BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the field of treating hair, and more particularly, but not exclusively, to that of shampooing washes carried out in salons.

INTRODUCTION

People have characteristics of hair which differ from one person to the next. Thus, they need products to be adapted to the particular features of their hair.

Hairdressing salons need to carry out shampooing washes, generally before haircuts, hair styling, permanent wave, or after dyeing and bleaching operations.

The person who is in charge of this operation, hereinafter referred to as shampooer, seeks to optimize the use of their products to wash the clients' hair. Thus, he or she wishes to use the correct product with the correct level of washing, but also of treatment.

For the first aspect, he or she doses the amount of product to use, using a lot of product (more than 10 g for example) for a lot of hair, and less product for short hair. He or she also doses the amount depending on the degree of cleanliness of the hair, possibly for example applying more product or carrying out a succession of applications if the scalp is especially greasy. Thus, the shampooer tries to remove as much sebum as possible in order to cleanse the scalp and hair. On the contrary, if the client has a not very greasy scalp and/or washes their hair frequently, the shampooer may reduce the amount applied.

In these operations, the shampooer adjusts the amount of product, but rarely the formulation used. This is because it is difficult to know what is the best product to use based on a simple visual assessment of the situation. The shampooer therefore tends to use the same “normal” product and to vary the effect by adjusting the amount applied.

In this way, the shampooer solves the problem of washing but loses time, having to reapply products in some cases or having to spend a lot of time rinsing if the amount of shampoo applied is too great. Moreover, it is known that surfactants may, when they are used in too great an amount, become irritating. Thus, the shampooer may cause their client discomfort without wishing to do so.

There is also the problem of adapting the product to the quality of the hair. If the hair is damaged, it is preferable to use a product which is concentrated in care active agents, such as cationic polymers or carbon-based and/or silicone oils. Hair which is difficult to disentangle requires shampoos rich in cationic polymers and carbon-based oils. Hair which is coarse or dull (once dry) requires shampoos rich in silicone. The shampooer has difficulty knowing what is the best product based on their assessment, in particular when the hair is mixed (contains several levels of sensitization). As above, he or she tends to choose a standard product but he or she knows that he or she may incorrectly dose the treatment effect. He or she may then rectify this by applying a second product, but this operation also takes time.

In theory, it would be necessary for the shampooer to have a range of different products with higher or lower doses of surfactants, cationic polymers, and carbon-based or silicone oils. However, the number of combinations means that this is not very practical. Moreover, the shampooer must carry out several tests and keep that which is the most suitable on a client-by-client basis.

The problem also exists with conditioners. In general, conditioner is used when long or damaged hair has a disentangling problem. Yet, this problem depends on the quality and amount of hair but also on the shampoo used. A very basic shampoo, in the sense that it does not contain many, or any, cationic polymers, makes hair coarse after rinsing the shampoo. This problem is reduced if the shampoo contains cationic polymers. Thus, the shampooer must find the conditioner suited to their client and to the shampoo that he or she uses. In this way, in the event of an error in terms of using a poorly suited conditioner formulation, he or she may cause an inconvenience: If he or she has used an insufficiently treating conditioner, he or she must carry out another application of conditioner after the first. If he or she has used a conditioner which is too treating, the client risks having heavy hair which looks weighed down.

It is also known that some heads of hair require particular application procedures, involving a particular shampoo, and at least one second particular treatment, such as conditioner or pre-shampoo. The difficulty is first of all to find the best succession of products, then to remember this in order to use it again when the client returns. If it is possible to remember this, it is then necessary to find the products again and follow the procedure. This takes time, and because of this, in some salons, it is preferred not to seek these optimal successions.

Also, as it happens, it is customary to rinse between the application of two products, for example between shampoo and conditioner. The necessary rinsing time is not actually known. Thus, a lot of rinsing is often carried out whereas for some models this rinsing is not really necessary, or even beneficial.

