Hair Colorant Applicator and Methods

Abstract

A hair coloring applicator including a body forming a handle, a brush which rotates relative to the body, a housing wherein the brush is rotatable within the housing. The brush may be designed as a plurality of flexible squeegee arms. The housing is designed to receive a liquid hair colorant such that the brush contacts the hair colorant within the housing. The housing includes at least one opening for receiving at least one strand of hair and placing the at least one strand of hair in contact with the brush. The hair colorant and / or the brush may be provided in a disposable cartridge.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0001] This invention is directed generally to hair coloring, and more particularly to an applicator and methods for applying hair colorants to hair. BACKGROUND [0002] Hair coloring is undertaken to change or cover the color of hair for many different reasons. For instance, hair is often colored to cover hair that has turned gray, to lighten or change the shade of hair, or to highlight or lowlight hair. The hair coloring procedures used to generate these results are often markedly different and use different coloring materials. The hair coloring materials may be dyes that may not be easily washed from the colored hair with conventional shampoo and water, or other materials. [0003] For as many reasons exist for a person to color their hair, there exist nearly as many systems for applying color to hair. For instance, hair may be colored by hair professionals in salons using liquid dyes. The dyes are thoroughly mixed prior to application to the hair by a technici...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0008] The applicator may be used for a variety of purposes. For instance, and not by way of limitation, the hair coloring applicator may be used to add streaks of bright colors to hair for a fun effect. The applicator may also be used to color a natural streak of hair on a person that is not the same color as the rest of the hair. For example, the applicator may be used to add color to a streak of gray hair so that the gray streak blends in with the surrounding hair. In another example, the hair coloring applicator may be used to apply a highlight, such as a blonde streak, to a head of hair. In yet another example, the applicator may be used to add streaks of multiple colors to a head of hair.

[0009] In another arrangement a hair coloring applicator is provided, including a handle, a receptacle that is coupled to the handle and is configured to receive one or more hair colorant ingredients, the receptacle having an opening through which the one or more colorant ingredients are discharged as a mixture, and a shaft that is rotatably mounted to the handle. A squeegee member is operatively coupled to the shaft so that is rotates therewith and includes a plurality of squeegee arms that extend outwardly from the shaft. A slider that slides relative to the receptacle and is positioned between a mix position in which the slider seals the opening in the receptacle during a mixing operation in which the one or more colorant ingredients are mixed into the mixture and an apply position in which the slider is spaced from the opening to create a gap for receiving at least one strand of hair and placing the strand of hair into contact with the plurality of squeegee arms so as to apply the mixture to the strand of hair.

[0010] In a further arrangement, a hair coloring applicator includes a handle, a housing that is coupled to the handle and is configured to receive one or more hair colorant ingredients, the housing having a first part and a second part that can be moved relative to the first part to create a gap for receiving a strand of hair, and a shaft that is rotatably mounted to the handle and is at least partially disposed within ...

Problems solved by technology

The hair coloring materials may be dyes that may not be easily washed from the colored hair with conventional shampoo and water, or other materials.

While these systems provide methods for applying dye to hair, most of these systems do not facilitate easy to use methods of applying dye to select portions of hair on a person's head.

In addition, most conventional systems involve undesirable contact of a person's hands with hair dyes, which can contain irritants.

The apparatus described in U.S. 2004 / 0211437 is not designed to work with liquid hair colorant, as the housing containing the rotating brush does not prevent liquid from exiting the housing.

The apparatus is thus generally limited to use in a toy or novelty market, as professional-looking coloring results are difficult to obtain with a solid hair colorant.

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