Hairdresser's masking aid

Abstract

According to an aspect of the invention there is provided a hairdresser's masking aid ( 1 ) for masking selected strands of a head of hair from other strands of hair while the selected strands are treated, the masking aid comprising at least two panels ( 2, 3 ) of flexible sheet material which are capable of being hinged apart to receive the selected strands of hair between the panels and subsequently brought into proximity with each other to envelop the selected strands in use, characterized in that the masking aid further comprises a bag like reservoir for containing treatment process substances or precursors to treatment substances. The reservoir ( 52 ) is preferably provided in a region of the masking aid remote from the end of the masking aid in proximity to the scalp in use. In preferred embodiments the pouch is provided in a region of the masking aid furthest from the end of the masking aid in proximity to the scalp.

1 . A hairdresser's masking aid for masking selected strands of a head of hair from other strands of hair while the selected strands are treated, the masking aid comprising at least two panels of flexible sheet material which are capable of being hinged apart to receive the selected strands of hair between the panels and subsequently brought into proximity with each other to envelop the selected strands in use, characterized in that the masking aid further comprises a bag like pouch for containing treatment process substances or precursors to treatment substances.  
   
   
       2 . A masking aid as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said pouch is provided in a region of the masking aid remote from the end of the masking aid in proximity to the scalp in use.  
   
   
       3 . A masking aid as claimed in  claim 2  wherein the said pouch is provided in a region of the masking aid furthest from the end of the masking aid in proximity to the scalp in use.  
   
   
       4 . A masking aid as claimed in  claim 3  wherein the panels are hinged together along a respective edge of the masking aid and the said pouch is provided adjacent to the hinge between the panels.  
   
   
       5 . A masking aid as claimed in  claim 1  wherein adjacent panels are partially sealed together to provide a partially sealed pouch between them or each pair of adjacent panels.  
   
   
       6 . A masking aid as claimed in  claim 5  wherein one side of the pouch is open for receiving excess treatment solution applied to the selected strands in use.  
   
   
       7 . A masking aid as claimed in  claim 1  wherein a window or substantially transparent material is provided in the said pouch.  
   
   
       8 . A hairdresser's masking aid for masking selected strands of a head of hair from other strands of hair while the selected strands are treated, the masking aid comprising at least two panels of flexible sheet material which are capable of being hinged apart to receive the selected strands of hair between the panels and subsequently brought into proximity with each other to envelop the selected strands in use, characterized in that the masking aid further comprises securing means adjacent an edge of the masking aid having liquid conducting channels formed adjacent thereto, said channels adapted to facilitate liquid flow past the securing means towards the edge of the sheet.  
   
   
       9 . A hairdresser's masking aid for masking selected strands of a head of hair from other strands of hair while the selected strands are treated, the masking aid comprising at least two panels of flexible sheet material which are capable of being hinged apart to receive the selected strands of hair between the panels and subsequently brought into proximity with each other to envelop the selected strands in use, characterized in that a first panel of the masking aid comprises an enclosed or partially enclosed securing means, the first panel having apertures formed therein permitting the securing means to contact strands of hair, thereby securing the sheet to the hair.  
   
   
       10 . A hairdresser's masking aid for masking selected strands of a head of hair from other strands of hair while the selected strands are treated, the masking aid comprising at least two panels of flexible sheet material which may be hinged apart to receive the selected strands of hair between the panels and brought into proximity with each other to envelop the selected strands in use, characterised in that an edge portion of a substantially opaque front panel has at least one window for observing the root portions of the selected strands being treated within the envelope adjacent to the scalp.  
   
   
       11 . A hairdresser's masking aid for masking selected strands of a head of hair from other strands of hair while the selected strands are treated, the masking aid comprising at least two panels of flexible sheet material which may be hinged apart to receive the selected strands of hair between the panels and brought into proximity with each other to envelop the selected strands in use, one of the panels having an adhesive contact surface or surfaces for removably attaching the masking aid to selected hair, characterised in that an edge portion of at least one other panel has a stiffness greater than the remaining part of that panel.  
   
   
       12 . A masking aid as claimed in  claim 11  wherein the said edge portion comprises a plurality of layers of said flexible material.  
   
   
       13 . A masking aid as claimed in  claim 12  wherein the said edge portion comprises a portion of the said flexible material folded over on itself to provide the said plurality of layers.  
   
   
       14 . A masking aid as claimed in  claim 11  wherein the said panels are joined together along an edge of the respective panels.  
   
   
       15 . A masking aid as claimed in  claim 11  wherein the said edge portion is provided along an edge of the panel opposite the hinged edge of the panels.  
   
   
       16 . A masking aid as claimed in  claim 15  wherein the said adhesive surface(s) is/are provided along an edge of a first panel opposite the hinged edge and the said edge portion of a second adjacent panel overlies the said adhesive surface(s) of the first panel when the second panel are brought together.  
   
   
       17 . A masking aid as claimed in  claim 16  comprising a pair of said hinged panels.  
   
   
       18 . A masking aid as claimed in  claim 16  comprising a plurality of hinged panels, including at least one further panel overlying the said second panel.  
   
   
       19 . A masking aid as claimed in  claim 11  wherein the said panels are substantially the same shape and size.  
   
   
       20 . A masking aid as claimed in  claim 11  wherein the panels are substantially rectangular.  
   
   
       21 . A hairdresser's masking aid for masking selected strands of a head of hair from other strands of hair while the selected strands are treated, the masking aid comprising a first panel and at least two further panels of flexible sheet material that are hinged to the first panel in an overlying relationship with the first panel so that the panels may be hinged apart to receive selected strands of hair between the panels and brought into proximity with each other to envelop the selected strands in use, the said first panel having an adhesive contact surface or surfaces for removably attaching the panel to selected hair to be treated.  
   
   
       22 . A masking aid as claimed in  claim 21  wherein the panels are hinged together in an overlying relationship with the panels arranged one on top of the other.  
   
   
       23 . A masking aid as claimed in  claim 22  wherein two further panels overlie the said first panel.  
   
   
       24 . A masking aid as claimed in  claim 21  wherein the said panels are substantially the same shape and size.  
   
   
       25 . A masking aid as claimed in  claim 21  wherein at least two said further panels are arranged side by side overlying the said first panel.  
   
   
       26 . A masking aid as claimed in  claim 21  wherein the said first panel has an adhesive contact surface or surfaces for removably attaching the panel to the selected hair to be treated, and an edge portion of at least one said further panel has a stiffness greater than the remaining part of that panel.  
   
   
       27 . A masking aid as claimed in  claim 21  wherein said first panel is substantially opaque and said further panels are substantially transparent or have at least one substantially transparent window therein.  
   
   
       28 . (canceled)