Hair Styling Accessory

Abstract

A hair styling device for forming spiral curls is provided. The device includes a relatively rigid, elongated hollow cylinder having a plurality of apertures through its outer wall. A segment of hair is wrapped around the cylinder, inclined at an angle relative to a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the cylinder. The segment of hair can be secured to the cylinder using one or more clips. The segment of hair can also be secured to the cylinder using an elastic band that can be attached to both ends of the cylinder. A method for forming spiral curls using the device is also provided.

1 . A hair styling device for creating spiral curls comprising:
 a relatively rigid, elongated cylinder having a hollow center;   a plurality of apertures in the cylinder, each extending from the outer surface of the cylinder through to the hollow center;   whereby a segment of hair can be wrapped around the outer surface of the cylinder at an angle relative to an equatorial plane of the cylinder to form a spiral curl.   
   
   
       2 . The device of  claim 1 , in which the cylinder has a length and a diameter, and the ratio of the length to the diameter of the cylinder is at least 6. 
   
   
       3 . The device of  claim 1 , in which the cylinder has a length and a diameter, and the ratio of the length to the diameter of the cylinder is at least 9. 
   
   
       4 . The device of  claim 1 , in which the cylinder is comprised of hard plastic. 
   
   
       5 . The device of  claim 1 , in which the plurality of apertures are distributed relatively evenly across the outer surface of the cylinder. 
   
   
       6 . The device of  claim 1 , in which the plurality of apertures are spaced apart from one another on the outer surface of the cylinder by a distance of approximately one-half of an inch. 
   
   
       7 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising a clip attached to one end of the cylinder, which clip comprises an elongated arm which extends along the outer surface of the cylinder in a longitudinal direction, whereby the clip can be deployed to retain the position of a segment of hair wrapped around the outer surface of the cylinder. 
   
   
       8 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a first endcap, which is removably attachable to an end of the cylinder; and   an elastic band having a first end and a second end, where the first end of the elastic band is connected to the first endcap, and the second end of the elastic band is connected to an end of the cylinder.   
   
   
       9 . The device of  claim 8 , in which the elastic band is fixedly attached to an end of the cylinder. 
   
   
       10 . The device of  claim 8 , further comprising a second endcap which is attached to the second end of the elastic band; whereby the second end of the elastic band is attached to an end of the cylinder via the second endcap. 
   
   
       11 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising means for securing a segment of hair against the outer surface of the cylinder. 
   
   
       12 . A method for curling hair, the method comprising the steps of:
 separating a segment of hair from adjacent hair;   wrapping the segment of hair around the circumference of a relatively rigid, elongated hollow cylinder having a plurality of apertures therein, inclined at an angle relative to an equatorial plane through the cylinder;   setting the segment of hair;   moving the cylinder along its longitudinal axis to remove the cylinder from within the spiraled segment of hair.   
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising the step of securing the segment of hair to the cylinder. 
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 13 , in which the step of securing the segment of hair to the cylinder is comprised of the substeps of:
 providing a clip having an elongated arm, the clip being attached to one end of the cylinder;   passing the segment of hair under the elongated arm of the clip.   
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 13 , in which the step of securing the segment of hair to the cylinder is comprised of the substeps of:
 providing an elastic band having a first and second end, the first end of which is attached to a first end of the cylinder;   passing the elastic band over the wrapped segment of hair;   securing the second end of the elastic band to a second end of the cylinder;   whereby the elastic band promotes the maintenance of the position of the segment of hair relative to the cylinder.   
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 12 , in which the step of setting the hair is comprised of the substep of applying a styling substance to the segment of hair. 
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 12 , in which the step of setting the hair is comprised of the substep of exposing the segment of hair to heated air from a blow dryer.