Abstract:
A system, comprising: a sleeve having a circumscribing sidewall formed of elastic, compliant material, the sleeve having an internal axial bore sized to have an inside diameter equal to or less than an outside diameter of a host hair to be received in the bore, the sidewall formed of thermoplastic resilient, compliant material, and at least one supplemental hair embedded in the sidewall or attached to the sidewall of the sleeve.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     1. Technical Field 
     The present disclosure is directed to supplementing existing human hair and, more particularly, to adding volume by attachment of additional hair strands to a host strand of hair. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     It is known that hair transplants only achieve a 30% to 50% increase in hair density. While an increase of 50% in hair density generally looks better, a lower density of hair improvement usually presents a thin head of hair. Ideally, the goal is to obtain a thickening of 100% or more of existing hair. 
     Prior methods are problematic because of limitations on reusability. For example, adhesives have been used to glue or bond additional hair to an existing hair shaft. The difficulty with adhesives is that they are exposed to the elements, such as rain, the ocean, sweat, as well as chemicals from shampoo, which can break down the adhesive. When the adhesive breaks down, the bond fails, resulting in hair loss. 
     Other methods and devices include the use of metal clamps. Such clamps require special tools to attach the clamp to the hair. In order to adjust and accommodate growing hair, the clamps must be unclamped and reclamped, resulting in tedious and expensive labor. Metal fatigue is also an issue with these types of clamps. Moreover, the use of thousands of clamps in a head of hair may cause allergic reactions, and these clamps can be easily snagged or pulled with a comb or brush. 
     Another approach has been to use thermal plastic tubes that are shrunk onto the hair with the application of heat. Such heat shrunk tubes are difficult to adjust because they require reheating, which can be damaging to existing hair and the scalp, and such tubes are usually not able to be reheated and reapplied. 
     In general, existing methods and devices are one-time applications only. The practicality of attempting to adjust these existing hair supplementation devices while attached to the existing hair makes them unusable for all intents and purposes. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY 
     The present disclosure is directed to a system and method for supplementing existing hair, which can include thickening of the hair and adding hair extensions to host hair to increase volume, such as density or length or both. 
     In accordance with one aspect of the disclosure, the system includes a sleeve or thin tube formed from a sidewall having an internal axial bore. Ideally, the sidewall is formed of thermoplastic resilient or compliant material that is unaffected by UV and saltwater exposure. The system also includes at least one supplemental hair attached to the sidewall of the sleeve or tube. Ideally, the supplemental hair is a user&#39;s own hair that has fallen out or been cut. The internal axial bore of the tube is sized to have a diameter equal to or less than a diameter of a host hair to enable the tube to elastically grip the host hair when the tube is placed over the host hair. 
     In accordance with one aspect of the present disclosure, a system is provided to increase hair density of existing hair, the system including a sleeve having a cylindrical body with an interior surface and opposing exterior surface, the body further including first and second ends and a longitudinal slit formed in the body and entire length of the sleeve from the first end to the second end, the slit having a width defined by a distance between a first sidewall and a second sidewall of the sleeve body; a plurality of hair strands embedded in the sleeve body or attached to the exterior surface of the body; and an attachment system configured to attach the sleeve to one hair shaft of the existing hair. 
     In accordance with a further aspect of the present disclosure, a method of increasing hair density of existing hair is provided, the method including (a) attaching to a shaft of hair of the existing hair a sleeve having a cylindrical body with an interior surface and opposing exterior surface and a plurality of hair strands embedded in the body or attached to the exterior surface of the body, the body further including first and second ends and a longitudinal slit formed in the body an entire length of the sleeve from the first end to the second end, the slit having a width defined by a distance between a first sidewall and a second sidewall of the sleeve body; and (b) securing the sleeve to the shaft of hair to enable the sleeve to move in one direction on the shaft of hair and resist movement in an opposite direction on the shaft of hair. 
