Patent Publication Number: US-9894984-B2

Title: Dual-purpose hair styling and retention device and method of use thereof

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to hair devices, and, more particularly, relates to a dual-purpose hair styling and retention device. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Frequent visits to hair salons are an important part of maintaining healthy and attractive hair. Of course, such visits typically require a considerable amount of a person&#39;s time, especially for people with thick and/or long hair. Often, the amount of time spent at the hair salon is a direct result of the hair stylists&#39; need to brush and restrain the hair in sections using a brush and one or more styling clips, and/or other hair restraint devices, i.e., hair styling tools. Of course, once the hair is separated into the desired sections, the hair stylist can cut, blow-dry, and/or style the hair. Unfortunately, using numerous separate hair styling tools and clips is time consuming and tedious, especially when the clips hold only a minimal amount of hair and are difficult to insert within and take out of someone&#39;s hair. Often the chair in which the subject sits during hairstyling is disposed a distance away from a table on which hair styling tools may be placed. Accordingly, it may be inconvenient and time consuming for the hair stylist to continuously remove the clips, set the clips on the table, and pick the clips up again for reuse throughout the hair styling process. As an added problem, using numerous hair styling tools and clips is costly for the hair stylist. Of course, styling hair at home also suffers from a number of these draw backs, including, but not limited to, the large amount of time consumed continuously removing and reusing the clips and the cost of purchasing numerous hair clips. 
     At least one known hair apparatus for grooming and decorating hair is described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,186,151 and depicted in  FIG. 11 . The apparatus includes a hair clip and a grooming device, i.e., a small brush. The problems with the hair apparatus presented in U.S. Pat. No. 6,186,151 are numerous. For example, the narrow width of the hair clip and the minimal number of jaws included on the hair clip are unsuitable for holding a substantial amount of hair. As a result, a hair stylist would need to use more than one of the hair clips to separate someone&#39;s hair in sections. This is not only time consuming for the hair stylist who could have otherwise booked additional appointments, but is also inconvenient for the person who is having his or her hair styled. As an added problem, the jaws are susceptible to becoming tangled in the hair and often break, leading to discomfort and the need to consistently replace the hair clips. Moreover, as a result of the narrow width of the grooming device, the grooming device is unsuitable for brushing a substantial amount of hair. As such, the hair stylist must run the grooming device through the hair numerous times in order to brush someone&#39;s hair. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,816,267 describes a barrette combined with a comb. The barrette is designed to be adjusted subject to the volume of hair to be clamped. The barrette is also designed to be converted into a hairbrush. The barrette, shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,816,267, includes an elongated base plate, a comb strip, and a clamping plate. The comb strip includes a number of teeth extending therefrom. Unfortunately, the barrette cannot be easily inserted into someone&#39;s hair without become tangled, nor can the barrette hold a substantial amount of hair. As such, the barrette would not be suitable for use in a hair salon by a hair stylist who needs to separate and retain large sections of someone&#39;s hair quickly and efficiently. In the same vein, the barrette, due to the rows of spaced teeth, is not conducive for brushing a substantial amount of the user&#39;s hair. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,638,836 describes a hair clip including a base plate having comb-tooth-shaped lugs and a hair retainer connected to the base plate. The hair retainer has one end that opens and closes with respect to the base plate. The lugs are designed to retain someone&#39;s hair between the base plate and the hair retainer when the hair clip is closed. In the closed configuration, the lugs grip only the minimal amount of hair that can fit between the base plate and the hair retainer. In an open configuration, the hair retainer is swingable away from the base plate only up to a limited angle. The lugs are then exposed for use as a hair brush, with the hair retainer intended to serve as a handle. Unfortunately, as a result of the limited angle, the hair clip cannot completely fold so that the back surfaces of the base plate and the hair retainer touch each other. Thus, the hair clip is not designed to allow the back surface of the handle to sit on someone&#39;s head with the lugs exposed so that large sections of the hair can be placed over and retained by the lugs. 
