Description:Field of Invention:
The present invention is in field of hair reshaping. More particularly, the present invention relates to a device, composition and method for electrolysis-based hair reshaping.

Background of Invention:
Hair is made of keratin which is a protein rich in sulphur-containing amino acids. Among the amino acids that make up keratin, cysteine is one of the most important moieties. Each cysteine unit contains two cysteine amino acids from different portions of the peptide chains that are connected by two sulphur atoms, forming a strong bond called a disulphide bond. The disulphide bonds located on the surface of the hair strongly influences the natural shape of the hair. The distribution of the disulphide bonds concerning the axis of the hair can dictate the “straightness” or “curliness” of the hair.

Conventional methods for reshaping hair either require the use of a hair styling device that heats the hair of a user by conducting heat from a heated surface to the hair commonly referred to as the flat iron or straightening iron. Such methods and devices however can only reshape the hair temporarily and the hair typically regains its original shape within a few hours or a couple of hair washes. Further, the exposure of hair to high temperatures results in physical damage to hair.

Effecting a permanent change to the shape typically requires the treatment of hair with strong alkaline chemicals and/or strong reducing agents.

For instance, one technique for permanent reshaping or commonly referred to as relaxing hair (straightening) requires treatment with highly alkaline chemicals such as alkali metal hydroxides or alkaline earth metal hydroxides (for example sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxides, calcium hydroxide, barium hydroxide, strontium hydroxide, lithium hydroxide) and other hydroxides such as quaternary ammonium hydroxides, or guanidine hydroxide, etc. Because of their high alkalinity, all the lye or non-lye alkaline relaxers can cause scalp skin irritation and damage to the hair by dissolving hair keratin, and saponification of the lipids of the hair thereby, causing irreversible damage to the fibrous keratin structure leading to hair breakage.

Another technique for obtaining a permanent reshaping of the hair comprises, in the first stage, breaking the keratin -S-S- disulphide (cysteine) bonds using a reducing agent followed by realigning the hair to the desired shape and reforming the disulphide bonds by applying an oxidizing agent to give the hair the desired shape. The commonly used reducing agents include sulphites, bisulphites, or thiols such as cysteine, cysteamine and its derivatives, lactic acid, thioglycolic acid and its esters, such as glyceryl monothioglycolate, and thioglycerol. The commonly used oxidizing composition for the second step typically contains aqueous hydrogen peroxide solution or alkali metal bromates. This technique also suffers from limitations, such as, an unacceptable or pungent odour of the reducing agents. Further, this technique also has adverse effects on the quality of the hair over some time, for example, a gradual loss in the lustre and softness of the hair. A further disadvantage of this process is the need for flat ironing to align the hair in the desired shape before the re-bonding step, if perfectly straight hair is desired. This process also possesses the risk of hair getting over-processed and needs multiple treatment steps, and thus is typically suitable for salon treatment and /or the supervision of an experienced professional or a hairstylist.

To overcome the disadvantages of chemical methods, reshaping methods based in electrolysis were explored. There are limited methods available in the prior art that teach the use of electrolytic system and/or methods, as the means of reshaping hair. However, they too have their limitations due to which their hair reshaping efficacy and longevity is not as good as the conventional chemicals means of hair reshaping and/or they require special and complicated device configurations making existing electrolytic systems and devices more costly, bulky, and non-user friendly.

For example, Japanese patent JPH0820592 teaches the use of electrolysis or the use of electric current for activating the oxidizing power of the oxidizing agent. Thus in principle, this patent teaches not different from a two-step redox reaction and the electrolysis is only meant for enhancing the oxidizing power of the second step.

Similarly, US patent US5743278 teaches the use of electrolysis in permanent waving treatment involving electrolysis where the hair is first treated with a reducing agent or main components such as thioglycolic acid, thioglycolic acid compound, cysteine compound, mercapto carboxylic acid, mercaptopropionic acid compound, or a mixture of these compounds having the pH of 9.0 to 9.5 by adding, as an alkaline agent, ammonia water, ammonium compound, other inorganic alkaline compounds, amine or a mixture of these compound. The hair is subsequently treated with a neutralizing agent (oxidizing agent) and the electrolytic treatment is only to enhance the oxidizing capacity of the second agent. Thus in principle, this patent also teaches a method for reshaping hair that is not different from a two-step redox reaction, and the electrolysis is only meant for enhancing the oxidizing power of the second step.