     In accordance with still yet a further aspect of the present disclosure, a system is provided that includes a sleeve having a circumscribing sidewall formed of elastic, compliant material, the sleeve having an internal axial bore sized to have a diameter equal to or less than a diameter of a host hair to be received in the bore, the sidewall formed of thermoplastic resilient, compliant material; and at least one supplemental hair attached to the sidewall of the sleeve. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The foregoing and other features and advantages of the present disclosure will be more readily appreciated as the same become better understood from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a side view of an insulated cable prepared for attachment of supplemental hair in accordance with the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional view of the tube of the present disclosure having the supplemental hair clamped to an exterior surface in accordance with the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional side view of the supplemental hairs embedded in the sidewall of the tube in accordance with the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view of the supplemental hair partially embedded in the sidewall of the tube in accordance with the present disclosure with a host hair inserted in the internal axial bore; 
         FIG. 5  is a side cross-sectional view of the supplemental hair embedded in the tube when mounted to the cable; 
         FIG. 6  is a side cross-sectional view of the host hair slid into the deployed wires; 
         FIG. 7  is a side cross-sectional view of the tube received over the host hair in accordance with the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 8  is an isometric view of a sleeve formed in accordance with an alternative aspect of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 9  is a partial view in cross section of the sleeve of  FIG. 8  showing an internal construction thereof; 
         FIG. 10  is a cross-sectional view of the sleeve of  FIG. 8  attached to a host hair with a clamp in accordance with the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 11  is an enlarged view of the sleeve shown in  FIG. 10 ; 
         FIG. 12  is a cross-sectional view of a further aspect of the present disclosure in which the sleeve of  FIG. 8  is reconfigured to incorporate the clamping mechanism of the clamp of  FIG. 10  only at the ends thereof for attachment to a host hair; 
         FIG. 13  is an isometric view of an initial step of a method in accordance with the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 14  illustrates a supplemental hair inserted into a pocket at the end of a needle in accordance with the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 15  is an isometric view of the needle and supplemental hair of  FIG. 14  positioned for installation on the sheet of thermoplastic material; 
         FIG. 16  is an isometric view of the formation of the sleeve from the sheet of thermoplastic material in accordance with the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 17  is an isometric view of a trough and cutting tool used to form the slit in the sleeve in accordance with the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 18  is a top plan view of the sleeve with clamping members held in position over a host hair by pliers formed in accordance with the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 19  is an isometric view of a large diameter sleeve formed in accordance with the present disclosure; and 
         FIG. 20  is an isometric view of an ultra-thin sleeve formed in accordance with the present disclosure. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     In the following description, certain specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of various disclosed embodiments. However, one skilled in the relevant art will recognize that embodiments may be practiced without one or more of these specific details, or with other methods, components, materials, etc. In other instances, well-known structures or components or both associated with hair care, including but not limited to hair lubricants, have not been shown or described in order to avoid unnecessarily obscuring descriptions of the embodiments. 
     Unless the context requires otherwise, throughout the specification and claims that follow, the word “comprise” and variations thereof, such as “comprises” and “comprising” are to be construed in an open inclusive sense, that is, as “including, but not limited to.” The foregoing applies equally to the words “including” and “having.” 
     Reference throughout this description to “one embodiment” or “an embodiment” means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment. Thus, the appearance of the phrases “in one embodiment” or “in an embodiment” in various places throughout the specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment. Furthermore, the particular features, structures, or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments. 
     The present disclosure is directed to a system and method of using an elastic sleeve (or tube) to attach several hairs (synthetic or real) to a host hair growing out of the scalp. In so doing the hair density (number of hairs per square inch on the scalp) will be increased, giving the prospective user the potential for a full head of hair. In order to provide the installer of the sleeve with a product which provides this increase of hair density, several procedures are involved. 
     By “attach” and “attachment” of hair, the present disclosure is intended to embrace known means of connecting or coupling hair to a substrate, including without limitation embedding a portion of hair or synthetic hair into a substrate, as described more fully below. Attachment can also include attaching the hair to the exterior surface of the substrate, such as with adhesive or fusion or by other well-known processes that will not be described herein. In addition, increasing volume includes thickening of the hair or lengthening of the hair or both. 