Thus, there is a problem for the shampooer in choosing product, formula and amount to be used during the washing phase and during the care phase. In particular, a solution is sought which enables the shampooer to rapidly carry out the treatment without losing time rectifying when the product used has proven poorly suited, without risking the scalp of the client becoming irritated because of a shampoo containing too many surfactants, whether the hair is not treated enough, or too heavily treated, then presenting difficulties with disentangling, a coarse, dull, or weighed-down appearance.

A device making it possible to introduce a cosmetic product such as a soap into the supply of a shower head is known from US 2006/0011746 A1. An adjustment means makes it possible to vary the amount of product aspirated by Venturi effect to be mixed with the water.

US 2008/0301869 A1 discloses a device comprising a pressure booster to raise the pressure of the water before conveying it to a dispensing device. In one embodiment example, a source of soap (or of another product) is provided to deliver soap which is mixed with the water downstream of the pressure booster and upstream of the dispensing device. No adjustments of the amount of soap being mixed with the water is provided, other than all or nothing, namely the presence of soap or absence of soap in the water dispensed. In one variant, a source of soap is carried by the dispensing device.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,563,780 describes an automated bathroom making it possible to record different temperatures, water levels, and flow rates for various members of the family. A soap may be introduced into the water dispensed upstream of the faucets delivering water to the users.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

There is consequently a need to remedy this situation, and the invention aims to respond thereto by virtue of a system for treating the hair, to be connected to a water inlet, comprising:at least one source of a product,a water-dispensing device to convey the water, optionally loaded with product, to the hair,an adjustment device making it possible to inject, into the water, the product originating from said at least one source of product and to vary the content of product originating from this source in the water conveyed to the hair by the dispensing device and/or the amount of product conveyed to the hair by the dispensing device.

Preferably, this adjustment may assume at least one intermediate value between minimum and maximum content and/or amount values. In other words, the adjustment is not all or nothing.

Preferably, the system also comprises a pressure booster to increase the pressure of the water at the inlet of the dispensing device beyond the pressure of the water at the inlet of the system.

The dispensing device which is supplied by a high-pressure water source by virtue of a pressure booster present upstream may comprise at least two nozzles which generate jets, preferably convergent jets, which collide in order to reduce the speed thereof and to transfer this kinetic energy into a reduction in the size of the droplets; this makes it possible to have a resultant jet which wets while having low water consumption; it is particularly advantageous to have low water consumption since this facilitates the dosing of the products used to treat the hair.

It is also particularly advantageous to have low water consumption for salons which are not connected to mains water supplies, or which are connected to sporadic mains water supplies.

It is also particularly advantageous to have low water consumption to reduce the effect of the water on the hair when the latter has been treated beforehand by treatments which have deposited an active compound such as a dye compound, disentangling compound, or shine-improving compound. These compounds are often sensitive to water and the use of a weak stream of water may limit the removal of these compounds.

By virtue of the invention, it is possible to vary the content of products in the water in real-time in order to facilitate, for the shampooer, the determination of the best washing and/or treatment for the hair of the person to be treated, without applying too much product and risking inconveniencing the person to be treated. The user may more readily determine the treatment suited to the hair of the person whose hair is treated, especially cleansed.

The system may comprise a user interface enabling said user:to select a setting, the system being configured to act on the adjustment device as a function of the selected setting, and/orto input at least one item of information relating to a treatment result obtained with the selected setting.

The system may make it possible to vary a usage characteristic of a product. “Usage characteristic” should be understood to mean at least one condition of use of the product enabling it to exert its action: This may for example be the concentration of the product within a treatment solution distributed on the hair by the system, the amount of product used, the content thereof relative to another product used jointly, and/or a sequence of use of this product, especially if it is used before or after another product or with or without rinsing.

“Treatment result” should be understood to mean a result associated at least in part with the use of the product. This may be the degree of cleansing, the foaming strength, the speed of foaming, or a disentangling, smoothing, conditioning or care strength, etc.

The invention gives the shampooer the possibility to seek the best products for their client.

The invention enables the user to carry out adjustment tests, and once satisfied with the results, to record the products used and the conditions of use of these products, especially the amounts, concentrations and/or usage context, for example with or without rinsing or use of pre-shampoo or conditioner.

The information recorded may then be used to determine catalog products making it possible to reproduce the results or come close thereto, and/or to reproduce the treatment upon returning to the salon.

