HAIR COLORING SHEETS

Abstract

A hair coloring device comprises: a first rectangular sheet having a top edge, a bottom edge, opposing side edges, a front surface, and a back surface; a second rectangular sheet having top edge, a bottom edge, opposing side edges, a front surface, and a back surface; wherein the back surface of the second rectangular sheet is secured to the front surface of the first rectangular sheet after hair coloring is applied to hair disposed between the first rectangular sheet and the second rectangular sheet and wherein the top edges, bottom edges, and opposing side edges are aligned; and wherein the first rectangular member and the second rectangular member each comprise a transparent thermoplastic material. A process of coloring hair includes using the hair coloring device.

Description

BACKGROUND

One of the most basic methods of bleaching or coloring hair to achieve a highlighted, lowlighted, or streaked effect or to achieve any type of hair coloring, is for the bleach, tint, or dye to be painted directly onto sections of the head of hair. This method is sometimes known as balayage. However, this method typically only allows the uppermost strands of hair to be colored. Also, generally the liquid dye or bleach can penetrate the entire head of hair reaching the underlying strands resulting in much larger blocks of color, which can be undesirable.

In an attempt to achieve control of the coloring and bleaching, various techniques have been developed for isolating the hair to be colored or bleached from the rest of the hair. One of these is the use of a cap, similar to a bathing cap which fits closely over the head. The cap has a plurality of tiny holes through which a hairdresser can pull small strands of hair using a crochet hook. The technique is effective but quite painful. The strands of hair which have been separated from the remainder of the head of hair can then be bleached or dyed.

Another method involves holding a sheet of aluminum foil under some strands of hair to be treated with the sheet of aluminum foil being held as close against the scalp as possible before the bleach, tint, or dye is applied to the isolated hair. The free end of the aluminum foil is then folded or rolled towards the head to trap the isolated hair within the foil. Since typically it is desired to treat a number of strands of hair in this way, it becomes difficult to hold the foil in place as the dye or bleach is being applied to other strands of hair and indeed during the waiting time while the bleach or dye is left on the hair to bring about the dying effect. The process often involves two pairs of hands to effectively treat one head of hair.

Another method involves the use of liquid-impermeable or liquid-resistant sheets which incorporate a layer of adhesive. Typically the process of highlighting, lowlighting, or streaking hair involves separating a portion of the hair which is to be treated, from the remaining hair on the head, sticking one side of a liquid-impermeable sheet or strip to the portion of hair separated at the roots of the hair, spreading a bleach, tint, or a dye over the separated strand of hair and then folding the other end of the sheet over the treated hair to form an envelope, which separates the treated hair from the remainder of the hair. The sheets are generally impermeable to liquid and can be made of aluminum foil, or a plastics material. They can be formed with a fold approximately along the length of the strip so that the two ends of the sheet can be folded together to trap a strand of hair between them. Often there is a strip of adhesive at one edge of the sheet which sticks to the hair to hold the strip on the hair, and which also sticks to the other half of the sheet when it is folded over. There is often a removable cover to protect the adhesive strip prior to use. By separating a strand of hair, placing it on the sheet, applying the bleach, tint, or dye and then folding over the cover, the hair which is treated is separated from the hair so that when the bleach, tint, or dye is ultimately removed only a portion of the hair has a color change, thus creating a highlighted, lowlighted or streaked effect in the hair. With the foil, it can be difficult to see how the coloring process is progressing.

There is a continual need for hair coloring sheets for streaking, highlighting or lowlighting hair that is reusable and thus, minimizes waste, and that are transparent, thus allowing the progression of bleaching, tinting, or dyeing to be seen.

BRIEF SUMMARY

A hair coloring device comprises: a first rectangular sheet having a top edge, a bottom edge, opposing side edges, a front surface, and a back surface; a second rectangular sheet having top edge, a bottom edge, opposing side edges, a front surface, and a back surface; wherein the back surface of the second rectangular sheet is secured to the front surface of the first rectangular sheet after hair coloring is applied to hair disposed between the first rectangular sheet and the second rectangular sheet and wherein the top edges, bottom edges, and opposing side edges are aligned; and wherein the first rectangular member and the second rectangular member each comprise a transparent thermoplastic material.

