Method and apparatus for analyzing and treating hair

Abstract

An apparatus includes a housing, a dispensing system disposed in the housing, a spectral measurement device, and a computing system. The dispensing system includes at least one storage container, a pump operatively connected to each of the storage containers, and a mixing chamber. The computing system includes a control mechanism operatively connected to the pump and the spectral measurement device, a processor, a storage device, an input, and a display.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An apparatus for producing a hair dye, comprising:
 a housing;   a hair dye dispensing system disposed in the housing, the dispensing system comprising:
 at least one storage container containing a hair colorant; 
 a pump operatively connected to the at least one storage container; and 
 a mixing chamber; 
   a spectral measurement device; and   a computing system comprising:
 control mechanism operatively connected to the pump and the spectral measurement device; 
 a processor; 
 a storage device; 
 an input; and 
 a display. 
   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the spectral measurement device is any one of a spectroscope and a spectrophotometer. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the dispensing system comprises a rotary storage container holder assembly. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the pump is connected to a flow passage extending between the at least one storage container and the mixing chamber. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one storage container comprises an airtight bag. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one storage container containing a hair dye ingredient, wherein the hair dye ingredient is any one of an activator, a base, an acid, a viscosity regulating agent, an antioxidant, a fragrance, an oil, an oxidizing agent, a chelating agent, an emulsifier, a thickener, a solvent, an opacifying agent, a dispersing agent, a sequestering agent, a humectant, an antimicrobial, and a conditioner. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the dispensing system further comprises a dispensing sensor disposed in the at least one storage container, the dispensing sensor operatively connected to the control mechanism. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the storage device comprises at least one stored profile, the stored profile comprising historical hair data for a user and at least one historical hair dye formula for the user. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the storage device comprises at least one stored profile, the stored profile comprising historical hair data for a population of users. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the each of the population of users exhibit a similar hair property, a similar geographic location, a similar historical hair dye treatment, a similar age group, or any combination thereof. 
     
     
         11 . A method for producing a hair dye formula, comprising:
 collecting hair data from a hair sample of an individual, the hair data comprising one or more of chemical composition, moisture content, porosity, and density;   selecting a hair color;   generating a formula for a hair dye based on the collected hair data and the selected hair color, the formula comprising amounts of dye ingredients; and   dispensing the amounts of the dye ingredients to produce the hair dye,   wherein the hair dye ingredients comprise at least one colorant and at least one other ingredient.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising executing computer readable program code by a processor in a control mechanism to provide the formula, wherein the computer readable program code is stored in a storage device. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising comparing the hair data and selected hair color of the individual to hair data of at least one population of individuals which have previously selected the hair color. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein dispensing comprises:
 pumping dye ingredients from at least one storage container into a mixing chamber using at least one pump; and   sensing the amount of dye ingredients pumped from the at least one storage container with at least one dispensing sensor disposed in the at least one storage container;   wherein a control mechanism receives signals from the at least one dispensing sensor and sends signals to the at least one pump.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the hair data is collected with a spectral measurement device. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the hair color is selected from a display on a hair dye dispensing apparatus, and wherein amounts of dye ingredients are dispensed from the hair dye dispensing apparatus to form a hair dye corresponding to the selected hair dye color. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein at least one other ingredient is any one of an activator, a base, an acid, a viscosity regulating agent, an antioxidant, a fragrance, an oil, an oxidizing agent, a chelating agent, an emulsifier, a thickener, a solvent, an opacifying agent, a dispersing agent, a sequestering agent, a humectant, an antimicrobial, and a conditioner. 
     
     
         18 . A method, comprising:
 collecting hair data from a hair sample of an individual using a spectral measurement device;   selecting a hair color; and   providing a hair dye for making the hair sample to exhibit the selected hair color.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein providing the hair dye comprises:
 generating a formula for a hair dye based on the collected hair data and the selected hair color, the formula comprising amounts of dye ingredients; and   mixing amounts of dye ingredients based on the generated formula to make the hair dye,   wherein the hair dye ingredients comprise at least one colorant and at least one other ingredient.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising comparing the hair data and selected hair color of the individual to hair data of at least one population of individuals which have previously selected the hair color.