Hair care device and method for enhancing uptake of a topical in hair

Abstract

A hair care device for enhancing uptake of a topical in hair. The hair care device comprises a topical delivery unit for applying the topical to the hair surface, an ultrasound generator ( 103 ) for generating ultrasound at a frequency exceeding 15 MHz, wherein an ultrasound intensity is in a range between 2 W/cm 2 and 100 W/cm 2 , and an ultrasound transducer ( 105 ) for applying ultrasound to the topical and/or the hair surface to enhance uptake of the topical by the hair.

1 . A hair care device for enhancing uptake of a topical in hair, the hair care device comprising:
 a topical delivery unit for applying the topical to the hair surface;   an ultrasound generator for generating ultrasound at a frequency exceeding 15 MHz, wherein an ultrasound intensity is in a range between 2 W/cm 2  and 100 W/cm 2 ; and   an ultrasound transducer for applying ultrasound to the topical and/or the hair surface to enhance uptake of the topical by the hair.   
     
     
         2 . The hair care device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the ultrasound generator is arranged to generate ultrasound at a frequency not exceeding 50 MHz. 
     
     
         3 . The hair care device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the ultrasound generator is arranged to generate ultrasound at a frequency of at least 20 MHz. 
     
     
         4 . The hair care device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein a predetermined duty cycle of the ultrasound is in a range between 1% and 50%. 
     
     
         5 . The hair care device as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein a predetermined duty cycle of the ultrasound does not exceed 12.5%, and preferably does not exceed 5%. 
     
     
         6 . The hair care device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the hair care device comprises an array of ultrasound transducers. 
     
     
         7 . The hair care device as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising a controller for controlling a level of ultrasound intensity and a duty cycle for applying the ultrasound intensity. 
     
     
         8 . The hair care device as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein the controller comprises a look-up-table for determining a level of ultrasound intensity and a duty cycle for a specific hair type or topical. 
     
     
         9 . The hair care device as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein the hair care device comprises a sensor connected to the controller, the sensor being configured for sensing a parameter associated with properties of the topical and/or the hair. 
     
     
         10 . The hair care device as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein one or more sensors are selected from a list comprising:
 a temperature sensor for sensing a temperature increase caused by the application of ultrasound,   an optical sensor for sensing a change of optical properties e.g. scattering, reflectance, caused by the application of ultrasound,   an acoustical sensor for sensing a change of the acoustic properties, e.g. acoustic impedance, speed of sound, caused by the application of ultrasound, and   an electrical sensor for sensing a change in electrical properties, e.g. radio frequency impedance, capacitance, caused by the application of ultrasound.   
     
     
         11 . The hair care device as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein the controller is configured to stop the applying of ultrasound to the topical and/or the hair before a predetermined temperature limit is reached, the predetermined temperature limit being preferably 100° C. and more preferably 50° C. 
     
     
         12 . The hair care device as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising a distance holder for positioning the transducer at a distance of more than 0.3 cm, preferably more than 1 cm, away from a skin surface. 
     
     
         13 . A hair care method of enhancing uptake of a topical in hair, the hair care method comprising:
 applying the topical to the hair surface;   generating ultrasound at a frequency exceeding 15 MHz, wherein an ultrasound intensity is in a range between 2 W/cm 2  and 100 W/cm 2 ; and   applying ultrasound to the topical and/or the hair surface to enhance uptake of the topical by the hair.   
     
     
         14 . The hair care method as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein the ultrasound is applied to the topical close to or on a hair surface.