Hair coloring product selection device and hair coloring product selection method

Abstract

To provide a technique capable of selecting a hair coloring product that gives a finish close to an image of a dyed hair color desired by a user.SOLUTION: A hair coloring product selection apparatus comprises an objective information acquisition unit, a user image acquisition unit, and a product selection unit. The objective information acquisition unit acquires objective hair information that objectively indicates user's hair condition. The user image acquisition unit acquires a user image, which is an image of a dyed hair color desired by a user. The product selection unit selects a hair coloring product suitable for realizing the user image, taking the objective hair information into consideration.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 7

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a technology that enables a user to select a hair coloring product that will produce a finish close to the image of the hair color desired by the user after dyeing. [Background technology]

[0002] Hair coloring products include consumer-oriented products such as hair color (permanent hair dye), bleach (bleaching / decolorizing agent), hair manicure (semi-permanent hair dye), color shampoo / color treatment (gradual dye), temporary color (hair color), hair dye using melanin precursor, temporary color with gradual dye, and colored hair styling products such as color spray and color cream. Users select the formulation and color number from multiple consumer-oriented hair coloring products and then use the selected product to dye their hair. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Special Publication No. 2003-533283 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] As pointed out in Patent Document 1, for example, there are many options for hair coloring products aimed at general consumers, making it difficult for users to select one hair coloring product from those options. For example, users may select a hair coloring product based on the color of dyed hair shown on the product's packaging or advertisements. However, the hair color shown on the packaging or advertisements is the color of dyed hair when the hair coloring product is used on specific hair. Since the condition of this specific hair is not necessarily identical to the user's own hair, when dyeing hair using the selected hair coloring product, there is a possibility that the resulting hair color will not match the user's desired image before dyeing. In other words, it is difficult for users to select a hair coloring product that can realize the desired color of dyed hair.

[0005] One aspect of the present disclosure provides a technology that enables a user to select a hair coloring product that will produce a finish close to the image of the hair color desired by the user after dyeing. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] One aspect of the present disclosure is a hair coloring product selection device comprising an objective information acquisition unit, a user image acquisition unit, and a product selection unit. The objective information acquisition unit acquires objective hair information, which is information that objectively indicates the condition of a user's hair. The user image acquisition unit acquires a user image, which is an image of the user's desired hair color after dyeing. The product selection unit selects hair coloring products suitable for realizing the user image, taking into account the objective hair information.

[0007] With this configuration, by taking into account objective hair information, it becomes easier to select recommended products that correspond to the user's actual hair type, making it possible to select hair coloring products that will produce a finish that is close to the user's image.

[0008] One aspect of the present disclosure may further include a previous image acquisition unit that acquires a previous image. The previous image is an image of the dyed hair color that the user desired before the previous dyeing. The objective information acquisition unit may acquire dyed hair information, which is objective hair information about the user's hair that was previously dyed. The product selection unit may select a hair coloring product suitable for realizing the user's image, taking into account the gap between the previous image and the dyed hair information.

[0009] With this configuration, the actual dyeing results of the user's hair are taken into consideration, making it possible to select a hair coloring product that will produce a finish that is closer to the user's image. One aspect of the present disclosure may further include an elapsed time acquisition unit and an immediate hair information estimation unit. The elapsed time acquisition unit acquires the elapsed time since the previous dyeing for the hair condition indicated by the dyed hair information. The immediate hair information estimation unit estimates immediate hair information, which is objective hair information about the user's hair immediately after the previous dyeing, based on the dyed hair information and the elapsed time. The product selection unit may select a hair coloring product suitable for realizing the user's image, taking into account the gap between the previous image and the immediate hair information.

[0010] The dyed state of hair can change over time since dyeing, but with the above configuration, even if dyed hair information about hair is obtained after a relatively long period of time has passed since dyeing, it is possible to approach the accuracy of calculating the gap when dyed hair information immediately after dyeing is used.

[0011] In one aspect of the present disclosure, the objective information acquisition unit may acquire, as the objective hair information, a captured image of the user's hair. With this configuration, it is possible to construct a hair coloring product selection system that can provide objective hair information to users relatively easily.

[0012] In one aspect of the present disclosure, the objective information acquisition unit may acquire, as the objective hair information, a captured image in which the user's hair and a color sample indicating a reference color are captured together. According to this configuration, the color of the captured image can be corrected based on the color of the color sample, so that the variation in the hair color determined from the captured image due to factors such as the imaging environment can be reduced.

[0013] In one aspect of the present disclosure, the objective information acquisition unit may acquire, as the objective hair information, a measurement result obtained by measuring the actual hair of the user. With this configuration, it is possible to add information obtained using a dedicated measuring device, for example, to the objective hair information, making it possible to grasp the condition of the user's hair more accurately.

[0014] One aspect of the present disclosure may further include a third-party image acquisition unit and a third-party information acquisition unit. The third-party image acquisition unit acquires a third-party image, which is an image of the hair color desired by a third party before dyeing. The third-party information acquisition unit acquires third-party dyed hair information, which is information that objectively indicates the condition of the hair after dyeing by the third party. The product selection unit may select a hair coloring product suitable for realizing the user's image, taking into account the gap between the third-party image and the third-party dyed hair information.

[0015] With this configuration, even if information about the user's previous dyeing has not been acquired, it is possible to select a hair coloring product that will produce a finish that is closer to the user's image.

[0016] One aspect of the present disclosure is a method for selecting a hair coloring product, comprising the steps of acquiring objective hair information, which is information that objectively indicates the condition of a user's hair; acquiring a user image, which is an image of the user's desired hair color after dyeing; and selecting a hair coloring product that is suitable for realizing the user image, taking into account the objective hair information.

[0017] With this configuration, by taking into account objective hair information, it becomes easier to select recommended products that correspond to the user's actual hair type, making it possible to select hair coloring products that will produce a finish that is close to the user's image. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0018] [Figure 1] 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a hair coloring product selection system. [Figure 2] FIG. 10 is a sequence diagram showing a hair coloring product suggestion process. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a user database. [Figure 4] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing login information in a user database. [Figure 5] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing the correspondence between questions presented on a counseling screen and information stored in a user database. [Figure 6] 4 is a flowchart showing a product selection process according to the first embodiment. [Figure 7] 10 is a flowchart showing a product selection process according to the second embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0019] Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings. [1. First embodiment] [1-1.Configuration] The hair coloring product selection system 1 (hereinafter referred to as product selection system 1) shown in FIG. 1 is a system capable of providing a product selection service for selecting hair coloring products to users. Hair coloring products are products used for dyeing hair. Hair dyeing refers to changing the color of hair, and includes not only dyeing and coloring hair, but also changing the color by bleaching or bleaching hair. Hair coloring products include hair color (permanent hair dye), bleach (bleach / decoloring agent), hair manicure (semi-permanent hair dye), color shampoo / color treatment (slow-dyeing hair dye), temporary color (hair color), hair dye using melanin precursor, temporary color with slow-dyeing properties, and colored hair styling agents such as color sprays and color creams. The hair coloring products of this embodiment are products for general consumers, i.e., commercially available products. Such products are primarily used by users to dye their own hair at home.