     Referring initially to  FIG. 1 , shown therein is a sleeve  10  mounted on a four-wire cable  12 . Ideally, the sleeve  10  is constructed from OM3060 Thermoplastic available from PolyOne Corporation. This material is used as insulation over the cable  12  and is available from Calmont Corporation. In other words, the insulated cable  12  uses the thermoplastic insulation from PolyOne Corporation. The insulation is used as an encasing for the four strands of preferably 54-gauge stainless steel wire, which are intertwined. 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , the cable is formed of four individual wires  14  that are exposed on each end of the sleeve  10 . In other words, the insulated cable is partially stripped, leaving the sleeve  10 , which is approximately 1/16″ to ½″ in length and ideally ¼″ in length. The sleeve  10  is situated between the exposed ends  16 ,  18  of the cable  12 . Ideally each exposed end  16 ,  18  is about 1″ in length. 
     At this stage, supplemental hairs, approximately 2 to 7 hairs, and more preferably 3 to 6 hairs, are attached to the sleeve  10 . The attachment may be either with adhesive or the hairs may be partially embedded or completely embedded into the thermoplastic sleeve  10 . 
     If it is desired to embed the hairs into the sleeve  10 , the sleeve should first be heated to soften the material. This can be done by running current through the cable  12  to cause the wires  14  to heat up, transferring the heat to the sleeve  10 , preferably only the amount of heat needed to sufficiently soften the thermoplastic sleeve  10  and allow the supplemental hairs to be pushed into it. Referring to  FIG. 2 , shown therein is an end view of the cable  12  and the sleeve  10  having a plurality of supplemental hairs  20  positioned around the outside perimeter of the sleeve  10 . A clamp tool  22  is sized and shaped to encircle the sleeve  10  and press the hairs  20  into the softened sleeve  10 . As shown in  FIG. 3 , the hairs  20  are completely embedded in a sidewall  24  of the sleeve  10 . Alternatively, as shown in  FIG. 4 , one or more of the supplemental hairs  20  can be partially embedded in the sidewall  24  of the sleeve  10 . This is done by controlling the amount of compression exerted by the tool  22  on the hairs  20 . Alternatively, the hairs can remain attached to the outside of the sidewall  24  of the sleeve  10  as shown in  FIG. 2 . 
     Referring next to  FIG. 5 , shown therein is the sleeve  10  having the supplemental hairs  20  embedded in the sidewall  24 . In order to prepare the sleeve  10  for mounting on a host hair, the wires  14  on the first end  16  are spread apart to allow the host hair  26  (see  FIG. 6 ) to be inserted between the wire strands  14 . 
     Ideally before the hairs  20  are immersed or embedded into the sleeve  10 , they may be treated with a temporary adhesive or adhesion promoter, such as a silane. Also, before the supplemental hairs  20  are attached to the sleeve, the sleeve inside diameter is selected in accordance with the size of the host hair. Thus, the host hair is first measured to determine its diameter, and then a cable  12  with insulation is selected having an inside diameter of the sleeve  10  that is in the range of approximately ¼ the outside diameter of the host hair up to and including the actual outside diameter of the hair. 
     It is to be understood that the wall thickness of the sleeve  10  may vary, but should be a sufficient thickness to enable complete immersion of the supplemental hairs  20 . While the sleeve&#39;s outer circumference can be several times larger than the diameter of the supplemental hairs  20 , it will not necessarily be visible. However, if visibility of the sleeve  10  is seen as an advantage, such as for decoration or highlighting, the supplemental hairs  20  that are attached or embedded into the sleeve  10  can be partially embedded such that upon close inspection, several hairs can be seen converging at the scalp at the same place. Because this convergence is surrounded by a substantial number of other similar convergences, it will become difficult to notice anything unusual. 
     In order to render the sleeve  10  ready for installation on the host hair  26 , two additional preparation steps may be needed. 
     First, the wire cable  12  may need to be heated in order to enable the sleeve  10  to be dislodged from the wire cable  12 . The sleeve should be able to slide freely so that the user or installer will be able to slide the sleeve with minimal effort off the wire cable  12 . 
