Hair accessory and method of styling hair

Abstract

A hair accessory for receiving and retaining a bundle of hair, a method of making such a hair accessory, and methods of styling hair and instructing others to style hair using such a hair accessory are provided. The hair accessory comprises a thin, resilient, continuously formed, ductile metallic member. The continuously formed ductile metallic member is covered by at least one thin sheet-like backing member. The ductile metallic member and the one or more backing members form an opening for receiving and retaining a bundle of hair.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A hair accessory comprising:
 a continuous band formed by a continuous ductile metallic member defining an opening for receiving a bundle of hair, the continuous ductile metallic member having a major dimension face corresponding to a width of the ductile metallic member and a minor dimension face corresponding to a thickness of the ductile metallic member, the width of the major dimension face being greater than the thickness of the minor dimension face, the continuous ductile metallic member fixedly attached within at least one backing member along a length of the continuous ductile metallic member, the band defining an opening,   wherein the band is adapted to be transitioned from a first configuration to a second configuration by applying pressure to opposing sides of the band with a thumb and forefinger,   in the first configuration, the band defines an opening formed by the continuous ductile metallic member and the backing member for receiving a bundle of hair, and   in the second configuration, the continuous ductile metallic member is crimped in a generally U-shaped form about the bundle of hair to hold the fixedly attached backing member of the band about the bundle of hair.   
     
     
         2 . The hair accessory of  claim 1 , wherein the continuous ductile metallic member comprises a length of tubing. 
     
     
         3 . The hair accessory of  claim 2 , wherein the continuous ductile metallic member comprises a length of tubing having a wall thickness between about 0.01″ and about 0.07″. 
     
     
         4 . The hair accessory of  claim 1 , wherein the continuous ductile metallic member comprises a molded continuously formed ductile metallic member. 
     
     
         5 . The hair accessory of  claim 4  wherein the thickness of the molded continuous ductile metallic member comprises between about 0.01″ and about 0.07″. 
     
     
         6 . The hair accessory of  claim 1  wherein the continuous band comprises a generally rectangular ductile metallic member fixedly attached within the at least one backing member, the band comprising a first longitudinal end and a second longitudinal end, band folded so that the first and second longitudinal ends abut each other end to end and are attached to each other. 
     
     
         7 . The hair accessory of  claim 6  wherein the first and second longitudinal ends of the band are welded together. 
     
     
         8 . The hair accessory of  claim 1 , wherein the continuous ductile metallic member comprises a generally circular ductile metallic member. 
     
     
         9 . The hair accessory of  claim 1 , wherein the backing member is wrapped around the continuous ductile metallic member. 
     
     
         10 . The hair accessory of  claim 1 , wherein the band comprises a laminate of the continuous ductile metallic member and two backing members. 
     
     
         11 . The hair accessory of  claim 1 , wherein the band further comprises a front cover disposed at least partially adjacent to the backing member. 
     
     
         12 . The hair accessory of  claim 11 , wherein the backing member and the front cover together cover the continuous ductile metallic member. 
     
     
         13 . The hair accessory of  claim 1  wherein the backing member comprises one or more of the group comprising: leather, imitation leather, suede, imitation suede, velvet, vinyl, cotton, polyester, rayon, silk, hemp, open cell neoprene, closed cell neoprene, polyethylene and polyurethane. 
     
     
         14 . A hair accessory comprising:
 a continuous band formed by a continuous ductile metallic member defining an opening for receiving a bundle of hair, the continuous ductile metallic member having a major dimension face corresponding to a width of the ductile metallic member and a minor dimension face corresponding to a thickness of the ductile metallic member, the width of the major dimension face being greater than the thickness of the minor dimension face, the continuous ductile metallic member fixedly attached within at least one backing member along a length of the continuous ductile metallic member, the band defining an opening.   wherein the band is adapted to be transitioned from a first configuration to a second configuration by applying pressure to opposing sides of the band with a thumb and forefinger,   in the first configuration, the band defines the opening formed by the continuous ductile metallic member and the backing member for receiving a bundle of hair, and   in the second configuration, the continuous ductile metallic member is crimped in a generally U-shaped form about the bundle of hair to hold the fixedly attached backing member of the band about the bundle of hair,   wherein the continuous ductile metallic member comprises at least two generally opposing weakened portions on the continuously formed ductile metallic member.   
     
     
         15 . The hair accessory of  claim 14 , wherein the continuous ductile metallic member of the band is configured to break at the generally opposing weakened portions when transitioned from the first configuration to the second configuration. 
     
     
         16 . The hair accessory of  claim 14 , wherein the band further comprises a flexible material wrapped around the continuous ductile metallic member at the generally opposed weakened portions. 
     
     
         17 . The hair accessory of  claim 16 , wherein the flexible material is configured to remain attached to the continuous ductile metallic member when transitioned from the first configuration to the second configuration. 
     
     
         18 . The hair accessory of  claim 14 , wherein the at least two generally opposing weakened portions comprise divots in the continuous ductile metallic member. 
     
     
         19 . The hair accessory of  claim 14 , wherein the at least two generally opposing weakened portions comprise scoring in the continuous ductile metallic member. 
     
     
         20 . The hair accessory of  claim 14 , wherein the at least two generally opposing weakened portions comprise perforations in the continuous ductile metallic member. 
     
     
         21 . A method of instructing a user to style hair comprising:
 providing instruction for creating a bundle of hair;   providing instruction for feeding the bundle of hair through an opening defined by a continuous band of a hair accessory, the continuous band comprising a continuous ductile metallic member having a major dimension face corresponding to a width of the ductile metallic member and a minor dimension face corresponding to a thickness of the ductile metallic member, the width of the major dimension face being greater than the thickness of the minor dimension face, the continuous ductile metallic member fixedly attached within at least one backing member along a length of the continuous ductile metallic member, the continuous band defining an opening for receiving the bundle of hair;   providing instruction for compressing the hair accessory about the bundle of hair by applying pressure to opposite sides of the continuous band to flatten the band into a generally flattened oval shape;   providing instruction for spreading the hair evenly within the generally flattened oval shape of the continuous band so that the hair appears uniform across a width of the compressed hair accessory; and   providing instruction for crimping the ends of the generally flattened oval shape of the continuous band and curling the continuous band to provide a generally U-Shaped hair accessory about the bundle of hair.   
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising providing instruction for providing an opening in a wearer's hair located above the hair accessory and placing the hair accessory through the opening.