Patent Publication Number: US-2018027948-A1

Title: Method of applying hair building solids with a low rigidity, high density bristle-based applicator

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present disclosure generally relates to cosmetic treatments for hair loss, and more specifically, to a method of applying hair building solids with a low rigidity, high density bristle-based applicator. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Most men will experience thinning hair or hair loss by the time they reach their mid-thirties and about half of women will suffer from hair thinning or loss, often after the age of 50. Genetic causes are commonly to blame in male or female pattern baldness, also known as androgenetic alopecia. Genetics impact the size of the hair follicles and more specifically their sensitivity to the presence of dihydrotestosterone, or DHT (a derivative of testosterone or androgen). The actions of DHT binding at follicle receptor sites reduce the size of hair follicles, essentially suffocating hair growth most commonly on the crown of the head. Fortunately, some follicles are resistant to the effects of DHT, and while those follicles are often located on the back and side of the head, these are the follicles that are successfully transplanted in hair restoration surgery. 
     Many treatments for hair loss in men and women focus on strengthening, regrowth or transplantation of hair via medical means (e.g., medication or surgery). These include, but are not limited to, minoxidil, finasteride, dutasteride, topical ketocanazole, platelet rich plasma therapy, low level laser therapy, and hair restoration surgery. Unfortunately, medical treatments to regrow or transplant hair can be quite costly, incur side effects, often require continuous treatment, and may result in a total loss of treatment gains if treatment is discontinued (e.g., with minoxidil or finasteride) or are of limited or questionable effectiveness, particularly in cases where there is significant hair loss. Therefore, concealment of hair loss through cosmetic means has been the method of choice for many men and women with thinning hair. Often this approach involves the use of natural or synthetic hair affixed or placed on top of the hair or scalp, including full hairpieces and hair extensions to conceal hair loss. Hairpieces and hair extensions, however, are not “set it and forget it” solutions. Both types of products must be properly applied, and despite the possible desire to want to integrate one&#39;s own hair, the use of a hairpiece often requires shaving hair under the hairpiece, and possibly all around it as well, to have it look as natural as possible. The initial application for semi-permanent varieties of hairpieces often require a few hours of time, and are applied using glue, tape, weaves, protein bonds, or braids, although temporary hair extensions can be clipped in. A professional stylist is often required to cut and color hair extensions to match the user&#39;s hair. At-home care typically requires the use of certain shampoos and careful instructions on the use of heat, chemicals, brushing, blow drying, and sleeping, and extra time needs to be allotted by the user every day to ensure that hair extensions are styled properly to blend seamlessly into their natural hair. 
     Hairpieces and hair extensions are fairly expensive, and these hair loss concealment solutions may cost anywhere from a few hundred dollars to over $1,000, especially for custom “hair replacement systems.” The cost to maintain a single hairpiece may exceed $100 or more per month, on average, and more than one piece is typically purchased at a time. Additionally, many hair extensions only last for about 2 months of daily wear. The options may be further limited for those who may want to conceal their hair loss during certain days or times, while going without concealment during other period of time in a given week or day. 
     An alternative low-cost, and more recent cosmetic solution for concealing hair loss involves applying hair building fibers to areas where the user has experienced hair loss, including those described in U.S. Publ. No. 2011/0195039 to Isaacs and U.S. Publ. No. 2013/0319449 to Xavier et al. Traditionally, these hair building fibers are comprised of particles of natural hair, levant cotton, keratin, or other hair-like substances, dispensed through a container topped with a sifter to control the flow of fibers, and shaken onto the hair and scalp. The fibers are typically colored to match the user&#39;s hair. Most commonly, the user is instructed to “pat” the hair with one&#39;s hand after applying hair building fibers in order to distribute them. The color-matched fibers cling to the hair shaft and scalp resulting in the appearance of thicker hair. The adherence of hair building fibers to the hair shaft and scalp is typically enabled by means of electrostatic charge or other means, including adhesives such as hair spray. 
     Many disadvantages exist with both the traditional method of distributing fibers as well as with prior art methods described in U.S. Publ. No 2009/0199860 to Kress et al., U.S. Pat. No. 7,140,522 to Kress, PCT Application No. WO 2005/009624 to Kress et al., and U.S. Pat. No. D599,215 to Mulhauser et al. For example, if a fiber-user pats the area with their hand to distribute the fibers, the fibers will not “line up” with the strands of natural hair, resulting in a dusted appearance. Use of traditional hairbrushes will often fail to distribute one&#39;s hair and the hair fibers properly due to the imprecision of the wide distance between the bristles and the relative high stiffness of commonly used boar bristle or nylon bristles on thinning and delicate hair. Moreover, if hairspray is applied, it is difficult and/or impossible to successfully style hair after hair fibers have been applied due to these same qualities of traditional hairbrushes. Additionally, oftentimes misplaced hair fibers cling to clothing, face, ears and neck, and there are difficulties in removing these fibers. 
