Abstract: Disclosed herein are devices and methods for holding hair to prevent hair damage during combing procedures. A hair gripping device can include a handle, a jaw connected to the handle, and a grip retained within the jaw. The handle and the jaw may comprise portions of first and second arms of the hair gripping device. The grip may be configured to hold a plurality of hair strands at a hair contact portion of the grip. With actuation of the handle, the jaw may be configured to move between a closed position in which movement of a majority of strands in a bundle of hair within the first hair contact portion is inhibited by the grip and an open position in which movement of a majority of hair strands in a bundle of hair within the first hair contact portion is not inhibited by the grip.

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 curling apparatus includes a handle, a barrel depending from the handle, and dimensioned to accommodate a lock of hair wrapped thereabout and a clamp releasably mounted relative to one of the barrel or the handle. The clamp includes a spoon which is adapted to move relative to the one of the barrel or the handle between a closed position and an open position. The spoon engages the lock of hair when in the closed position. The curling iron apparatus has both clamp and clampless capabilities, thus providing the user with styling flexibility.

Abstract: A curling iron includes a concave clamping member having a lateral straight edge and an opposite lateral comb edge. The clamping member is adapted to mate with a curling rod when the curling iron is in a closed position. During curling, the curling iron may be rotated so that either the straight edge or the comb edge moves towards the hair and engages and styles the hair with the lateral straight edge forming a solid barrel curl and the lateral comb edge forming evenly separated multiple curls, multiple spikes, multiple spirals and/or multiple waves.

Abstract: A curling iron has a heatable barrel defining a lengthwise axis of the curling iron, a handle assembly having a grip, and a rotation mechanism coupled to a proximal end of the barrel and part of the handle assembly. The rotation mechanism permits rotation of at least part of the handle assembly relative to the barrel about the lengthwise axis of the curling iron between two or more different rotational orientations.

Abstract: A hair roller includes an elongated body, a hair clip, and an elastic anchoring element. The body has an annular shape around which hair can be wound for styling person's hair. The hair clip has a hair-engagable blade portion and a lever portion. The blade portion is disposed along an exterior side portion of the body and has an arcuate shape conforming to the shape of the body. The lever portion is attached to and extends from the blade portion for actuation by a finger of a user.

Abstract: A hair clamp structure is arranged for clamping a quantity of hair therewithin, wherein the clamp structure includes a plurality of pivotally mounted semi-cylindrical shells. The first shell includes a rib member projecting beyond a first shell second edge to be received within an inter-locking engagement with a second shell flange engaging beyond a second edge of the second shell. First edges of the first and second shells are of an interdigited construction including a hinge pin directed therethrough effecting pivotment of the first shell relative to the second shell. The upper and lower annular edges of each shell includes a semi-annular array of tooth members to enhance engagement of hair between the shells, with a lock pin to be received through openings of the shells' walls to effect locking and securement of the shells relative to a predetermined quantity of hair contained within the shells.

Abstract: A method for curling hair on the scalp of a user is described. The steps include winding a plurality of strands of hair around a finger or pin to form a coil, and retaining the hair in its wound state with a spring action clip. the clip has two bars arranged next to each other connected by a spring which biases the two bars naturally closed. Spheres are provided at free ends of the bars which contact each other in the closed state and provide an interstice between the bars allowing the strands of hair to be held lossely when a retaining part of one of the bars extends through the coil of hair.

Abstract: A hair curler having a spool portion that is flexible and an attached cover of relatively rigid material adapted to be slid from an open to closed position and vice versa, over said spool portion after hair is wound thereon. A further hair curler has a flexible spool portion with a base flange at one end and a cup-like flange at the other end, said cup-like flange having a rigid rim which can be pushed over said base flange after hair is wound on said spool.

Abstract: A hair waving device which can be quickly and easily interconnected with adjacent devices of identical construction so that the devices disposed proximate the outer extremities of the strand of hair to be waved, where the individual hairs are very fine, are held firmly in place by the devices clamped proximate the root portion of the strand where the individual hairs are of larger diameter.