They may also make it possible to hone the treatment to come close to an optimal result, by noting, bit by bit, the change in the results as a function of the treatments. Thus, the system may be arranged to propose a new setting as a function on the one hand of recorded data relating to results previously observed and the corresponding treatment conditions, and on the other hand a request expressed by the client and/or the user and input into the system.

The system may be arranged to enable the user to input information thereon relating to the hair to be treated, for example length, consistency, colour, dyeing, relaxing or permanent-wave history, styling habits, regular use of heating systems, state of the hair, etc., and to take these indications into account in the proposals made of settings. The system may further use the information input to modify settings stored in memory for a given client, in order to take account of changes in their hair since the previous visit to the salon; for example, the system is arranged to modify the amounts of water and/or product(s) conveyed to the hair as a function of the change in the length thereof since the previous visit to the salon. For example, if the hair is shorter due to a haircut carried out after the last washing operation, the system may reduce the amounts of water and of products used. The system may be arranged to enable the shampooer to input an item of information regarding the length of the hair, for example the length in cm thereof. As a variant, the system is arranged to measure it automatically, by virtue, for example, of one or more sensors fitted in the sink.

The system may comprise a means to store at least one setting in memory. This may be an electronic or computer memory, for example a memory of SSD drive type, or hard drive or shared drive, commonly referred to as “cloud”. The information may be stored in memory in the system itself, in a circuit board located close to the washing sink, or on a remote server, present in the salon or outside same. When the system is used to automatically or semi-automatically generate a setting based on data stored in memory, it is advantageous to give the system access to the salon's booking system so as to know the identity of the person treated from this booking system, which avoids having to input it into the system; in semiautomatic operation, the system may be arranged to display, on the user interface, the identity of the person as determined by accessing the booking system, in order to enable the shampooer to confirm this information before starting the treatment; it may also be preferable for the system to recall the treatment that it is preparing to carry out automatically, in order to enable the shampooer to input a confirmation.

The user interface may be arranged to make it possible to input at least two items of information, relating respectively to at least two different criteria for evaluating the result of the treatment, into the system. This may be a result during the treatment itself, for example the foaming strength and the speed of foaming, or a result obtained after rinsing but while the hair is still wet, for example the softness of the hair and the ability to disentangle it, or a result estimated when the hair is dry. The result may be estimated by the user visually and/or by touching with the fingers; the user may optionally have available one or more accessories or apparatus making instrument-based evaluation possible; in this case the apparatus used may be linked to the system to enable it to analyse the corresponding data. In this case, it is considered that the use of the apparatus by the shampooer equates to input by said shampooer of an item of information relating to a treatment result, even if this information input is carried out automatically.

The system preferably comprises a means for generating a product recommendation and/or a treatment recommendation at least based on the knowledge of the setting selected and of said at least one item of information input by the user relating to the treatment result. This means comprises, for example, a computer program which accesses product data containing information regarding results that different products make it possible to obtain on the hair, and also regarding the link between these products and the formulation tested on the person who is being treated.

The system is preferably arranged to enable the user to input a preference of the person treated regarding a result to be obtained. The system may then favor, in its recommendation, a product which makes it possible to obtain the desired result, compared to other criteria to be met.

The system is advantageously arranged to generate an indication regarding the conditions of use of a product, as a function of data previously input into the system, enabling it to anticipate the effect of a condition of use of a product on the result obtained; this is for example the system's knowledge of a variation in the treatment strength, for example disentangling strength, of a product as a function of the amount of water used for rinsing.

The system is advantageously arranged in order to control not only the amount of each product which is sent to the hair, but also the amount of water which is dispensed; knowledge of the amount of water dispensed may be useful especially when the water and the product(s) are dispensed on the hair while the outlet of the sink is closed, since this makes it possible to more readily determine the concentration of each product in the solution present in the sink.

The user interface is preferably produced so as to enable the user to modify numerous treatment parameters, in order to carry out a multitude of tests, and thereby to determine the best treatment conditions.