[0020] The product selection system 1 includes a terminal device 2 and a hair coloring product selection device 3 (hereinafter referred to as the product selection device 3). The terminal device 2 and the product selection device 3 are configured to be able to communicate with each other via a wide area communication network 4 such as the Internet. Note that while only one terminal device 2 is shown in FIG. 1, an actual product selection system 1 will have multiple terminal devices 2, and each terminal device 2 will communicate with the product selection device 3.

[0021] The terminal device 2 is an information terminal used by a user. In this embodiment, the terminal device 2 is a general-purpose smartphone or tablet terminal owned by the user. The terminal device 2 includes a display unit 21, an input unit 22, an imaging unit 23, a terminal storage unit 24, a terminal control unit 25, and a terminal communication unit 26.

[0022] The display unit 21 is a display capable of displaying images. The input unit 22 is a device that accepts various input operations by the user. In this embodiment, the input unit 22 is a touch panel.

[0023] The imaging unit 23 is a camera capable of capturing an image of an object. The terminal storage unit 24 is a storage that stores various types of information. In this embodiment, the terminal storage unit 24 is a flash memory. The terminal storage unit 24 also stores various types of application software such as a web browser. The terminal control unit 25 is mainly configured with a well-known microcomputer having a CPU 251 and a semiconductor memory 252 such as a ROM and a RAM. Various types of information are stored in the semiconductor memory 252. The CPU 251 reads software stored in the terminal storage unit 24 into the semiconductor memory 252 and executes it, thereby realizing various functions of the terminal control unit 25. When the software is executed by the CPU 251, a method corresponding to the software is executed.

[0024] The terminal communication unit 26 is configured to be able to communicate with the product selection device 3 via the communication network 4. The product selection device 3 is a web server installed on a communication network 4. The product selection device 3 includes a server communication unit 31, a server storage unit 32, and a server control unit 33.

[0025] The server communication unit 31 is configured to be able to communicate with the terminal device 2 via the communication network 4. The server storage unit 32 is a storage that stores various types of information. In this embodiment, the server storage unit 32 is a hard disk. In this embodiment, the server storage unit 32 stores various types of information, such as web page information used in the product selection service and information on multiple hair color products to be selected in the product selection service. The web page information is information (e.g., HTML code, images, etc.) that represents a web page displayed in a web browser. The server storage unit 32 also stores various types of software. The server control unit 33 is mainly configured with a well-known microcomputer having a CPU 331 and semiconductor memory 332 such as ROM and RAM. The CPU 331 reads software stored in the server storage unit 32 into the semiconductor memory 332 and executes it, thereby realizing various functions of the server control unit 33. When the software is executed by the CPU 331, a method corresponding to the software is executed.

[0026] [1-2. Processing] When a user wishes to dye their own hair, they must select a hair coloring product from a wide range of options. It is not always easy for the user to select a hair coloring product that will realize their image. The user image refers to the user's desired hair color after dyeing. For this reason, for example, a user may use a product selection service in the hope of having a hair coloring product selected that will realize their image. In this embodiment, the user accesses a dedicated website for the product selection service using a terminal device 2 and answers counseling questions, which allows the product selection device 3 to select a hair coloring product that matches the user image. The processing executed when a user uses the product selection service in this manner is described in detail below.

[0027] [1-2-1. Hair coloring product proposal processing] First, the hair coloring product suggestion process executed by the terminal control unit 25 (specifically, the CPU 251) of the terminal device 2 and the server control unit 33 (specifically, the CPU 331) of the product selection device 3 will be described with reference to FIGS. 2 to 5. Note that FIG. 2 also shows actions by the user. Furthermore, by executing the hair coloring suggestion process, a hair coloring suggestion method corresponding to the process is executed.

[0028] 2, in order to use the product selection service, the user operates the input unit 22 of the terminal device 2 to request access to a dedicated site for the product selection service via a web browser. As a result, in A102, the terminal control unit 25 transmits a request for access to the dedicated site for the product selection service (hereinafter referred to as an access request) from the terminal communication unit 26 to the product selection device 3.

[0029] When the access request is received by the server communication unit 31, at A103 the server control unit 33 transmits login screen information from the server communication unit 31 to the terminal device 2. The login screen information is web page information showing a login screen to a dedicated site for the product selection service. On the login screen, the user is prompted to input user identification information, which is information for distinguishing the user from third parties (e.g., other users). The user identification information in this embodiment is a user ID and a password.

[0030] When the login screen information is received by the terminal communication unit 26, the terminal control unit 25 displays the login screen on the web browser in A104, so that the login screen is recognized by the user.

[0031] If it is the first time the user uses the product selection service, the user inputs appropriate user identification information into the login screen and applies for user registration at A105. As a result, at A106, the terminal control unit 25 transmits, from the terminal communication unit 26 to the product selection device 3, a request for user registration using the user identification information input by the user (hereinafter referred to as a registration request).

[0032] When the server communication unit 31 receives a registration request and the user identification information related to the registration request satisfies a predetermined condition, the server control unit 33 performs user registration in A107. The predetermined condition here means, for example, that the user ID is different from any previously registered user ID, that the password character string is equal to or longer than a predetermined length, that the password uses a predetermined character type, etc. In this embodiment, a database for managing registered user information (hereinafter referred to as a user database) is prepared in advance in the server storage unit 32. As shown in FIG. 3, the user database stores, for each user ID, a password and one or more pieces of login information in association with each other. The login information is information that is added for each login. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 4, the login information includes various information, such as the login date and time and a user image, which will be described later. When the user identification information related to the registration request satisfies the condition, the server control unit 33 adds the user identification information to the user database. When the user identification information related to the registration request does not satisfy the condition, the terminal device 2 is notified of this, and the above steps A104 to A106 are repeated.

[0033] On the other hand, if it is the second or subsequent time that the user uses the product selection service, that is, if the user has used the product selection service in the past, the user applies for login by entering already registered user identification information on the login screen at A105 shown in Fig. 2. As a result, at A106, the terminal control unit 25 transmits a request for login using the user identification information entered by the user (hereinafter referred to as a login request) from the terminal communication unit 26 to the product selection device 3.

[0034] When the login request is received by the server communication unit 31, the server control unit 33 performs login authentication in A107. The login authentication is performed by determining whether the user identification information related to the login request is registered in the user database. If the user identification information related to the login request is not registered in the user database, this fact is notified to the terminal device 2, and the above steps A104 to A106 are repeated.

[0035] When user registration or login authentication is completed in A107, the server control unit 33 transmits counseling screen information from the server communication unit 31 to the terminal device 2 in A108. The counseling screen information is web page information showing a counseling screen. On the counseling screen, questions are presented to the user, and the user is prompted to enter answers to the questions. As shown in FIG. 5, the questions posed to the user include questions about the desired hair color after dyeing, questions about the user's hair type, and questions about the previous dyeing.

[0036] The question about the desired hair color after dyeing is a question for identifying the user's image, such as the desired color tone (berry, ash, etc.) and brightness of the hair after dyeing.

[0037] The questions regarding the user's hair quality include ascertaining the user's subjective assessment of hair quality and ascertaining an objective assessment of undyed hair. Confirmation of the user's subjective evaluation of hair quality includes, for example, questions asking about hair thickness, hair length, hair volume, degree of hair curl, amount of gray hair, etc. Questions may also be included asking about the moisture content of hair (e.g., whether it feels dry) and the degree of damage (e.g., whether there are split ends).

[0038] In this embodiment, multiple-choice questions are used for at least the questions regarding the desired dyed hair color and the user's subjective evaluation of hair quality. For example, a question asking about the desired dyed hair color and brightness is presented with multiple images of hair with different colors and brightness. For example, a question asking about hair thickness is presented with options such as thick, normal, and thin.

[0039] To confirm the objective evaluation of undyed hair, the user is required to input new growth information, which is information that objectively indicates the quality of the user's undyed hair (in other words, the undyed portion of the user's hair). New growth information is a type of objective hair information that is information that objectively indicates the condition of the user's hair. In this embodiment, the hair condition refers to not only hair quality but also at least the dyeing state of the hair. The dyeing state of the hair represents at least the color of the dyed hair. In this embodiment, the new growth information is required to be input (uploaded) as a captured image of the user's undyed hair. However, in this embodiment, inputting new growth information is optional.

[0040] The questions about the previous dyeing include confirmation of the hair coloring product used in the previous dyeing (hereinafter referred to as the product used) and confirmation of the finished state of the hair after the previous dyeing. If you have never dyed your hair before, or if you have dyed your hair before but cannot remember the product used, you can omit answering these questions.

[0041] When checking the products used, in addition to information identifying the products used, information on when the products were used, i.e., when the hair was last dyed, is required. As will be described later, when a user completes the purchase procedure for a hair coloring product through this product selection service, information on the purchased products is registered in the user database. For users whose purchased product information is registered, the purchased products are presented as selection candidates for products to be used.

[0042] When checking the finish condition of previously dyed hair, the user is required to input dyed hair information, which is information that objectively indicates the condition of the previously dyed hair (in other words, the portion of the user's hair that was previously dyed), and the creation date of the dyed hair information. Dyeed hair information is also a type of objective hair information. In this embodiment, the input of dyed hair information requires the input (upload) of a dyed hair image, which is a captured image of the previously dyed hair. Furthermore, the input of the creation date of the dyed hair information requires the input of the capture date of the dyed hair image. For example, if the current hair includes a previously dyed portion, the user can capture an image of that portion using the image capture unit 23 on the counseling screen and input the captured image and the current time as the dyed hair image and its capture date. Furthermore, for example, if the user already has a dyed hair image, i.e., if the user has previously captured an image of the previously dyed hair, the user can input the dyed hair image and its capture date. On the other hand, as will be described later, users can register images of their hair immediately after dyeing with this product selection service at any time, and for users who have already registered images, those images will be presented as options for dyed hair images.

[0043] The dyeing time and the time when the dyed hair information was created do not necessarily have to indicate the exact date and time, but may indicate, for example, only the date or a rough time (for example, mid-January).

[0044] 2, when the counseling screen information is received by the terminal communication unit 26, the terminal control unit 25 displays the counseling screen on the web browser in A109, so that the counseling screen is recognized by the user.

[0045] In A110, the user inputs answers to each of the questions presented on the counseling screen. When the user has completed inputting the answer on the counseling screen, the terminal control unit 25 transmits the input answer of the user from the terminal communication unit 26 to the product selection device 3 in A111.

[0046] When the user's response is received by the server communication unit 31, the server control unit 33 acquires and stores various information from the user's response at A112. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 5, the server control unit 33 acquires a user's image from the user's response to a question about the desired hair color after dyeing. The server control unit 33 acquires subjective hair quality information from the user's response to the question about the user's subjective evaluation of hair quality. The subjective hair quality information is information that subjectively indicates the user's hair quality. In other words, the subjective hair quality information is information based on the user's own opinion about the user's hair quality. Furthermore, if the user has responded to the question about the objective evaluation of undyed hair, the server control unit 33 acquires new hair growth information from the response. If the user has responded to the question about the products used, the server control unit 33 acquires the products used and the time of dyeing from the response. If the user has responded to the question about the finished state of the hair previously dyed, the server control unit 33 acquires dyed hair information and the time of creation of that information from the response. Then, the server control unit 33 stores the acquired various information in the user database as login information.

[0047] 2, the server control unit 33 selects hair coloring products (hereinafter referred to as recommended products) that are suitable for realizing the user's image. The method for selecting recommended products will be described in detail later.

[0048] Next, at A114, the server control unit 33 transmits product screen information from the server communication unit 31 to the terminal device 2. The product screen information is web page information showing a product screen. On the product screen, recommended products are presented to the user. Specifically, information such as the product name and color number of the recommended product is presented to the user. Furthermore, on the product screen, it is possible to carry out a purchase procedure for the recommended product.

[0049] When the product screen information is received by the terminal communication unit 26, the terminal control unit 25 displays the product screen on the web browser in A115, so that the product screen is recognized by the user. For example, the user performs a purchase procedure for the recommended product on the product screen at A116. When the user performs the purchase procedure for the recommended product in this way, at A117, the terminal control unit 25 transmits a message indicating that the user wishes to purchase the recommended product (hereinafter referred to as a product purchase request) from the terminal communication unit 26 to the product selection device 3.

[0050] When the product purchase request is received by the server communication unit 31, the server control unit 33 stores the purchase history at A118. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 4, the server control unit 33 stores the purchased product and the purchase date and time in the user database as login information. The server control unit 33 also executes a product shipping process. Although a detailed description of the product shipping process will be omitted, when this process is executed, recommended products are shipped to the user.

[0051] After obtaining the recommended product, the user dyes their hair using the recommended product at A119 shown in FIG. 2. The user can also capture an image of their hair immediately after dyeing and register the captured image (i.e., the image of the dyed hair immediately after dyeing) in the product selection service as dyed hair information immediately after dyeing, as shown in FIG. 4. Regarding the image of dyed hair immediately after dyeing, the user is informed on the registration screen for the product selection service or on the packaging or insert of the hair coloring product that a captured image showing the hair together with a reference color sample is preferable to a captured image of the hair alone. Although the color of the hair in a captured image may vary depending on the imaging environment, such as brightness and the color of the light source, if a color sample is also captured, the color of the entire captured image can be corrected based on the color of the color sample. The color sample can be identified in the captured image, for example, by its distinctive shape or by its proximity to a distinctively shaped mark. The color sample is provided to the user by being printed on the package or insert of the hair coloring product, or attached to the hair coloring product. The user can register an image of the hair immediately after dyeing together with the color sample in the product selection service as dyed hair information immediately after dyeing. Note that the image of new hair and the image of dyed hair input on the counseling screen in A110 above may also be an image of the color sample taken together, similar to the image of dyed hair immediately after dyeing.

