WATERLESS SEBUM REMOVAL PROCESSES

Abstract

METHODS FOR WATERLESS SEBUM REMOVAL Methods for waterless sebum removal from a subject. The methods include contacting a subject's hair with a heated airflow, for example, generated by a waterless sebum removal device. When the heated airflow contacts the sebum, it warms and softens the sebum to facilitate sebum removal from the subject. Methods may specifically exploit the Coandă effect to increase contact of the subject's hair with an absorbent substrate to transfer the heated sebum to the substrate during use. The methods may also use devices that include sensors and control circuitry for intelligent management of device operation, including regulating the temperature of the heated airflow, to ensure effective sebum removal without damaging the subject's hair. Figure for abstract: none

Claims

Claims

1. A method for waterless removal of sebum from a subject, the method comprising: - contacting the scalp or hair of the subject with a heated airflow from a waterless sebum removal device, said device comprising a head (29a) having an air duct therein, such that the heated airflow contacts, warms and softens the sebum on the subject to facilitate removal of the sebum from the subject.

2. A method according to claim 1, comprising: - contacting the hair with the device, wherein the heated airflow is heated according to a process of heating the fibers of the device; or - contacting the scalp with the device, wherein the heated airflow is heated according to a process of heating the scalp of the device; - wherein an operating temperature range of the heated airflow as defined by the process of heating the scalp is lower than an operating temperature range of the heated airflow as defined by the process of heating the fibers.

3. A method according to any one of claims 1 to 2, comprising: - activating the device to generate the heated airflow with an air blower disposed inside the device and configured to generate an airflow inside the device and a heating element disposed inside the device and configured to heat the airflow to produce the heated airflow.

4. A method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, comprising: - gripping a handle of the device, wherein the handle comprises an air duct therein which is fluidly connected to the head air duct (29a), wherein passing an air flow, or the heated air flow, from the handle air duct to the head air duct causes the heated air flow to pass through an air vent (29d) of the head.

5. A method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein a heating process for generating the heated airflow of the device is configured to heat an airflow of the device above a minimum temperature threshold to soften sebum and below a maximum temperature threshold to protect hair from heat damage.

6. A method according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the device comprises an absorbent substrate, positioned on curved portions of the head, which is configured to contact hair displaced by the Coandâ effect and absorb sebum from the hair during use.

7. A method according to claim 6, comprising: - heating an absorbent substrate, such that sebum is heated when in contact with a heated absorbent substrate to decrease viscosity and facilitate removal of the sebum.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein a heated absorbent substrate is infused with a composition.

9. A method of maintaining an operating temperature of a heated airflow of a sebum removal device, the method comprising: - generating, with a motorized fan, an airflow inside the device; - heating, with a heating element, the airflow to produce a heated airflow; - measuring, using a thermal sensor, the temperature of the heated airflow to produce a measured temperature; - comparing, with logic circuitry, the measured temperature with a minimum threshold, wherein the measured temperature is lower than the minimum threshold, the heated airflow is heated with the heating element, or wherein the measured temperature is higher than the minimum threshold, the heated airflow is not heated with the heating element.

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