Method and apparatus for hair color characterization and treatment
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A process for analyzing the hair color of a subject, said process comprising the steps of:
- (a) measuring with a measuring instrument the values of a plurality of color factors in the coloration of said subject'"'"'s hair;
(b) providing an indicator having a plurality of hair color classifications which define ranges of said color factors; and
(c) comparing the measured values of said plurality of color factors in the coloration of said subject'"'"'s hair to said ranges of said color factors of said indicator, to indicate a classification of the hair color of said subject.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Methods and apparatus for determining accurate hair color classifications and appropriate coloring agents to bring about a selected change of color include a table of hair color classifications, a color measuring instrument to arrive at Hunter L, a and b values for use in identifying a particular classification from the table and a database that identifies appropriate coloring agents based on a selection of coloring actions from a menu and the classifications of hair color.
68 Citations
72 Claims
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1. A process for analyzing the hair color of a subject, said process comprising the steps of:
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(a) measuring with a measuring instrument the values of a plurality of color factors in the coloration of said subject'"'"'s hair;
(b) providing an indicator having a plurality of hair color classifications which define ranges of said color factors; and
(c) comparing the measured values of said plurality of color factors in the coloration of said subject'"'"'s hair to said ranges of said color factors of said indicator, to indicate a classification of the hair color of said subject. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
MENU OF HAIR COLOR OPTIONS 1. Match Natural Hair Color 2. Make Natural Hair Color Warmer 3. Make Natural Hair Color Cooler 4. Highlight Natural Hair Color 5. Make Natural Hair Color Slightly Darker 6. Make Natural Hair Color Slightly Lighter 7. Make Natural Hair Color Darker 8. Make Natural Hair Color Lighter 9. Make Natural Hair Color Warmer and Slightly Darker 10. Make Natural Hair Color Warmer and Slightly Lighter 11. Make Natural Hair Color Warmer and Darker 12. Make Natural Hair Color Warmer and Lighter 13. Make Natural Hair Color Cooler and Slightly Darker 14. Make Natural Hair Color Cooler and Slightly Lighter 15. Make Natural Hair Color Cooler and Darker 16. Make Natural Hair Color Cooler and Lighter 17. Make Natural Hair Color Warmer with Highlights 18. Make Natural Hair Color Cooler with Highlights 19. Make Tinted Hair Color Warmer 20. Make Tinted Hair Color Cooler 21. Highlight Tinted Hair Color 22. Make Tinted Hair Color Slightly Darker 23. Make Tinted Hair Color Slightly Lighter 24. Make Tinted Hair Color Darker 25. Make Tinted Hair Color Lighter 26. Make Tinted Hair Color Warmer and Slightly Darker 27. Make Tinted Hair Color Warmer and Slightly Lighter 28. Make Tinted Hair Color Warmer and Darker 29. Make Tinted Hair Color Warmer and Lighter 30. Make Tinted Hair Color Cooler and Slightly Darker 31. Make Tinted Hair Color Cooler and Slightly Lighter 32. Make Tinted Hair Color Cooler and Darker 33. Make Tinted Hair Color Cooler and Lighter 34. Make Tinted Hair Color Warmer with Highlights 35. Make Tinted Hair Color Cooler with Highlights.
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11. The process according to claim 1, further characterized by the steps of identifying at least one of a number of broad families of hair colors corresponding to values of a plurality of color factors in the coloration of said subject'"'"'s hair, said indicator being arranged in divisions corresponding to said broad families of hair colors;
- locating the division of the indicator associated with the identified at least one broad family of hair colors and matching the measured values of said plurality of color factors in the coloration of said subject'"'"'s hair to said color factors corresponding to said division to indicate a classification of the hair color of said subject.
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12. The process according to any one of claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the color factors are selected from at least two of a color factor which is substantially that of color factor Hunter L, a color factor which is substantially that of color factor Hunter b and a color factor which is substantially that of color factor Hunter a.
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13. The process according to claim 1 wherein the color factors are a color factor which is substantially that of color factor Hunter L and a color factor which is substantially that of color factor Hunter a and the hair color classifications are percentage of grey.