     Other known hair devices which serve the dual-purposes of combing and restraining someone&#39;s hair often provide the user with a comb and hair clip combination having numerous moving parts. Such parts are susceptible to breaking, requiring the user to replace the parts or the entire hair device. Moreover, such comb and hair clip combinations can only hold small amounts of hair at a time. Thus, a hair stylist would need to use numerous clips to restrain sections of the hair. Additional known hair devices include foldable hair brushes which fail to provide the ability to restrain the user&#39;s hair. 
     Therefore, a need exists to overcome the problems with the prior art as discussed above. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention provides a dual-purpose hair styling and retention device and method of use thereof that overcomes the hereinafore-mentioned disadvantages of the heretofore-known devices and methods of this general type and that provides an operator with the ability to style and restrain someone&#39;s hair quickly and efficiently using a single device. 
     With the foregoing and other objects in view, there is provided, in accordance with the invention, a dual-purpose hair styling and retention device including a handle having a curved top surface couplable to a user&#39;s head and a bottom surface opposite the top surface, the top surface and the bottom surface forming a hand gripping surface, a base pivotally coupled to the handle, the base having an upper surface and a bottom surface opposite the upper surface, the upper surface including a plurality of bristles coupled thereto, an extended configuration in which the handle extends from the base to expose the hand gripping surface, and a hair-retention configuration in which the bottom surface of the base is selectively coupled to the bottom surface of the handle to at least partially obstruct the hand gripping surface and expose at least a portion of the plurality of bristles. 
     In accordance with another feature, an embodiment of the present invention includes the base having a length and a width and the plurality of bristles having at least three rows of bristles substantially spanning the length and the width of the base. 
     In accordance with a further feature of the present invention, the dual-purpose hair styling and retention device includes a flexible coupling member pivotally coupling the base to the handle and a housing substantially concealing the flexible coupling member when the base and the handle are in the hair-retention configuration. 
     In accordance with a further feature of the present invention, the top surface of the handle may be shaped to contour a user&#39;s head. 
     In accordance with another feature, an embodiment of the present invention also includes the dual-purpose hair styling and retention device having a first magnet coupled to the handle and a second magnet coupled to the base, the first and second magnets configured to magnetically retain the bottom surface of the base to the bottom surface of the handle in the hair-retention configuration. 
     In accordance with yet another feature, an embodiment of the present invention includes the dual-purpose hair styling and retention device having a male fastener coupled to the base and a female fastener coupled to the handle, the male fastener of the base sized and shaped to insert within the female fastener of the handle. 
     In accordance with a further feature of the present invention, the upper surface and the bottom surface of the base may each include a curved shape. 
     In accordance with another feature, an embodiment of the present invention includes the dual-purpose hair styling and retention device having a curved handle including a top head contact surface, a bottom surface opposite the top head contact surface and a first retaining member interposed between the top head contact surface and the bottom surface, and a base pivotally coupled to the handle, the base having an upper portion having a plurality of protrusions coupled thereto, a lower portion opposite the upper portion, and a second retaining member interposed between the upper portion and the lower portion, the first and second retaining members adapted to couple the lower portion of the base to the bottom surface of the handle. 
     In accordance with a further feature of the present invention, the handle includes a handle housing for retaining the first retaining member therein and the base includes a base housing for retaining the second retaining member therein. 
     In accordance with another feature of the present invention, the first and second retaining members are magnets. 
     In accordance with a further feature of the present invention, the base includes a length and a width and the plurality of protrusions include at least two rows of protrusions substantially spanning the length and the width of the base. 
     In accordance with another feature of the present invention, the dual-purpose hair styling and retention device includes a flexible coupling member coupling the handle to the base. 