[0052] [1-2-2. Hair coloring product selection process] Next, the hair coloring product selection process executed by the server control unit 33 (specifically, the CPU 331) of the product selection device 3 in A107 to A113 above will be described with reference to Figures 5 and 6. When the hair coloring product selection process is executed, a hair coloring product selection method corresponding to this process is executed.

[0053] In the hair coloring product selection process, a recommended product is selected from among multiple hair coloring products based on a user's image. Each hair coloring product has a predetermined expected hair color (hereinafter referred to as the expected color) after use. Therefore, it is conceivable to select a recommended product that has an expected color close to the color indicated by the user's image. However, depending on the user's hair type, it is conceivable that the hair coloring product's expected color will not be achieved. In this case, there may be a hair coloring product that is more suitable for realizing the user's image than a hair coloring product selected based solely on the user's image (i.e., a hair coloring product that is even more suitable as a recommended product). Therefore, in the hair coloring product selection process, recommended products are selected taking into account not only the user's image but also other information, such as subjective hair type information. Details of this process are described below.

[0054] 6, when a registration application or a login application is received by the server communication unit 31, the server control unit 33 performs user registration or login authentication in S201. The processing in S201 corresponds to the processing in A107 above.

[0055] Subsequently, in S202, the server control unit 33 transmits counseling screen information from the server communication unit 31 to the terminal device 2. The processing of S202 corresponds to the processing of A108 above. When the counseling screen information is transmitted to the terminal device 2, as described in A109 to A111 above, the counseling screen is displayed on the terminal device 2, and the user inputs answers to the questions presented on the screen. Then, the user's answers are transmitted from the terminal communication unit 26 to the product selection device 3.

[0056] In S203, the server control unit 33 acquires various information based on the user's answers via the server communication unit 31. The processing of S203 corresponds to the processing of A112 above. As described in A112 above, the server control unit 33 acquires at least the user's image and subjective hair quality information, as shown in FIG. 5. In response to the user's answers, the server control unit 33 further acquires new hair growth information, products used, dyeing time, dyed hair information, and the time when this information was created. The server control unit 33 then stores the acquired various information in the user database.

[0057] Next, in S204 shown in Fig. 6, the server control unit 33 determines whether the gap at the previous dyeing time can be calculated. Specifically, the gap at the previous dyeing time refers to the gap between the previous image, which is the image of the hair color after dyeing that the user desired before the previous dyeing (i.e., the previous user image), and the previous finished state, which is the actual finished state of the hair after the previous dyeing. The server control unit 33 determines that the gap at the previous dyeing time can be calculated if answers to the questions about the previous dyeing time shown in Fig. 5 have been acquired. In other words, the server control unit 33 determines that the gap at the previous dyeing time can be calculated if all of the products used, the dyeing time, the dyed hair information, and the creation time of that information have been specified.

[0058] If it is determined in S204 shown in FIG. 6 that the gap at the previous dyeing cannot be calculated, the server control unit 33 determines in S205 whether new hair information has been acquired. If it is determined in S205 that new hair growth information has not been acquired, the server control unit 33 selects recommended products in S206, taking into consideration the subjective hair quality information in addition to the user's image.

[0059] In this embodiment, as described in A107 above, the question regarding the desired hair color after dyeing is in multiple-choice format, so the number of user image patterns derived from the answers shown in FIG. 5 is limited to a certain number. Similarly, the confirmation of the user's subjective evaluation of hair quality is also in multiple-choice format, so the number of subjective hair quality information patterns derived from the answers is also limited to a certain number. Therefore, in this embodiment, a table is pre-prepared in the server storage unit 32, which defines the correspondence between combinations of user image and subjective hair quality information and hair coloring products. The server control unit 33 uses this table to select, as a recommended product, a hair coloring product corresponding to the combination of user image and subjective hair quality information acquired in S203. As shown in FIG. 6, this process ends when the process of S206 ends.

[0060] On the other hand, if it is determined in S205 that new hair growth information has been acquired, the server control unit 33 selects recommended products in S207, taking into account the subjective hair quality information and new hair growth information in addition to the user's image.

[0061] In this embodiment, since a newly grown hair image is acquired as the newly grown hair information, the server control unit 33 identifies the user's hair type from the newly grown hair image. For example, the server control unit 33 identifies the hair thickness and amount of gray hair as the user's hair type from the newly grown hair image. Furthermore, for example, the server control unit 33 may identify the hair length, hair volume, degree of hair curl, etc. from the newly grown hair image.

[0062] Next, if the subjective hair type information contains information that differs from the user's hair type identified from the newly grown hair image, the server control unit 33 corrects the different information with the user's hair type information identified from the newly grown hair image. In this embodiment, as described above, the user's subjective evaluation of hair type is confirmed in a multiple-choice answer format. Therefore, if three options for hair thickness (e.g., "thick, normal, thin") are presented, for example, the subjective hair type information will contain information on one of the options (e.g., "normal") depending on the user's answer. In contrast, if the newly grown hair image identifies that the hair thickness tends to be thin, the server control unit 33 corrects the information on hair thickness included in the subjective hair type information to a more appropriate option (e.g., "thin"). This is because subjective hair type information is based on the user's own opinion and is considered less reliable than information objectively identified from the newly grown hair image.

[0063] The degree of correction of the subjective hair type information may be determined, for example, by the degree of discrepancy between the subjective hair type information and the user's hair type identified from the new hair image. The manner of correction of the subjective hair type information is not limited to replacing the subjective hair type information with an option identified from the new hair image as described above, but may also be correcting the subjective hair type information to an option that is intermediate between the option included in the subjective hair type information and the option identified based on the new hair image.

[0064] Next, the server control unit 33 selects recommended products in the same manner as in S206 above, using the corrected subjective hair quality information based on the new hair image and the user's image. When the process of S207 ends, this process ends.

[0065] On the other hand, if it is determined in S204 that the gap at the previous dyeing can be calculated, the server control unit 33 determines in S208 whether the dyed hair information is information immediately after dyeing. In other words, the server control unit 33 determines whether dyed hair information about hair immediately after dyeing has been acquired. Because the dyed state of hair can change over time since immediately after dyeing, it is preferable to use the information immediately after dyeing, among the dyed hair information, to calculate the gap in terms of accuracy in calculating the gap at the previous dyeing. In this embodiment, if the dyed hair information immediately after dyeing has been registered by the user after the previous service use and this information immediately after dyeing has been selected when entering dyed hair information on the counseling screen, the server control unit 33 determines in S208 that the dyed hair information is information immediately after dyeing.

