HAIR EXTENSIONS WITH INCREASED DURABILITY AND LONGEVITY

Abstract

An improved hair extension includes a base portion that is oblique with respect to a horizontal reference. The hair strands coupled to the base portion define an oblique (e.g., non-perpendicular angle) with respect to the base. In this configuration, the hair strands fall vertically while the base is angled. This prevents undue stresses in the hair and in the base due to bending when traditional hair extensions are placed in a tilted manner and reduces unwanted bumps due to these inflection points.

Claims

1. A method of installing a hair extension section at an installation site of a wearer, the hair extension section comprising a base portion comprising a plurality of extension strands extending from the base portion at an oblique angle relative to a length of the base portion, the method comprising: selecting the installation site; sectioning, at the installation site, natural hair of the wearer at the oblique angle such that an upper section of natural hair is parted from a lower section of natural hair by an angled path that is angled with respect to a sagittal axis of the wearer; select the base portion from a set of base portions; preparing an adhesive for attachment of the base portion to the lower section of natural hair; aligning the base portion of the hair extension section with the angled path; placing the prepared adhesive against the lower section of natural hair to affix the hair extension section against the lower section of natural hair such that the plurality of extension strands fall parallel to strands of natural hair of the lower section of natural hair; and causing the adhesive to affix to the hair extension section against the lower section.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the base portion comprises a linear section and an angled section joined at a junction.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein aligning the base portion of the hair extension section with the angled path comprise aligning the angled section of the base portion with the angled path.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein causing the adhesive to affix to the hair extension comprises applying heat to the base portion.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the oblique angle is between thirty degrees and sixty degrees.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein preparing the adhesive for attachment comprises removing a backing layer of adhesive formed on the base portion.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein preparing the adhesive for attachment comprises heating the base portion.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein preparing the adhesive for attachment comprises applying pressure to the base portion.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein selecting the base portion from the set of base portions comprises selecting a respective base portion based on a respective oblique angle at which a respective plurality of extension strands extend from the respective base portion.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of extension strands comprise human hair with a common cuticle scale direction.

11. A method of installing a hair extension section at an installation site of a wearer, the hair extension section comprising a base portion comprising a first section and a second section and a plurality of extension strands extending from at least one of the first section or the second section at an oblique angle relative to the respective section of the base portion, the method comprising: sectioning, at the installation site, natural hair of the wearer at the oblique angle such that an upper section of natural hair is parted from a lower section of natural hair by an angled path that is at least partially angled with respect to a sagittal axis of the wearer; aligning at least one of the first section or the second section of the base portion of the hair extension section with the angled path; placing the base portion against the lower section of natural hair to affix the hair extension section against the lower section of natural hair such that the plurality of extension strands fall parallel to strands of natural hair of the lower section of natural hair; and affixing the hair extension section against the lower section at the installation site.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein at least one of the first section or the second section comprise a curved path part.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the first section defines a first angle with respect to the sagittal axis and the second section defines a second angle with respect to the sagittal axis, the second angle different from the first axis.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein affixing the hair extension section against the lower section at the installation site comprises sewing.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein affixing the hair extension section against the lower section at the installation site comprises applying a keratin-based glue to at least one of the hair extension section or the installation site.

16. A hair extension section comprising: a base portion comprising: a first section; and a second section; and a plurality of extension strands extending from at least one of the first section or the second section at an oblique angle relative to the respective section of the base portion.

17. The hair extension section of claim 16, wherein the base portion comprise fabric.

18. The hair extension section of claim 16, wherein the plurality of extension strands comprises natural hair with a common cuticle scale direction.

19. The hair extension section of claim 16, wherein the based portion comprises a keratin based adhesive.

20. The hair extension system of claim 16, wherein the oblique angle is between thirty and sixty degrees.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0034] Reference will now be made to representative embodiments illustrated in the accompanying figures. It should be understood that the following descriptions are not intended to limit this disclosure to one included embodiment. To the contrary, the disclosure provided herein is intended to cover alternatives, modifications, and equivalents as may be included within the spirit and scope of the described embodiments, and as defined by the appended claims.

[0035] FIGS. 1A-1B depict a profile view of a wearer wearing an oblique weft hair extension, such as described herein.

[0036] FIGS. 2A-2B depict oblique weft hair extension configurations.

[0037] FIGS. 2C-2D depict increased adhesive surface area resulting from an oblique orientation.

[0038] FIG. 3 depicts a U shaped oblique weft hair extension.

