Hair colorant system and method

• US 10,274,372 B2
• Filed: 09/24/2015
• Issued: 04/30/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 11/01/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Software Development, Inc.
• Original Assignee: International Software Development, Inc.
• Inventors: Conti, Aaron James, Conti, Donald James, Maple, Jon F., McIvor, Jr., Patrick J., Case, Leonard G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hung, Yubin
• Application Number:
  US14/863,599
• Publication Number:
  US 20160011051A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,314 Days
• Field of Search: 382100, 382162
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/448 Hair evaluation, e.g. for hair disorder diagnosis
• CPC Class Codes: A61Q 5/10 Preparations for permanently dyeing the hair
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 2003/466 Coded colour; Recognition of predetermined colour; Determining proximity to predetermined colour
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/0202 Mechanical elements; Supports for optical elements
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/0256 Compact construction
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/0264 Electrical interface; User interface
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/0267 Sample holders for colorimetry
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/462 Computing operations in or between colour spaces; Colour management systems
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/52 using colour charts
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/524 Calibration of colorimeters
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 7/90 Determination of colour characteristics
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/18 Closed-circuit television [CCTV] systems, i.e. systems in which the video signal is not broadcast
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/183 for receiving images from a single remote source

Abstract

A system and method for improving the outcome and consistency of hair coloring is provided. In an example method, an image of hair having a sample color may be received. A color space characteristic associated with the hair sample may be determined. An indication of a target color may be received. A colorant formulation may be identified for changing the hair from the sample color to the target color.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method comprising:

receiving an image of a person'"'"'s hair having a sample color;

receiving an image of one or more of the person'"'"'s skin and the person'"'"'s eye;

determining a color space characteristic associated with the hair;

receiving hair health data associated with the hair, the hair health data including one or more of hair thickness data, hair breaking strength data, and hair elasticity data;

determining an amount of melanin in the hair based upon, at least in part, the image of one or more of the person'"'"'s skin and the person'"'"'s eye;

receiving an indication of a target color; and

identifying a colorant formulation for changing the hair from the sample color to the target color based on, at least in part, the hair health data and the determined amount of melanin in the hair, wherein the colorant formulation includes one or more of a recommendation not to color the hair to the target color and a recommendation of one or more pre-coloring treatments for the hair.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the image includes one or more calibration features.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 2, wherein the one or more calibration features include control color patches.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the color space is a CIELAB color space, and the characteristic includes at least a lightness characteristic.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein receiving the indication of the target color includes receiving a selection from a library of colors associated with a colorant line.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein receiving the indication of the target color includes receiving an image including the target color.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising calculating a color space characteristic difference between the sample color and the target color;

and

wherein identifying the colorant formulation is based on, at least in part, the color space characteristic difference between the sample color and the target color.

8. The computer implemented method of claim 1, further comprising transmitting the colorant formulation to a dispensing and mixing apparatus.

9. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the hair health data is received from a hair health analyzer comprising a test actuator configured to move a test arm to engage and apply a force on a hair sample, wherein the hair health analyzer is configured to determine the hair breaking strength data by applying the test arm normal to the hair sample and determining a force required to break the hair sample, and wherein the hair health analyzer is configured to determine the hair elasticity data by determining a travel distance of the test actuator from a point where the test arm engages the hair sample to a point where the hair sample breaks under a force applied by the test arm.

10. A computer program product residing on a non-transitory computer readable medium having a plurality of instructions stored thereon, which, when executed by a processor cause the processor to perform operations comprising:

receiving an image of a person'"'"'s hair having a sample color;

receiving an image of one or more of the person'"'"'s skin and the person'"'"'s eye;

determining a color space characteristic associated with the hair;

receiving hair health data associated with the hair, the hair health data including one or more of hair thickness data, hair breaking strength data, and hair elasticity data;

determining an amount of melanin in the hair based upon, at least in part, the image of one or more of the person'"'"'s skin and the person'"'"'s eye;

receiving an indication of a target color; and

identifying a colorant formulation for changing the hair from the sample color to the target color based on, at least in part, the hair health data and the determined amount of melanin in the hair, wherein the colorant formulation includes one or more of a recommendation not to color the hair to the target color and a recommendation of one or more pre-coloring treatments for the hair.

11. The computer program product of claim 10, wherein the image includes one or more calibration features.

12. The computer program product of claim 11, wherein the one or more calibration features include control color patches.

13. The computer program product of claim 10, wherein the color space is a CIELAB color space, and the characteristic includes at least a lightness characteristic.

14. The computer program product of claim 10, wherein the instructions for receiving the indication of the target color include instructions for receiving a selection from a library of colors associated with a colorant line.

15. The computer program product of claim 10, wherein the instructions for receiving the indication of the target color include instructions for receiving an image including the target color.

16. The computer program product of claim 10, further comprising instructions for calculating a color space characteristic difference between the sample color and the target color;

and

wherein identifying the colorant formulation is based on, at least in part, the color space characteristic difference between the sample color and the target color.

17. The computer program product of claim 10, further comprising instructions for receiving hair health data associated with the hair, the hair health data including one or more of hair thickness data, hair breaking strength data, and hair elasticity data.

18. The computer program product of claim 17, wherein the instructions for identifying the colorant formulation are based on, at least in part, the hair health data.

19. The computer program product of claim 10, further comprising instructions for transmitting the colorant formulation to a dispensing and mixing apparatus.