Hair treatment device and method

Apparatus for treatment of a tress of hair including a lengthwise contractible cylindrical tube open at at least one end and being formed such that contraction thereof lengthwise from a first lengthwise state to a second lengthwise state causes a transverse dimension of the tube to increase from a first dimension to a second dimension, said tube when in the first lengthwise state being manually preformable into a determined form to impart a desired form to the tress of hair contained within the tube, and further including first and second means for locating respectively at desired first and second locations at a first spacing along the length of the tube and operable to prevent at each of said first and second locations lengthwise displacement of a tress of hair relative to the tube, and means to secure said first and second means relative to one another such that the first and second locations are spaced at a second spacing less than said first spacing thereby causing the tube between said locations to increase to said second transverse dimension.

A method of treatment of a tress of hair, comprising the steps of:

• inserting the tress of hair into a lengthwise contractible cylindrical tube while the tube is in a lengthwise contracted state, said tress of hair extending lengthwise through the tube and said tube having a characteristic property such that a transverse dimension of the tube increases as a lengthwise dimension thereof is decreased;
• extending the tube from the contracted state;
• and causing the extended tube containing the tress of hair to assume a determined form to impart a desired formation to the tress of hair contained with the tube.

A hair engaging hook constructed for use with a hair treatment device including a lengthwise contractible cylindrical tube open at at least one end, said tube being formed such that contraction of the tube lengthwise from a first lengthwise state to a second lengthwise state causes a transverse dimension of said tube to increase from a first dimension to a second dimension;

• and said tube when in the first lengthwise state being manually preformable into a determined form to impart a desired form to said tress of hair contained within said tube, including a hook member having an outer profile and a hair engaging tooth having a free end extending inwards from the outer profile.