An applicator apparatus is adapted to individually and sequentially apply one or more hair bands to strands of hair. The applicator apparatus incorporates first and second band lifters which undergo a sequence of movements to engage hair bands supported by a band cartridge and advance the hair bands along the band cartridge for release on the strands of hair. The band cartridge supports the hair bands in spaced relation for sequential engagement of individual hair bands and maneuvering by the first and second hair band lifters.

A clip-on heat shield for use on a hair gathering accessory, such as a comb, is configured to be attached to the body of the hair gather accessory at a back edge of the hair gathering accessory. A void at an engagement edge of the clip-on heat shield is configured to frictionally engage the back edge of the hair gathering accessory to retain the clip-on heat shield on the hair gathering accessory

In a hair styling device (20), a light emitting diode (33) is configured to deliver optical energy to hair, wherein an energy fluence of the optical energy is between 0.5 and 9 J/cm.sup.2, and more preferably between 1 and 5 J/cm.sup.2. The light emitting diode (33) is pulse-driven, and a pulse width of the optical energy is at least 50 ms. An output wavelength of the optical energy may be between 400 and 900 nm. The pulse width of the optical energy is preferably between 50 and 300 ms. The hair styling device (20) may comprise an optical shield (32) configured to block stray light during light exposure of the hair. An inner surface of the optical shield (32) may be reflective and/or may have a parabolic shape. The optical shield (32) may be movable between an open position in which a lock of hair can be placed in the hair styling device (20) while the optical energy is not applied, and a closed position in which light is prevented from escaping the hair styling device (20) while the optical energy is applied to the hair. The hair styling device may be a hair straightener having opposing first and second straightening surfaces, of which at least the first straightening surface comprises the light emitting diode (33), and at least the second straightening surface is arranged for reflecting light from the light emitting diode (33).

In a hair styling device (20), a light emitting diode (33) is configured to deliver optical energy to hair, wherein an energy fluence of the optical energy is between 0.5 and 9 J/cm.sup.2, and more preferably between 1 and 5 J/cm.sup.2. The light emitting diode (33) is pulse-driven, and a pulse width of the optical energy is at least 50 ms. An output wavelength of the optical energy may be between 400 and 900 nm. The pulse width of the optical energy is preferably between 50 and 300 ms. The hair styling device (20) may comprise an optical shield (32) configured to block stray light during light exposure of the hair. An inner surface of the optical shield (32) may be reflective and/or may have a parabolic shape. The optical shield (32) may be movable between an open position in which a lock of hair can be placed in the hair styling device (20) while the optical energy is not applied, and a closed position in which light is prevented from escaping the hair styling device (20) while the optical energy is applied to the hair. The hair styling device may be a hair straightener having opposing first and second straightening surfaces, of which at least the first straightening surface comprises the light emitting diode (33), and at least the second straightening surface is arranged for reflecting light from the light emitting diode (33).

A hair styling apparatus includes a body forming one or more cavities, the body having one or more doors to provide access to the one or more cavities; one or more cartridge heaters removably secured within the one or more cavities; a control system having one or more controls and electrically engaged with the one or more cartridge heaters to activate the one or more cartridge heaters; and a heat transfer element engaged with the one or more cartridge heaters to transfer heat from the one or more cartridge heaters to a user's hair; the one or more cartridge heaters provide power and heat to the hair styling apparatus.

A hair styling apparatus includes a body forming one or more cavities, the body having one or more doors to provide access to the one or more cavities; one or more cartridge heaters removably secured within the one or more cavities; a control system having one or more controls and electrically engaged with the one or more cartridge heaters to activate the one or more cartridge heaters; and a heat transfer element engaged with the one or more cartridge heaters to transfer heat from the one or more cartridge heaters to a user's hair; the one or more cartridge heaters provide power and heat to the hair styling apparatus.

A hair styling apparatus includes a top arm and a bottom arm each having a handle end and a tip end opposite the handle end. The top arm and the bottom arm are rotatably connected at the handle ends for relative movement from an open position to a closed position. The apparatus also includes a top plate disposed on the top arm adjacent the top arm's tip end and having a top main surface, and a bottom plate disposed on the bottom arm adjacent the bottom arm's tip end and having a bottom main surface that, in the closed position, contacts the top main surface, the top main surface and the bottom main surface complementarily curve as they extend away from the handle end towards the tip end.

A hair styling apparatus includes a top arm and a bottom arm each having a handle end and a tip end opposite the handle end. The top arm and the bottom arm are rotatably connected at the handle ends for relative movement from an open position to a closed position. The apparatus also includes a top plate disposed on the top arm adjacent the top arm's tip end and having a top main surface, and a bottom plate disposed on the bottom arm adjacent the bottom arm's tip end and having a bottom main surface that, in the closed position, contacts the top main surface, the top main surface and the bottom main surface complementarily curve as they extend away from the handle end towards the tip end.

A hair styling appliance includes first and second heating plates operatively connected for pivotal displacement relative to one another such that a hair segment positioned between them can be styled. A glide-speed sensing system generates an output having a relation to a speed with which the hair segment is displaced relative to the first and second heating plates. A glide-speed indicating system can communicate feedback to a user, based on the output, such as an indication of a glide speed of the hair styling appliance relative to the associated hair segment. A user input device can receive an input from the user regarding a hair-type classification and/or a hair-condition classification and generate a hair-related output having a relation to the input from the user. A processor communicatively coupled with the user input device can be programmed to determine a predetermined maximum treatment temperature and/or a predetermined glide speed range, based at least partially on the hair-related output from the user input device.

A hair styling appliance includes first and second heating plates operatively connected for pivotal displacement relative to one another such that a hair segment positioned between them can be styled. A glide-speed sensing system generates an output having a relation to a speed with which the hair segment is displaced relative to the first and second heating plates. A glide-speed indicating system can communicate feedback to a user, based on the output, such as an indication of a glide speed of the hair styling appliance relative to the associated hair segment. A user input device can receive an input from the user regarding a hair-type classification and/or a hair-condition classification and generate a hair-related output having a relation to the input from the user. A processor communicatively coupled with the user input device can be programmed to determine a predetermined maximum treatment temperature and/or a predetermined glide speed range, based at least partially on the hair-related output from the user input device.