[0066] If it is determined in S208 that the dyed hair information is information immediately after dyeing, the server control unit 33 selects recommended products in S209, taking into consideration the gap between the previous image and the dyed hair information in addition to the user image.

[0067] In this embodiment, the server control unit 33 first identifies a color value corresponding to the user image acquired in S203. A color value is a numerical value that represents a color. In this embodiment, as described above, multiple hair images are presented in response to a question about the desired dyed hair color, and one image is selected from the multiple hair images as a response to the question. Therefore, the server control unit 33 identifies the color value corresponding to the selected hair image as the color value corresponding to the user image.

[0068] Next, the server control unit 33 identifies the color value corresponding to the previous image. Specifically, if this product selection service was used during the previous product selection and the previous user image is registered in the user database, the server control unit 33 identifies the color value corresponding to the previous user image as the color value corresponding to the previous image. On the other hand, if the previous user image is not registered in the user database, the server control unit 33 identifies the color value of the expected color of the product used, acquired in S203 above, as the color value corresponding to the previous image. The expected color of each hair coloring product is included in the information on multiple hair coloring products stored in the server storage unit 32.

[0069] Next, the server control unit 33 identifies a color value representing the color of the hair previously dyed, which is indicated by the dyed hair information. In this embodiment, since a dyed hair image is acquired as the dyed hair information, the server control unit 33 identifies a color value representing the color of the hair previously dyed in the dyed hair image. In this case, if a color sample is also shown in the dyed hair image as described above, the server control unit 33 may correct the color of the dyed hair image based on the color of the color sample, and then identify a color value representing the color of the hair previously dyed in the dyed hair image. Specifically, the server control unit 33 may correct the entire dyed hair image so that the color value of the color sample in the dyed hair image becomes a predetermined color value, and then identify a color value representing the color of the hair previously dyed in the corrected dyed hair image.

[0070] Next, the server control unit 33 calculates the color difference between the color value representing the color of the hair dyed last time and the color value corresponding to the previous image. In this embodiment, the color difference is represented by the magnitude of the color difference vector connecting the coordinates corresponding to the color values ​​in a uniform color space. Examples of uniform color spaces include the CIELUV color space and the CIEKAB color space.

[0071] Next, the server control unit 33 corrects the color value of the expected color of each candidate hair coloring product using the color difference between the color value representing the hair color of the previous dyeing and the color value corresponding to the previous image. In this embodiment, the server control unit 33 shifts the coordinates corresponding to the color value of each hair coloring product in the uniform color space by the inverse vector of the color difference vector representing the color difference. The server control unit 33 then sets the color value corresponding to the shifted coordinate as the color value of the corrected expected color of each hair coloring product.

[0072] Then, the server control unit 33 uses the corrected color values ​​to estimate, as a recommended product, the hair coloring product with the smallest color difference from the color value corresponding to the user's image from among the multiple hair coloring products. When the process of S209 is completed, this process ends.

[0073] On the other hand, if it is determined in S208 that the dyed hair information is not information immediately after dyeing, the server control unit 33 proceeds to S210. Then, in S210, the server control unit 33 estimates immediately after dyeing information, which is information about the hair immediately after dyeing, based on the dyed hair information and the elapsed time since the previous dyeing for the hair dyed state indicated by the dyed hair information. Since immediately after dyeing information is a type of dyed hair information, it also corresponds to a type of objective hair information described above.

[0074] In this embodiment, the server control unit 33 first identifies a color value representing the color of the hair at the previous dyeing, as indicated by the dyed hair information, in the same manner as in S209. Next, the server control unit 33 calculates the difference between the creation date of the dyed hair information and the dyeing date as the elapsed time since the previous dyeing for the hair dyeing state indicated by the dyed hair information. Using a table pre-stored in the server storage unit 32, the server control unit 33 corrects the color value representing the hair color at the previous dyeing based on the calculated elapsed time. The table here refers to a table showing changes in the hair dyeing state over time since the previous dyeing. Examples of such tables include a table showing the correspondence between the elapsed time since the previous dyeing and the degree of hair fading. The server control unit 33 estimates the corrected color value as the color value representing the hair color immediately after the previous dyeing, as indicated by the immediately-after hair information.

[0075] Next, in S211, the server control unit 33 selects recommended products taking into consideration the gap between the previous image and the immediately following hair removal information in addition to the user image. Details of the process of S211 in this embodiment are the same as those of S209 above. When the process of S211 ends, this process ends. The processes of S204 to S211 correspond to the process of A113 above.

[0076] [1-3.Effects] According to the first embodiment described above in detail, the following effects are achieved. (1a) The product selection device 3 selects recommended products taking into account objective hair information.

[0077] As mentioned above, depending on the user's hair type, the color of the dyed hair may differ from the color expected by the hair coloring product. For this reason, when selecting recommended products, it is possible to take into account subjective hair type information in addition to the user's image, as in S206 above. However, because subjective hair type information is based on the user's own opinion, it may not necessarily accurately represent the user's hair type. In this case, even if a recommended product is selected taking into account subjective hair type information, the finished look when using the recommended product may not be as expected by the user.

[0078] In contrast, with the above-described configuration, when selecting recommended products, objective hair information, which is more likely to accurately represent the user's hair condition than subjective hair type information, is taken into account. This makes it easier to select recommended products that match the user's actual hair type compared to when only the user's image or only the user's image and subjective hair type information are considered. In other words, it is possible to select hair coloring products that will produce a finish close to the user's image.

[0079] (1b) The product selection device 3 selects recommended products taking into consideration the gap between the previous image and the dyed hair information. This configuration allows for a more accurate estimation of the deviation of the user's hair color from the expected color of each hair coloring product by taking into account the actual dyeing results of the user's hair, thereby enabling the selection of a hair coloring product that will produce a finish that is closer to the user's image.

[0080] (1c) The product selection device 3 estimates the immediate hair condition information based on the dyed hair condition information and the time elapsed since the previous dyeing of the hair condition indicated by the dyed hair condition information. Then, the recommended product is selected taking into account the gap between the previous image and the immediate hair condition information.

[0081] As mentioned above, since the dyeing state of hair can change depending on the time elapsed since dyeing, it is considered that the calculation accuracy of the gap at the previous dyeing time will be higher if dyed hair information about hair that has been dyed for a short time since dyeing is used. With the above configuration, even if dyed hair information about hair that has been dyed for a relatively long time is obtained, the calculation accuracy of the gap at the previous dyeing time will be closer to that when dyed hair information immediately after dyeing is used.