     In accordance with another feature of the present invention, the dual-purpose hair styling and retention device may include an open configuration including the handle extending from the base to expose a hand gripping surface of the handle and a closed configuration including the lower portion of the base coupled to the bottom surface of the handle to at least partially obstruct the hand gripping surface and expose a free end of each of the plurality of protrusions to an external environment. 
     In accordance with yet another feature of the present invention, the dual-purpose hair styling and retention device may include a male fastener coupled to the base and a female fastener coupled to the handle, the male fastener sized and shaped to insert within the female fastener of the handle. 
     In accordance with the present invention, a method for styling and retaining hair includes providing a dual-purpose hair styling and retention device, the dual-purpose hair styling and retention device including a handle including a curved top surface couplable to a user&#39;s head and a bottom surface opposite the top surface, the top surface and the bottom surface together forming a hand gripping surface, a base pivotally coupled to the handle, the base having an upper surface and a bottom surface opposite the upper surface, the upper surface including a plurality of bristles coupled thereto, an extended configuration in which the handle extends from the base to expose the hand gripping surface, and a hair-retention configuration in which the bottom surface of the base is selectively coupled to the bottom surface of the handle to at least partially obstruct the hand gripping surface, coupling the top surface of the handle to a user&#39;s head, and coupling the bottom surface of the base to the bottom surface of the handle. 
     In accordance with another feature of the present invention, the method may include, after the coupling steps and while the dual-purpose hair styling and retention device is coupled to a user&#39;s head, placing at least one section of a user&#39;s hair in contact with the plurality of bristles. 
     In accordance with another feature of the present invention, the method may include providing the dual-purpose hair styling and retention device having a first magnet coupled to the handle and a second magnet coupled to the base, the first and second magnets configured to magnetically retain the bottom surface of the base to the bottom surface of the handle. 
     In accordance with yet another feature of the present invention, the method may include decoupling the bottom surface of the base from the bottom surface of the handle, grasping the hand gripping surface of the handle, and styling a user&#39;s hair with the plurality of bristles in contact with the user&#39;s hair. 
     Although the invention is illustrated and described herein as embodied in a dual-purpose hair styling and retention device and method of use thereof, it is, nevertheless, not intended to be limited to the details shown because various modifications and structural changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention and within the scope and range of equivalents of the claims. Additionally, well-known elements of exemplary embodiments of the invention will not be described in detail or will be omitted so as not to obscure the relevant details of the invention. 
     Other features that are considered as characteristic for the invention are set forth in the appended claims. As required, detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosed herein; however, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention, which can be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one of ordinary skill in the art to variously employ the present invention in virtually any appropriately detailed structure. Further, the terms and phrases used herein are not intended to be limiting; but rather, to provide an understandable description of the invention. While the specification concludes with claims defining the features of the invention that are regarded as novel, it is believed that the invention will be better understood from a consideration of the following description in conjunction with the drawing figures, in which like reference numerals are carried forward. The figures of the drawings are not drawn to scale. 
     Before the present invention is disclosed and described, it is to be understood that the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting. The terms “a” or “an,” as used herein, are defined as one or more than one. The term “plurality,” as used herein, is defined as two or more than two. The term “another,” as used herein, is defined as at least a second or more. The terms “including” and/or “having,” as used herein, are defined as comprising (i.e., open language). The term “coupled,” as used herein, is defined as connected, although not necessarily directly, and not necessarily mechanically. The term “providing” is defined herein in its broadest sense, e.g., bringing/coming into physical existence, making available, and/or supplying to someone or something, in whole or in multiple parts at once or over a period of time. 
     As used herein, the terms “about” or “approximately” apply to all numeric values, whether or not explicitly indicated. These terms generally refer to a range of numbers that one of skill in the art would consider equivalent to the recited values (i.e., having the same function or result). In many instances these terms may include numbers that are rounded to the nearest significant figure. In this document, the term “longitudinal” should be understood to mean in a direction corresponding to an elongated direction of the hair device. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The accompanying figures, where like reference numerals refer to identical or functionally similar elements throughout the separate views and which together with the detailed description below are incorporated in and form part of the specification, serve to further illustrate various embodiments and explain various principles and advantages all in accordance with the present invention. 
