Hair Dye Applicator

Abstract

A hair-dye applicator for applying dye onto hair includes at least one retaining member, each retaining member having a leading edge. An insert is affixed adjacent an inner surface of each retaining member, the insert being flexible and resilient and including a plurality of slits, each slit beginning at a first end of the insert and extending into a body portion of the insert. The leading edge of each retaining member extends beyond the first end of the insert. The plurality of slits is unobstructed by the at least one retaining member, such that as a user's hair is combed with the applicator, the user's hair is caused to pass through the slits and dye that is carried on the insert is transferred to the user's hair without the insert touching the scalp.

1 . A hair-dye applicator comprising:
 a) at least one retaining member, each retaining member having a leading edge;   b) an insert affixed adjacent an inner surface of each retaining member, the insert being flexible and resilient and including a plurality of slits, each slit beginning at a first end of the insert and extending into a body portion of the insert;   
       wherein the leading edge of each retaining member extends beyond the first end of the insert, and 
       wherein the plurality of slits is unobstructed by the at least one retaining member, such that as a user's hair is combed with the applicator, the user's hair is caused to pass through the slits and dye that is carried on the insert is transferred to the user's hair without the insert touching the scalp. 
     
     
         2 . The hair-dye applicator of  claim 1 , wherein the insert is removably affixed to the at least one retaining member. 
     
     
         3 . The hair-dye applicator of  claim 1 , wherein the insert is permanently affixed to the at least one retaining member. 
     
     
         4 . The hair-dye applicator of  claim 1 , wherein the insert is absorbent of the hair-dye. 
     
     
         5 . The hair-dye applicator of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one retaining member comprises first and second retaining members, wherein the insert is affixed between the first and second retaining members. 
     
     
         6 . The hair-dye applicator of  claim 1 , wherein each retaining member comprises a plurality of teeth, such that spacing between successive teeth is greater than a width of each tooth, and wherein each slit of the plurality of slits of the insert is within a different spacing between respective successive teeth of the retaining members. 
     
     
         7 . The hair-dye applicator of  claim 6 , wherein each slit is disposed approximately centrally within said different spacing. 
     
     
         8 . The hair-dye applicator of  claim 6 , wherein at least one tooth of the at least one retaining member comprises one or more protrusions that protrude into the insert. 
     
     
         9 . The hair-dye applicator of  claim 1 , wherein the insert is made of a sponge-like material. 
     
     
         10 . The hair-dye applicator of  claim 1 , wherein the hair dye is placed on an outer surface of the insert. 
     
     
         11 . The hair-dye applicator of  claim 1 , wherein each retaining member is made of a lightweight material selected from plastic, vinyl and a combination thereof. 
     
     
         12 . The hair-dye applicator of  claim 5 , comprising a guard member having a mounting end that is mounted to the second retaining member opposite the leading edge thereof, and having a free end that is aligned approximately with the first end of the insert and that is spaced-apart from the second retaining member. 
     
     
         13 . A hair-dye applicator comprising:
 a first retaining member comprising a first row of teeth that extend away from an applicator body along a first direction;   a second retaining member comprising a second row of teeth that extend away from the applicator body along the first direction, wherein the second row of teeth is disposed beside the first row of teeth, and the second row of teeth is spaced-apart from the first row of teeth to form a space therebetween;   an insert disposed within the space and affixed adjacent an inner surface of each retaining member, the insert being flexible and resilient and having a plurality of slits formed therein, each slit beginning at a first end of the insert and extending into a body portion of the insert, and each slit aligned approximately centrally within a different space formed between adjacent teeth of each of the retaining members;   wherein the teeth of the first and second retaining members extend past the first end of the insert along the first direction.   
     
     
         14 . The hair-dye applicator of  claim 13 , wherein the insert is removably disposed within the space. 
     
     
         15 . The hair-dye applicator of  claim 13 , wherein the insert is permanently affixed within the space. 
     
     
         16 . The hair-dye applicator of  claim 13 , wherein the insert is absorbent of the hair-dye. 
     
     
         17 . The hair-dye applicator of  claim 13 , wherein at least one tooth of at least one of the first and second retaining members comprises one or more protrusions that protrude into the insert. 
     
     
         18 . The hair-dye applicator of  claim 13 , wherein the insert is made of a sponge-like material. 
     
     
         19 . The hair-dye applicator of  claim 13 , comprising a guard member that is mounted at a mounting end thereof to the second retaining member, the guard member being increasingly spaced-apart from the first retaining member along the first direction, and the guard member terminating at a free end thereof that is aligned approximately with the first end of the insert. 
     
     
         20 . A method of applying hair-dye to a user's hair, comprising:
 providing a hair-dye applicator comprising an insert that is retained between two retaining members, the insert having a plurality of slits formed therein, each slit beginning at a first end of the insert and extending into a body portion of the insert, and the two retaining members each comprising teeth that extend past the first end of the insert, the teeth of each of the two retaining members being spaced-apart, such that a space is formed between each pair of adjacent teeth, and each slit being disposed approximately centrally within a different one of the spaces;   loading a quantity of hair-dye product onto portions of the insert that are located within the spaces between each pair of adjacent teeth of the first retaining member; and   transferring the hair-dye product to the user's hair by combing the loaded applicator through the user's hair, such that strands of the user's hair pass through the spaces between the teeth of the first retaining member, through the slits of the insert, and through the spaces between the teeth of the second retaining member,   wherein the two retaining members contact the user's scalp and maintain a predetermined separation between the insert and the user's scalp.