second hair weft portion comprising a second weft band positioned in a doubled-up and aligned configuration against the first weft band;
- a plurality of intergap attachment regions positioned along the first weft band and the second weft band, adjoining the first weft band to the second weft band; and
- a plurality of weft band gaps defined laterally by adjacent pairs of intergap attachment regions, and further defined radially by the first weft band and the second weft band.
2. The hair weft of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first weft band and the second weft band is a machine weft band.
3. The hair weft of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first weft band and the second weft band is a skin weft.
4. The hair weft of claim 4, wherein the skin weft comprises polyurethane.
5. The hair weft of claim 1, wherein the first hair weft portion and the second hair weft portion is provided by a single hair weft that is folded to form the doubled-up and aligned configuration.
6. The hair weft of claim 5, wherein the single hair weft has two ends that are attached together to form a weft band seam, and wherein the weft band seam is at a location other than at an end of the doubled-up and aligned hair weft.
7. The hair weft of claim 1, wherein the first hair weft portion and the second hair weft portion comprise at least two separate hair wefts that are positioned together to form the doubled-up configuration.
8. The hair weft of claim 1, further comprising a retaining structure along a top portion of hair weft, wherein the retaining structure is configured to prevent micro-link beads from passing through the weft band gaps.
9. The hair weft of claim 1, wherein the intergap attachment regions are substantially perpendicular to the general direction of the first and second weft bands.
10. The hair weft of claim 1, wherein the intergap attachment regions are acutely angled with respect to the general direction of the first and second weft bands.
11. The hair weft of claim 1, wherein the intergap attachment regions are positioned periodically along the first weft band and the second weft band.
12. The hair weft of claim 1, wherein the distance between adjacent intergap attachment regions is from ⅛ inch to ½ inch.
13. The hair weft of claim 1, wherein second weft band supports a second plurality of extension hairs.
14. A system for applying hair extension, comprising:
- the hair weft of claim 1; and
- a wire extension loop for pulling natural hair of a subject through the weft band gaps.
15. The system of claim 14, further comprising micro-link beads for feeding the natural hair therethrough and holding the hair weft in place against a scalp of the subject.
16. The system of claim 15, further comprising a crimping tool for crimping the micro-link beads onto the natural hair of the subject.
17. A method of attaching hair extensions on a subject, comprising:
- obtaining a hair weft comprising a doubled-up weft band including a plurality weft band gaps between a first weft band and a second weft band;
- feeding a portion of natural hair attached to a scalp of the subject through a weft band gap;
- applying a micro-link bead to the portion of natural hair that was fed through the weft band gap; and
- deforming the micro-link bead on the portion of natural hair and against the doubled-up weft band to secure the hair weft in place against the scalp.
18. The method of claim 17, further comprising the steps of:
- feeding a second portion of natural hair attached to the scalp of the subject through a second weft band gap;
- applying a second micro-link bead to the second portion of natural hair that was fed through the second weft band gap; and
- deforming the second micro-link bead on the second portion of natural hair against the doubled-up weft band to further secure the hair weft in place against the scalp.
19. The method of claim 17, wherein the hair weft has from 3 to 100 weft band gaps, and the method further includes feeding discrete portions of natural hair through at least most of the weft band gaps, applying a micro-link bead to each the discrete portions of natural hair, and deforming each micro-link bead against the doubled up weft band to further secure the hair weft in place against the scalp.
20. The method of claim 17, wherein the hair weft comprises:
- a first hair weft portion comprising the first weft band supporting a first plurality of extension hairs;
- a second hair weft portion comprising the second weft band positioned in a doubled-up configuration against the first weft band;
- a plurality of intergap attachment regions positioned along and adjoining the first weft band and the second weft band, wherein adjacent intergap attachment regions define laterally the weft band gaps.
21. The method of claim 17, wherein the step of feeding the portion of natural hair through the weft band gap is carried out using a wire extension loop.
22. The method of claim 21, wherein the step of applying the micro-link bead to the portion of natural hair that was fed through the weft band gap is carried out by pulling the portion of natural hair through the micro-link bead with the wire extension loop.
23. The method of claim 17, wherein the step of deforming the micro-link bead is carried out using a crimping tool.
24. The method of claim 17, wherein after hair growth, further comprises the steps of:
- opening one or more deformed micro-link bead;
- sliding the doubled-up weft band up against the scalp; and
- re-deforming the micro-link bead on the portion of natural hair and against the doubled-up weft band to secure the hair weft in place against the scalp.
25. A method of making hair weft, comprising:
- obtaining a first hair weft portion comprising a first weft band supporting a first plurality of extension hairs, and a second hair weft portion comprising a second weft band supporting a second plurality of extension hairs;
- aligning the first weft band with the second weft band; and
- attaching the first weft band to the second weft band at multiple locations to form a plurality of intergap attachment regions, while leaving a plurality of weft band gaps defined laterally by adjacent pairs of intergap attachment regions, and further defined radially by the first weft band and the second weft band.
Type: Application
Filed: Sep 4, 2012
Publication Date: Mar 6, 2014
Inventor: Natalie L. Walker (Las Vegas, NV)
Application Number: 13/602,815
International Classification: A41G 5/00 (20060101);