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14. The process according to claim 1, wherein the color factors are a color factor which is substantially that of color factor Hunter L and a color factor which is substantially that of color factor Hunter b and the hair color classifications are percentages of grey.
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15. The process according to any one of claims 1, 2, or 3, wherein the step of measuring with a measuring instrument the values of said color factors comprises measuring the values of said color factors at different locations of the hair of said subject.
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16. The process according to any one of claims 1, 2 or 3, wherein the step of measuring with a measuring instrument the values of said color factors comprises making a set of multiple measurements of the values of said color factors and averaging each set of multiple measurements.
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17. The process according to claim 1, wherein said indicator comprises an indicator of hair color classifications, hair coloring agent classifications and at least one commercially available product falling within each hair coloring agent classification.
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18. An apparatus for analyzing the hair color of a subject, said apparatus comprising:
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(a) means for measuring the values of a plurality of color factors in the coloration of said subject'"'"'s hair;
(b) a memory having stored therein a plurality of hair color classifications which define ranges of values of said color factors; and
(c) means responsive to said values of a plurality of color factors measured by said means for measuring and for comparing the values of said plurality of color factors in the coloration of said subject'"'"'s hair to said ranges of said color factors of hair color classifications in said memory, to indicate a classification of the hair color of said subject. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
(d) an indicator for indicating a menu of actions affecting hair color;
(e) said memory containing;
(i) a database of the hair color classifications, and (ii) menu action items; and
(f) means for locating in the database hair color classifications associated with a selected menu action item and said classification of the hair of said subject as determined by said means of comparing.
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20. The apparatus according to claim 19, wherein said menu of actions affecting hair color is substantially as follows:
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MENU OF HAIR COLOR OPTIONS 1. Match Natural Hair Color 2. Make Natural Hair Color Warmer 3. Make Natural Hair Color Cooler 4. Highlight Natural Hair Color 5. Make Natural Hair Color Slightly Darker 6. Make Natural Hair Color Slightly Lighter 7. Make Natural Hair Color Darker 8. Make Natural Hair Color Lighter 9. Make Natural Hair Color Warmer and Slightly Darker 10. Make Natural Hair Color Warmer and Slightly Lighter 11. Make Natural Hair Color Warmer and Darker 12. Make Natural Hair Color Warmer and Lighter 13. Make Natural Hair Color Cooler and Slightly Darker 14. Make Natural Hair Color Cooler and Slightly Lighter 15. Make Natural Hair Color Cooler and Darker 16. Make Natural Hair Color Cooler and Lighter 17. Make Natural Hair Color Warmer with Highlights 18. Make Natural Hair Color Cooler with Highlights 19. Make Tinted Hair Color Warmer 20. Make Tinted Hair Color Cooler 21. Highlight Tinted Hair Color 22. Make Tinted Hair Color Slightly Darker 23. Make Tinted Hair Color Slightly Lighter 24. Make Tinted Hair Color Darker 25. Make Tinted Hair Color Lighter 26. Make Tinted Hair Color Warmer and Slightly Darker 27. Make Tinted Hair Color Warmer and Slightly Lighter 28. Make Tinted Hair Color Warmer and Darker 29. Make Tinted Hair Color Warmer and Lighter 30. Make Tinted Hair Color Cooler and Slightly Darker 31. Make Tinted Hair Color Cooler and Slightly Lighter 32. Make Tinted Hair Color Cooler and Darker 33. Make Tinted Hair Color Cooler and Lighter 34. Make Tinted Hair Color Warmer with Highlights 35. Make Tinted Hair Color Cooler with Highlights.
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21. The apparatus according to claim 18, wherein the color factors are selected from at least two of a color factor which is substantially that of color factor Hunter L, a color factor which is substantially that of color factor Hunter b and a color factor which is substantially that of color factor Hunter a.
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22. The apparatus according to claims 18, wherein the color factors are a color factor which is substantially that of color factor Hunter L and a color factor which is substantially that of color factor Hunter a and the hair color classifications are percentages of grey.