[0082] (1d) In the product selection device 3, captured images of the user's hair (specifically, images of new hair and images of dyed hair) are acquired as objective hair information. Cameras such as the imaging unit 23 are widely used and are attached to general-purpose smartphones and tablets. Therefore, captured images of hair correspond to objective hair information that is easier for users to provide compared to, for example, hair measurement results obtained using a dedicated measuring device. In other words, with the above configuration, it is possible to build a product selection system 1 that can provide objective hair information to users relatively easily.

[0083] However, as mentioned above, there is a problem in that the hair color in a captured image may differ depending on the imaging environment, etc. Although it is possible to specify imaging conditions such as the color of the light source, this places a burden on the user.

[0084] Therefore, it is conceivable that the product selection device 3 acquires a captured image in which the user's hair and a color sample are captured together. With this configuration, the color of the captured image can be corrected based on the color of the color sample, so that the variation in the hair color ascertained from the captured image due to factors such as the imaging environment can be reduced.

[0085] In the first embodiment, S203 corresponds to an example of each process as an objective information acquisition unit, a user image acquisition unit, a previous image acquisition unit, and an elapsed time acquisition unit. S206, S207, S209, and S211 correspond to an example of a process as a product selection unit. S210 corresponds to an example of a process as a hair removal information estimation unit.

[0086] [2. Second Embodiment] [2-1. Configuration and Processing] The configuration of the second embodiment is the same as that of the first embodiment. The processing of the second embodiment is also basically the same as that of the first embodiment. However, with regard to the hair coloring product selection processing, the second embodiment differs from the first embodiment in the following points.

[0087] In the first embodiment, if it is determined in S204 that the gap at the previous dyeing cannot be calculated, the server control unit 33 proceeds to S205. In contrast, in the second embodiment, as shown in Fig. 7, if it is determined in S204 that the gap at the previous dyeing cannot be calculated, the server control unit 33 proceeds to S301 instead of S205.

[0088] In S301, the server control unit 33 determines whether it is possible to calculate the gap at the time of dyeing from the information of the third party. In other words, the server control unit 33 determines whether it is possible to calculate the gap between the third party image, which is the third party's image of the dyed hair color desired by the third party before dyeing (i.e., the user image of the third party), and the third party's dyed hair information, which is information that objectively indicates the state of the third party's hair after dyeing (i.e., dyed hair information about the third party). More specifically, the third party here refers to a third party whose image of hair type and desired dyed hair color are similar to those of the user. The similarity of the user's and the third party's hair types is determined by comparing the answers to questions about the user's hair type shown in FIG. 5 (i.e., at least the subjective hair type information, and if new hair information has been acquired, the subjective hair type information and the new hair information). The similarity of the user's and the third party's images of the desired dyed hair color is determined by comparing the answers to questions about the desired dyed hair color (i.e., the user images of the user and the third party, respectively). The server control unit 33 determines that it is possible to calculate the dyeing gap from the third party's information when the information of the third party has been acquired and the third party's image of hair type and desired dyed color is similar to that of the user, and the third party's information includes answers to questions about the previous dyeing.

[0089] As shown in FIG. 7, if it is determined in S301 that the dyeing gap cannot be calculated from the information of the third party, the server control unit 33 proceeds to S205 described above. On the other hand, if it is determined in S301 that the dyeing gap can be calculated from the third-party information, the server control unit 33 selects recommended products in S302 by taking into account not only the user image but also the gap between the third-party image and the third-party dyeing hair information. In this embodiment, the server control unit 33 selects recommended products by, for example, calculating the color difference between the color value representing the hair color dyed by the third party indicated by the third-party dyeing hair information and the color value corresponding to the third-party image, as in S209 described above. In this case, if multiple third parties with hair textures similar to the user are registered in the user database, the server control unit 33 uses the average gap between the user image and the dyeing hair information for each of the multiple third parties as the gap between the third-party image and the third-party dyeing hair information.

[0090] When the process of S302 ends, this process ends. The processes of S301 to S302 also correspond to the process of A113 above. [2-2. Effects] According to the second embodiment described above in detail, in addition to the effects of the first embodiment described above, the following effects are also achieved.

[0091] The product selection device 3 selects recommended products by taking into account the gap between the third-party image and the third-party dyed hair information. This configuration makes it possible to more accurately estimate the deviation of the user's dyed hair color from the expected color of each hair coloring product, even if information about the user's previous dyeing has not been acquired, such as if this is the user's first time using the product selection service. Therefore, it is possible to select hair coloring products that will produce a result that is closer to the user's image.

[0092] In the second embodiment, S203 corresponds to an example of each process as an objective information acquisition unit, a user image acquisition unit, a previous image acquisition unit, an elapsed time acquisition unit, a third-party image acquisition unit, and a third-party information acquisition unit. S206, S207, S209, S211, and S302 correspond to an example of a process as a product selection unit. S210 corresponds to an example of a process as a hair removal information estimation unit.

[0093] 3. Other Embodiments Although the embodiments of the present disclosure have been described above, it goes without saying that the present disclosure is not limited to the above-described embodiments and can take on various forms.

[0094] (3a) In the above embodiment, new hair images and dyed hair images were exemplified as the new hair growth information and dyed hair information included in the objective hair information. However, the objective hair information is not limited to captured images of the user's hair. For example, the objective hair information may be a measurement result of the user's actual hair. Measurement of the actual hair may be performed, for example, on the user's hair when the user visits a salon, or on actual hair mailed by the user to a measurement institution. Furthermore, for example, the objective hair information may be a measurement result of an image of the user's hair reflected in a mirror, rather than the actual user's hair. Furthermore, for example, the objective hair information may be an evaluation result of the user's hair by a third party, such as a hairdresser.

[0095] This configuration allows for the objective hair information to be supplemented with information obtained using specialized measuring devices, for example. This allows for a more accurate understanding of the user's hair condition. In other words, it allows for the selection of hair coloring products that will produce a result that more closely matches the user's image.

[0096] (3b) When the objective hair information is a captured image of hair as in the above embodiment, an attachment may be used to capture the image depending on the information to be acquired, such as a close-up attachment or an attachment with a specific light source. Such an attachment may be a dedicated product or a commercially available product. Furthermore, such an attachment may be provided to the user by being enclosed with a hair coloring product, for example. Furthermore, the captured image of hair is not limited to a still image, but may be, for example, a video.

[0097] (3c) In the above embodiment, the question regarding the desired dyed hair color is in the form of a multiple-choice question. Specifically, the question presents multiple images of hair with different shades, brightnesses, etc. of the desired dyed hair. However, the question regarding the desired dyed hair color is not limited to the multiple-choice question and may be in the form of an open-ended question. For example, the question may require the user to input (upload) a photo, illustration, etc. showing the desired hair color.

[0098] (3d) In the above embodiment, in S206 and S207 of the hair coloring product selection process, a table prepared in advance is used to select recommended products based on the correspondence between the acquired combination of information and the hair coloring products. However, the method for selecting recommended products in S206 and S207 is not limited to using such a table. For example, similar to S209, S211, and S302, a method for selecting recommended products may be used, such as calculating the color difference between the color value corresponding to the user's image and the color value of the expected color of each hair coloring product.