A method of coloring hair comprises: applying a first transparent rectangular sheet to a portion of hair, wherein the first rectangular sheet has a top edge, a bottom edge, opposing side edges, a front surface, and a back surface; applying hair coloring to the portion of hair; applying a back surface of a second transparent rectangular sheet to the front surface of the first transparent rectangular sheet; and monitoring the hair coloring process through the transparent first rectangular sheet and the transparent second rectangular sheet.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is front view of a first rectangular sheet as disclosed herein.

FIG. 2 is a front view of a second rectangular sheet as disclosed herein.

FIG. 3 is a front view of a hair coloring device as disclosed herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Disclosed herein are hair coloring devices (30). More specifically, the hair coloring devices (30) are flat, rectangular sheet-like devices, which can be used to color hair including streaking, highlighting, or lowlighting. The hair coloring device (30) includes a first rectangular sheet (10) having a top edge (11), a bottom edge (12), opposing side edges (13, 14), a front surface (15), and a back surface (16). The hair coloring device (30) also includes a second rectangular sheet (20) having top edge (21), a bottom edge (22), opposing side edges (23, 24), a front surface (25), and a back surface (26). The back surface (26) of the second rectangular sheet (20) is secured to the front surface (15) of the first rectangular sheet (10) after hair coloring is applied to hair disposed between the first rectangular sheet (10) and the second rectangular sheet (20) and wherein the top edges (11, 21), bottom edges (12, 22), and opposing side edges (13, 14, 23, 24) are aligned.

The first rectangular sheet (10) and the second rectangular sheet (20) each comprise a transparent thermoplastic material. The transparent thermoplastic material comprises polyvinyl chloride, polyethylene terephthalate, polycarbonate, polypropylene, polystyrene, polymethyl methacrylate, polyamide, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene, styrene acrylonitrile resin, polyethylene terephthalate glycol, or a combination thereof. The transparent thermoplastic material can comprise polyvinyl chloride. The transparent thermoplastic material can comprise polyethylene terephthalate. The transparent thermoplastic material can comprise polyethylene terephthalate glycol. The transparent thermoplastic material can comprise a combination of polyethylene terephthalate and polyethylene terephthalate glycol. Any of the thermoplastic materials disclosed herein can be sourced from recycled thermoplastic materials.

The use of transparent thermoplastic material for the sheets allows the person coloring the hair to monitor the coloring processing without having to unravel the hair from whatever is being used, thereby providing a more accurate coloring service.

The use of thermoplastic material for the hair coloring sheets allows for the sheets to be reused multiple times, versus foil sheets or hair caps that must be disposed after only one use.

The length and width of the hair coloring sheets is not limited and can be any length and width that will allow use on hair. For example, the hair coloring sheets can be one inch to five feet long, for example, 6 inches to 3 feet, for example, 6 inches to 2 feet, including any and all ranges and values subsumed therein. Likewise, a width of the hair coloring sheets is not limited and can be any width that will allow it to be used on hair. For example, the hair coloring sheets can have a width of 0.1 inch to 1 foot, for example, 0.25 inch to 9 inches, for example, 0.5 inch to 6 inches, including any and all ranges and values subsumed therein. In an embodiment, the hair coloring sheet can have a length of 8 inches and a width of 4 inches. In an embodiment, the hair coloring sheet can have a length of 12 inches and a width of 4 inches. In an embodiment, the hair coloring sheet can have a length of 12 inches and a width of 5 inches. The hair coloring sheets can have a thickness that is not limited and will allow for use on hair. For example, the hair coloring sheets can have a thickness of 1 micrometer to 10 centimeters, for example, 5 micrometers to 5 centimeters, for example, 10 micrometers to 2.5 centimeters, including any and all ranges and values subsumed therein. In an embodiment, the hair coloring sheets can have a thickness of 0.1 millimeters to 10 millimeters, for example, 0.2 millimeters to 5 millimeters, for example, 0.25 millimeters to 2.5 millimeters, for example, 0.25 millimeters to 1.8 millimeters.

