GB2221154A - Hairstyle presentation kit - Google Patents

Abstract

A hairstyle presentation kit comprises a wallet having a photograph holder (10) and pockets (16 and 18) holding three groups of transparencies (20, 22, 24). The first group (20) comprises masks which can be selectively slotted into the holder (10), to mask out all but the face and shoulders of the portrait, the different masks accommodating different sizes of face and shoulders. The second group (22) comprises colour filters to colour the masked out region with a selected colour. The third group (24) comprises transparencies of different hairstyles which can be slotted in the holder and superimposed on the portrait, the mask and colour filter so that the net effect is to replace the hairstyle of the portrait with a selected hairstyle in a selected colour. <IMAGE>

Description

RAIRSTYLE PRESENTATION KITS The present invention relates to a haf,-- style presentation kit for use, for example, in hairdressing salons.

Customers in hairdressing salons frequently desire a particular hairstyle which they may have seen in media or they may produce a magazine cutting of a personality and ask to have the same hairstyle.

Apart from the technical considerations as to whether the customers hair is of the right auality for the hairstyle to be effected there is also t'ne artistic consideration as to whether the hairstyle in question will match, or is suited to, the physical characteristics of the customer.

It is an object of the invention to provide a hairstyling presentation kit to enable a judgement to be made as to whether a particular hairstyle is likely to suit a particular customer.

According to the present invention there is provided a hairstyle presentation kit comprising first, second and third groups of generally similar sized laminar members, and a holder for holding a portrait of a customer and three laminar members one selected from each of said groups, in superimposed relationship, said first group of laminar members comprising masks for masking at least the hairstyle but not the face of the portrait, the masking areas on different masks being adapted to accommodate different sized faces in the portraits said second group of laminar members comprising colour filters te colour the underlying areas with different colours, each filter having a transparent region sized and positioned to correspond to the face in the underlying portrait, and said third group of laminar members comprising representations of different hairstyles extending around the periphery of a transparent region sized and positioned to correspond to the face on the underlying portrait,whereby a selected hairstyle of a selected colour can be substituted for the hairstyle on the underlying portrait.

A hairstyling presentation kit embodying the present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawing which shows a plan view of the kit.

The hairstyle presentation kit to be described is arranged to be used with a camera (not shown) which can provide an instant passport size print of the head and shoulders of the customer. The kit is arranged to mask out the existing hairstyle of the customer and to superimpose thereon any one of a plurality of preselected hairstyles in any one of a plurality cf different colours so that a judgement can be made relatively speedily as to whether a particular haistyle suits.

As shown in the sole Figure, the kit comprises a wallet 2 having a central body portion 4 flanked on each side by a respective lateral portion 6 and 8. Each lateral portion 6, R is hingedly connected to the central body portion so that it can be. folded over the central body portion for compact storage.

The body portion 4 and the lateral portions 6 and 8 are relatively rigid plastics mate-ial and the hinged connection between each lateral portion 6, 8 and the main body portion is formed by a pair of spaced parallel fold lines so that when in the folded state the inner face of the portion 8 lies spaced from the body portion 4 and the inner face of the portion 6 is spaced from the outer face of the portion 8 (when in a folded state).

Each lateral portion 6 and 8 carries a respective pocket 16 and 18 on an inner face thereof for collectively storing three groups 20, 22 and 24 of laminer members of similar size (to be described in more detail hereinafter).

The body portion 4 carries U-shaped holder 10 defining an opentopped frame into which selected ones of the laminar members can be slotted in superimposed relationship. The holder 10 is generally > -shaped in cross-section and the internal thickness is just sufficient to accommodate four of the laminar members when superimposed.

The laminar members in each of the three groups 20, 22 and 24 may each comprise a photographic transparency. The transparency may be on a celluloid sheet on its own or surrounded by a rigid cardboard fame (not shown).

The transparencies of the first group 20 comprise head and shoulder masks. Each mask comprises a transparent area 20A conforming to the shape of the head and shoulder of a portrait on a passport type of photograph, and an opaque white background 203 surrounding the transparent area 20A.

The different masks in the first group 20 provide a whole range of different sizes of transparent areas, to accommodate the anticipated differences in the size of the head and shoulders in different passport sized photographs.

The second group 22 of transparencies comprise colour filters. Different tansparencies of the second group are coloured differently to cover the whole range of halr colours which may be required. Sach colour filter has a central transparent area 22A of a circular or oval shape to correspond to the position and size of face in the selected passport type photograph.

The third group 24 of transparencies provide a selection of different hairstyles. Each transparency of the second group has a central transparent region 24A corresponding to the area 22A in the colour filters, an intermediate region 243 consisting of a transparent region covered with black lines to indicate a particular hairstyle and a surrounding region 24C which is generally grey and at least partially opaque.

In operation a passport type instant photograph is taken of the customer and slotted into the holder 10. A suitable mask is then selected from the first group 20 of transparencies and slotted into the holder 10 on top of the photograph to mask out the hair and background of the customers portrait on the photograph and to leave only the face and shoulders exposed.

A colour filter is selected from the second group of transparencies, in accordance with the colour demanded by the customer, and this in turn is slotted into the holder 10 on top of the mask with the transparent area 22A superimposed on the face of the underlying photograph.

Finally a selected hairstyle is chosen from the third group of transparencies and this in turn is slotted into the holder in superimposed relationship with the passport photograph, the mask and the colour filter so that the hairstyle actually extends around the periphery of the face on the underlying photograph.

It will be appreciated that the opaque white background 203 of the mask covers the original hairstyle of the customer and the colour filter colours this white area with the desired colour. The desired colour shows through in the hairstyle of the final transparency, since the rest is obscured by the grey background. Only the facial region of the original photograph is unaltered by the three transparencies and hence a good impression is given of how a particular hairstyle in a particular colour would suit a particular customer.

It will be appreciated that in the second group of transparancies in addition to providing filters of a different colour, filters of the same colour may be provided but with different sized transparent areas to cope with different sizes of face in the underying photograph.

It will be appreciated that the three groups of transparencies can be readily stored in the pockets 16 and 18 and the wallet folded up for carrying o forage.

Updating of the hairstyle transparencies is envisaged to take place at regular intervals and perhaps even on a franchise basis.

Claims (7)

1. A hairstyle presentation kit comprising first, second and third groups of generally similar sized laminar members, and a holder for holding a portrait of a customer and three laminar members, one selected from each of said groups, in superimposed relationship, said first group of laminar members comprising masks for masking at least the hairstyle but not the face of the portrait, the masking areas on different masks being adapted to accommodate different sized faces in the portraits said second group of laminar members comprising colour filters to colour the underlying areas with different colours, each filter having a transparent region sized and positioned to correspond to the face in the underlying portrait, and said third group of laminar members comprising representations of different hairstyles extending around the periphery of a transparent region sized and positioned to correspond to the face on the underlying portrait whereby a selected hairstyle of a selected colour can be substituted for the hairstyle on the underlying portrait.

2. A kit according to Claim i wherein said portrait is a photograph.

3. A kit according to Claim ' or Claim 2 wherein each mask has an opaque region which is arranged to cover all but the face and shoulders of the underlying portrait.

4. A kit according to Claim 3 wherein the opaque region is white.

5. A kit according to any preceding claim including a wallet having a central region supporting said holder and at least one lateral pocket for accommodating said laminar members.

6. A kit according to Claim 5 wherein said wallet has a central body portion supporting said holder and two lateral portions each supporting a pocket, the lateral portion being foldable over said central portion.

7. A hairstyle presentation kit substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawing.