Ultrasound hair drying and styling

Abstract

An ultrasound hair care device (10) for drying and styling hair (20). An ultrasound unit (12-18) applies ultrasound to the hair (20). A hair moisture measurement unit (22) measures a moisture level of the hair (20). A control unit (24) controls the ultrasound unit (12-18) based on the moisture level. In accordance with the present invention, in dependence on the moisture level, ultrasound is applied to the hair (20) at a first frequency not exceeding 1 MHz for drying the hair (20), and/or at a second frequency of at least 1 MHz for styling the hair (20).

1 . An ultrasound hair care device for drying and styling hair, the ultrasound hair care device comprising:
 an ultrasound unit for applying ultrasound to the hair;   a hair moisture measurement unit for measuring a moisture level of the hair; and   a control unit for controlling the ultrasound unit based on the moisture level, wherein, in dependence on the moisture level, ultrasound is applied to the hair at a first frequency not exceeding 1 MHz for drying the hair, and/or at a second frequency of at least 1 MHz for styling the hair.   
     
     
         2 . An ultrasound hair care device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the first frequency does not exceed 0.5 MHz, and preferably does not exceed 0.4 MHz. 
     
     
         3 . An ultrasound hair care device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the second frequency is at least 5 MHz, and preferably between 6.4 MHz and 500 MHz. 
     
     
         4 . An ultrasound hair care device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein an ultrasound intensity is at least 1 W/cm 2 . 
     
     
         5 . An ultrasound hair care device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein an ultrasound intensity does not exceed 10 W/cm 2 . 
     
     
         6 . The hair care device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the control unit comprises a look-up-table for switching the ultrasound unit to operate at the first frequency and/or at the second frequency in dependence on the moisture level. 
     
     
         7 . A hair care method of drying and styling hair, the hair care method comprising:
 measuring a hair moisture level; and   applying, in dependence of the hair moisture level, ultrasound to the hair at a first frequency not exceeding 1 MHz for drying the hair and/or at a second frequency of at least 1 MHz for styling the hair.   
     
     
         8 . A hair styling method as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein ultrasound is applied during a period not exceeding 2 minutes, and preferably not exceeding 1 minute.