The adjustment device may thus be arranged to enable the proportion of a product in the dispensed solution to be controlled continuously or in steps, for example of 25% or less.

The adjustment device is preferably arranged so that the content of a product injected into the water may vary for example between 0.3 and 20% by weight, or even between 0.3 and 10%.

The system may be arranged to dispense an amount of a product and/or a product with a given concentration, selected by the user prior to the dispensing of the product, in order to test or to use a predefined formulation. For example, the user selects, on the user interface, the concentration of the product and the latter is dispensed with said concentration.

As a variant, the system is arranged to dispense at least one product with a concentration which is variable over time, especially during a session at the sink or from one appointment to another, so as to enable the user to carry out tests at different concentrations, or with different amounts, of product. When the concentration and/or the amount varies during the session at the sink during the same appointment, the user may make use of this to test the solution dispensed on several distinct parts of the hair, and determine, in light of a result on each of these parts of the hair, the concentration and/or the amount of product most suited to obtaining the desired result.

The system may be arranged to propose at least one program referred to as “wash test”.

The system is then arranged such that, during the execution of such a program, the system conveys a variable proportion, for example an increasing proportion, of a product into the dispensing device. In this way, if the shampooer sees that the product is foaming correctly on the hair and/or washing correctly, he or she may stop the dispensing and/or identify the optimal point during this test program. The system may be arranged to store in memory the total amount of product conveyed, for example after carrying out an integration. The system may be arranged to subsequently propose several implementations with the same amount of product, but distributed according to different programming and/or over a different period of time. For example, the shampooer will have varied the injection of the product into the stream of water according to an increasing mode, starting from a proportion of product of 0% and regularly increasing the percentage by 0.25% every second. If the shampooer identifies that, after 16 seconds, the foam obtained is satisfactory, he or she may then stop the system. By integration, the system calculates that the amount of product injected during the test corresponds to a regular supply at 2% over 16 seconds. Starting from this information, the system will be able to propose several implementations:An equivalent implementation (from 0% to 4% in 16 seconds according to a mode increasing by 0.25% per second),another implementation such as a regular injection mode (for example, 2% for 16 seconds, 4% for 8 seconds),another implementation such as an increasing or decreasing injection mode but which is different from the mode used during the test.

The system may be arranged to propose, to the user, a program referred to as “wash test”, consisting in conveying a variable proportion, for example an increasing or decreasing proportion, automatically or at the shampooer's request, of a product relative to another into pipes of the system with a view to dispensing it by the dispensing device. It is then possible for the shampooer to sense the proportion most satisfactory to him or her, for example by touching the hair during the conveying. In this way, if the shampooer sees that the product is foaming correctly on the hair and/or washing correctly, he or she may stop the test program and/or identify the optimal point. The system then retains the total amount of product conveyed, for example after carrying out an integration, and will then be able to propose several implementations with the same amount of product, but distributed according to different programming and/or over a different period of time, as mentioned above.

A program variant which may be proposed to the user by the system, consists in conveying two or more than two products in a given relative proportion into the pipes, and in increasing the proportion conveyed of a product relative to the other or the proportion of this mixture in the water, automatically or at the shampooer's request. It is then possible for the shampooer to sense the proportion most satisfactory to him or her, for example by touching the hair during the conveying. In this way, if the shampooer sees that the product is foaming correctly on the hair and/or washing correctly, he or she stops the program and/or identifies the optimal point. The system will then retain the satisfactory parameters, for example the total amount of the mixture of products conveyed, for example after carrying out an integration, and will then be able to propose several implementations with the same amount of product, distributed according to different programming and/or over a different period of time. For example, the shampooer will have varied the injection of two products into the stream of water according to an increasing mode for one and a regular mode for the other, starting from a proportion of product of 0% and regularly increasing the percentage by 0.25% every second for the first and by 4% for the second. If the shampooer identifies that, after 16 seconds, the foam obtained is satisfactory, he or she may then stop the system. By integration, the system calculates that the amount of product injected during the test corresponds to a regular supply at 2% over 16 seconds for the first and 4% over 16 seconds for the second. Starting from this information, the system will be able to propose conveying the two products in a 2/4 ratio under different implementations:an equivalent implementation (for the first product: from 0% to 4% in 16 seconds according to a mode increasing by 0.25% per second and for the second 4% over 16 seconds),other implementations such as, for example, a mode of regular injection of the two products in a 2/4 ratio.