     Prior art methods of applying and distributing hair fibers involve the use of air pumped through bulbs and valves to take up and expel hair building fibers onto targeted areas of the scalp. However, users have reported difficulties with these pumps, including the manual force necessary to expel the fibers onto the hair, displacing previous applications of fiber with subsequent puffs of hair, a “dusted” appearance, potential mismatches between these applicators and certain fiber dispenser brands, uneven distribution of fibers, clogging of applicator valves, and a failure to take up and expel fibers when the fiber container is less than half full. 
     Therefore, as appreciated by the present inventor(s), a need exists for a low-cost, yet effective method of applying hair building solids that addresses the deficiencies found in prior art methods of concealing hair loss through the application of hair building solids. 
     SUMMARY 
     A method for treating thinning areas of hair with hair building solids is provided. The method includes the steps of suspending a dispenser containing hair building solids above an area of thinning hair, dispensing the hair building solids such that the hair building solids are applied to the hair and scalp, and guiding a low rigidity, high density bristle-based applicator over the applied area of hair to evenly distribute and blend the hair building solids into the hair. 
     A second method for treating areas of thinning hair is also provided. The method includes suspending a dispenser containing hair building solids above an area of thinning hair and applying the hair building solids to the hair and scalp, and guiding a low rigidity, high density bristle-based applicator over the applied area of hair to evenly distribute and blend the hair building solids into the hair. The bristle-based applicator may include a soft-bristled hairbrush with bristles comprised of natural hair fibers. 
     A third method for concealing areas of thinning hair is further provided. The method includes styling the hair with a stiff-bristled traditional hairbrush, suspending a dispenser containing hair building solids above an area of thinning hair and applying the hair fibers to the hair and scalp, wherein the hair building solids adhere to fibers of the hair, and brushing the surface of the treated hair with a low rigidity, high density bristle-based applicator. The bristle-based applicator may include a soft-bristled hairbrush comprising natural bristles consisting of guard hair from Mongolian Cashmere Goats. 
     Other devices, apparatus, systems, methods, features and advantages of the disclosure will be or will become apparent to one with skill in the art upon examination of the following figures and detailed description. It is intended that all such additional systems, methods, features and advantages be included within this description, and be protected by the accompanying claims. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The present invention may be better understood by referring to the following figures. The components in the figures are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon illustrating the principles of the disclosure. In the figures, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the different views. 
         FIG. 1A  is a top view of an example a low rigidity, high density bristle-based applicator used to apply hair building solids to thinning areas of hair in accordance with the teachings of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 1B  is a lateral view of the bristle-based applicator illustrated in  FIG. 1A . 
         FIG. 1C  is a front perspective view of the bristle-based applicator illustrated in  FIG. 1A . 
         FIG. 2  illustrates a flow diagram of a method for applying hair building solids to an area of thinning hair in accordance with the teachings of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 3A  illustrates a user styling an area of thinning hair with a traditional stiff-bristled hairbrush. 
         FIG. 3B  illustrates a user&#39;s hair after an area of thinning hair is styled with a stiff-bristled hairbrush. 
         FIG. 3C  is a first illustration of hair building solids being applied to a user&#39;s hair and scalp. 
         FIG. 3D  is a second illustration of hair building solids being applied to a user&#39;s hair and scalp. 
         FIG. 3E  is a first illustration of a user using a low rigidity, high density bristle-based applicator to blend and distribute hair building solids into the user&#39;s hair. 
         FIG. 3F  is a second illustration of a user using a low rigidity, high density bristle-based applicator to blend and distribute hair building solids into the user&#39;s hair. 
         FIG. 3G  illustrates a user removing unwanted hair building solids from their body using a low rigidity, high density bristle-based applicator. 
       FIG. H illustrates a user application of a hair holding agent on an area of treated hair. 
         FIG. 3I  illustrates a user styling their hair using a low rigidity, high density bristle-based applicator after the hair holding agent has been applied to hair. 
         FIG. 3J  illustrates a user&#39;s hair after the treatment is complete. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     A method for applying and distributing hair fibers using a low rigidity, high density bristle-based applicator is presently disclosed. After dispensing hair building solids or fibers onto the head and scalp of the user, the applicator is guided over the surface of a thinning hair area in the direction of the hair growth. Specially designed bristles grab and position each hair and blend and distribute hair fibers evenly into the hair for a natural-looking appearance. The applicator is further used to remove misplaced fibers and can be used to style hair after a holding mist has been applied. 