     Secondly, the wires on the first end  16  are separated as described above to form a receiving opening to capture the host hair  26 . 
     The host hair  26  may need a stiffening agent applied to it so that it will remain sufficiently rigid to be guided into the mouth of the parted wires  14 . After the host hair  26  is situated among the wires  14 , the movement of the sleeve sliding down the wires  14  towards the first end  16  will cause the wires  14  to clamp down and surround the host hair  26 , thus holding the host hair  26  in place. Alternatively, a tool may be used to initially clamp the wires  14  around the host hair  26  until the sleeve is sufficiently slid towards the first end  16  to allow the clamping tool to be removed without risking the host hair  26  being pushed out from between the wires  14 . 
     Although the inside diameter of the sleeve is in the range of approximately ¼ the outside diameter of the host hair  26  up to and including the actual outside diameter of the host hair  26 , the elastic nature of the thermoplastic sleeve allows it to stretch over the wires  14  that surround the host hair  26  and to slide onto the shaft of the host hair  26 . To facilitate sliding of the sleeve  10  onto the host hair  26 , the host hair  26  may be coated with vitamin E or other soluble lubricant that serves to lubricate the host hair  26 . Ideally the lubrication is applied after the host hair  26  is placed between the wires  14 . 
     Once the sleeve  10  slides past the ends of the wires  14  and is on the host hair  26 , the wires  14  are pulled away, leaving the sleeve about 1″ past the end of the host hair  26 . At this point, the sleeve  10  can be slid further down the host hair  26 . This is accomplished by holding the free end of the host hair  26  so that the hair is taut, such as with the fingers or an appropriate tool, while the sleeve is pushed down the shaft of the host hair  26  to meet the scalp. Once the sleeve  10  is in position, the vitamin E is removed from the host hair  26 . As the host hair  26  grows out, adjustments in the location of the sleeve  10  along the host hair  26  will be needed. It is expected that this may be needed every 6 to 8 weeks, coinciding with a haircut. The installed sleeves can be pushed back down the host hair  26  to touch the scalp. If needed, lubricant can be placed on the host hair  26  to facilitate sliding of the sleeve  10 . 
     It should be noted that choosing different inside diameters of the sleeve  10  enables a user to select more or less gripping power onto the host hair. In addition, thicker sidewalls  24  will provide more room for embedding of the supplemental hairs  20  therein, giving greater strength and more gripping power to the supplemental hairs  20 . While a thicker sidewall  24  means a greater circumference, it also means that more supplemental hairs  20  can be attached thereto. 
     To comb out tangles, the host hair  26  can be held near the scalp, such as with the fingers, so that all force exerted by a comb or brush goes against the one hand and avoids pulling the sleeve away from the scalp. 
     Reference is now made to  FIGS. 8 and 9  in which is shown an alternative design of a sleeve  80  formed in accordance with the present disclosure for use in increasing hair density of existing hair. This alternative design is considered to be a preferred system and method of the present disclosure. The sleeve has a cylindrically shaped body  82  with first and second ends  84 ,  86 , respectively, and a longitudinal slit  88  formed in the body  82  that extends an entire length of the sleeve  80  from the first end  84  to the second end  86 . The slit  88  has a width that is defined by a distance between a first sidewall  90  and a second sidewall  92  in the sleeve body  82 . The sleeve body  82  also has an exterior surface  94  that is substantially smooth, and an interior surface  96  that is also substantially smooth except for a plurality of angled cuts  98 , described in more detail below. Extending from the first end  84  of the sleeve  80  are a plurality of hairs  100  that are embedded in the body  82  of the sleeve  80 , as shown more clearly in the enlarged view of  FIG. 9  showing the cuts  98  on the interior surface  96  of the sleeve body  82 . As can be seen, the cuts  98  have a cross-sectional V-shape that is angled in one direction, in this case towards the second end  86 . When the sleeve  80  is wrapped around and squeezed onto a host hair, the edges  102  of the cut  98  will bite into the host hair a slight distance and resist movement of the sleeve in a first direction on the host hair while allowing movement of the sleeve in a second opposing direction of the host hair. Preferably, the first direction is that which would allow the sleeve to be slide off the free end of the hair, and the opposing second direction would be in a direction toward the scalp from which the hair is growing. This allows the sleeve to be easily moved downward towards the scalp to adjust its position on the host hair as needed, such as in response to growing of the host hair out of the scalp. 