         FIG. 1  is a top plan view of a dual-purpose hair styling and retention device in an extended configuration and having a handle pivotally coupled to a base and a plurality of bristles coupled to the base; 
         FIG. 2  is an elevational side view of the dual-purpose hair styling and retention device of  FIG. 1  depicting the handle and the base having a curved configuration and a first retaining member coupled to the handle and a second retaining member coupled to the base; 
         FIG. 3  is an elevational side view of the dual-purpose hair styling and retention device of  FIG. 1  in a hair-retention configuration including a flexible coupling member coupling the handle to the base and the first and second coupling members magnetically retaining the handle to the base; 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective bottom view of the dual-purpose hair styling and retention device of  FIG. 1  depicting a bottom surface of the handle coupled to a bottom surface of the base using the first and second coupling members to magnetically retain the handle to the base; 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective top view of the folded dual-purpose hair styling and retention device of  FIG. 4  depicting the plurality of bristles coupled to an upper surface of the base; 
         FIG. 6  is a bottom plan view of the dual-purpose hair styling and retention device of  FIG. 1  depicting the first and second retaining members in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective rear view of the dual-purpose hair styling and retention device of  FIG. 1  depicting a handle housing and a base housing configured to retain the first and second retaining members therein; 
         FIG. 8  is an elevational rear view of the dual-purpose hair styling and retention device of  FIG. 1  depicting the plurality of bristles having a bristle length; 
         FIG. 9  is a perspective top view of the dual-purpose hair styling and retention device of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 10  is an exemplary process-flow diagram depicting a method of styling and retaining hair using a dual-purpose hair styling and retention device in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention; and 
         FIG. 11  is a perspective view of a prior art apparatus for grooming and decorating hair. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     While the specification concludes with the claims defining the features of the invention that are regarded as novel, it is believed that the invention will be better understood from a consideration of the following description in conjunction with the drawing figures, in which like reference numerals are carried forward. It is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention, which can be embodied in various forms. 
     The present invention provides a novel and efficient dual-purpose hair styling and retention device that provides an operator, such as a hair stylist, with the ability to both style and restrain sections of someone&#39;s hair using a single device. Embodiments of the invention provide the dual-purpose hair styling and retention device having a handle and a base pivotally coupled to the handle, wherein the handle and the base may be translated from an extended configuration to a hair-retention configuration. In the extended configuration, the operator is provided full access to a hand gripping surface of the handle to style someone&#39;s hair in a manner similar to using a traditional hairbrush. In the hair-retention configuration, the operator may simply slide the handle into the user&#39;s hair and pivot the base so that the base folds over and makes contact with the handle, while leaving one or more bristles exposed to an ambient environment and facing in a direction away from the user&#39;s head. Advantageously, the operator may lay sections of the user&#39;s hair over the bristles to retain the sections of the user&#39;s hair on top of the user&#39;s head, thereby allowing the operator to cut, blow-dry, curl, or otherwise style the unrestrained sections of the user&#39;s hair in a quick and efficient manner. Embodiments of the invention provide the handle and the brush each having magnets configured to magnetically retain the brush to the handle. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 1 , one embodiment of the present invention is shown in a top plan view.  FIG. 1  shows several advantageous features of the present invention, but, as will be described below, the invention can be provided in several shapes, sizes, combinations of features and components, and varying numbers and functions of the components. The first example of a dual-purpose hair styling and retention device  100 , as shown in  FIG. 1 , includes a handle  102  pivotally coupled to a base  104 .  FIG. 1  depicts the handle  102  and the base  104  in an extended configuration suitable for styling someone&#39;s hair with the device  100 . More specifically, in one embodiment, the extended configuration includes the handle  102  extending from the base  104  along substantially the same horizontal plane, e.g., allowing some deviation from the same horizontal plane as a result of the curved shape of the device. In other embodiments, the extended configuration may include the handle  102  extending from the base  104  along different horizontal planes. 