[0039] FIG. 4 depicts an embodiment of an oblique weft hair extension, such as described herein.

[0040] FIGS. 5A-5H depict example oblique weft hair extension configurations, such as described herein.

[0041] FIG. 6 depicts an example method of attaching an oblique weft hair extension.

[0042] The use of the same or similar reference numerals in different figures indicates similar, related, or identical items.

[0043] Additionally, it should be understood that the proportions and dimensions (either relative or absolute) of the various features and elements (and collections and groupings thereof) and the boundaries, separations, and positional relationships presented therebetween, are provided in the accompanying figures merely to facilitate an understanding of the various embodiments described herein and, accordingly, may not necessarily be presented or illustrated to scale, and are not intended to indicate any preference or requirement for an illustrated embodiment to the exclusion of embodiments described with reference thereto.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0044] Embodiments described herein relate to hair extensions. More specifically, embodiments described herein relate to hair extensions with an oblique base/extension strip with respect to the hair strands that is installed at an angle with respect to a wearer's sagittal plane.

[0045] Hair extensions are a popular option for persons looking to augment the appearance of natural hair. Extensions of various types can be installed to provide additional length, volume, color, and/or dimension, enabling a wider range of styling options. Extensions can be attached either temporarily, semi-permanently, or permanently, depending on desired effects, maintenance preferences, and the like. Temporary options may be favored for special occasions or short-term style changes, while longer-term installations may accommodate other preferences and style objectives.

[0046] As noted above, beyond adding length and volume, hair extensions may also provide an opportunity for more creative and varied hairstyling options to serve as a valuable tool for personal expression. Wearers and stylists can experiment with different hair textures, colors, and styles that may not be possible with natural hair alone.

[0047] Generally and broadly, hair extension pieces, bundles, or sections include a section of strands of natural hair or synthetic material. In many cases, although not required, sections include strands of natural human or animal hair oriented in a common cuticle scale direction. Each section or bundle of hair can be thereafter affixed or otherwise fastened to a substrate, carrier, adhesive, or other material that, in turn, can be coupled to a section of natural hair or a portion of a scalp of a wearer. In some cases, the carrier can affix to and stay attached to the wearer's scalp and/or hair section. In other cases, the carrier may be partially removed during or after installation (e.g., adhesive backing). In yet other embodiments, the carrier may be cured, melted, or otherwise chemically or structurally changed during installation (e.g., multi-part epoxy, cured keratin-based adhesive, heat-cured adhesive, the like). In other cases, other carrier constructions are possible. It may be appreciated that generally and broadly, different hair extension types may affix to a wearer's hair in different ways.

[0048] Example hair extension types include, clip-ins, tape-ins, sew-ins (also known as weave extensions), fusion extensions, microlink extensions, glue-in extensions, halo and/or flip-in extensions, and the like. Other hair extensions may be conventionally classified as wig parts, wiglets, hairpieces, lace-fronts, and the like.

[0049] Broadly, clip-in hair extensions are temporary extensions that can be mechanically attached to a natural hair section and removed at a later time without damage or permanent attachment to natural hair. Clip-in extensions are fitted with clips sewn into the base of extension strands (whether natural or synthetic or a combination thereof), allowing for faster installation than other extension types. Installation can typically involve sectioning natural hair, selecting an installation site, selecting a bundle of natural hair to couple the clip-in extension to, and clipping the extensions around the selected section, close to the root of the natural hair. Clips can be two-sided and may clamp around a sectioned natural hair bundle at selected installation site. In other cases, clips can be one-sided and may be folded/doubled-back to clamp around a sectioned natural hair bundle at a selected installation site. As noted above, clip-ins may be preferable for short-term use.

[0050] Tape-in extensions, broadly, are semi-permanent extensions and may be affixed to a natural hair section via adhesive strips, which may be supported by a carrier that can be referred to as a weft. As with other extension types, tape-in extensions may be made from human or animal hair, synthetic materials, or a combination thereof. Installation can include sectioning hair, selecting an installation site, selecting a section of natural hair at the installation site, and positioning an active side of an adhesive material over the sectioned natural hair bundle at the selected installation site. Tape-in extensions may be thinner and lower mass than clip-in extensions and can provide a more natural appearance, while offering a more comfortable experience to the wearer. In some cases, however, tape-in extensions can be manufactured with adhesives that cause damage to natural hair or can cause damage to natural hair on removal or repositioning.

