System and method for batch sizing hair dye mixtures

Abstract

A system and method for batch sizing a formula that defines one or more hair dye materials and corresponding recommended amounts for creating an individual batch sized amount of a hair dye mixture. One method includes providing a control system having at least a processor and a computer-readable memory, wherein the memory contains software configured to receive a formula defining instructions for blending a hair dye mixture using one or more colorants and/or dye blending materials and amounts recommended for the hair dye mixture. The method further includes presenting a plurality of batch sizing adjustment criteria on a display; and receiving user input, via a user input device, selecting one or more of the plurality of batch sizing adjustment criteria. The batch sizing adjustment criteria includes customer characteristics. The control system calculates batch sizing information associated with the hair dye mixture using the user input received by the control system for an individual batch sized amount, the user input including customer characteristics.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . A method comprising:
 accessing a control system having at least a processor and a computer-readable memory, wherein the memory contains software configured to receive a formula defining instructions for blending a hair dye mixture using one or more dye blending materials;   presenting a plurality of formula and batch adjustment criteria on a display; and   receiving user input, via a user input device, selecting one or more of the plurality of formula and batch adjustment criteria, the formula and batch adjustment criteria including customer characteristics;   wherein the control system calculates formula and batch information associated with the hair dye mixture using the user input received by the control system for an individual formula and batch, the user input including customer characteristics.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the customer characteristics include hair characteristics that further include one or more of a condition of hair of a customer, a type of hair of a customer, and a length of hair of a customer. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the customer characteristics include one or more hair characteristics of multi-shade hair colors and alternating more than one hair colors. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the customer characteristics include one or more formulas associated with the customer. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the customer characteristics include a type of service requested by the customer. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the type of service requested includes one or more of covering gray hair, a hair dye retouch, a hair dye of a particular zone, maintenance of color services, color change, color correction, a partial hair dye, and a full hair dye. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the control system is incorporated into one of the following: a hand-held PDA, mobile-phone, laptop computer, and pc computer. 
     
     
         8 . An apparatus comprising:
 a control system having at least a processor and a computer-readable memory, wherein the memory contains software configured to receive a formula defining instructions for blending a hair dye mixture using one or more dye blending materials, the software further including:
 a first component configured to present a plurality of formula and batch adjustment criteria, wherein each of the formula and batch adjustment criteria including customer characteristics; and 
 a second component configured to receive an input selection of one of the plurality of formula and batch adjustment criteria, the formula and batch adjustment criteria including customer characteristics; 
   wherein the control system calculates formula and batch information associated with the hair dye mixture using the input received by the control system for an individual formula and batch, wherein the input includes customer characteristics.   
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the customer characteristics include a service request input, wherein the service request input includes one or more or a hair dye retouch, a hair dye of a particular zone, maintenance of color services, color change, color correction, a partial hair dye, and a full hair dye. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the customer characteristics include hair characteristics that further include one or more of a condition of hair of a customer, a type of hair of a customer, and a length of hair of a customer. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the customer characteristics include one or more formulas associated with the customer. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the customer characteristics include one or more hair characteristics of multi-shade hair colors and alternating more than one hair colors. 
     
     
         13 . An apparatus comprising:
 a control system having at least a processor and a computer-readable memory, wherein the memory contains software configured to receive a formula for a hair dye mixture using one or more dye blending materials, and configured to present a plurality of formula adjustment criteria;   a user input device configured to receive an input of one or more of the plurality of formula adjustment criteria, the formula adjustment criteria including customer characteristics;   wherein the control system calculates formula information associated with the hair dye mixture using the input received by the control system for an individual batch, the input including customer characteristics.   
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the customer characteristics include hair characteristics that further include one or more of a condition of hair, a type of hair, and a length of hair. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein customer characteristics include one or more formula adjustments. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the customer characteristics includes a type of service requested. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein the type of service requested includes one or more of a hair dye retouch, a hair dye of a particular zone, maintenance of color services, color change, color correction, a partial hair dye, and a full hair dye. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the customer characteristics include one or more hair characteristics of multi-shade hair colors and alternating more than one hair colors. 
     
     
         19 . A method comprising:
 accessing a control system having at least a processor and a computer-readable memory, wherein the memory contains software configured to receive a formula for a hair dye mixture using one or more hair dye blending materials;   displaying a plurality of formula adjustment criteria; and   receiving input, via a user input device, selecting one or more of the plurality of formula adjustment criteria, the formula adjustment criteria including customer characteristics;   wherein the control system calculates formula information associated with the hair dye mixture using the input received by the control system for an individual batch, the input including customer characteristics.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the customer characteristics include a service request input, wherein the service request input includes one or more of a hair dye retouch, maintenance of color services, color change, color correction, a hair dye of a particular zone, a partial hair dye, and a full hair dye. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the customer characteristics include hair characteristics that further include one or more of a condition of hair, a type of hair, and a length of hair. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein customer characteristics include formulas adjustments. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the customer characteristics includes a type of service.