     Referring next to  FIG. 10 , shown therein is a system  110  to increase the density of an existing set of hair including a shaft of hair  114  to which a sleeve  112  is attached by a clamp  116 . The clamp is secured around the sleeve  112  with a clamp mechanism  118 . It is to be understood that the clamp  116  is one form of an attachment system for affixing the sleeve  112  to the host hair  114 . In this aspect of the present disclosure, the clamp  116  is a band of high-strength elastic material, such as polyether ether ketone (one example of many plastics which would work) or other similar material that has a substantially cylindrical shape and is sized to fit over the exterior of the sleeve  112  and bear against the outer surface thereof. It is to be understood the sleeve  112  can be configured as described above with respect to  FIGS. 8 and 9  or with respect to  FIGS. 1-7  described earlier. 
       FIG. 11  shows the clamp  116  in enlarged detail to have the free ends  120 ,  122  separated from one another. The first free end  120  has a first hook member  124  extending at an acute angle inward and away from the free end  120 . Similarly, the other mating free end  122  has a second hook member  126  that extends at an acute angle from the second end  122  and away from an exterior surface  128  of the clamp  116 . Thus, the first hook member  124  extends away from the interior surface  130  of the clamp  116  while the second hook member  126  extends away from the exterior surface  128  of the clamp  116 . Each hook member may have a length in the range of 0.01 millimeter to 0.55 millimeter. The acute angle for each hook member  124 ,  126  is preferably no greater than 45 degrees, and in one aspect of the present disclosure, is in the range of 10 degrees to 35 degrees. Ideally, the length of each hook member  124 ,  126  is as small as possible to minimize the amount of surface area that could be visible or contacted by a brush or comb. 
     In use, the clamp  116  has the first and second ends  120 ,  122  squeezed together until the first hook member  124  slides up and beyond the second hook member  126  to snap in place between the second hook member  126  and the exterior  128  of the clamp  116 . Pressure is then released on the clamp  116  to allow the first hook member  124  to seat in the space between the second hook member  126  and the exterior  128  of the clamp  116 . 
     The clamp  116  can have a dimension that is substantially the same as the exterior dimension of the sleeve body  82  in terms of its length, or it can be shorter in length. The clamp mechanism  118  is dimensioned so as to force the clamp  116  to squeeze the sleeve  112  tightly around the shaft of the host hair  114 . The compressibility of the sleeve will urge the clamp mechanism  118  to stay in engagement and prevent release of the sleeve  112  from the host hair  114 . 
       FIG. 12  illustrates an alternative system  140  formed in accordance with the present disclosure in which a sleeve  142  is affixed to a host hair  144  by means of a clamp mechanism  146 . In this design, the clamping mechanism  146  is integrally formed with the sleeve  142 . More particularly, using the embodiment shown in  FIG. 11 , the first end  120  of the clamp mechanism  146  is adhered or mounted to the exterior surface  148  of the sleeve with the first hook member  124  extending towards the sleeve  142 . The second end  122  is likewise integrally formed with or attached to the sleeve  142  and has the second hook member  126  extending away from the sleeve  142  at an acute angle as described above with respect to  FIG. 11 . When the sleeve  142  is squeezed, such as with a pair of pliers, the first hook member  124  will engage the second hook member  126  in a manner as described above with respect to  FIG. 11 . 
