US20210015192A1

US20210015192A1 - Hair extension and application method

Info

Publication number: US20210015192A1
Application number: US16/499,368
Authority: US
Inventors: Thomas David Gold
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2017-03-30
Filing date: 2018-03-20
Publication date: 2021-01-21
Also published as: EP3599920A1; IT201700034983A1; WO2018178807A1

Abstract

Described is a hair extension (1) comprising a lock of fake hair (2) and a supporting plate (3). The lock of hair (2) is stably connected at a relative end to at least one portion of a first face (4 a) of the supporting plate (3).

Description

This invention relates to the field of beauty treatments for hair.
More specifically, the invention relates to hair extensions and the relative application method.
In the sector of beauty treatments for hair the possibility of changing the hairstyle is without doubt of importance, however, a particular hairstyle very often requires a length of hair which is different to the actual desired length of hair of the person.
Although it is obviously simple to reduce the length of hair, the same cannot be said if it is necessary to lengthen it, or to thicken it; the most practical solution to overcome this problem is without doubt represented by hair extensions.
Hair extensions are artificial additions to human hair, the purpose of which is to thicken or lengthen the hair of the user, in such a way as to prepare and make it suitable for the desired hairstyle, allowing the appearance to be modified in a simple and easily reversible manner.
Currently however, the products on the market, all have the drawbacks which considerably reduce the convenience and ease of use.
Hair extensions are known, for example, wherein the lock of fake hair is attached to the hair of the user by means of external elements, such as clips, grips or metal rings.
If one takes into consideration, in particular, the last case, the hair is inserted in the metal ring together with an end of the hair extension.
The ring is then squashed mechanically, guaranteeing in this way the attachment of the hair extension to the head of the user.
It is immediately evident that this type of solution inevitably requires lengthy application times, given also the difficulty which results from having to attach each single lock by means of the external element, handling it simultaneously with the hair extension and the lock of hair of the user.
The entire operation is made even more complicated in that the element must obviously be as small as possible for reducing the visibility.
Alternatively, it is possible to apply the hair extension by using a bi-adhesive material, in particular in the form of a transparent film, which may be applied to the hair extension on one side and at the base of a lock of hair of the user on the other side.
However, this second type of product does not guarantee a natural effect for the lock of hair, since a large and non-uniform lock is evident and easy to identify, and it is also clearly noticeable by touch.
Lastly, it is possible to apply the hair extension by means of chemical glues which, however, in particular in the long term, can cause even considerable damage to the hair of the user.
This third solution requires a high level of training of the personnel who handle materials which are potentially hazardous for their health and for that of the customer.
In this context, the technical purpose which forms the basis of this invention is to propose hair extensions and the relative application method which allow at least some of the above-mentioned drawbacks of the prior art to be overcome.
More specifically, the aim of this invention is to provide hair extensions and the relative application method which are able to guarantee an easy, practical and fast applicability, thereby reducing the time necessary for completing the entire operation, at the same time also making easier their removal and any re-use.
An aim of this invention is also to provide hair extensions and the relative application method which allow the natural appearance of the final effect to be maximised.
The technical purpose indicated and the aims specified are substantially achieved by hair extensions and the relative application method comprising the technical features described in one or more of the accompanying claims.
The invention describes a hair extension which comprises a lock of natural or artificial hair suitably selected and prepared, to which reference will be made below for simplicity with the term “fake” hair, and a supporting plate.
The lock of hair is stably connected at one relative end to at least one portion of a first face of the supporting plate.

Further features and advantages of the present invention are more apparent in the non-limiting description of a preferred embodiment for hair extensions and the relative application method, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 shows an exploded perspective view of a hair extension according to the invention;

FIG. 2 shows another view of the hair extension;

FIG. 3 shows a hair extension applied to the lock of hair of a user;

FIG. 4 shows a kit for hair extensions according to the invention;

FIG. 5 shows another view of the hair extension according to the invention.

FIG. 1 shows in particular the elements which constitute the hair extension according to the invention, generically labelled 1.
The hair extension 1 comprises a lock of fake hair 2 and a supporting plate 3.
The lock of hair 2 is which is fixed stably, at one relative end to at least one portion of the first face 4 a of the supporting plate 3.
According to a preferred embodiment, the supporting plate 3 is made of metallic material, still more preferably, the supporting plate 3 is made of copper.
The supporting plate 3 has end portions which are configured for being folded about a lock of hair 7 of a user in such a way as to fix them stably to the supporting plate 3 preventing the withdrawal.
In practice, the supporting plate 3 is placed alongside a lock of hair 7 of a user and its end portions are subsequently folded around the lock of hair 7 in such a way as to enclose them inside the supporting plate 3.
If the plate 3 has been covered only partly the free the portions will be those which will be folded, in such a way as to not be visible, since they positioned behind the lock of hair 7 of the user; in this way the lock of fake hair 2 will to be positioned above the hair 7 of the user.
Alternatively, if the plate 3 has been fully covered, once applied, the lock of fake hair will positioned around the lock of hair 7 of the user enclosing it inside it.
Advantageously, the supporting plate 3 has at least one fold line “A”, according to the preferred embodiment, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, there are two fold lines “A”.
The fold lines “A” define yield lines, thereby facilitating the folding of the supporting plate 3 about the fold lines “A”.
In other words, the fold lines “A” represent axes of rotation about which is particularly easy to rotate the end portions of the plate 3 when this is applied, in such a way as to stably attach it to the hair 7 of the user.
Preferably, the fold lines “A” delimit end portions of different sizes.
More specifically, as may be more clearly seen in FIG. 5, the end with the larger size will be folded firstly about the lock of hair 7 of the user, whilst the smaller end will then be folded about the another in such a way as to improve and make more stable and secure the attachment of the supporting plate 3 about the hair 7 of the user.
In order to allow the adhesion of the lock of fake hair 2 to the supporting plate 3 use is made of a first polymer 5; for example, a polymer which is applicable hot could be used, which is able to guarantee a firm adhesion on the supporting plate 3 and stably retain or incorporate partly the fake hair 2.
More specifically, the first polymer 5 is applied on the first face 4 a of the supporting plate 3 in the zones where the lock of fake hair 2 is to be adhered.
Preferably, there is also a second polymer 6, applied on at least one portion of a second face 4 b of the supporting plate 3, that is to say, on the face which engages the hair 7 of the user.
The aim of this second polymer 6 is to increase the friction force acting between the second face 4 b and the hair 7 of the user, in such a way as to prevent the withdrawal simply by pulling the hair extension 1.
In view of the different functions, performed by the first polymer 5 and by the second polymer 6, it is preferable to use two different polymers optimised according to the function to be performed.
More specifically, the first polymer must guarantee irreversible adhesion of the lock of fake hair 2 to the supporting plate 3.
This result can be obtained, for example, by using silicone polymers.
The second polymer, on the other hand, must not irreversibly adhere to the hair 7 of the user, but only guarantee a stable fastening of the hair extension 1 when it is applied.
Advantageously, it is possible to provide the hair extensions 1 according to the invention in a easy and practical kit 10 for hair extensions which comprises a plurality of hair extensions 1 in accordance with the above description.
The kit 10 is in the form of a supporting strip 11 defined by the supporting plates 3 of each extension 1 which are connected to each other at the ends.
In order to facilitate the use, the supporting strip 11 has cutting lines “B” which, as well a making the point of passage from one hair extension 2 to another immediately identifiable, facilitates the separation from the kit 10.
In other words, the kit 10 is in the form of a continuous supporting strip 11, consisting of a plurality of supporting plates 3, to which are stably connected, by means of a relative end, fake hair 2.
To be able to use the single hair extension 1 it is sufficient to detach it from the supporting strip 1 separating it along the cutting line “B”.
The invention also relates to a method for applying the hair extension.
The method comprises a step of preparing at least one hair extension 1 according to the invention.
The hair extension 1 is therefore applied placing the second face 4 b of the supporting plate 3 alongside a lock of hair 7 of the user, preferably in a position proximal to the roots,
the procedure is concluded simply by folding at least one portion of the supporting plate 3 in such a way as to enclose the lock of hair 7 of the user.
the hair extension 1 is thereby firmly connected to the hair 7 of the user both by the action of the folded supporting plate 3 and by the effect of the second polymer 6 which prevents the withdrawal.
If the hair extension 1 forms part of a kit 10 for hair extensions, the step of preparing at least one hair extension 1 comprises the sub-steps of preparing a kit 10 for hair extensions and separating at least one hair extension 1 from the kit 10.
The procedure described above may be repeated until having applied the desired number of hair extensions 1.
Advantageously, a hair extensions 1 according to the invention overcomes the drawbacks of the prior art.
More specifically, the hair extension 1 is easily applicable, since it can be achieved by a purely mechanical action, in a very short time.
This also guarantees the attractive appearance of the solution, since the supporting plate 3 is completely invisible, as it is hidden by the lock of fake hair 2 superposed on it, giving a natural appearance to the hair since one sees a totally uniform head of hair.
Moreover, avoiding the gluing of the hair extension 1 to the hair 7 of the user avoids the use chemical glues which could result in the destruction of the hair; consequently, less time is also necessary for training personnel since it is not necessary to provide training in the use of potentially hazardous chemical agents.