[0099] (3e) In the above embodiment, in S209 and S211 of the hair coloring product selection process, recommended products are selected according to the user image, taking into account the gap at the previous dyeing time calculated using the previous image. At this time, the user image and the previous image (i.e., the current and previous user images) are not limited to being the same and may be different from each other. Similarly, in S302 of the hair coloring product selection process of the second embodiment, the third-party image and the user image are not limited to being the same and may be different from each other.

[0100] (3f) In the above embodiment, in S209 of the hair coloring product selection process, the color value of the expected color of each hair coloring product to be selected is corrected using the color difference between the color value representing the hair color of the previous dyeing and the color value corresponding to the previous image. Then, recommended products are selected using the color value of the corrected expected color of each hair coloring product. However, in S209, the color value corresponding to the user image may be corrected instead of the color value of the expected color of each hair coloring product. Then, recommended products may be selected using the corrected color value corresponding to the user image. Similarly, in S211 and S302, the color value corresponding to the user image may be corrected instead of the color value of the expected color of each hair coloring product.

[0101] (3g) As illustrated in the above embodiment, hair coloring products include hair color, bleach, hair manicure, color shampoos and color treatments, and temporary colorants. Of these, color shampoos and color treatments are products that gradually change hair color. The expected color of color shampoos and color treatments refers to the expected hair color after dyeing when the color treatment is used a specified number of times. The specified number of times varies depending on the product and is usually multiple times (e.g., 3 times, 5 times, etc.). This number is indicated on the packaging of the color shampoos and color treatments.

[0102] In A109 of the hair coloring product suggestion process, the counseling screen prompts the user to input dyed hair information to confirm the finish state of the hair previously dyed. If the product used is a color shampoo or color treatment, the dyed hair information is information about the hair after it has been dyed repeatedly using the product the predetermined number of times (in the above embodiment, captured images). Furthermore, if the product used is a color shampoo or color treatment, the immediately-after hair information estimated in S210 of the hair coloring product selection process is the dyed hair information immediately after it has been dyed repeatedly using the product the predetermined number of times.

[0103] (3h) In selecting recommended products, for example, AI (artificial intelligence) technology may be used. Specifically, in the above embodiment, in S210 of the hair coloring product selection method, the immediately-post-dye information is estimated from the dyed hair information (specifically, the dyed hair image) acquired in S203 by using a table showing changes in the dyed state of hair over time since dyeing. However, in S210, for example, a trained model that has learned the correlation between a dyed hair image of hair immediately after dyeing and a dyed hair image of hair a certain period of time after dyeing may be used to estimate the immediately-post-dye information (specifically, a color value representing the hair color immediately after dyeing) from the dyed hair image acquired in S203. In this case, multiple types of trained models according to the elapsed time may be used, or a trained model trained taking the elapsed time into account may be used. Furthermore, instead of the dyed hair image, the hair color indicated by the dyed hair image may be used for training. Furthermore, a trained model trained including information indicating hair type may be used so that the immediately-post-dye information is estimated taking the user's hair type into account.

[0104] Furthermore, in the second embodiment, the gap between the third-party image and the third-party dyed hair information is calculated in S302 of the hair coloring product selection method. In other words, the gap between the user image and the dyed hair information about the user is estimated using the third-party information. In particular, when multiple third parties with similar hair textures and desired dyed hair colors to the user are registered in the user database, the estimated value of the gap between the user image and the dyed hair information using the third-party information is the average of the gaps between the user image and the dyed hair information about each of the multiple third parties. However, in S302, for example, a trained model that has learned the correlation between the third party's hair texture and the gap between the user image and the dyed hair information about the third party may be used to estimate the gap between the user image and the dyed hair information about the user based on the subjective hair texture information (and new hair information) acquired in S203. (3i) In the above embodiment, in order to estimate the gap between the user's image of the user and the dyed hair information, information from a third party who has a similar image of the user's hair type and desired dyed hair color is used. However, the third party may only be required to have a similar hair type to the user, and may not be required to have a similar image of the user's hair color after dyeing.

[0105] (3j) In the above embodiment, in the hair coloring product selection process, depending on the determination result of S208, the dyed hair information acquired in S203 is used directly to select a recommended product in S209, or fresh hair information is estimated based on the dyed hair information acquired in S203, and then the fresh hair information is used to select a recommended product in S211. However, the process of S208 does not necessarily have to be performed. That is, regardless of how long the dyed hair information acquired in S203 is about hair that has been dyed, the dyed hair information may be used directly to select a recommended product in either case. This corresponds to an example in which the process proceeds to S209 if the determination is affirmative in S204. Alternatively, regardless of how long the dyed hair information acquired in S203 is about hair that has been dyed, fresh hair information may be estimated, and the fresh hair information may be used to select a recommended product. This corresponds to an example in which the process proceeds to S210 if the determination is affirmative in S204.

[0106] (3k) In the above embodiment, in S209, S211, and S302 of the hair coloring product selection process, recommended products are selected by taking into account the gap between the previous dyeing of the user's hair and the gap between the previous dyeing of a third party's hair. However, the recommended product selection method does not necessarily have to take into account such gaps. For example, the recommended product selection method may only take into account subjective hair quality information, as in S206, or only take into account subjective hair quality information and new hair growth information, as in S207. This corresponds to an example in which processing proceeds to S205 when S203 is completed.

[0107] (3l) In the above embodiment, the term "previously" does not necessarily refer to the immediately preceding time, but includes the time two or more times prior. (3m) The function of one component in the above embodiments may be distributed among multiple components, or the functions of multiple components may be integrated into one component. Also, part of the configuration of the above embodiments may be omitted. Furthermore, at least part of the configuration of the above embodiments may be added to or substituted for the configuration of another of the above embodiments.

[0108] (3n) The present disclosure can be realized in various forms, including the product selection device 3 described above, a product selection system 1 having the product selection device 3 as a component, a program for causing a computer to function as the product selection system 1, and a medium on which this program is recorded. [Explanation of symbols]

[0109] 1...Hair coloring product selection system, 2...Terminal device, 21...Display unit, 22...Input unit, 23...Imaging unit, 24...Terminal memory unit, 25...Terminal control unit, 26...Terminal communication unit, 3...Hair coloring product selection device, 31...Server communication unit, 32...Server memory unit, 33...Server control unit.