US patent US20200214418 discloses a device for hair straightening that requires heating in presence of a modified atmosphere in which when hydrogen is the desired gas, it can optionally have obtained by an external electrolytic cell having a proton exchange membrane. This method of US ‘418 requires heating between 200°C and 250°C, preferably to 230°C. However, US ‘418 does not disclose electrolytic hair straightening.

US patent US8596285B1, discloses an electrolytic system and method for reshaping hair but suffers from many limitations such as it requires setting said hair into a predetermined shape, physically straightened using mechanical means and heat for straightening, before subjecting the electrolytic process which defies the purpose of implementing a less damaging technology for hair straightening since the high-temperature exposure to hair is not prevented. Further, the disclosed process requires a neutralizing step (after the electrolysis step for a predetermined amount of time) either by reversing the polarity between the cathode and anode or by using a chemical neutralizing agent such as H2O2. This again is a limitation since if H2O2 is used the process is not truly free from harsh chemicals, whereas if neutralization is employed by reversing the opposite charge between the cathode and anode, then it brings an additional step and thus complication to the process making it less suitable for doing it yourself and necessitates the need of salon treatment under the supervision of an experienced stylist.

US patent US9687056 discloses a hair straightening device that is designed in a way that electrodes are configured to be moved through the hair such that the first set of electrodes moves through the hair first followed by the second set of electrodes. This means that each section of the hair first comes in contact with the cathode and subsequently comes in contact with anode, meaning that the electrolysis zone is established across the length of the hair. Such design by nature limits the current efficiency at a given voltage and limits the electrolysis at the target site i.e. at the point of contact between hair and electrodes (as the distance between anode's point of contact with hair and cathode’s point of contact with hair is larger than the minimum possible distance between anode and cathode where the efficiency of electrolysis is maximum but the hair is not in the contact. Since each section of hair sequentially passes through the alkaline-reducing zone and acidic-oxidizing zones, it limits the speed at which the device can be passed through the length of the hair to allow sufficient time for electrolytic cleavage of disulphide bonds before the subsequent set of electrodes (anode) favour the oxidation of sulfhydryl groups i.e. re-bonding. This brings limitations in terms of consumer convenience as the device has to be passed very slowly across the length of the hair. Also, multiple passes are ineffective as it leads to breaking and re-bonding of disulphide bonds multiple times instead of enhancing the efficiency of reshaping.

Therefore, what is needed is a technique that can overcome the above-mentioned disadvantages of the prior arts, specifically those related to the electrolytic process of hair reshaping.

Objects of the Invention:
Therefore, in view of above it is a primary object of the invention to provide such a device which can effectively reshape hair without causing damage to the hair fibres, particularly without the use of conventional methods such as the application of heat and/or aggressive chemicals such as alkaline agents, reducing agents, or oxidizing agents.

It is yet another object of the invention to provide a method and composition which can effectively reshape hair without damaging the hair fibres.

Summary of the invention:
Therefore, in view of above objects, it is a primary aspect of the present invention to provide a system for reshaping of hair using electrolysis of water or an aqueous solution that contains inorganic salts.

In another aspect, the invention provides an electrolyte composition for permanent reshaping of hair in a single step without the need to use heating or use of any aggressive chemicals.

In yet another aspect, the present invention provides a device for permanent reshaping of hair that provides maximum density and control over the selective exposure of hair to the desired components of the electrolysis zone (anode or cathode) to achieve maximum hair straightening efficiency and longevity.

Brief Description of Drawings
The present invention is illustrated by way of example and not limitation in the figures of the accompanying drawings in which like references indicate similar elements.

Fig. 1 illustrates the typical configuration of the electrolytic device of the invention with a membrane/ separator that selectively limits the contact of hair with the cathode.

Fig. 2 illustrates a typical configuration of the electrolytic device according to one of the embodiments of the invention.

Fig. 3 illustrates passage of hair through a three-arm device.

Fig. 4 illustrates passage of hair through a four-arm device.

Fig. 5 illustrates results of Straightening Natural kinky hair.