[0051] Sew-in extensions, also known as weaves, can be installed by braiding or twisting natural hair tightly against the scalp and sewing the extensions into the braids. As with other extension types, strand materials can include human hair or synthetic fibers. Sew-in extensions include a fabric or synthetic carrier (which may be referred to as a weft) that serves to support individual strands of human hair, animal hair, or a synthetic material. In these configurations, the carrier (also referred to as a strip) can be sewn to individual braids or twists to permanently or semi-permanently couple the strands to the wearer. Sew-ins can last several weeks but require proper care to prevent damage to natural hair.

[0052] Generally and broadly, pre-bonded extensions can be attached to bundles of natural hair using a keratin-based adhesive that bonds extension strand bundles to the natural hair bundles. Localized heat may be used to melt the adhesive during installation. In other cases, heat may not be required and adhesive may be mechanically agitated by an ultrasonic transducer or by mechanical manipulation by a stylist or other installer. Fusion extensions offer a long-lasting and natural appearance, but the application process can be time-consuming and requires specialized tools and expertise to avoid thermal damage to natural hair.

[0053] Glue-in extensions, also referred to as bonded extensions, may be coupled to natural hair via application of an adhesive (e.g., powders, gels, and the like). Installation of glue-in extensions includes operations such as applying glue to a gathered base of a bundle of extension strands (optically activating the adhesive with heat, mechanical agitation or application of pressure, or mixture of one or more constituent materials or any combination thereof) and positioning the adhesive section against a selected section of natural hair. Such extensions can be made from either natural or synthetic fibers or strands. Glue-in extensions may be used for short-term wear, as adhesives may weaken over time and may require frequent maintenance.

[0054] Microlink extensions involve attaching small wefts of hair using silicone or metal beads that are mechanically clamped around natural hair to fasten thereto. Human hair or synthetic materials may be used for extension strands. The installation process involves selecting and threading small sections of natural hair through the beads. Thereafter, the beads may be clamped or crimped to hold the extensions in place.

[0055] Broadly, halo extensions (also referred to as flip-in extensions) leverage a thin wire to secure the hair extension around a wearer's head like a halo. The wire rests on top of the head, below one or more natural hair sections. To obscure the halo wire, natural hair may be pulled over it to conceal the extensions.

[0056] The foregoing example extension types are not exhaustive. Generally and broadly it may be appreciated that extension can be coupled mechanically or adhesively to a wearer's scalp or natural hair. Mechanical coupling techniques include clips, crimps, clamps, thread, and microlinks. Adhesive techniques include pre-bonded (tipped) extension bundles, bonded extension bundles (glue-in), or taped extension bundles.

[0057] In many cases, a bundle of extension hair (whether natural or synthetic) is supported by a length of material typically referred to as a carrier, a strip, or a weft. Examples of hair extension types that include a length of hair (as opposed to a small bundle) include tape-in extensions, clip-in extensions, and sew-in extensions.

[0058] For extensions that include a weft, conventional products orient the weft perpendicular to the length of the strands. This orientation supports mass manufacturing and a wide range of application sites and techniques.

[0059] However, a perpendicular orientation of a weft (whether that weft is configured for use as a sew-in weft, an adhesive tape weft, or a clip-in weft) has a limited area over which it can potentially bond to a selected section of natural hair. For example, if a conventional weft is 2 mm20 mm in potential contact area, a selected adhesive must be strong and durable enough to bond a 2 mm surface of each respective natural hair onto which the weft is bonded. Further still, unless the weft is installed in a manner that is directly parallel to the natural hair, a wearer brushing and/or styling will apply shear forces to the weft itself, potentially causing the extension to detach and/or separate.

[0060] More simply, if extension strands are not installed parallel to natural hairs, brushing of the extension will apply a shear force to the natural hair and likewise, brushing of the natural hair will apply a shear force to the extension. More realistically, a wearer will brush and style both natural hair and extension strands together, applying shear forces to the weft that can result in breakage of the adhesive bond or, in some cases, damage to underlying natural hair.

[0061] Further still, a conventional weft installed at an angle can induce strain and or deformation in the extension strands, as both styling and gravity cause the strands to bend. This can reduce the useful life of the extension considerably.

[0062] In view of the foregoing, it may be appreciated that conventional weft-based hair extensions have several disadvantages. First, a small available area for adhesive to interface with natural hair requires manufacturers of hair extensions to use high bond strength adhesives which may damage hair, may be or become uncomfortable to a wearer, or may damage natural hair. Second, unless installed parallel to natural hair, conventional weft-based hair extensions may introduce a risk of shear forces weakening the extension, the weft bond, or the natural hair. Third, unless installed parallel to natural hair conventional weft-based hair extensions may experience premature damage or wear, as the extension strands experience stresses. Further still, unless installed parallel to natural hair, conventional weft-based hair extensions introduce a visible bump at the installation site, which may not be suitable for all styles or preferences.