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23. The apparatus according to claim 18, wherein the color factors are a color factor which is substantially that of color factor Hunter L and a color factor which is substantially that of color factor Hunter b and the hair color classifications are percentages of grey.
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24. The apparatus according to claim 18, further characterized by means for identifying at least one of broad families of hair colors corresponding to values of a plurality of color factors in the coloration of said subject'"'"'s hair, said hair color classifications in said memory being arranged in divisions corresponding to said broad families of hair colors;
- and said means responsive to said values for comparing the values of said plurality of color factor values to determine a classification of said subject including means for locating the division of the hair color classifications in said memory associated with an identified family of hair colors and matching the measured color factors with the division corresponding to the at least one identified family.
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25. The apparatus according to claim 18, further characterized by means for identifying at least one of broad families of hair colors corresponding to values of a plurality of color factors in the coloration of said subject'"'"'s hair, said hair color classifications in said memory being arranged in divisions corresponding to said broad families of hair colors;
- and said means responsive to said values for comparing the values of said plurality of color factor values to determine a classification of said subject including means for locating the division of the hair color classifications in said memory associated with an identified family of hair colors and matching the measured color factors with the division corresponding to the at least one identified family.
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26. The apparatus according to claim 18, further characterized by a display for displaying a menu of action items affecting hair color and a database of the hair color classifications;
- and means for locating in the database hair coloring classifications associated with a selected menu action item and a determined classification of the hair color of said subject.
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27. A process for classifying a hair coloring agent, said process comprising:
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(a) measuring with a color measuring instrument the value of at least one color factor of said hair coloring agent, said at least one color factor being associated with a color characteristic of said hair coloring agent;
(b) providing a database of at least one preestablished range of values of the at least one color factor in association with the color characteristic; and
(c) classifying said hair coloring agent based on said measured value of said at least one color factor by comparing said measured value of said at least one color factor with the at least one preestablished range of color factor values within said database. - View Dependent Claims (64, 65)
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28. A process for classifying a hair coloring agent, said process comprising:
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(a) identifying a color characteristic of a hair coloring agent, when applied to a hair color sample, by measuring with a color measuring instrument the value of at least one color factor associated with the color characteristic of said hair coloring agent, when applied to a hair color sample of at least one hair color classification;
(b) providing a database of preestablished ranges of values of color factors associated with the color characteristics of hair coloring agents when applied to a hair color sample of said at least one hair color classification; and
(c) classifying said hair coloring agent based on said measured value of said at least one color factor associated with said color characteristic of said hair coloring agent, when applied to said hair color sample, by associating said identified color characteristic of said hair coloring agent with at least one range of color factor values within said database. - View Dependent Claims (61)
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29. A process for identifying a hair coloring agent for a subject, said process comprising the steps of:
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(a) identifying a color characteristic of said subject by measuring with a measuring instrument the value of at least one color factor associated with the color characteristic of said subject;
(b) providing a database of ranges of color factor values of hair coloring agents when applied to a hair color sample of at least one hair color classification and classifications of said color characteristic associated therewith in subjects other than said subject; and
(c) associating said color characteristic of said subject with at least one hair color classification within said database. - View Dependent Claims (30, 59, 60)
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31. A process for analyzing the hair color of a subject, said process comprising the steps of:
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(a) measuring with a measuring instrument the values of a plurality of color factors in the coloration of said subject'"'"'s hair;
(b) providing an indicator having a plurality of hair color classifications defining ranges of said color factors;
(c) comparing the measured values of said plurality of color factors in the coloration of said subject'"'"'s hair to said ranges of said color factors of said indicator, to indicate a classification of the hair color of said subject; and
(d) providing an indicator table of at least one classification of a hair coloring agent identified with the classification of the hair color of said subject indicated in step (c). - View Dependent Claims (32, 33)
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34. An apparatus for analyzing the hair color of a subject, said apparatus comprising:
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(a) an instrument for measuring the values of a plurality of color factors in the coloration of said subject'"'"'s hair;
(b) a memory having stored therein a plurality of hair color classifications defining ranges of values of said color factors;
(c) means responsive to said values of a plurality of color factors measured by said instrument and for comparing the values of said plurality of color factors in the coloration of said subject'"'"'s hair to said ranges of said color factors of hair color classifications in said memory, to indicate a classification of the hair color of said subject; and
(d) means for storing a table in memory of comparisons of a classification of hair coloring agent identifications with said indicated classification of the hair color of said subject. - View Dependent Claims (35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40)
(e) an indicator for indicating a menu of actions affecting hair color;
(f) said memory containing;
(i) a database of the hair color classifications, (ii) menu action items, and (iii) associated hair coloring agent identifications empirically determined to effect said menu action items; and
(g) means for locating in the database hair coloring agents associated with a selected menu action item and said classification of the hair of said subject as determined by said means of comparing.