The system preferably makes it possible to input information relating to the result obtained after the washing. In particular, the system may have information input relating to rinsing parameters, in order to be able to reuse them subsequently. The shampooer may then find the optimal rinsing depending on whether he or she wishes for the hair to be perfectly clear or to still carry some traces of product and thereby obtain an effect.

During rinsing, he or she may thus input information into the system relating to the quality of the hair and the speed of rinsing. The system may be arranged to take account thereof in order to modify settings or suggest testing new settings. The same applies during combing and an optional application of another shampoo, conditioner, mask, or other products, and other hair treatment steps such as haircutting, hair setting, blow drying, straightening, etc.

Thus, if the shampooer or the client or the hairdresser notices that the hair is too coarse, difficult to disentangle, too weighed-down, etc., it is possible to input information into the system immediately afterwards or later. The system is advantageously arranged to deduce therefrom modifications to be carried out or to propose for the setting; in addition, the choice by the system of the catalogue product(s) proposed to the client will advantageously be made by taking this information feedback into account.

The system is preferably suited to hair products other than shampoo. It is thus possible to dispense, by means of the dispensing device, products such as other surfactant-based or non-surfactant-based compositions, intended to provide a care effect, with or without washing effect, for example formulations referred to as “no-poo” or “low-poo”, conditioners and masks, or formulations based on diluted surfactants, among other products.

The system may also be arranged to propose a program referred to as “care test”. The system may then be arranged such that, during the execution of such a program, the system conveys a variable proportion, especially an increasing proportion, of a product into the pipes with a view to dispensing it via the dispensing device. In this way, if the shampooer sees that the product is caring well for the hair, he or she may stop the running of the program and/or identify the optimal point during the test program. The system then retains the total amount of product conveyed, for example after carrying out an integration, and is then able to propose several implementations with the same amount of product, but distributed according to different programming and/or over a different period of time, as mentioned above.

The system may further be arranged to propose another program consisting in conveying a variable proportion, for example an increasing or decreasing proportion, automatically or at the shampooer's request, of a product relative to another in the pipes. It is then possible for the shampooer to sense the proportion most satisfactory to him or her, for example by touching the hair during the conveying. In this way, if the shampooer sees that the distributed solution is caring well for the hair, he or she stops the test program and/or identifies the optimal point. The system will then retain the total amount of product conveyed, for example after carrying out an integration, and will then be able to propose several implementations with the same amount of product, but distributed according to different programming and/or over a different period of time, as mentioned above.

Another program consists in conveying two or more than two products in a given relative proportion into the pipes, and in increasing the proportion conveyed of this mixture in the water, automatically or at the shampooer's request. It is then possible for the shampooer to sense the proportion most satisfactory to him or her, for example by touching the hair during the conveying. In this way, if the shampooer sees that the product is caring well for the hair, he or she may stop the test program and/or identify the optimal point. The system will then retain the total amount of the mixture of products conveyed, for example after carrying out an integration, and will then be able to propose several implementations with the same amount of product, but distributed according to different programming and/or over a different period of time, as mentioned above.

The system preferably makes it possible to integrate information after applying a treatment solution.

In particular, the system may, automatically or non-automatically, have information input relating to rinsing parameters, in order to be able to reuse them subsequently. In particular, the system may be arranged to determine the amount of rinsing water used, and store this parameter in memory. The shampooer may then find the optimal rinsing depending on whether he or she wishes for the hair to be perfectly clear of product or to still carry some traces of product and thereby obtain an effect such as care, shine, etc.

In particular, during rinsing, he or she may thus input information into the system relating to the quality of the hair and the speed of rinsing. The system may then take account thereof in order to modify the settings, for example of water flow rate, or suggest testing new settings, for example carrying out the rinsing at a different flow rate. The same applies during combing and the application of a conditioner, mask, or other products, and other hair treatment steps such as haircutting, hair setting, blow drying, straightening, etc.