       FIGS. 1-3J  illustrate examples of various implementations of a method for applying hair building solids or fibers onto a subject&#39;s hair with a low rigidity, high density bristle-based applicator. As described in detail below, the method generally includes applying the hair building fibers to a thinning area of hair on the subject, and repositioning the thinning hair and hair building fibers with a low rigidity, high density bristle-based applicator. 
       FIG. 1A  illustrates a top view of a low rigidity, high density bristle-based applicator  100 . As is understood by the present inventor, various problems exist when hair building fibers are applied using prior art techniques and applicators. Therefore, a low rigidity, high density bristle-based applicator is employed to apply hair building fibers, thereby addressing the problems and drawbacks associated with other applicators or the use of traditional “stiff-bristled” hairbrushes in connection with present cosmetic treatments for hair loss. For purposes of the present disclosure, a “stiff-bristled” hairbush is defined as a hairbush with bristles having a flexural rigidity above 11 mN·mm 2  and/or a bending modulus above 6 N/tex. For purposes of the present disclosure, a “soft-bristled” hairbush is defined as a hairbush with bristles having a flexural rigidity below 10 mN·mm 2  and/or a bending modulus below 5 N/tex. 
     Indeed, as appreciated by the present inventor, significant difficulties result from using traditional hairbrushes to apply cosmetic hair building fibers. For example, with a traditional hairbrush, the scalp is scraped by the bristles, which pull the fibers away from the scalp. Moreover, using a traditional hairbrush, it can be very difficult, if not impossible, to style hair after hairspray is applied to “hold” the hair fibers onto the hair. However, these problems are avoided with the use of a low rigidity, high density bristle-based applicator, as described herein. 
     As shown, the applicator  100  may include a soft-bristled hairbrush having bristles comprised of at least 25% animal hair fibers. As such, the bristles of the applicator  100  are perceivably more flexible than they would otherwise be with pure synthetic bristles, such as those used in stiff-bristled traditional hairbrushes. In some implementations, the bristles of the applicator  100  may comprise 68% synthetic bristle fibers made of, for example, polyethylene terephthalate (PET) or polyethylene terephthalate polyester (PETP), and 32% natural hair fibers made of, for example, guard hair from Mongolian Cashmere Goats. However, in other implementations, other proportions of synthetic bristle fibers to natural hair fibers may be used, depending upon the circumstances. The stiffness of the bristles is operationally defined by their bending modulus (based on linear density and microscopy) and flexural rigidity. One way of determining whether the applicator has sufficiently low flexural rigidity is whether the softness of the applicator would be medically-appropriate for use on infants and/or toddlers, who naturally have thin, delicate hair. 
     There are many advantages to using low rigidity, high density bristle-based applicators over traditional hairbrushes for applying hair building fibers. For instance, the use of a low rigidity, high density bristle-based applicator can effectively blend and distribute hair building fibers throughout the area of thinning hair, unlike traditional brushes, which scrape against the scalp and pull the fibers from the hair shaft. Further, the bristle density in traditional hairbrushes may be fairly sparse and the bristles spaced too far apart to have the precision necessary to cling to and align the hair fibers with the subject&#39;s natural hair. However, with low rigidity, high density bristle-based applicators, the bristle density is high and the bristles are spaced closer together, resulting in greater precision and accuracy, which in turn enables the hair building fibers to be evenly distributed over a thinning area of hair. 
     Turning now to  FIGS. 1B and 1C , the applicator  100  may include a base  102  and bristles  104 . The applicator base  102  may include a handle  112  and bristle head  109 , on which the bristles  104  are attached or implanted in bundles known as tufts  120 , within a patterned series of receptacles  106 . As shown in  FIG. 1A , the receptacles  106  and, thus, the bristle  104  may be arranged in an oval-shaped concentric or other geometric pattern. 
     In some implementations, the base  102  may be constructed to an overall length  103  of approximately 18.0 centimeters (“cm”), a handle length of 13 cm, and handle width of approximately 2.5 cm. The bristle head  109  may be constructed to a length  107  of approximately 5.0 cm and a width of  109  of approximately 4.7 cm, with the bristles  104 , together with the bristle base  102  thickness, extending to a height  115  of approximately 3 cm. In some examples, bristle head  109  and the handle  112  may be made of Beechwood or any other suitable material. In some implementations, the bristle head  109  may include a bristle count of 400 bristles per receptacle  106 , a bristle length  118  of approximately 2.2 cm, a radius of each bristle tuft  120  of approximately 2.8 millimeters (“mm”), and an average distance between each receptacle  106  of approximately 3 mm. By way of example only, the bristles  104  may include the following dimensions and mechanical properties: 
                                                 Bending           Bristle   Diameter   Modulus   Flexural rigidity                  polyester (i.e., synthetic)   71.9 μm   3.45 N/tex   9.26 mN · mm 2         bristle fiber       animal (i.e., natural)   73.5 μm   4.94 N/tex   9.24 mN · mm 2         bristle fiber                    
However, the bristles  104  may be constructed to any suitable dimensions and mechanical properties.