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36. The apparatus according to claim 34, wherein the color factors are selected from at least two of a color factor which is substantially that of color factor Hunter L, a color factor which is substantially that of color factor Hunter b and a color factor which is substantially that of color factor Hunter a.
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37. The apparatus according to claim 34, wherein the color factors are a color factor which is substantially that of color factor Hunter L and a color factor which is substantially that of color factor Hunter a, and the hair color classifications are percentages of grey.
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38. The apparatus according to claim 34, wherein the color factors are a color factor which is substantially that of color factor Hunter L and a color factor which is substantially that of color factor Hunter b, and the hair color classifications are percentages of grey.
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39. The apparatus according to claim 34, further comprising means for identifying at least one of broad families of hair colors corresponding to said values of a plurality of color factors in the coloration of said subject'"'"'s hair, said hair color classifications in memory being arranged in divisions corresponding to said broad families of hair colors;
- and said means responsive to said values for comparing the values of said plurality of color factor values to determine a classification of the hair color of said subject including means for locating the division of the hair color classifications in memory associated with an identified family of hair colors and matching the measured color factors with the division corresponding to the at least one identified family.
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40. The apparatus according to claim 39, further comprising means for displaying a menu of action items affecting hair color;
- a database of the hair color classifications, menu action items and associated hair coloring agent identifications empirically determined to effect said menu action items, and means for locating in the database hair coloring agents associated with a selected menu action item and a determined classification of the hair color of said subject.
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41. An apparatus for identifying a hair coloring agent for a subject, said apparatus comprising:
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(a) means for identifying a color characteristic of said subject by measuring the values of a plurality of color factors associated with the color characteristic of said subject;
(b) a database of hair coloring agents and classifications defined by preestablished ranges of values of said color factors associated with the color characteristic of said subject; and
(c) means for associating said color characteristic of said subject with at least one classification within said database to identify a corresponding hair coloring agent. - View Dependent Claims (42, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72)
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43. An apparatus for classifying a hair coloring agent, said apparatus comprising:
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(a) means for measuring the value of at least one color factor of said hair coloring agent, said at least one color factor being associated with a preestablished range of values of said at least one color factor defining preestablished color classifications of hair coloring agents, (b) a database of at least one preestablished range of values of said at least one color factor associated with said color classifications;
(c) means for comparing the measured value of said at least one color factor of said hair coloring agent with the at least one preestablished range of color factor values in the database to determine the location of said measured value within said at least one preestablished range of values; and
(d) means for identifying from said location of said measured value the color classification of said hair coloring agent.
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44. An apparatus for identifying a hair coloring agent, said apparatus comprising:
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(a) means for measuring the value of at least one color factor associated with a color characteristic of a hair coloring agent;
(b) a database of color characteristics of hair coloring agents and preestablished ranges of values of said at least one color factor associated therewith; and
(c) means for comparing said measured value of said at least one color factor with said preestablished, ranges of values of said at least one color factor in said database to identify the location of said measured value of said at least one color factor within said preestablished ranges of values; and
(d) means for identifying said hair coloring agent from the color characteristic thereof associated with the range of values of said at least one color factor in said database identified by said comparing means.