     The foregoing means for attachment systems for affixing the various configured sleeves to the host hair adopt a mechanical approach. An alternative approach would be to use only adhesive. This could be something as simple as the well-known SUPER GLUE product readily commercially available that would be applied to the interior surfaced of the sleeve or adjacent the first and second sidewalls of the slit of the sleeve. In addition, it can be applied to the sidewalls themselves, either exclusively or in combination with application to the interior surface of the sleeve. Alternatively or in combination therewith, a UV activated adhesive can be applied. This allows the adhesive to be added well in advance of the attachment of the sleeve to the host hair. Once the sleeve is in the desired location and position on the host hair, the adhesive is activated by the activation of UV light. An example of a UV activated adhesive suitable for the present system would be the Loctite 4310, which when exposed to UV light cures within 2-5 seconds. Preferably a very thin coating of this adhesive is applied, which facilitates a quicker cure rate. 
     To adjust the sleeve, the UV light is used to heat the adhesive, thus loosening the attachment to the hair and allowing the sleeve to be slid on the hair towards the scalp. The serrations or cuts  98  prevent or resist sliding of the sleeve in an opposite direction away from the scalp. 
     As an example of a method of applying the sleeve to the host hair, the adhesive is applied shortly before the sleeve is installed. A trough to hold the adhesive and a pair of pliers are used in which an assistant to the installer dips the sidewalls of the sleeve, which is held by pliers, into the solution such that only the sidewalls of the sleeve receive the adhesive. This ensures that the installer always has a sleeve waiting and ready for him or her with adhesive fresh and wet on the sidewalls of the slit of the sleeve. The installer then captures the host hair, such as with their fingers, and combs the remaining hair away to the side. The pliers hold the sleeve with the slit facing outward from the pliers and the slit open so as to move the sleeve on to the hair from the side of the hair. After the sleeve is positioned around the hair at the desired distance from the scalp, the pliers are used to clamp the sleeve around the host hair. The UV light is then directed on the sleeve and the adhesive, which cures in 2-3 seconds. The installer is then free to move to the next host hair. 
     In accordance with one aspect of the present disclosure, the UV light is mounted directly on the pliers such that it is ready to shine at the appropriate location when needed. A trigger-style switch is included on the pliers to activate and deactivate the light. The sleeve is squeezed or “squished” onto its location and will grip the host hair with sufficient force that it becomes very difficult to remove or slide off the host hair. 
     In addition to the foregoing gripping power, the cuts  98  previously described provide additional holding power. This holding power can be adjusted by the force applied when squishing the sleeve sidewalls together with the pliers. 
       FIGS. 13-17  illustrate one preferred process for making a sleeve populated with hair (each hair inside the sleeve wall). The first step shown in  FIG. 13  is to provide a sheet of thermoplastic material  150  dimensioned as described above. An opening  152  is completely through the sheet of thermoplastic material  150  with a diameter of 0.04 mm. This diameter represents the smallest diameter found for a human hair. 
     The next step is to populate the sheet of thermoplastic with human (or synthetic) hair. To do this, a hair  154  is attached to the thermoplastic sleeve  150  by using a needle  156  having a diameter much larger than the diameter of the hair  154  as shown in  FIG. 14 . The needle can have a diameter as large as 0.2 mm, and at the end of the needle a “pocket” or cavity  158  has been formed. The hair  154  seats down in the pocket  158  of the needle  156  and is also glued into the pocket  158  with an adhesive or glue. This prevents the hair  154  from being pulled away from the needle  156  as it passes through the sheet of thermoplastic material  150 . Pushing the needle  156  through the sleeve  150  as shown in  FIG. 15  is not boring through the sleeve  150  but instead pushing the thermoplastic material aside. This ensures that the hair  154 , which now has been pulled all the way through the material  150 , will be held tightly by the thermoplastic material  150 . This is in addition to the silane coating on the hair  154 . 
     Once several hairs  154  have been threaded through and attached to the sheet of thermoplastic  150 , preferably in close proximity to what will be the center longitudinal bore of the eventual sleeve, a cylindrical micro tube  160  is placed over and engulfs all of the hair  154  as shown in  FIG. 16 . It comes down over the thermoplastic sheet  150  and bores a hole with a diameter of 0.5 mm through the sheet  150  to create a sleeve having a cylindrical shape. If the sheet  150  is very thin, it is possible for the sleeve to have a ring configuration, although this is not preferred. 
