Methods for processing keratinous fibers, and uses thereof

Abstract

Disclosed are methods for processing keratinous fibers such as hair that helps bleach the fibers with less damage to the structural integrity thereof. Disclosed is also keratinous fibers such as hair processed therewith and items of manufacture such as wigs manufactured therefrom.

1 . A method of treating hair comprising: exposing keratinous fibers to a plasma. 
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising: prior to said exposing, providing said hair unattached to an organism. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said hair is human hair. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising: subsequent to said exposure to plasma, bleaching the hair. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising: subsequent to said exposure to plasma, dyeing the hair. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein said dyeing includes contacting the hair with an oxidation dye composition. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising: manufacturing a wig from said hair. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said hair is exposed to said plasma for not less than about 1 second. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said hair is exposed to said plasma for not more than about 60 minutes. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said hair is exposed to said plasma in a chamber including an atmosphere from which said plasma is generated. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein said atmosphere comprises a gas selected from the group of gases consisting of air, oxygen, nitrogen, argon and neon and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein a pressure of said atmosphere in said chamber is not more than 100 Pa. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein said plasma is generated by a radiofrequency field having a frequency of not less than 1 MHz. 
     
     
         14 . Hair, treated according to a method of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         15 . (canceled) 
     
     
         16 . An item of manufacture, comprising hair of  claim 14 . 
     
     
         17 . (canceled)