[0063] The embodiments described herein address these issues with conventional weft-based hair extensions by orienting the weft, and the strands attached to it, at an oblique angle. More generally, a weft/strip/carrier may be coupled to extension hair strands (whether natural or synthetic) at a non-perpendicular angle, for example at thirty degrees, forty five degrees, sixty degrees or any other suitable angle.

[0064] As may be appreciated, this arrangement provides a geometrically increased surface area for bonding to natural hair, which in turn can relax requirements for adhesive strength. More specifically, with an angled weft, a longer length of natural hair can interface with the adhesive, which in turn can permit the use of less aggressive adhesives that may be more comfortable for a wearer. In other cases, a longer bonding distance or greater bonding length with natural hair can serve to increase hold and/or durability.

[0065] Further still an oblique weft as described herein can be installed to installation sites at an angle (e.g., to obscure the extension from particular viewing angles), while remaining parallel to natural hair. As a result, brushing and/or styling of natural hair and extension strands does not introduce lateral stresses or strains or shear forces against the extension, the weft, or the natural hair.

[0066] Further still, an oblique weft as described herein occupies a smaller horizontal footprint; multiple oblique extensions can be installed in the same horizontal area to increase apparent volume.

[0067] The foregoing embodiments and advantages are not exhaustive. For example, although oblique weft hair extensions placed towards the front of the face are described above, other variations and positions are envisioned. In some cases, oblique weft hair extensions may be applied towards the neck and/or towards the top of a wearer's head, where differently-oriented hair extensions may allow for alternative placement of the obliquely-oriented extensions. In some cases, the hair extensions may be configured and oriented a U shaped, a V-shaped base, a zigzag, or any combination of non-perpendicular orientations of the base where the hair sits in an oblique or non-perpendicular angle with respect to the base.

[0068] These foregoing and other embodiments are discussed below with reference to FIGS. 1A-6. However, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that the detailed description given herein with respect to these figures is for explanation only and should not be construed as limiting.

[0069] FIG. 1A depicts an example oblique weft obliquely-oriented hair extension 102 positioned on a wearer 104. As depicted in this example, the obliquely-oriented hair extension 102 may define an angle .sub.1 with respect to a horizontal reference point. This angle .sub.1 may be any suitable angle that can be positioned along the wearer's head. As depicted, a carrier or base portion 106 of the obliquely-oriented hair extension 102 is oblique.

[0070] In this configuration, edges of the carrier or base portion 106 may be vertical to allow for an adjacent hair extension (e.g., a conventional hair extension) to abut to the oblique weft obliquely-oriented hair extension 102. The strands 108 (which may be natural, synthetic, human, or any suitable mixture thereof) of the obliquely-oriented hair extension 102 can be configured to fall vertically, relative to the longitudinal axis of the wearer 104. As depicted, in this configuration, natural fall direction of the strands 108 is oblique with respect to the carrier or base portion 106.

[0071] The carrier or base portion 106 can be formed from a number of suitable materials. Examples include, but are not limited to: fabric; synthetic material; organic material; plastics; acrylics; adhesives; multi-part adhesives; keratin-based adhesives; heat-sensitive adhesives; powdered adhesives; adhesive with a removable backing; and the like.

[0072] In some cases, the carrier or base portion 106 can include a first side and a second side. The first side may be configured to interface with and adhere to natural hair, the second side may be configured to interface with and adhere to extension strands, whether human, animal, or synthetic.

[0073] In some cases, the carrier or base portion 106 can be sewn into extension hair and/or natural hair. In some cases, the carrier or base portion 106 can be partially sewn and partially adhered to natural hair. Many configurations and constructions are possible.

[0074] FIG. 1B depicts another embodiment of an oblique weft hair extension 110. The oblique weft hair extension 110 may be configured and oriented an angle .sub.2 with respect to a horizontal reference point. As shown in this embodiment, .sub.2 may be a different angle than .sub.1. The angle of the oblique extension may be selected based on the user's head size, amount of hair, volume of hair, personal preferences, or the like.

[0075] These foregoing embodiments depicted in FIGS. 1A-1B and the various alternatives thereof and variations thereto are presented, generally, for purposes of explanation, and to facilitate an understanding of various configurations and constructions of a hair extension, such as described herein. However, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art that some of the specific details presented herein may not be required in order to practice a particular described embodiment, or an equivalent thereof.

