Hair styling apparatus

Abstract

A hair styling apparatus includes a handle dimensioned for engagement by a user and a treatment head mounted to the handle and defining a longitudinal axis. The treatment head includes a straightening segment for imparting a straightening effect on hair and a curling segment for imparting a curling effect on the hair. The straightening segment has a plurality of stationary elements and a plurality of movable elements disposed adjacent the stationary elements. The movable elements are adapted for reciprocal longitudinal movement relative to the stationary elements whereby adjacent stationary and movable elements receive hair therebetween. First and second curling segments may be on opposed longitudinal sides of the straightening segment. At least one or both of the first and second curling segments includes a heating element.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A hair styling apparatus, which comprises:
 a handle defining a longitudinal axis, the handle dimensioned for engagement by a user; and   a treatment head mounted to the handle, the treatment head including:
 a straightening segment for imparting a straightening effect on hair, the straightening segment having:
 a plurality of stationary elements; and 
 a plurality of movable elements disposed adjacent the stationary elements, the movable elements adapted for reciprocal longitudinal movement relative to the stationary elements whereby adjacent stationary and movable elements receive hair therebetween; and 
 
 a curling segment for imparting a curling effect on hair. 
   
     
     
         2 . The hair styling apparatus according to  claim 1  first and second curling segments on opposed longitudinal sides of the straightening segment. 
     
     
         3 . The hair styling apparatus according to  claim 2  wherein at least one of the first and second curling segments includes a heating element. 
     
     
         4 . The hair styling apparatus according to  claim 3  wherein each of the first and second curling segments includes a heating element. 
     
     
         5 . The hair styling apparatus according to  claim 1  including a tensioning spring for biasing the plurality of moving elements in a longitudinal direction whereby adjacent stationary and movable elements are in overlapping relation at least in the absence of hair therebetween. 
     
     
         6 . The hair styling apparatus according to  claim 5  including a tensioning dial for selectively adjusting resistance of the tensioning spring. 
     
     
         7 . The hair styling apparatus according to  claim 2  including at least one comb segment adjacent a longitudinal side of the straightening segment. 
     
     
         8 . The hair styling apparatus according to  claim 7  including first and second comb segments on opposed longitudinal sides of the straightening segment. 
     
     
         9 . The hair styling apparatus according to  claim 8  wherein the first and second comb segments are disposed between the straightening segment and respective first and second curling segments. 
     
     
         10 . The hair styling apparatus according to  claim 1  including a heater adjacent the straightening segment for heating the hair.