Thus, if the shampooer, the client or the hairdresser notices that the hair is too coarse, difficult to disentangle, too weighed-down, etc., it is possible to input information into the system immediately afterwards or later. The system may be arranged to deduce therefrom modifications to be carried out or to be proposed, by virtue of its knowledge of the effects of the products on the parameter that it is sought to correct.

It is possible to combine the application of one or more shampoos and one or more care products. In this case, use may be made of a “wash test” or “care test” program or else a specific program. By virtue of this approach, it is possible to bring together, in a single application, washing and care.

The system is advantageously arranged to make it possible to test a succession of products. Thus, a “succession test” program makes it possible, for example, to test one of the following sequences, or to test them successively during successive visits to the salon:a shampooing wash, a rinse, a care, a rinse,a shampooing wash, a care, a rinse,a pre-shampoo, a rinse, a shampooing wash, a rinse, a care, a rinse,a pre-shampoo, a shampooing wash, a rinse, a care, a rinse,a pre-shampoo, a rinse, a shampooing wash, a care, a rinse,a pre-shampoo, a shampooing wash, a care, a rinse,a pre-shampoo, a rinse, a shampooing wash, a rinse,a pre-shampoo, a shampooing wash, a rinse,a pre-shampoo, a rinse, a care, a rinse,a pre-shampoo, a care, a rinse.

By varying the different parameters of the treatment carried out at the sink, this approach makes it possible to find, and record, the sequence leading to the best results.

When a catalogue product is proposed by the system, this proposal may be accompanied by a recommendation regarding the use of this product, for example within a particular treatment sequence.

The system may be arranged to carry out tests on the hair with a different water flow rate than that which is used subsequently; this is facilitated by using a dispensing device with a low flow rate, such as that disclosed in the publication WO 2007/062536.

The system is then advantageously arranged to calculate, as a function of a new flow rate, for example adjusted by the user on the user interface, the amounts of products to convey to obtain an equivalent result. For example, a product test is carried out with a water flow rate of 0.5-1 l/min, and subsequently the treatments are carried out with another water flow rate, for example 1-4 l/min.

The system may be arranged to take into account, in the calculation of the amount of a product to inject into the water as a function of the water flow rate, the fact that at a higher water flow rate, a greater proportion of product is liable to be lost if it leaves through the sink outlet; thus, the system may be arranged to apply a law for correction of the amount as a function of the flow rate, which law is non-linear, to take into account the loss of product which increases with the flow rate; the system may further be arranged to compensate for the amount of product lost as a function of the flow rate by increasing the concentration of product in the treatment solution which is conveyed and/or by modifying the duration for which the solution is dispensed.

The system may be arranged to automatically control the opening or closing of the sink outlet as a function of the nature of the treatment; for example, during rinsing, the system orders the opening of the outlet; on the other hand, during the distribution of a predefined product, a conditioner for example, the system orders the closing of this outlet.

The system according to the invention enables the shampooer to optimize the nature of the products, the amounts applied and also the amount of rinsing water. It makes it possible to record the tests and optimal settings. The user may therefore improve performance beyond that which would have been possible by their skills of assessment.

The invention may make it possible for the user to reuse settings, to improve them and to adapt them to changes in the hair. This enables savings of time and of product. Moreover, since the user does not have to reproduce the settings during the client's subsequent visits, he or she subsequently takes only a very short amount of time to satisfy the client.

The invention also makes it possible to reduce water losses, when the system is created such that the information relating to optimal rinsing is retained and reused.

The invention further makes it possible for the user to test new mixtures and new treatment sequences, optimized for a given client or for testing on other clients. In one exemplary embodiment of the invention, the user shares this information, in particular via digital connections, to inform other salons.

Thus, another subject of the invention is a set of systems according to the invention, present in different salons, configured to share information with one another, especially relating to settings and/or sequences considered to be optimal for given types of heads of hair. The systems may especially communicate via a shared database which they may remotely interrogate and input information into.