[0076] Thus, it is understood that the foregoing and following descriptions of specific embodiments are presented for the limited purposes of illustration and description. These descriptions are not targeted to be exhaustive or to limit the disclosure to the precise forms recited herein. To the contrary, it will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art that many modifications and variations are possible in view of the above teachings.

[0077] For example, although the term weft is used to describe the attachment and/or fastening system for securing extension strands as described herein to natural hair, it may be appreciated that similar advantages can be achieved by use of adhesive lines, stripes, carriers, or other systems. For example, a chain of individual beads or microlinks can follow an oblique angle as described herein.

[0078] Further it may be appreciated that in some cases one or more different adhesives may be used, which may be keratin based or otherwise. For example, a first portion of a carrier can include a first adhesive and a second portion of the carrier can include a different adhesive of a different adhesive type.

[0079] FIG. 2A depicts an example oblique weft hair extension 200a. In this example, the hair extension 200 may define an angle with respect to a horizontal reference perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of a wearer. In this configuration, a first end of the hair extension 202a sits higher (with respect to the horizontal reference) than a second end 202b of the hair extension. Each hair strand 204 falls vertically (with respect to the page) and thus defines a non-perpendicular angle with respect to the base 202. While the base is shown as extending linearly between a first end 202a and a second end 202b, other intermediate shapes (e.g., arc, curve) are envisioned.

[0080] FIG. 2B depicts another example oblique weft hair extension 200b. In this example, the second end 202b of the base 202 may be at a higher position (with respect to the page) than the second end 202a, thereby defining its oblique feature. As shown in this example, the oblique weft hair extension 200b may be oriented at a different angle, such as a counterclockwise angle or negative angle with respect to the horizontal.

[0081] A different orientation of the angle allows wearers to use the oblique weft hair extensions 200b on different sides of the head. For example, if a downward angle (e.g., towards the car) is used, a mirror-image hair extension (e.g., having a negative angle with respect to the horizontal) may be used on the opposite side of the head. Depending on the type of hair extensions, the same hair extension may be used on both sides (flipped). However, in some embodiments (e.g., tape-in, clip in), the hair extension may be configured such that only one side is front-facing. In this case, the hair extensions may be configured and oriented different angles.

[0082] As described above, different orientations of a weft can serve to increase adhesive contact area with natural hair, while also increasing the variability of sites at which the extension can be installed. For example, FIG. 2C depicts a conventional weft 206 placed perpendicular to natural hair. In this example, contact area between the conventional weft 206 and the natural hair, and thus the adhesive potential and/or adhesive contact area, is defined by the width of the weft only. By contrast, as shown in FIG. 2D, an obliquely-oriented weft having similar dimensions can exhibit a lengthened adhesive contact area and thus has a greater adhesive potential in respect of natural hair to which the oblique weft 208 is configured to attached.

[0083] These foregoing embodiments depicted in FIGS. 2A-2B and 2D and the various alternatives thereof and variations thereto are presented, generally, for purposes of explanation, and to facilitate an understanding of various configurations and constructions of n obliquely-oriented weft, such as described herein. However, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art that some of the specific details presented herein may not be required in order to practice a particular described embodiment, or an equivalent thereof.

[0084] Thus, it is understood that the foregoing and following descriptions of specific embodiments are presented for the limited purposes of illustration and description. These descriptions are not targeted to be exhaustive or to limit the disclosure to the precise forms recited herein. To the contrary, it will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art that many modifications and variations are possible in view of the above teachings.

[0085] FIG. 3 depicts an example hair extension 300 following a U shape. As explained above, certain regions of the head, like the crown, may require the hair extension to wrap around. While the bumps are not as noticeable in these areas, creating the shape of a U often results in a bunched base of the hair extension and it does not mitigate the stresses due to the inflection points of the hair. A U shaped hair extension 300 may be configured and oriented a curved base 302 that predefines the shape of the hair extension. In this configuration, when the base is taut, it preserves its curved shape. Similar to the oblique extensions described above, hair strands 304 fall vertically (e.g., with respect to the page) and thus generally define an oblique angle with respect to the base. Likewise, adhesive potential is increased for certain areas of the U-shape, as natural hair in certain regions thereof overlaps a longer region than the thickness/width thereof.

