Agents, compositions and devices for temporary coloring local hair areas

Abstract

Hair-coloring applicators comprising a shield to protect the scalp, polymers of tannic acid having iron ions bound thereto, hair-coloring compositions comprising same and/or melanoidin, and novel alcohol-free carriers, are disclosed, as well uses thereof for coloring hair.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A hair-coloring applicator particularly useful for touching-up hair along a hairline of a subject, the applicator comprising:
 a container for containing a quantity of a hair-coloring composition and including an outlet at one end of said container through which said hair-coloring composition is dispensed; and   a shield projecting outwardly from said one end of the container including said outlet;   said shield including a plurality of closely spaced teeth having inner surfaces to be pressed against the subject's scalp with the root regions of the hairs passing through the spaces between said teeth and outer surfaces to be exposed to the hair-coloring composition dispensed from the container, such that the hair-coloring composition coats the root regions of the hairs passing through the spaces between said teeth while said teeth substantially block the hair-coloring composition from reaching the individual's scalp.   
     
     
         2 . The applicator of  claim 1 , wherein said shield is carried by an attachment attached to the end of the container including said outlet. 
     
     
         3 . The applicator of  claim 2 , wherein said outlet in the container is a nozzle for dispensing said hair-coloring composition in the form of a hair-coloring spray, and said attachment includes an opening aligned with said nozzle. 
     
     
         4 . The applicator of  claim 3 , wherein said attachment further includes a push button controlling the dispensing of the hair-coloring composition via said nozzle, and the opening in said attachment aligned with said nozzle is located between said shield and said push button. 
     
     
         5 . The applicator of  claim 4 , wherein said push button and said opening in the attachment are located on an outer surface of said attachment which slants towards said shield. 
     
     
         6 . The applicator of  claim 1 , wherein said spaced teeth of the shield are parallel to the longitudinal axis of said container. 
     
     
         7 . The applicator of  claim 1 , wherein said plurality of spaced teeth are arrayed in a generally linear array substantially parallel to, but laterally spaced from, the longitudinal axis of said container. 
     
     
         8 . The applicator of  claim 1 , wherein said teeth are less than 2 mm in width, thickness and spacing. 
     
     
         9 . The applicator of  claim 1 , wherein said teeth are tapered to a point at their outer tips. 
     
     
         10 . The applicator of  claim 1 , wherein said applicator further comprises an outer housing enclosing said container and serving as a handle for gripping and manipulating the applicator. 
     
     
         11 . The applicator of  claim 10 , wherein said container and said outer housing are both of cylindrical configuration. 
     
     
         12 . The applicator of  claim 10 , wherein said container is of cylindrical configuration, and said outer housing is of a non-cylindrical configuration. 
     
     
         13 . A hair-coloring applicator particularly useful for touching-up hair along a hairline of a subject, the applicator comprising:
 a container for containing a quantity of a hair-coloring composition and including an outlet at one end of the container through which said hair-coloring composition is dispensed; and   an attachment attached to the end of the container carrying said outlet, said attachment including a shield having a plurality of spaced parallel teeth which pass between the subject's hair to expose the hair root regions passing through the spaced teeth, while the spaced teeth substantially block the hair-coloring composition from passing through to the subject's scalp.   
     
     
         14 . The applicator of  claim 13 , wherein said outlet in the container is a nozzle for dispensing said hair-coloring composition in the form of a hair-coloring spray, and said attachment includes an opening aligned with said nozzle, and a push button controlling the dispensing of the hair-coloring spray via said nozzle. 
     
     
         15 . The applicator of  claim 14 , wherein said push button and said opening in the attachment are located on a surface of said attachment which slants towards said shield. 
     
     
         16 . The applicator of  claim 13 , wherein said spaced teeth are generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of said container. 
     
     
         17 . The applicator of  claim 13 , wherein said spaced teeth are arrayed in a generally linear array substantially parallel to, but laterally spaced from, the longitudinal axis of said container. 
     
     
         18 . The applicator of  claim 13 , wherein said teeth are less than 2.0 mm in width, thickness and spacing. 
     
     
         19 . The applicator of  claim 13 , wherein said teeth are tapered to a point at their outer tips. 
     
     
         20 . The applicator of  claim 13 , wherein said applicator further comprises an outer housing enclosing said container and serving as a handle for gripping and manipulating the applicator.