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45. A process for analyzing the hair color of a subject, said process comprising the steps of:
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(a) compiling a group of lightness measure color factor value ranges in the hair color of subjects other than said subject, said lightness measure color factor being substantially that of color factor Hunter L; and
(b) associating with each lightness measure color factor value range a value of at least one further color factor for use in comparison with a measurement of the value of said at least one further color factor in the hair color of said subject having a lightness measure color factor value in said lightness measure color factor value range, said at least one further color factor having a value substantially that of at least one of color factors Hunter b and Hunter a, and the relationship between said lightness measure color factor value ranges and said associated color factor values being substantially as follows;
- View Dependent Claims (46)
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47. A method of identifying a hair color category for an individual, comprising the steps of:
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(a) measuring the value of at least one color factor associated with the skin color of said individual, and (b) comparing said measured value of said at least one color factor with a database of hair color categories, in which the hair color categories are defined by respective ranges of values of said at least one color factor, to identify the range of values of said at least one color factor within which the measured value of said at least one color factor of said individual lies; and
(c) identifying the hair color category of said individual defined by the range of values of said at least one color factor within said database in which said measured value of said at least one color factor lies.
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48. A process for classifying hair coloration of a subject, said process comprising the steps of:
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(a) measuring with a measuring instrument the value of at least one color factor associated with the skin color of the subject to determine a skin color classification, (b) measuring with a measuring instrument the value of at least one color factor associated with the hair coloration of the subject, (c) providing predetermined ranges of color factors associated with hair coloration of subjects which are compatible with at least two skin color classifications of subjects, (d) determining the compatibility of the subject'"'"'s hair coloration with the skin color classification by classifying the at least one measured color factor associated with the subject'"'"'s hair coloration into the one of the at least two skin color classifications based on said predetermined ranges. - View Dependent Claims (49, 50, 51)
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52. A process for classifying a hair coloring agent, said process comprising the steps of:
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(a) identifying a color characteristic of said hair coloring agent when applied to a hair color sample by measuring with a measuring instrument the value of at least one color factor associated with the color characteristic of said hair coloring agent when applied to a hair color sample of at least one hair color classification, said at least one color factor being selected from a color factor which is substantially that of color factor Hunter L and a color factor which is substantially that of color factor Hunter b and said at least one hair color classification being percentage of grey, and (b) classifying the hair coloring agent corresponding to said identified associated color characteristic by comparing the measured value of said at least one color factor with a range of preestablished values of said at least one color factor associated with said identified color characteristic of said hair coloring agent when applied to a hair color sample of said at least one hair color classification.
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53. A process for classifying a hair coloring agent, said process comprising the steps of:
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(a) measuring with a measuring instrument the value of at least one color factor associated with a color characteristic of a hair coloring agent when applied to a hair color sample having at least one hair color classification, said at least one color factor being selected from a color factor which is substantially that of color factor Hunter L and a color factor which is substantially that of color factor Hunter b and said at least one hair color classification being percentage of grey;
(b) identifying said associated color characteristic of said hair coloring agent based on said measured value of said at least one color factor; and
(c) classifying said hair coloring agent based on said identified associated color characteristic by comparing said measured value of said at least one color factor with a range of preestablished values of said at least one color factor associated with said identified color characteristic when applied to a hair color sample of said at least one hair color classification.
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54. A process for classifying a hair coloring agent, said process comprising the steps of:
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(a) identifying a color characteristic of said hair coloring agent when applied to a hair color sample by measuring with a measuring instrument the value of at least one color factor associated with the color characteristic of said hair coloring agent when applied to a hair color sample of at least one hair color classification, said at least one color factor being selected from a color factor which is substantially that of color factor Hunter L and a color factor which is substantially that of color factor Hunter a and said at least one hair color classification being percentage of grey, and (b) classifying said hair coloring agent by comparing the measured value of said at least one color factor with a range of preestablished values of said at least one color factor associated with said identified color characteristic of said hair coloring agent when applied to a hair color sample of said at least one hair color classification to identify the hair coloring agent corresponding to said identified color characteristic.