     The cylindrical tube  160  with the hairs  154  embedded around the center hole  152  are then placed into a trough  162  for the purpose of splaying the tube down to the center hole. As shown in  FIG. 17 , a cutting tool  164  forms the longitudinal slit through the tube  160  and the cylindrical sheet  150  until it reaches the longitudinal opening  152 . Once the slit is formed, the cylindrical clamp or the clamp members are attached to the exterior of the newly formed sleeve as previously described. 
       FIG. 18  depicts a preferred method for attaching a thermoplastic sleeve  170  to a host hair  172 . First, the host hair  172  is isolated by combing and then holding with one&#39;s fingers a single hair  172 . A pair of pliers  174  are attached to the sleeve via the clamp members  176 ,  178  that in turn are attached to the sleeve  170  (as previously described). The pliers  174  are constructed so that the jaws  180 ,  182  hold the slit  184  in the sleeve  170  open sufficiently to slide the sleeve over the host hair  172 . The pliers  174  with the sleeve  170  held in the jaws  180 ,  182  approaches the host hair  172  from the side of the host hair  172  and very close to the scalp. The user moves the sleeve  170  with external clamp members  180 ,  182  over to capture the host hair  172  (much like a hand gripping a pole). The pliers  174  are squeezed shut, thus locking the clamp members  180 ,  182  onto themselves as described above. 
     The distance of separation of one clamp member  180  from the other clamp member  182  is such that once the host hair  172  is captured and the pliers  174  lock the clamp members  180 ,  182  together, there will be an amount of gripping power assured. The thicker the sleeve, the tighter the squeeze, the greater the gripping power. 
       FIG. 19  represents a sleeve  184  with a large diameter that would allow hair to be embedded in to the wall  186  of the sleeve  184  at an angle. Even at one millimeter in diameter these sleeves are difficult to detect, especially when installed in the middle of the scalp near where the host hair meets the scalp and saturated with a substantial number of hair. The advantage to this “fat” sleeve is that the hair can be installed at angles to the surface, fewer installations are required, and the installations can be spaced further apart. Although  FIG. 19  shows the hairs curved, they could be embedded with the needle at angles but still form straight lines. 
       FIG. 20  is an example of a sleeve  188  that may be placed near the hairline, preferably near where the hair meets the forehead. This is an ultra-thin sleeve  188  that is difficult to detect. Both the larger sleeve  184  and ultra-thin sleeve  188  are slit along their lengths and have the clamps added to them to allow for the preferred method of installation. These sleeves are difficult to detect, more so because they are saturated with a substantial number of hairs. Also, the sleeve length itself may be shortened to possibly as short as 1/16″ to help hide the sleeve near the scalp. 
     The various embodiments described above can be combined to provide further embodiments. The various aspects of the present disclosure can be modified, if necessary, to employ concepts of the various patents, applications and publications to provide yet further embodiments. For example, adhesive can be applied to the inside diameter of the sleeve (near the middle of the sleeve) which stays at a high viscosity at temperatures up to 110 degrees F., but once heated (via the pliers which serve to adjust the location of the sleeve, when needed) to a temperature of 140 degrees F., the adhesive “melts” (lowers the viscosity) and allows the sleeve to be moved to its new location. Once there, the pliers are released, the adhesive cools and “hardens” again, holding the sleeve firmly in place at its new location. This operating temperature of 140 degrees F. is safe to work with under these conditions and will not burn the scalp because the heat is localized. An example of an adhesive that could be used to coat the inside diameter of the sleeve is 3M Scotch-Weld hot melt adhesive 3792 LM AE clear. This adhesive has a “melting” point of 140 degrees F., i.e., it turns from a high viscosity to a low viscosity and then back to a high viscosity when allowed to cool. 
     These and other changes can be made to the embodiments in light of the above-detailed description. In general, in the following claims, the terms used should not be construed to limit the claims to the specific embodiments disclosed in the specification and the claims, but should be construed to include all possible embodiments along with the full scope of equivalents to which such claims are entitled. Accordingly, the claims are not limited by the disclosure.