The system may be arranged such that a given hairdresser may search a database, by means of the client's identification, for example by their name, by an email address, by a pseudonym, by a client number, etc., of a description of the hair, for example volume, length, ethnicity, etc., or of a description of a history, for example number of dyeing operations, use of dyes of brand Y, etc., in order to receive from the system, by comparison, a setting and/or treatment sequence proposal.

The invention may also serve for a salon or a shampooer to build up a professional identity, recognizable by the mixtures and successions that they provide.

The system may be arranged to make it possible, via the user interface, to input an item of information relating to the products for washing hair used by the client, in order to make it possible, by interrogating a database relating to these products, to generate a setting making it possible to reproduce the action of this product as closely as possible. This enables a client who is very satisfied with a product to have their hair treated at the sink in an equivalent way, on their request.

The system according to the invention may also have at least one of the characteristics listed below, or any combination thereof:the system comprises a means to store at least one setting in memory,the setting is stored in memory at the user's request,the setting is automatically stored in memory when a treatment result is input into the system,the user interface makes it possible to input at least two items of information, relating respectively to at least two different criteria for evaluating the result of the treatment, into the system,the system comprises a means for generating a product recommendation and/or a treatment recommendation at least based on the knowledge of the setting selected and of said at least one item of information input by the user relating to the treatment result,the system is configured to access a database containing information relating to an expected treatment result as a function of a selected setting,the system is arranged to compare a treatment result observed by the user and input into the system and the expected result determined by means of the database and to generate information relating to a modification of the setting and/or of the treatment as a function of this comparison,the system is configured to access a database giving information relating to the formulation of catalogue products and to identify one or more catalogue products as a function at least of the knowledge of at least one selected setting and of said at least one item of information input by the user relating to the observed treatment result, such that the product(s) identified provide a result which comes close to that obtained,the database gives information relating to one or more characteristics of the listed products, especially chosen from speed of foaming, speed of rinsing, detergent strength, disentangling strength,the system is configured to access a database giving information relating to an available stock of catalogue products and to generate the product recommendation as a function of the products available in stock,the system comprises a device which dispenses a treatment solution onto the hair, especially rinsing water and/or water loaded with product(s) with a maximum flow rate of less than 4 l/min,the system comprises at least two sources of different products and preferably a means making it possible to select one, the other, or both of the sources of products,the adjustment device makes it possible to adjust the content of each of the products in the treatment solution, especially to adjust the ratio of the two products from 0/100 to 100/0, preferably by steps of 25% or less,the system is configured to make it possible to store in memory at least one setting relating to the two products,the system is configured to generate at least one recommendation of a plurality of catalogue products, especially of a pair of products, based at least on at least one observed treatment result relating to the use of the two products,the system comprises a means making it possible to automatically reproduce the formulation of a treatment solution from data stored in memory relating to a past treatment which used the same formulation of the treatment solution, especially data stored in memory on a removable memory medium or received from a remote server,the system comprises at least one from an anionic surfactant, an amphoteric surfactant, a cationic polymer and a silicone,the user interface makes it possible to input at least one item of information relating to the speed of foaming, the volume of foam, the speed of rinsing, the ease of disentangling,the adjustment device makes it possible to inject, into the water, the product originating from said at least one source of product and to vary the content of product originating from this source in the water conveyed to the hair by the dispensing device and/or the amount of product conveyed to the hair by the dispensing device, this adjustment being able to assume at least one intermediate value between minimum and maximum content and/or amount values,the system comprises a pressure booster to increase the pressure of the water at the inlet of the dispensing device beyond the pressure of the water at the inlet of the system,the dispensing device comprises nozzles arranged so as to cause two jets leaving the dispensing device to collide,the product is injected into the water such that the content of product in the water is between 0.3 and 20% by weight, especially between 0.3 and 10%,the system is configured to automatically vary the content of product according to a predefined program, especially in an increasing or decreasing manner,the system comprises at least two sources of different products, the adjustment device making it possible to selectively vary the proportion of each product in the water dispensed by the dispensing device,the system is arranged to automatically vary the content of each of the products according to a predefined program,the system is configured to adjust the amount of product injected into the water as a function of a flow rate selected by the user in order to obtain a desired concentration,the system is arranged to automatically carry out pre-adjustment of the concentration of product as a function of at least one item of information input into the system by the user,the system is arranged to enable the input of data relative to a result obtained after drying and/or styling the hair, and to automatically propose an optional modification of the setting at the next treatment of the hair as a function of this data,the hair being treated in a sink, the system is configured to control the outlet of this sink, in order especially to open it or to close it as a function of the treatment or rinsing requirement,the system is arranged to automatically vary, according to a predefined program, the content of product and/or the amount of product conveyed to the hair by the dispensing device so as to assume at least two intermediate values between minimum and maximum values,the product is injected into the water upstream of the dispensing device.

