Hair Styling Device Protrusions with Polymer Blend
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current hair conditioning products, such as combs and brushes, do not effectively reduce wet combing and detangling forces, leading to hair breakage and requiring additional rinse-off or leave-in conditioners, which can be inconvenient and may not provide lasting benefits.
Innovation Solution
A styling device with protrusions made from a blend of high molecular weight polyethylene oxide and a water-insoluble polymer, which leaches out conditioning agents when wet, reducing friction and improving hair manageability without the need for separate conditioners.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Force
If conventional combs or brushes are used for styling hair, then the device is durable and can be used repeatedly, but the device cannot effectively reduce wet combing and detangling forces, leading to hair breakage
Solution Approach 1:
The protrusions are made from a blend of water-soluble polymer and water-insoluble polymer, where the water-soluble component leaches out when wet to reduce friction. This changes the material properties of the protrusions from static to dynamic, allowing them to provide conditioning benefits when wet while maintaining structural integrity when dry.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention uses a composite material consisting of a blend of water-soluble polymer (such as polyethylene oxide) and water-insoluble polymer. This composite allows the protrusions to maintain their structural form while releasing conditioning agents into the water, thereby reducing combing force and preventing hair breakage.
2Ease of operation
If consumers use liquid rinse off conditioners or leave-in conditioners to condition hair, then hair conditioning benefits are achieved, but the routine becomes inconvenient and requires additional products
Solution Approach 1:
The invention merges the styling device function with the conditioning agent delivery function. The protrusions themselves are made from a material blend that acts as both the structural component and the conditioning agent reservoir, eliminating the need for separate conditioner products.
Solution Approach 2:
The styling device is self-service in that it contains its own conditioning agents within the protrusion material. When the device is used wet, the water-soluble polymer leaches out automatically to condition the hair, without requiring the user to apply separate conditioner products.
3Force
If protrusions are made from water-soluble polymer blend that leaches conditioning agents when wet, then friction is reduced and hair manageability is improved, but the material must maintain structural integrity during use
Solution Approach 1:
The protrusions are made from a composite blend of water-soluble polymer (such as polyethylene oxide) and water-insoluble polymer. The water-insoluble component maintains structural integrity while the water-soluble component leaches out to reduce friction, achieving both goals simultaneously.
Solution Approach 2:
The material properties of the protrusions change based on moisture content. When dry, the material maintains high structural integrity. When wet, the water-soluble polymer leaches out, changing the surface properties to reduce friction and provide conditioning benefits.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The device significantly reduces the force required for wet combing and detangling, minimizing hair breakage and providing lasting conditioning benefits, while being durable and easy to integrate into the user's styling routine.
Implementation Method 1
a styling device for hair, comprising protrusions, wherein the protrusions comprise a blend of a high molecular weight polyethylene oxide and a water insoluble polymer
Implementation Method 2
reducing friction and improving hair manageability without the need for separate conditioners
Data Source
AI summary
A styling device for hair, comprising protrusions, wherein the protrusions comprise a blend of a high molecular weight polyethylene oxide and a water insoluble polymer.