Claims

1. A hair extension comprising a lock of fake hair (2) and a supporting plate (3), wherein the lock of fake hair (2) is stably connected at a relative end to at least a portion of a first face (4 a) of the supporting plate (3).

2. The hair extension according to claim 1, wherein the supporting plate (3) has at least an end portion configured to be folded around a lock of hair (7) of a user in such a way as to securely fix the supporting plate to the lock of hair (7) of a user.

3. The hair extension according to claim 1, wherein the supporting plate (3) has at least one fold line (A), designed to define a yielding zone for mediating the folding of the supporting plate (3) around the fold line (A).

4. The hair extension according to claim 3 wherein the supporting plate (3) has two fold lines (A) delimiting a first end portion and a second end portion, the first end portion having a greater extension relative to the second end portion.

5. The hair extension according to claim 1, wherein the lock of fake hair (2) is stably connected to the supporting plate (3) by a first polymer (5) applied on at least a portion of the first face (4 a) of the supporting plate (3).

6. The hair extension according to claim 1, wherein the supporting plate (3) has a second polymer (6) applied on a second face (4 b) of the supporting plate (3), opposite the first face (4 a), and designed to increase the friction force acting between the second face (4 b) and the lock of hair (7) of a user.

7. The hair extension according to claim 5, wherein the first and second polymers (5, 6) are two different polymers.

8. The hair extension according to claim 1, wherein the supporting plate (3) is made of a metallic material, preferably copper.

9. A kit for hair extensions comprising a plurality of hair extensions (1) according to claim 1, characterised in that the supporting plate (3) of each hair extension of the plurality of hair extensions (1) is structurally connected to at least another supporting plate (3) forming a continuity defining a supporting strip (11).

10. The kit for hair extension according to claim 9, wherein the supporting strip (11) has cutting lines (B) designed to mediate the separation of a hair extension (1) from the hair extension kit (10).

11. A method for applying hair extensions (1) comprising the steps of:

preparing at least one hair extension (1) according to claim 1;

moving the second face (4 b) of the supporting plate (3) of the hair extension (1) next to a lock of hair (7) of a user;

folding at least one portion of the supporting plate (3) about the lock of hair (7) of the user fixing them mutually in a stable fashion.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein the step of preparing at least one hair extension (1) comprises the steps of:

preparing a kit (10) for hair extensions, said kit (10) comprising a plurality of said hair extensions (1), characterised in that the supporting plate (3) of each hair extension of the plurality of hair extensions (1) is structurally connected to at least another supporting plate (3) forming a continuity defining a supporting strip (11);

separating at least one hair extension (1) from the kit (10) for hair extensions.