Process

Another subject of the invention is a process of treating hair by means of a system according to the invention, in which at least one setting is selected on the user interface and at least one item of information relating to a result obtained with this setting is input to the interface.

In one exemplary embodiment of the invention, a result observed for a given setting is compared with an expected setting by interrogating a database, and at least one product recommendation and/or treatment recommendation is generated as a function of the result of this comparison.

The product recommendation is made for example by comparison with characteristics of catalogue products featured in a database. The recommendation is preferably made after interrogating a database giving information on available stock in the salon.

It is possible to store the setting in memory with a view to a subsequent treatment, and the result observed on the hair and/or a recommendation of a modification of the setting and/or of the product for the subsequent treatment is preferably also stored in memory, as well as preferably an ID for the person treated, the storage and memory taking place especially on a remote server and/or on a removable memory medium.

In order to determine the optimal concentration and/or amount of at least one product used to treat the hair, it is possible, by means of the system according to the invention, to vary the content of at least one product in the water conveyed to the hair, as explained above.

In order to more readily compare the results obtained, it is possible to treat a part of the hair with a given setting, then to modify the setting to treat another part of the hair. It is possible to proceed in this manner with thirds or quarters of the hair, for example.

It is advantageous to store in memory in the system a setting corresponding to a result deemed to be satisfactory, with a view for example to being able to readily reproduce it during the client's next visit. This setting is then advantageously associated with a client ID.

The system may be arranged to automatically vary the amount of a product in the water conveyed to the hair, especially in an increasing manner, and to store in memory an item of information input by the user when the result is deemed to be satisfactory by said user. The user may for example stop the change in the setting when he or she considers the result to be satisfactory, and the system may automatically store the corresponding setting in memory.

Preferably, the opening or the closing of the outlet of the treatment sink is controlled as a function of the nature of the operation taking place, especially the treatment or rinsing operation.

It is possible to test different treatment sequences on different parts of a hair, in order to determine the sequence leading to the result closest to that expected.

At least two sequences may differ by a rinsing duration and/or by the presence or absence of a pre-shampooing operation, a conditioning operation or a rinsing operation.

The process according to the invention may also have at least one of the following characteristics, considered in isolation or in combination:a result observed for a given setting is compared with an expected setting by interrogating a database, and at least one product recommendation and/or treatment recommendation is generated as a function of the result of this comparison,the product recommendation is made for example by comparison with characteristics of catalog products featured in a database,the recommendation is preferably made after interrogating a database giving information on available stock in the salon,the setting is stored in memory with a view to a subsequent treatment, and the result observed on the hair and/or a recommendation of a modification of the setting and/or of the product for the subsequent treatment is preferably also stored in memory, as well as preferably an ID for the person treated, the storage in memory taking place especially on a remote server and/or on a removable memory medium,a part of the hair is treated with a given setting, then the setting is modified to treat another part of the hair,a setting corresponding to a result deemed to be satisfactory is stored in memory,the system automatically varies the amount of a product in the water conveyed to the hair, especially in an increasing manner, and stores in memory an item of information input by the user when the result is considered to be satisfactory by said user,the opening or the closing of the outlet of the treatment sink is controlled as a function of the nature of the operation taking place, especially the treatment or rinsing operation,different sequences of treatments are tested on different parts of a hair,at least two sequences differ per one rinsing duration,at least two sequences differ by the presence or absence of a pre-shampooing operation, a conditioning operation or a rinsing operation.