Fig. 6 illustrates results of straightening wavy hair.

Detailed Description of Drawings:
With reference to Figs. 1 and 2, the device of the invention in accordance with one of the embodiments of the invention comprises of a holder assembly 10 consisting of a first arm 11, a second 12, a third arm 13 and optionally a fourth arm. The said three arms of the holder assembly are coupled together using a coupling assembly C. Said coupling assembly C, is preferably a spring-loaded assembly which has a tensed phase and a relaxed phase. In tensed phase the arms 11, 12 and 13 touch each other at least at one other point in addition to the coupling point C, as shown in Fig. 1, whereas in relaxed phase, the arms 11, 12 and 13 do not touch each other at any point, except at the coupling assembly C, as shown in Fig. 2.
An anode 1 is coupled to an anode holder 2. The anode holder 2 abuts the arm 11 of the holder assembly 10.

The arm 12, of the holder assembly 10, holds a proton exchange membrane holder assembly comprising of at least two membrane holders, namely, a first membrane holder 6 and a second membrane holder 7. In one of the embodiments, the first membrane holder 6 is bracketed in second membrane holder 7. The proton exchange membrane 5 is gripped in the interstitial space between first membrane holder 6 and a second membrane holder 7. The first membrane holder 6 and a second membrane holder 7 are detachably connected to Arm 12, so that electrolyte gel 9 on both sides of the membranes 5 can be replenished regularly. Optionally, ports/inlets are provided on both the cathode arm 13 and anode arm 11 so that electrolyte gel on both the side of at least one membrane can be replenished without detaching the membranes from the device.

The cathode 3 is coupled to cathode holder 4. The cathode holder 4 abuts the arm 13 of the holder assembly 10.

The electrolysis membrane 5 is layered, on one side or on both the sides, by an electrolysis gel 9.

Fig 3 illustrates the passage of hair through the device of the invention. Accordingly, the hair 8 is passed through the arms 12 and 13, whereby the hair comes in exclusive contact with the cathode 3. The contact with anode is prevented by a proton exchange membrane 5. The electrolyte, in electrolytic gel 9 is layered on the membrane 5. For the propose of this description, a cathode 3 together with anode 1 and the membrane 5 and electrolytic gel 9 are together referred as an electrolytic cell.

Fig 4 illustrates straightening device in accordance with one of the embodiment of the invention, wherein the device comprises of plurality of individual electrolytic cells whereby the cell “n” has the first membrane 5 disposed close to anode 1 and in case of cell “n+1”, the second membrane 10 disposed close to cathode 3. Wherein “n” can be any integer, preferably n=1.

Fig. 5 and Fig. 6 illustrate the test results of Straightening Natural kinky hair and naturally wavy hair respectively. Fig. 5a illustrates the untreated kinky control and sample kinky hair, Fig 5b illustrates the untreated kinky control and treated kinky hair sample after treatment 1 day and Fig 5c illustrates the untreated control and treated sample at day 30 after treatment as per Example 1.

Now referring to Fig. 6, the figure illustrates the untreated and treated natural wavy hair as per Example 2.

Detailed Description of the Invention:
The invention will now be described in detail in connection with certain preferred and optional embodiments, so that various aspects thereof may be more fully understood and appreciated. However, any skilled person will appreciate the extent to which such embodiments could be extrapolated in practice.

Unless specified otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art, to which this invention belongs. Although any methods and materials similar or equivalent to those described herein can be used in the practice or testing of the present invention, the preferred methods and materials are described.

Unless stated to the contrary, any of the words “contains”, “containing”, "including," "includes," "comprising," and "comprises" mean "including without limitation" and shall not be construed to limit any general statement that it follows to the specific or similar items or matters immediately following it. Embodiments of the invention are not mutually exclusive, but may be implemented in various combinations. The described embodiments of the invention and the disclosed examples are given for the purpose of illustration rather than limitation of the invention.

Further, words like “a”, “an”, “at least” and “the” should be construed to not only cover singular quantities but also plural quantities of the elements immediately following them.

The term “proton exchange membrane” or “membrane” or “separator” refers to a semi permeable membrane which exclusively allows movement of H+ ions towards cathode and does not allow any ions to move from catholyte towards anode and thereby disallows formation of neutral pH zone.