A method of coloring hair includes applying a first transparent rectangular sheet to a portion of hair, wherein the first rectangular sheet has a top edge, a bottom edge, opposing side edges, a front surface, and a back surface, applying hair coloring to the portion of hair, applying a back surface of a second transparent rectangular sheet to the front surface of the first transparent rectangular sheet, and monitoring the hair coloring process through the transparent first rectangular sheet and the transparent second rectangular sheet. The first transparent rectangular sheet and the second transparent rectangular sheet each comprise a transparent thermoplastic material. The transparent thermoplastic material comprises polyvinyl chloride, polyethylene terephthalate, polycarbonate, polypropylene, polystyrene, polymethyl methacrylate, polyamide, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene, styrene acrylonitrile resin, or a combination thereof. The transparent thermoplastic material can comprise polyvinyl chloride. The transparent thermoplastic material can comprise polyethylene terephthalate.

Examples

The following examples are exemplary and are not intended to limit the scope herein.

Transparent coloring sheets comprising polyethylene terephthalate were made according to the method disclosed herein and the specifications set forth in Table 1. All measurements are in inches.

	TABLE 1
	Sample #	Length	Width	Thickness
	1	8	4	0.01
	2	12	4	0.01
	3	12	5	0.01

The transparent hair coloring sheets were able to be used on a consumer's hair with the stylist being able to see the color change as it was happening. The sheets were able to be cleaned and re-used for an unlimited amount of times.

Claims

1. A hair coloring device, comprising:

a first rectangular sheet having a top edge, a bottom edge, opposing side edges, a front surface, and a back surface;

a second rectangular sheet having top edge, a bottom edge, opposing side edges, a front surface, and a back surface;

wherein the back surface of the second rectangular sheet is secured to the front surface of the first rectangular sheet after hair coloring is applied to hair disposed between the first rectangular sheet and the second rectangular sheet and wherein the top edges, bottom edges, and opposing side edges are aligned; and

wherein the first rectangular member and the second rectangular member each comprise a transparent thermoplastic material.

2. The hair coloring device of claim 1, wherein the transparent thermoplastic material comprises polyvinyl chloride, polyethylene terephthalate, polycarbonate, polypropylene, polystyrene, polymethyl methacrylate, polyamide, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene, styrene acrylonitrile resin, or a combination thereof.

3. The hair coloring device of claim 1, wherein the transparent thermoplastic material comprises polyvinyl chloride.

4. The hair coloring device of claim 1, wherein the transparent thermoplastic material comprises polyethylene terephthalate.

5. A method of coloring hair, comprising:

applying a first transparent rectangular sheet to a portion of hair, wherein the first rectangular sheet has a top edge, a bottom edge, opposing side edges, a front surface, and a back surface;

applying hair coloring to the portion of hair;

applying a back surface of a second transparent rectangular sheet to the front surface of the first transparent rectangular sheet; and

monitoring the hair coloring process through the transparent first rectangular sheet and the transparent second rectangular sheet.

6. The process of claim 5, wherein the first transparent rectangular sheet and the second transparent rectangular sheet each comprise a transparent thermoplastic material.

7. The process of claim 5, wherein the transparent thermoplastic material comprises polyvinyl chloride, polyethylene terephthalate, polycarbonate, polypropylene, polystyrene, polymethyl methacrylate, polyamide, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene, styrene acrylonitrile resin, or a combination thereof.

8. The process of claim 5, wherein the transparent thermoplastic material comprises polyvinyl chloride.

9. The process of claim 5, wherein the transparent thermoplastic material comprises polyethylene terephthalate.