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55. A process for classifying a hair coloring agent, said process comprising the steps of:
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(a) measuring with a measuring instrument the value of at least one color factor associated with a color characteristic of said hair coloring agent when applied to a hair color sample having at least one hair color classification, said at least one color factor being selected from a color factor which is substantially that of color factor Hunter L and a color factor which is substantially that of color factor Hunter a and said at least one hair color classification being percentage of grey;
(b) identifying said associated color characteristic of said hair coloring agent based on said measured value of said at least one color factor; and
(c) classifying said hair coloring agent based on said identified associated color characteristic by comparing said measured value of said at least one color factor with a range of preestablished values of said at least one color factor associated with said identified color characteristic when applied to a hair color sample of said at least one hair color classification.
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56. An apparatus for classifying a hair coloring agent, comprising:
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(a) means for measuring the value of at least one color factor associated with a color characteristic of a hair coloring agent, said at least one color factor being selected from a color factor which is substantially that of color factor Hunter L, a color factor which is substantially that of color factor Hunter b and a color factor which is substantially that of color factor Hunter a;
(b) a database of color characteristics of hair coloring agents defined by preestablished ranges of values of said at least one color factor associated therewith; and
(c) means for using said measurement of said at least one color factor to classify a particular hair coloring agent by identifying said associated color characteristic within said database hair coloring agent.
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57. An apparatus for classifying a hair coloring agent, said apparatus comprising:
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(a) means for measuring the value of at least one color factor associated with a color characteristic of a hair coloring agent;
(b) a database of color characteristics of hair coloring agents and preestablished ranges of values of said at least one color factor of hair coloring agents associated therewith; and
(c) means for classifying said hair coloring agent based on said measured value of said at least one color factor by comparing said measured value of said at least one color factor with said preestablished ranges of values of said at least one color factor within said database, said at least one color factor being selected from a color factor which is substantially that of color factor Hunter L, a color factor which is substantially that of color factor Hunter b and a color factor which is substantially that of color factor Hunter a.
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58. A process for identifying a hair coloring agent for a subject, said process comprising the steps of:
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(a) identifying a color characteristic of said subject by measuring with a measuring instrument the value of at least one color factor associated with the color characteristic of said subject;
(b) providing a database of ranges of color factor values of hair coloring agents when applied to a hair color sample of at least one hair color classification and classifications of said color characteristic associated therewith in subjects other than said subject; and
(c) identifying said hair coloring agent for said subject based on said measured value of said at least one color factor associated with said color characteristic of said subject by associating said color characteristic of said subject with the database ranges of color factor values of hair coloring agents when applied to said at least one hair color classification.
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62. A process for classifying a hair coloring agent, said process comprising the steps of:
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(a) measuring with a color measuring instrument the value of at least one color factor associated with a color characteristic of a hair coloring agent;
(b) providing a database of color characteristics of hair coloring agents defined by preestablished ranges of values of said at least one color factor associated therewith; and
(c) classifying said hair coloring agent based on said measured value of said at least one color factor by comparing said measured value of said at least one color factor with said preestablished ranges of values of said at least one color factor within said database.
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63. A process for classifying a hair coloring agent, said process comprising the steps of:
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(a) measuring with a color measuring instrument the value of at least one color factor associated with a color characteristic of a hair coloring agent, when applied to a hair color sample having at least one hair color classification;
(b) providing a database of color characteristics of hair coloring agents, when applied to a hair color sample of said at least one hair color classification, and preestablished ranges of values of said at least one color factor associated therewith;
(c) identifying said associated color characteristic of said hair coloring agent from said database based on said measured value of said at least one color factor; and
(d) classifying said hair coloring agent based on said identified associated color characteristic.
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66. An apparatus for identifying a hair coloring agent for a predetermined effect on a subject, said apparatus comprising:
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(a) means for identifying a color characteristic of said subject by measuring the values of a plurality of color factors associated with the color characteristic of said subject;
(b) a database of hair coloring agents and associated classifications defined by preestablished ranges of values of said plurality of color factors as measured after application of said agents to at least one hair color sample; and
(c) means for identifying said hair coloring agent by associating said identified color characteristic of said subject with the preestablished ranges of color factor values of hair coloring agents in said database.
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Specification