Hair shaping and lifting system

A hair shaping and lifting system is disclosed wherein a flexible hair supporting cap is receivable over the head of an individual whose hair is to be styled. The hair supporting cap has an outer deformable surface and a plurality of slots therein. The individual's hair is combed out through the slots so that portions of the hair lie on the deformable outer surface. The hair is moisturized and a molding cap is placed over the hair supporting cap so as to capture the hair between inner surface contours of the molding cap and the deformable outer surface of the hair supporting cap. The hair is then set by drying with the supporting cap and mold cap in place. Thereafter, the caps are removed and a hair style results in which the hair has been lifted and shaped in an aesthetically pleasing manner.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
This invention relates to hair styling systems. 
In my prior U.S. Pat. No. 3,908,673 the use of a cap or hood for molding an 
individual's hair according to inner contour surfaces of the cap is 
disclosed for styling hair which naturally extends outwardly from the 
individual's head such as with stiff curly or kinky hair. 
In my copending application, Case No. P78,197 titled "Hair Styling System" 
a hair styling system is described in which a mold cap is employed in 
combination with an outer hood which permits the creation of a vacuum so 
as to draw the hair upwardly from the hair towards the inner contoured 
surface of the mold cap. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
It is an object of this invention to provide a hair shaping and lifting 
system in which a hair supporting and lifting cap is employed so as to 
support the individual's hair in spaced relationship from the head and 
then shaping or styling the hair at the spaced location. 
It is a further object of this invention to provide a hair shaping and 
lifting system for use with an individual's hair which is straight rather 
than curly and which does not naturally stand out from the individual's 
head but rather lies closely adjacent the individual's head when not 
treated or styled. 
It is another object of this invention to provide a supporting or lifting 
cap which supports portions of an individual's hair in spaced relationship 
from his head and wherein the supporting surface is deformable. 
According to the invention, a hair supporting cap is provided which has a 
deformable outer surface and a plurality of apertures therein. The hair 
supporting cap is designed to conform to the shape of the head of the 
individual such that when the supporting cap is placed on the head, the 
individual's hair may be easily drawn through the plurality of apertures 
so that portions of the hair lie on the outer deformable surface of the 
supporting cap. A mold cap is provided having a contoured inner surface 
which corresponds to a desired hair style. The hair may either be 
pre-moisturized or moisturized after the supporting cap has been placed on 
the head of the individual. The mold cap is then placed over the hair 
supporting cap such that portions of the individual's hair are captured 
between the contoured inner surface of the mold cap and the deformable 
outer surface of the hair supporting cap. The hair is then dried with both 
caps in position so that the hair is shaped and styled in its raised 
position in accordance with the contoured inner surface of the mold cap. 
Thereafter, the mold cap and hair supporting cap are removed and the hair 
styling is completed. 
The hair supporting cap preferably is formed of a flexible substrate with a 
sponge-like material joined to the substrate. Preferably the substrate is 
slotted and strips of the sponge-like material are aligned with the slots 
in the substrate.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
With the hair shaping and lifting sytem according to the invention, a hair 
style such as shown at 11 in FIG. 1 on the head of an individual 10 may be 
created. Typically, the invention is most useful with an individual whose 
hair is straight and does not naturally stand out from the head. It is 
desired to create a shaped coiffure or hair style wherein the hair is 
spaced outwardly from the head so as to provide an aesthetic fullness of 
desired shaping. 
As illustrated in FIG. 2, a supporting or lifting cap 13 is received over 
the head of an individual 10. The individual's hair 11 is combed out 
through apertures in the cap 13 so that portions of the hair 11 lie on an 
outer deformable surface of the supporting cap 13. A mold cap 12 is 
positioned over the supporting or lifting cap 13 so as to capture the hair 
11 of the individual between an inner contoured surface of the mold cap 12 
and the outer deformable surface of the supporting cap 13. 