     With reference to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , in conjunction with the process flow diagram of  FIG. 10 , there is provided a method of styling and retaining hair using a dual-purpose hair styling and retention device, such as the device  100 . Although  FIG. 10  shows a specific order of executing the process steps, the order of executing the steps may be changed relative to the order shown in certain embodiments. Also, two or more blocks shown in succession may be executed concurrently or with partial concurrence in some embodiments. Certain steps may also be omitted in  FIG. 10  for the sake of brevity. In some embodiments, some or all of the process steps included in  FIG. 10  can be combined into a single process. 
     In one embodiment, the method begins at step  1000  and moves directly to step  1002 , which includes providing a dual-purpose hair styling and retention device, such as the device  100  having the handle  102  including a top surface  106  and a bottom surface  200  ( FIG. 2 ) opposite the top surface  106 . The present method is not limited to use with the device  100 ; rather, may be used with other dual-purpose hair styling and retention devices as well. 
     In one embodiment, the top surface  106  and the bottom surface  200  ( FIG. 2 ) of the handle  102  together form a hand gripping surface  202  for an operator&#39;s hand to grip when styling someone&#39;s hair. As best seen in  FIG. 2 , depicting an elevational side view of the device  100  in the extended configuration, the hand gripping surface  202  is exposed such that the operator may grip the handle  102  with the operator&#39;s fingers in contact with the top surface  106  and the operator&#39;s palm in contact with the bottom surface  200 , similar to gripping a standard hair brush. The term “operator” may be, without limitation, a hairstylist i.e., a person separate from the user, or the operator may be the user who chooses to style his or her own hair. In one embodiment, the handle  102  may include an anti-slip covering (not shown) which can be made of any friction-inducing material, e.g., rubber, having a coefficient of friction greater than the base  104 . Advantageously, the anti-slip covering prevents the user&#39;s hand from sliding on the hand gripping surface  202 . 
     In order to style the user&#39;s hair, in one embodiment, the base  104  includes an upper surface  108  having one or more bristles  110  coupled thereto and a bottom surface  204  ( FIG. 2 ) opposite the upper surface  108 . The term “bristle” is defined herein in its broadest possible sense as a protrusion configured to detangle, smooth, brush or otherwise style someone&#39;s hair. The bristles  110  are not limited to any particular material. For example, the bristles  110  may be comfort tip bristles, nylon, or any synthetic or non-synthetic material. 
     As best shown in  FIG. 1 , in one embodiment, the base  104  includes a length  112  and a width  114 , with at least two rows of bristles  110  substantially spanning the length  112  and the width  114 . The term “substantially spanning” is defined herein as spanning at least 65-75% of the length  112  and the width  114  of the upper surface  108  of the base  104 , while allowing nominal spacing between the bristles  110  so that the bristles  110  may bend and flex. In another embodiment, the bristles  110  may cover less than 65-75% of the length  112  and the width  114  of the upper surface  108  of the base  104 . Naturally, the length  112  and the width  114  of the base  104  may vary. In one non-limiting embodiment, the length  112  may be between approximately 2-4 inches and the width  114  may be between approximately 2-3 inches. In other embodiments, the length  112  and the width  114  may be outside of these ranges. In the same vein, the base  104  may include one row of bristles  110 , although having at least two rows of bristles is a preferred configuration. The number of bristles  110  may be any number suitable for styling someone&#39;s hair. The rows of bristles  110  are advantageous for not only quickly and efficiently styling the user&#39;s hair, especially when compared to a general purpose comb or standard hair clip, but also provide the operator with the ability to retain the hair on top of the user&#39;s head when styling, as will be explained in further detail herein. 