 
     The advantages of using a low rigidity, high density bristle-based applicator, as disclosed herein, include: efficiently blending and distributing hair fibers through thinning hair, evenly positioning the hair over thinning areas, thereby improving hair fiber coverage to conceal thinning areas, shortening fiber application time and product use by reducing additional applications due to more efficient fiber distribution, reducing fiber clumping, and a more natural, less “dusted” appearance of hair. These benefits, in turn, reduce fiber shedding by efficiently filling gaps between hairs with hair fibers and correct over-applications in specific areas due to an uneven distribution after initial application. 
     Other advantages accrue through employment of the applicator  100  disclosed herein. Due to the low stiffness or rigidity of the bristles, the applicator  100  may be used to style hair after using hair spray without worrying that a substantial amount of hair fibers will be displaced. The high density of the bristles of applicator  100  also allows for grabbing and “taming” of stray hairs after applying hair spray. Moreover, use of the applicator allows for removal of stray hair fibers from unwanted areas, such as face, ears and neck, while minimal fibers cling to the brush  100  after use. 
       FIG. 2  illustrates one example of a method  200  for applying hair building fibers, such as natural fibers, with a low rigidity, high density bristle-based applicator. The method starts in step  210 , by styling and/or brushing the thinning hair with a traditional stiff-bristled hairbrush, such as stiff-bristled brush  305  illustrated in  FIG. 3A . Once styled, as illustrated in  FIG. 3B , in step  220 , a hair fiber dispenser  310  containing hair building fibers  312 , such as, for example only, Caboki® natural hair fibers manufactured by Caboki LLC, Cranbury, N.J. 08512 USA, may be held or otherwise suspended above a thinning area of hair and hair fibers  312  may be applied to the thinning area of hair until the scalp is barely visible, as illustrated in  FIGS. 3C and 3D . Once applied, the hair building fibers  312  adhere to the thinning strands of air, resulting in the appearance of thicker, fuller hair. 
     In step  230 , the low rigidity, high density bristle-based applicator  100  is rested upon the treated region of the hair with minimal pressure and then guided over the surface of the thinning hair, as is illustrated in  FIGS. 3E and 3F . In step  240 , the user determines if more hair building fibers  312  are need. If more hair fibers are needed, the method steps  210 - 240  are repeated until the user reaches a desired appearance of hair thickness. Once the user reaches a desired appearance of hair thickness, the method  200  advances to step  250 . 
     In a step  250 , the applicator  100  or similar applicator may be used to remove unwanted hair fibers from the face, neck or other unwanted areas of the body, such shown in  FIG. 3G . In step  260 , as shown in  FIG. 3H , hair spray or hair mist  230  may be applied to the hair and hair building fibers to settle or affix the fibers to the treated hair. 
     After applying hair mist to the treated area, in step  270 , the user&#39;s hair may be styled with the applicator  100  or other means, as illustrated in  FIG. 3I . After styling, the user&#39;s head will have a healthy and full cosmetic appeal, as shown in  FIG. 3J . Unlike hairbrushes currently known in the art, low rigidity, high density bristle-based applicators, such as applicator  100 , may be used for after-mist styling of thinning hair. 
     While the applicator  100  described herein includes an elongated handle and a circular or oval shaped bristle head. In other implementations, the applicator  100  may include or not include a handle and be constructed to any suitable shape and dimensions. 
     In general, terms such as “coupled to,” and “configured for coupling to,” and “secured to,” and “configured for securing to” and “in communication with” (for example, a first component is “coupled to” or “is configured for coupling to” or is “configured for securing to” or is “in communication with” a second component) are used herein to indicate a structural, functional, mechanical, electrical, signal, optical, magnetic, electromagnetic, ionic or fluidic relationship between two or more components or elements. As such, the fact that one component is said to be in communication with a second component is not intended to exclude the possibility that additional components may be present between, and/or operatively associated or engaged with, the first and second components. 
     Although the previous description illustrates particular examples of various implementations, the present disclosure is not limited to the foregoing illustrative examples. A person skilled in the art is aware that the disclosure as defined by the appended claims and their equivalents can be applied in various further implementations and modifications. In particular, a combination of the various features of the described implementations is possible, as far as these features are not in contradiction with each other. Accordingly, the foregoing description of implementations has been presented for purposes of illustration and description. Modifications and variations are possible in light of the above description.