Patent Picks— Natural and Sensory-Enhanced Hair Straightening, Skin Actives, Device-guided Regimens and More

Chosen biweekly for their relevance to personal care, Patent Picks are taken from publicly available sources. This edition features patents related to ethnic hair and skin care.

Device-guided custom hair treatments
WIPO Patent Application WO/2012/127429
Publication date: Sept. 27, 2012
Assignees: Coloright Ltd., B. Landa, E. Miklatzky, S. Abramovich, Y. Mazuz, A. Krassilnikov, E. Benny, G. Davara, C. Ofek, E. Ishkov, L. Shahar and D. Mandelik

Disclosed in this patent are novel systems and methods for performing treatments, e.g., coloration, on keratinous fibers. The systems utilize one or more dispensing devices. An optical reader may be incorporated to obtain sufficient characteristics of the keratinous fibers to make a realistic prediction of the outcome of a treatment. In addition, computational units are interfaced for selecting a customized treatment. The formulations employed are in a rapidly disintegrating tablet form and are used to prepare the desired composition. Characteristics recorded by the optical reader predetermine factors such as alkalizing agent and oxidizing agent concentration; color-imparting agent concentrations; temperature, viscosity and diameter of hair; condition of hair and its cuticles; ethnicity and exposure duration, among others.

FP antagonists to inhibit hair growth, pigmentation
US Patent Application 20120245205
Publication date: Sept. 27, 2012
Inventors: M.A. Delong and E.A. Olsen

Described in this invention is a method for inhibiting hair growth in mammals using compositions containing FP receptor antagonists, e.g., prostaglandin F analogs that are block activation of the FP receptor. The compositions can be applied topically to the skin and/or hair to arrest hirsutism or hypertrichosis, reverse hirsutism and hypertrichosis, and further prevent hair growth. These compositions also can be used to protect hair from chemical or radiation-induced alopecia or hair loss, and to inhibit pigmentation of the hair or skin.

Cosmetically treating caspase-14 deficiency
WIPO Patent Application WO/2012/122091
Publication date: Sept. 13, 2012
Assignees: ELC Management LLC, H.A. Corstjens, L. Declercq, G. Eyckmans and L.F.J. Van Overloop

The present invention involves activating capsase-14 in skin deficient in its expression by applying, on at least one skin zone, an effective amount of a plant extract selected from the group consisting of: litchi, glasswort, peach, soja seed, sweet basil, cucumber, chanterelle, leek, kiwi fruit, rhubarb, grapefruit, wheat, raspberry, plum, and mixtures thereof for cosmetic purposes. According to the inventors, Asian, and particularly Japanese skin, has been found to generally have decreased levels of caspase-14 activity, compared with Caucasian skin. Caspase-14 controls maturation of the epidermis.

Imaging to recommend products based on skin color
European Patent EP2131697
Publication date: Sept. 12, 2012
Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.

Embodiments of the present invention utilize a computer-implemented method for recommending a product based on skin color estimated from an image. A skin color estimate is generated from an image that is compared with a classification color. A correlation between the classification color and at least one product is accessed, then at least one of the products correlated with the classification color is recommended.

Neutralizing and coloring hair
US Patent 8256436
Publication date: Sept. 4, 2012
Assignee: Strength of Nature, LLC

Disclosed in this patent is a method for simultaneously neutralizing and coloring relaxed hair. The method involves contacting the relaxed hair with one or more applications of a neutralizer colorant mousse composition comprising: a) a mousse concentrate incorporating water, an acid and a surfactant; b) a colorant; and c) one or more propellants, wherein the hair is not massaged or kneaded while the composition is in contact with the relaxed hair. A substantially durable color is imparted to the hair from the composition, and the hair exhibits at least about 20% fewer broken hair fibers compared to hair that has been neutralized with a shampoo neutralizer product. The final step involves rinsing the composition from the relaxed hair.

Natural straightening, breakage-free hair formulation
US Patent Application 20120219518
Publication date: Aug. 30, 2012
Inventors: G. Serra

This invention comprises several all natural hair and skin products based on shea butter. The formulas further include a blend of essential oils, olive and castor oils and other natural ingredients including tea tree oil, rosemary oil, wild chamomile, clary sage, ylang-ylang, oleoresin of frankincense, myrrh, mandarin, geranium, peppermint, rosemary, cedarwood, castile soap, vegetable glycerin and sugar cane. Benefiting all ethnic hair types, the products for natural African hair, i.e., not chemically altered with relaxer or texturizer, are applied with heat through a series of treatments so hair can be worn straight like relaxed hair but without breakage, scalp burns or allergic scalp reactions. The health and integrity of the hair is supported by the synergy between ingredients, which allows hair growth and regeneration of broken hairlines.

Topical hyperpigmentation treatment
US Patent 8247395
Publication date: Aug. 21, 2012
Assignee: Galderma S.A.

Disclosed in this patent is a cream base for the topical application of skin care therapeutics and a process for making the cream base. In one embodiment, the therapeutic is tretinoin, hydroquinone and fluocinolone acetonide for the treatment of hyperpigmented skin conditions, such as melasma.

Sensorially enhanced hair straightening system
WIPO Patent Application WO/2012/105985
Publication date: Aug. 9, 2012
Assignee: A. Syed

The disclosed hair straightening system is directed to removal of natural curl from hair having a visibly wavy to tight curly configuration using methods and compositions that provide straightened hair that retains desirable sensory tactile properties and hair sheen. The invention is particularly suited to straightening hair having a curl configuration classified as resistant to conventional hair straightening.

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