Described herein is a system for permanent reshaping of hair using water electrolysis-based hair treatment, a device, composition and method thereof.

The electrolysis is achieved by contacting two electrodes having electrolytes disposed between them and biasing the electrodes with a difference in electrical potential. At a negatively charged electrode "cathode”, water molecules dissociate to produce H+ and OH-. The H+ accepts the electrons from the external power supply and gets reduced to form atomic hydrogen, and subsequently, two atomic hydrogens combine to form hydrogen gas. The generation of atomic hydrogen creates a reducing environment that facilitates cleavage of disulphide bonds of the cysteine residue of the hair, whereas the depletion of H+ for the formation of hydrogen gas increases the pH to the alkaline side (pH of > 7). This way the electrolytic zone in the vicinity of the cathode has a highly alkaline and reducing zone.

Similarly, at the anode OH- of water donates elections to form oxygen gas which creates oxidizing zone. While the depletion of OH- ion leads to a decrease in pH to the acidic side (pH<7) and thus the electrolytic zone in the vicinity of the anode has a highly acidic and oxidizing zone.

In absence of any selective barrier, if the anode and cathode are placed very close to each other, then it will generate high current density, but the acidic and alkaline zone will instantaneously neutralize each other, thus rendering the system incapacitant to reshape the hair.

Therefore, in an embodiment the present invention provides a system for reshaping of hair 8, comprises an anode 1 and a cathode 3 and a proton exchange membrane 5 placed between the anode 1 and the cathode 3 and substantially close to anode.

Accordingly, the electrical potential difference is configured to produce an electrolysis zone in the electrolyte 9 disposed between the cathode 3 and the anode 1. The membrane 5 is disposed of in the electrolysis zone between the cathode 3 and the anode 1 and thus the hair 8 is prevented from getting exposed to the anode or the electrolytic zone between the membrane 5 and anode 1.

In accordance with above embodiment, the cathode 3 and anode 1 are made up of electrically conductive material such as metals and alloys thereof, metal coated materials, metal oxide coated metals and/or alloys, graphite’s, graphene, carbon cloth, etc.

The metal or component of an alloy or as a coating material is selected from iron, copper, zinc, steel 306, stainless steel 316, Aluminium, Titanium, zirconium, tungsten, tantalum and niobium, iridium, ruthenium, rhodium, palladium, platinum, silver, gold, brass, tin, lead etc.

The said metal oxide is selected from RuO2, IrO2, or PtO2, titanium dioxide, or the combination thereof.

The proton exchange membrane 5 physically separates the catholyte and anolyte fluids and materials are contained, respectively, within the cathode chamber and anode chamber. Hence, the proton exchange membrane 5 is manufactured from any material that can conduct protons, but separates electrolytic products and gases. The said proton exchange membrane 5 is a manufactured from such materials which are good proton conductors, chemically stable and can withstand the temperatures and compression forces of the operating device. Accordingly, the said membrane 5 is a membrane that contains negatively charged functional groups in the membrane backbone, which allows cations to pass through. The most common negatively charged functional groups are sulphonic acid, carboxylic acid, and phosphonic acid groups.

In accordance with this embodiment, the membrane 5 is made from a copolymer of poly(tetrafluoroethylene) and polysulphonyl fluoride vinyl ether that has high protonic conductivity and is stable in both oxidative and reductive environments. The sulphonic acid groups are preferably attached to a PTFE-based polymer backbone such that the H+ jumps from one SO3- site to another SO3- site throughout the material, where the H+ emerges on the other side of the membrane. The membrane with PTFE-based polymer backbone can be the Nafion® membranes and other PFSA membranes which are stable against chemical attack in strong bases, strong oxidizing and reducing acids, H2O2, Cl2, H2, and O2 at temperatures up to 125 ºC. Preferably, the Nafion® membrane is selected from Nafion 424™ and Nafion 117.

In an alternative embodiment, the membrane 5 can be a chloralkali membranes or anion exchange membranes. Accordingly, the anion exchange membrane can be selected form, but not limited to, quaternary ammonium polystyrene-divinylbenzene and doped polybenzimidazole membranes.

