Multi-style, reconfigurable hair extension apparatus and methods

Abstract

Hair extension apparatus and methods adapted to permit a user to rapidly style and reconfigure the styling of their hair. In one exemplary embodiment, the apparatus comprises a coupling member having an inner and an outer surface. A plurality of hair sections is attached to the outer surface of the member and extending substantially therefrom. A restraining element is attached to the outer surface of the member and configured to accept a fastener that secures a hair section in a desired style position. The desired style position is rapidly configurable to adapt to the activity for which a user participates.

1 . Hair extension apparatus capable of providing a multitude of hair styles, the apparatus comprising: 
 a coupling member having an inner and an outer surface;    a plurality of hair sections attached to the outer surface of the member and extending substantially therefrom; and    a restraining element attached to the outer surface of the member and configured to accept a fastener that secures a hair section in a desired style position,    wherein the desired style position is rapidly configurable to adapt to the activity for which a user participates.    
   
   
       2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the fastener comprises a first member and a second member, and at least one of the first and second members contacts at least one of an inner surface or outer surface of the restraining element.  
   
   
       3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the fastener comprises a corrugated structure on at least one inner surface of the first and the second members to perform at least one of separating or securing a portion of the hair section in the desired style position.  
   
   
       4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising an elastic band to bind a portion of the hair section to create the desired style position.  
   
   
       5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising an elastic band to bind at least one portion of the hair section to align the hair section to be secured by the fastener in the desired style position.  
   
   
       6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the restraining element comprises a sleeve, and the coupling member comprises: 
 a multi-texture mesh structure having a substantially flexible mesh structure underneath a sleeve area; and    a substantially rigid mesh structure above the sleeve area to at least mitigate movement of the fastener upon the hair section being secured in the desired style position.    
   
   
       7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the coupling member comprises a hairnet having a drawstring along an outer perimeter to secure the hairnet to hair of the user, and the restraining element comprises a sleeve.  
   
   
       8 . The hair extension of  claim 7 , wherein the hairnet comprises a multi-mesh structure having a substantially flexible mesh structure underneath a sleeve area and a substantially rigid mesh structure outside the sleeve area to prevent movement of the fastener along a longitudinal dimension of the sleeve upon the hair section being secured in the desired style position.  
   
   
       9 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the apparatus comprises a plurality of hair sections, the fastener comprises first and second flexible members, and at least one of the first and second flexible members are slidably inserted into the restraining element to secure at least one of the plurality of hair sections in the desired style position.  
   
   
       10 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein: 
 the coupling member comprises a hairnet;    the restraining element comprises a sleeve substantially disposed on the outer surface; and    the fastener comprises first and second members pivotally coupled to one another so as to permit at least a portion of the hair section to be substantially restrained by the fastener when the first and second members thereof are mated in a closed position.    
   
   
       11 . A method of using a hair extension apparatus to provide at least one of a multitude of hair styles, the method comprising: 
 disposing a hair section proximate to an outer surface of a coupling member of the apparatus;    inserting a fastener into a restraining element coupled to the outer surface;    passing at least a portion of the hair section through the fastener;    arranging the hair section in a desired style position; and    securing the fastener so as to substantially fix the hair section in the desired style position.    
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein inserting the fastener comprises attaching at least one of a first and a second member of the fastener to at least one of an inner and outer surface of the restraining element.  
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein passing at least a portion of the hair section comprises passing at least a portion of one hair section through a corrugated structure disposed on at least one inner surface of the first and the second members of the fastener so as to secure portions of the hair section in the desired style position.  
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising: 
 providing an elastic band; and    using the band to bind at least a portion of the hair section to create the desired style position.    
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising: 
 providing an elastic band; and    using the band to bind at least a portion of the hair section to align the hair section to be secured by the fastener to the desired style position.    
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the coupling member comprises a hairnet comprising a multi-texture mesh structure having a substantially flexible mesh structure below a restraining element area and a substantially rigid mesh structure above the restraining element area, and the method further comprises using the multi-texture mesh structure to prevent movement of the fastener upon the hair section hair being secured in the desired style position.  
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the coupling member comprises a hairnet comprising a multi-mesh structure having a substantially flexible mesh structure below a restraining element area and a substantially rigid mesh structure above the restraining element area, and the method further comprises using the multi-texture mesh structure to prevent movement of the fastener along a longitudinal dimension of the restraining element upon the hair section being secured in the desired style position.  
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising securing a drawstring located along an outer perimeter of the hairnet to secure the hair extension to hair of a user.  
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein inserting the fastener comprises operatively connecting at least one of a first and second flexible member of the fastener to the sleeve to secure the hair section in a desired style position.  
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the restraining element comprises a sleeve, wherein the sleeve is configured to form a pocket to accept at least one of a first flexible member and a second flexible member of the fastener.  
   
   
       21 . A restraining element adapted to restrain at least one hair section within a hair extension apparatus, comprising: 
 a sleeve disposed on an outer surface of a coupling element, wherein the hair section is attached to the outer surface of the coupling element, wherein the sleeve is configured to accept at least one of a first flexible member and a second flexible member of a fastener to secure the at least one hair section within the fastener to achieve a desired style position, and wherein the desired style position is configurable and reconfigurable to adapt to an activity that a user participates.