The mold cap 12 is illustrated in greater detal in FIG. 3. The preferred 
form of the mold cap 12 is described in greater detail in my copending 
application Case No. P78,197 titled "Hair Styling System", incorporated 
herein by reference. The mold cap 12 has a contoured molding surface 9 
comprised of a fiberglass mesh coated with polyurethane for strengthening. 
The fiberglass mesh provides a large plurality of apertures in the mold 
surface 9 through which air may flow. The contours of the mold cap 12 
correspond with the desired hair style shaping. 
Chin support strips 14a, b and neck support strips 15a, b are also provided 
for securing fastening the mold cap 12 in position on the individual'head. 
Referring now to FIG. 4, the construction of the supporting or lifting cap 
13 will now be described in greater detail. Preferably the supporting cap 
13 generally conforms to the head size of the individual. Strips 22a, b 
are provided which are connected to the supporting cap 13 by rivets 23a, 
b. These supporting strips permit the cap to be pulled snugly down on the 
head of the individual. 
The supporting cap 13 is formed of a substrate 16 preferably comprising a 
fiberglass cloth which is plastic impregnated. A sponge-like material 17 
is then attached to the substrate 16. The sponge-like material may be 
preferably formed of polyurethane foam. The fiberglass cloth substrate 
retains flexibility while retaining shape and resisting movement of the 
sponge-like material thereon. The polyurethane foam can be foamed in place 
or pre-foamed and applied. The foam utilized should resist degradation 
from hair treatment chemicals and heat. 
The substrate 16 has a plurality of horizontal slots 18 therein which 
extend peripherally around the supporting cap 13. A plurality of slots 19 
are also provided over a top of the cap 13. A plurality of horizontal 
strips 20 of the sponge-like material 17 are attached to the substrate 16 
such that slits 25 between adjacent horizontal strips 20 are aligned with 
the horizontal slots 18 in the substrate 16. Similarly, top strips 21 of 
the sponge-like material 17 are provided over a top of the cap such that 
slits 25 between adjacent strips 21 ae aligned with the vertical slots 19. 
Importantly the slits 25 are tilted or angled with respect to the inner 
surface of the cap 13. 
Referring now to the cross-sectional view of FIG. 5, it can be seen how the 
hair 11 is positioned away from the hair so that it passes through the 
slots 18 or 19 and corresponding slits 25 so that portions of the hair lie 
over the outer deformable surface of the sponge-like material 17. It is 
also important to note that the slits formed between the sponge-like 
strips 20 and 21 are angled rearwardly or downwardly so that the hair is 
swept back away from the forehead of the individual and is arranged in a 
downwardly pattern at the rear of the head of the individual. FIG. 5 also 
illustrates how the contoured inner surface of the mold cap 12 captures 
the hair relative to the outer deformable surface of the supporting cap 
13. The deformation of the supporting cap 13 in correspondence with the 
contoured curves of the mold cap 12 is also illustrated. A blow dryer 24 
is provided for directing an airflow through the mesh-like mold cap 12 so 
as to dry the hair 11. 
In accordance with a preferred method of the invention, the hair may be 
initially treated with a permanent solution. Thereafter, the hair may be 
neutralized and shampooed. After a thorough rinsing, the hair may be towel 
dried and a de-tangling solution applied. The hair is then combed towards 
the back of the head of the individual and the supporting or lifting cap 
13 is fitted on the head of the individual. The hair is combed out through 
the slots and gaps of the cap 13. A moderate amount of wave set is then 
applied to the hair and the shaping or molding cap is placed over the hair 
and the supporting cap. The hair is then dried and thereafter the 
supporting cap and molding cap are removed. The hair may then be combed 
and a holding hair spray applied if desired. 
Although various minor modifications may be suggested by those versed in 
the art, it should be understood that I wish to embody within the scope of 
the patent warranted hereon, all such embodiments as reasonably and 
properly come within the scope of my contribution to the art.