     With reference now to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the top surface  106  of the handle  102  is depicted having a curved configuration, i.e., shape, suitable for positioning the top surface  106  of the handle  102  in contact with a user&#39;s head. As one of skill in the art can appreciate, the degree of curvature may vary and the device  100  is not limited to a particular degree of curvature. In one embodiment, the degree of curvature of the top surface  106  may be formed so as to naturally and comfortably conform to a top surface of a standard user&#39;s head when in the hair-retention configuration. Stated another way, and as can be seen in  FIG. 3 , the top surface  106  of the handle  102  has a concave curvature shaped to contour to a top of a user&#39;s head in the hair-retention configuration. As such, the top surface  106  of the handle  102  may be referred to as a top head contact surface. In other words, as can be seen in  FIG. 3 , the top head contact surface has a concave curvature, in the direction away from the plurality of bristles, that is shaped to conform to a top of a user&#39;s head when the lower portion of the base  104  is coupled to the bottom surface  200  of the handle  102 . In the same vein, in one embodiment, the base  104  may also include a curved configuration suitable for contouring to the handle  102  when the device  100  is translated from the extended, i.e., open, configuration ( FIG. 2 ) to the hair-retention, i.e., closed, configuration ( FIG. 3 ). 
     In one embodiment, in step  1004 , the device  100  may be translated from the extended configuration ( FIG. 2 ) to the hair-retention configuration ( FIG. 3 ) using a flexible coupling member  300  ( FIG. 3 ) pivotally coupling the base  104  to the handle  102 . In one embodiment, the flexible coupling member  300  is a rubber insert. In other embodiments, the flexible coupling member  300  may be a hinge, joint, or another coupling member suitable for coupling the base  104  to the handle  102 , while allowing the base  104  to pivot with respect to the handle  102 . As one of ordinary skill in the art can appreciate, the handle  102  may also pivot with respect to the base  104 . 
     As best shown in  FIG. 3 , in order to couple the base  104  to the handle  102  and translate the device  100  between the extended and hair-retention configurations, the flexible coupling member  300  is interposed between a male fastener  302  coupled to the base  104  and a female fastener  304  coupled to the handle  102 . In one embodiment, the male fastener  302  is a protrusion fixedly coupled to the base  104  and the female fastener  304  is a channel defined by the handle  102 , for receiving and concealing the male fastener  302  therein in the extended configuration (as can be seen in  FIG. 2 ). In other embodiments, the male fastener  302  and the female fastener  304  may be other types of fasteners suitable for coupling the base  104  to the handle  102 . 
       FIG. 3  depicts the hair-retention configuration including the base  104  coupled to the bottom surface  200  of the handle  102  to at least partially obstruct the hand gripping surface  202 . Said another way, in the hair-retention configuration, because the bottom surface  200  of the handle  102  is in contact with the base  104 , the user is prevented from fully grasping the hand gripping surface  202 . With brief reference to  FIG. 4 , in one embodiment, when the device  100  is in the hair-retention configuration, the operator may style the user&#39;s hair using the device  100  by grasping a right side  400  and a left side  402  of the base  104 . As such, the device  100  is not limited to use for styling, e.g., brushing, hair only in the extended configuration; rather, the device  100  may be used to style someone&#39;s hair in the hair-retention configuration as well. The bottom surface  204  of the base  104  may or may not include an anti-slip grip. 
     With reference to  FIGS. 3 and 4 , in a preferred embodiment, when the device  100  is in the hair-retention configuration, in step  1006 , the top surface  106  of the handle  102  may be positioned on top of the user&#39;s head and/or at the crown of the user&#39;s head. More specifically, the handle  102  may be inserted into the user&#39;s hair and positioned at the top/and or crown of the user&#39;s head. Advantageously, the curved shape of the handle  102  ( FIG. 2 ) is conducive not only for contouring against the user&#39;s head but also provides comfort to the user. 