[0086] FIG. 4 depicts an example hair extension 400 having a V shape. The V shape may be configured and oriented an oblique base 402 having two different orientations at an angle . As with the oblique weft hair extensions described above, the hair strands 404 fall vertically (with respect to the page) and thus define an oblique, non-perpendicular angle with respect to the base 402.

[0087] In some examples, a base of a hair extension may be configured and oriented zig-zag shape. The zig-zag shape may define an angle with respect to portions of the base. This shape may be beneficial to add additional hair strands to the head without adding additional rows of hair extensions. This configuration may also be beneficial to increase the surface area of base that is attached to the hair, thus mitigating the risk of the hair extension falling. As with the oblique weft hair extensions described above, the hair strands fall vertically (with respect to the page) and thus define an oblique, non-perpendicular angle with respect to the base.

[0088] FIGS. 6A-6H show example configurations of an oblique weft hair extension, such as described herein. The hair strands are indicated as downward arrows for simplicity. FIG. 5A depicts an example shape 502 where the hair extension defines an arc, where the inflection (and local maxima) is at the middle of the hair extension (e.g., curves downwards). FIG. 5B depicts an example 504 with a reverse V, where two oblique portions of the hair extension are inclined downwards with respect to a horizontal reference. While a same angle is shown for both portions, the angles may vary between portions.

[0089] FIG. 5C depicts an example 506, where a first portion of the hair extension defines an angle .sub.1 with respect to a horizontal and a second portion of the hair extension defines an angle .sub.2 with respect to the horizontal. In this example, angle .sub.1 is different from angle .sub.2.

[0090] FIG. 5D depicts an example 508, where the hair extension includes straight portions and curved portions. In this example, the curved portion may curve upwards. Example 610 from FIG. 5E, by contrast, has a straight portion with a curved portion that curves downwards. FIG. 5F depicts an example 612 that includes an oblique portion coupled to a curved portion. The oblique portion may define a clockwise angle with respect to the horizontal. FIG. 5G depicts another example 614 where the oblique portion defines a counterclockwise angle , and it is coupled to a curved portion.

[0091] FIG. 5H depicts an example 616 where the hair extension includes an oblique portion coupled to a straight portion. The oblique portion may define an angle with respect to the straight portion. This configuration may reduce the amount of time needed to abut hair extensions with respect to each other and may result in better transitions between hair extensions.

[0092] FIG. 6 depicts a method 600 of attaching oblique weft hair extensions. At operation 602, the angle of the oblique weft hair extension is selected. This selection may be based on the intended position of the oblique weft hair extension, the wearer's facial features, the wearer's head dimensions, and the like. At operation 604, hair is sectioned to create an angled path between hair parts. As described above, the angled path may correspond to the selected angle of the oblique weft hair extension. In some cases, having the same angled paths as the selected oblique weft hair extensions facilitates installation and prevents tilting of the hair extension to match the angled path.

[0093] At operation 606, the base portion of the oblique weft hair extension is positioned along the angled path. Upon confirmation of the appropriate position, at operation 608, the oblique weft hair extension may be attached using any appropriate coupler, depending on the type of hair extension.

[0094] As used herein, the phrase at least one of preceding a series of items, with the term and or or to separate any of the items, modifies the list as a whole, rather than each member of the list. The phrase at least one of does not require selection of at least one of each item listed; rather, the phrase allows a meaning' that includes at a minimum one of any of the items, and/or, at a minimum, one of any combination of the items, and/or, at a minimum, one of each of the items. By way of example, the phrases at least one of A, B, and C or at least one of A, B, or C each refer to only A, only B, or only C; any combination of A, B, and C; and/or one or more of each of A, B, and C. Similarly, it may be appreciated that an order of elements presented for a conjunctive or disjunctive list provided herein should not be construed as limiting the disclosure to only that order provided.

[0095] One may appreciate that although many embodiments are disclosed above, the operations and operations presented with respect to methods and techniques described herein are meant as exemplary and, accordingly, are not exhaustive. One may further appreciate that alternate operation order or fewer or additional operations may be required or desired for particular embodiments.

[0096] Although the disclosure above is described in terms of various exemplary embodiments and implementations, it should be understood that the various features, aspects, and functionality described in one or more of the individual embodiments are not limited in their applicability to the particular embodiment with which they are described, but instead can be applied, alone or in various combinations, to one or more of the some embodiments of the invention, whether or not such embodiments are described and whether or not such features are presented as being a part of a described embodiment. Thus, the breadth and scope of the present invention should not be limited by any of the above-described exemplary embodiments but is instead defined by the claims herein presented.