Claims

1. an objective information acquisition unit that acquires objective hair information that is information that objectively indicates the user's hair condition; a user image acquisition unit that acquires a user image relating to the hair color after dyeing that the user desires; a previous image acquisition unit that acquires a previous image, which is an image of the hair color after dyeing that the user desired before the previous dyeing; a product selection unit that selects a hair coloring product suitable for realizing the user's image, taking into account the objective hair information; Equipped with the objective information acquisition unit acquires dyed hair information, which is the objective hair information about the user's hair that has been previously dyed; The product selection unit calculates the color difference between the color value corresponding to the previous image and the color value representing the color of the user's hair when it was last dyed, as the gap between the previous image and the dyed hair information, uses the color difference to correct the color value of the expected color of the hair coloring product that is a candidate for selection, and selects the hair coloring product with the smallest color difference between the color value of the corrected expected color and the color value corresponding to the user image as the hair coloring product suitable for realizing the user image.

2. The hair coloring product selection device according to claim 1, an elapsed time acquisition unit that acquires the elapsed time since the previous dyeing was performed for the hair condition indicated by the dyed hair information; a hair information estimation unit that estimates the objective hair information about the user's hair immediately after the previous dyeing based on the dyed hair information and the elapsed time; Further provided with The product selection unit calculates the color difference between the color value corresponding to the previous image and the color value representing the color of the user's hair immediately after the previous dyeing, as the gap between the previous image and the immediate hair information, and uses this color difference to correct the color value of the expected color of the hair coloring product that is a candidate for selection.The hair coloring product selection device selects the hair coloring product with the smallest color difference between the color value of the corrected expected color and the color value corresponding to the user image as the hair coloring product suitable for realizing the user image.

3. an objective information acquisition unit that acquires objective hair information that is information that objectively indicates the user's hair condition; a user image acquisition unit that acquires a user image relating to the hair color after dyeing that the user desires; a previous image acquisition unit that acquires a previous image, which is an image of the hair color after dyeing that the user desired before the previous dyeing; an elapsed time acquisition unit; A hair information estimation unit immediately after hair removal; a product selection unit that selects a hair coloring product suitable for realizing the user's image, taking into account the objective hair information; Equipped with the objective information acquisition unit acquires dyed hair information, which is the objective hair information about the user's hair that has been previously dyed; the elapsed time acquisition unit acquires the elapsed time since the previous dyeing was performed for the hair condition indicated by the dyed hair information, The immediately-after hair information estimation unit estimates immediately-after hair information, which is the objective hair information about the user's hair immediately after the previous dyeing, based on the dyed hair information and the elapsed time, The product selection unit selects a hair coloring product suitable for realizing the user image by taking into account the gap between the previous image and the immediately-post-hair-coloring information.

4. The hair coloring product selection device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, a third-party image acquisition unit that acquires a third-party image, which is an image of the hair color desired by a third party after dyeing; a third-party information acquisition unit that acquires third-party dyed hair information, which is information that objectively indicates the state of hair dyed by a third party; Further provided with The product selection unit selects a hair coloring product suitable for realizing the user image by taking into account the gap between the third-party image and the third-party hair dyeing information.

5. an objective information acquisition unit that acquires objective hair information that is information that objectively indicates the user's hair condition; a user image acquisition unit that acquires a user image relating to the hair color after dyeing that the user desires; a third-party image acquisition unit that acquires a third-party image, which is an image of the hair color desired by a third party after dyeing; a third-party information acquisition unit that acquires third-party dyed hair information, which is information that objectively indicates the state of hair dyed by a third party; a product selection unit that selects a hair coloring product suitable for realizing the user's image, taking into account the objective hair information; Equipped with The product selection unit selects a hair coloring product suitable for realizing the user image by taking into account the gap between the third-party image and the third-party hair dyeing information.

6. The hair coloring product selection device according to claim 5, The hair color measuring device further includes a previous image obtaining unit for obtaining a previous image, which is an image of the hair color after dyeing that the user desired before the previous dyeing, the objective information acquisition unit acquires dyed hair information, which is the objective hair information about the user's hair that has been previously dyed; The product selection unit selects a hair coloring product suitable for realizing the user's image, taking into account the gap between the previous image and the dyed hair information.

7. 7. The hair coloring product selection device according to claim 6, an elapsed time acquisition unit that acquires the elapsed time since the previous dyeing was performed for the hair condition indicated by the dyed hair information; a hair information estimation unit that estimates the objective hair information about the user's hair immediately after the previous dyeing based on the dyed hair information and the elapsed time; Further provided with The product selection unit selects a hair coloring product suitable for realizing the user image by taking into account the gap between the previous image and the immediately-post-hair-coloring information.

8. The hair coloring product selection device according to any one of claims 1 to 7, The objective information acquisition unit acquires a captured image of the user's hair as the objective hair information.

9. The hair coloring product selection device according to claim 8, The objective information acquisition unit of the hair coloring product selection device acquires, as the objective hair information, an image of the user's hair together with a color sample showing a reference color.

10. The hair coloring product selection device according to any one of claims 1 to 9, The objective information acquisition unit acquires, as the objective hair information, measurement results obtained by measuring the actual hair of the user.

11. A hair coloring product selection method performed by a hair coloring product selection device, comprising: acquiring objective hair information, which is information that objectively indicates the state of the user's hair, and which is dyed hair information, which is the objective hair information about the user's hair that has been previously dyed; acquiring a user image, which is an image of the hair color desired by the user after dyeing; obtaining a previous image, which is an image of the hair color desired by the user before the previous dyeing; a step of calculating a color difference between a color value corresponding to the previous image and a color value representing the color of the user's hair previously dyed as indicated by the dyed hair information as a gap between the previous image and the dyed hair information, correcting the color value of the assumed color of the hair coloring product to be selected as a selection candidate using the color difference, and selecting the hair coloring product with the smallest color difference between the color value of the corrected assumed color and the color value corresponding to the user image as the hair coloring product suitable for realizing the user image; A method for selecting a hair coloring product.

12. A hair coloring product selection method performed by a hair coloring product selection device, comprising: acquiring objective hair information, which is information that objectively indicates the state of the user's hair, and which is dyed hair information, which is the objective hair information about the user's hair that has been previously dyed; acquiring a user image, which is an image of the hair color desired by the user after dyeing; obtaining a previous image, which is an image of the hair color desired by the user before the previous dyeing; acquiring the elapsed time since the previous dyeing was performed for the hair condition indicated by the dyed hair information; A step of estimating immediate hair information, which is the objective hair information about the user's hair immediately after the previous dyeing, based on the dyed hair information and the elapsed time; selecting a hair coloring product suitable for realizing the user's image, taking into consideration the gap between the previous image and the immediately following hair color information; A method for selecting a hair coloring product.

13. A hair coloring product selection method performed by a hair coloring product selection device, comprising: acquiring a user image, which is an image of the hair color desired by the user after dyeing; obtaining a third-party image, which is an image of the hair color desired by the third-party before dyeing; A step of acquiring third-party dyed hair information, which is information that objectively indicates the state of the hair dyed by the third party; selecting a hair coloring product suitable for realizing the user's image, taking into consideration the gap between the third-party image and the third-party dyed hair information; A method for selecting a hair coloring product.

Images