     With reference to  FIGS. 3 and 5 , in the hair-retention configuration, the bristles  110  are configured to extend in a direction away from the user&#39;s head. In this manner, the device  100  can be said to resemble a crown. More specifically, in the hair-retention configuration, a free end  306  of each of the bristles  110  is unobstructed and exposed to an outside ambient environment. As such, the free end  306  of the bristles  110  is free and operable to receive a portion of someone&#39;s hair within the bristles  110  to frictionally retain such portion away from a remainder portion of the hair that is available for styling. In one embodiment, the operator may place one or more sections of someone&#39;s hair in contact with the free end  306  of the bristles  110  to retain the user&#39;s hair on or around the bristles  110 . Advantageously, the bristles  110  provide the operator with the ability to style the user&#39;s hair in a quick and efficient manner because the bristles  110  can hold relatively large sections of the hair. In the same vein, the hair can be taken from the bristles  110  in sections without the need to clip and unclip the hair from numerous separate styling clips, elastic members, or the like. The design of the bristles  110  also prevents the hair from becoming tangled therein. This presents a significant advantage over hair clips having jaws that become tangled within someone&#39;s hair. The unrestrained sections, i.e., sections of the user&#39;s hair not in contact with the bristles  110 , may be cut, blow-dried, styled with a curling iron, flat ironed, or otherwise styled by the operator. The free end  306  includes a terminal end of the bristle  110  and is located opposite from a retention end  308  of each of the bristles  110 . The retention end  308  of the bristles  110  is the end coupled to the base  104 . As mentioned above, the operator may utilize the device  100  to style his or her own hair, i.e., the operator may be the user. In one non-limiting example, the operator may be the hair stylist who teaches the user to style his or her own hair at home using the device  100 . In any event, the operator or user may learn to utilize the device  100  independently and without any assistance from another person. 
     With specific reference to  FIG. 5 , the base  104  is depicted having an upper portion  500  and a lower portion  502 . In one embodiment, the upper portion  500  and the lower portion  502  each comprise approximately half of a height  504  of the base  104 . In other embodiments, the upper and lower portions  500 ,  502  comprise variable portions of the height  504  of the base  104 . In one embodiment, the height  504  is approximately 0.25-0.5 inches. In other embodiments, the height  504  may be outside of this range. Naturally, the upper portion  500  includes the upper surface  108  of the base  104  and the lower portion  502  includes the bottom surface  204  of the base  104  ( FIG. 2 ). The bristles  110  are not limited to being coupled to the upper surface  108  of the base  104 ; rather, may be coupled anywhere within the upper portion  500  of the base  104 , e.g., below the upper surface  108 , or may extend to the lower portion  502 . Said another way, the bristles  110  may extend through the upper surface  108  of the base  104  such that the bristles are coupled to the upper portion  500  or the lower portion  502  at a region below the upper surface  108 . 
     With reference to  FIGS. 2-4 and 6-7 , in one embodiment, in order to retain the handle  102  to the base  104 , and vice-versa, the device  100  includes a first retaining member  206  coupled to the handle  102  and a second retaining member  208  coupled to the base  104 . In a preferred embodiment, the first retaining and second retaining members  206 ,  208  are magnets configured to magnetically retain the bottom surface  204  of the base  104  to the bottom surface  200  of the handle  102 . In other embodiments, the first and second retaining members  206 ,  208  may be other types of retaining members  206 ,  208 . In one embodiment, the first and second retaining members  206 ,  208  may be embedded in the handle  102  and the base  104 . In another embodiment, the first and second retaining members  206 ,  208  may be provided on an exterior surface of each of the handle  102  and the base  104 . 
     With reference to  FIG. 7 , depicting the device  100  in a downward looking perspective view, the first retaining member  206  is shown interposed between the top and bottom surfaces  106 ,  200  of the handle  102 . In one embodiment, the handle  102  includes a handle housing  700  for retaining, i.e., holding, the first retaining member  206  therein. More specifically, in one embodiment, the handle housing  700  includes a first retaining member pocket (not shown) that is molded or otherwise created during the manufacturing process of the device  100 . The first retaining member pocket may be sized and shaped to hold the first retaining member  206  therein. In other embodiment, the first retaining member  206  may be stored within the handle housing  700  using other suitable coupling mechanisms. Advantageously, the handle housing  700  not only maintains the first retaining member  206  in a stationary position, but also protects the first retaining member  206  from outside elements which may interfere with the magnetic force of the first retaining member  206 . 
     In the same vein, similar to the handle housing  700 , in one embodiment, the base  104  includes a base housing  702  for retaining, i.e., holding, the second retaining member  208  therein. More specifically, in one embodiment, the base housing  702  includes a second retaining member pocket (not shown), that may be molded or otherwise created during the manufacturing process of the device  100 . The second retaining member housing is sized and shaped to hold the second retaining member  208  therein. In other embodiments, the second retaining member  208  may be stored within the base housing  702  using other suitable coupling mechanisms. Advantageously the base housing  702  not only maintains the second retaining member  208  in a stationary position, but also protects the second retaining member  208  from outside elements which may interfere with the magnetic force of the second retaining member  208 . 
     In one embodiment, the handle housing  700  and/or the base housing  702  may be covered by or made of a plastic material, e.g., ABS plastic. In other embodiments the handle housing  700  and/or the base housing  702  may be made of aluminum, a composite material, or another polymer material. The material may or may not include a silver, gold, metallic, and/or colored finish to provide an aesthetically pleasing look to the device  100 . 
     With reference now to  FIGS. 8 and 9 , depicting a rear elevational view and a perspective view of the device  100 , respectively, in one embodiment, in order to avoid the flexible coupling member  300  ( FIG. 3 ) from becoming entangled in someone&#39;s hair, the handle housing  700  and the base housing  702  substantially conceal the flexible coupling member  300  when the device  100  is in the extended configuration. The term “substantially conceal” is defined herein as allowing at least one nominal opening between the handle  102  and the base  104 . For example, a nominal opening may be created when the handle  102  is pulled in a direction away from the base  104  before the base  104  is coupled to the handle  102  (or vice versa). In other embodiments, the flexible coupling member  300  may be exposed to an outside ambient environment, such as that depicted when the device  100  is in the hair-retention configuration ( FIG. 3 ). 
     In one embodiment, once the operator is finished cutting, blow-drying, styling, etc., the user&#39;s hair, the operator may decouple the bottom surface  204  of the base  104  from the bottom surface  200  of the handle  102 . Thereafter, the operator may again grasp the hand gripping surface  202  of the handle  102  and style, e.g., brush, someone&#39;s hair with the bristles  110  in contact with the user&#39;s hair. In one embodiment, the bristles  110  may include a bristle length  800  between approximately 0.5 of an inch to 1.0 inch. In other embodiments, the bristle length  800  may be outside of this range. In one embodiment, the bristles  110  include a uniform bristle length  800 . In other embodiments, the bristle length  800  may vary between bristles  110 . The process ends at step  1008 . 
     A dual-purpose hair styling and retention device has been disclosed that includes a base, having one or more bristles coupled thereto, pivotally coupled to a handle. The device includes an extended, i.e., open, configuration and a hair-retention, i.e., closed, configuration. In the extended configuration, an operator, such as a hair stylist or the user, may grasp the handle to style hair in a similar manner as a traditional hairbrush. In the hair-retention configuration, a top surface of the handle may be coupled to a user&#39;s head and a bottom surface of the handle may be coupled to and magnetically retained with the base. Advantageously, in the hair-retention configuration, an operator may lay sections of the user&#39;s hair over the bristles in order to retain the sections of the user&#39;s hair, while allowing the operator to blow-dry, curl, or otherwise style the unrestrained sections of the user&#39;s hair in a quick and efficient manner. Other features of the invention have been disclosed, but are not limited to the particular details disclosed herein.