These are just a few representative examples of the separators, but within the spirit of the innovation one can use any other separators that are capable of separating catholyte and anolyte, for example, salt bridge.

In accordance with above embodiment, the cathode 3 and anode 1 can be of any shape, but has the total conductive surface area facing each other in the range of 0.5 cm2 to 5000 cm2, preferably in the range of 5 cm2 to 500 cm2 and most preferably in the range of 10 cm2 to 250 cm2. The use of electric current is at least 0.1 Amp Direct Current, preferably, in the range of 0.1 Amp to 10 Amp and most preferably in the range of 1 Amp to 5 Amp.

In accordance with above embodiment, hair styling devices and methods for styling hair using electrolysis described herein are used to produce a highly localized alkaline or acidic “electrolysis zone” in an electrolyte. The hair is sandwiched between the anode and the cathode, after it is wetted with the electrolyte, and an electrolytic zone between anode and cathode is established upon biasing both electrodes with a positive and negative potential difference.

In another embodiment, the system for styling hair includes an anode 1 and a cathode 3 that are spaced apart from each other. Two membranes 5 and 10, wherein the membrane 5 is disposed next to cathode 3, and membrane 10 are disposed next to anode 1.

Accordingly, the electrical potential difference is configured to produce an electrolysis zone in the electrolyte disposed between the anode 1 and the cathode 3. Both the membranes 5 and 10 are configured in such a way that each section comes in contact with the cathode 3 and anode 1 in a sequential manner.

The electric current for the said electrolysis is induced by applying a potential difference of at least 1V between the two electrodes 1 and 3, preferably by applying a potential difference in the range of 2.5 V to 50 V and most preferably in the range of 3V to 24 V, wherein the said electric current is at least 0.1A direct current, preferably, in the range of 0.1 A to 10A and most preferably, in the range of 1 A to 5 A.

In accordance with one of the embodiments of the invention, the anode 1 and cathode 3 can also be optionally configured and separated from each other using Membrane electrode assemblies.

An electrolyte gel 9 consists of salt solutions as electrolyte. While a suitable gelling agent is used to convert the electrolyte solution into a gel to ensure that an electrolyte zone is always maintained between the two arms (cathode and anode) of the electrolytic straightening device. In absence of a suitable gelling agent, it is difficult to maintain a continuous film of electrolyte between the cathode and anode especially when the cathode and anode are configured as the two arms of the straightening device and a bundle of hair is inserted in between them creating a gap through which the electrolyte can easily get drained off due to gravity. In absence of such gelling agents, the electrolyte must be replenished at a high flow rate to maintain a continuous film between the two electrodes which creates issues such as electrolyte overflow, the need for a pumping system, and limitations in the buildup of sufficient alkaline or acidic zone due to continuous dilution, etc.

Thus, electrolyte in a gel or other suitable viscous form is also an important aspect of this invention. However, there are several challenges associated with selecting the right composition of electrolyte gel. For example, for achieving gelation, only non-ionic agents can be used otherwise it may interfere with the electrolysis process. Another aspect of this challenge is that most of the non-ionic gelling agents tend to precipitate at high salt concentrations, typically for the salts containing sulphate anions. Limiting the salt concentration on the other hand reduces the current densities and thus electrolytic efficiency. The disclosed invention also teaches a composition containing a stable viscous gel containing high salt concentrations.

In accordance with above embodiment, the inorganic salt is selected from sodium chloride (NaCl), calcium chloride (CaCl2), magnesium chloride (MgCl2), sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3), potassium chloride (KCl), sodium sulphate (Na2SO4), Potassium sulphate (K2SO4), calcium carbonate (CaCO3), and calcium phosphate [Ca3(PO4)2], or combination thereof.

The concentration of the salt or mixture of salts is in the range of 0.1% to 30% w/w, preferably in the range of 1% to 10% w/w and most preferably in the range of 2.5% to 5% w/w.

The gelling agent is selected from acrylic acid-based Polymeric gelling agents like Carbomers, preferably non-ionic gelling agents such as Hydroxypropyl cellulose (HPC), carboxymethylcellulose, and hydroxyethyl cellulose (HEC), xanthan gum, gellan gum, guar gum, pectin, and gelatin, a mixture of salt and surfactant such as SLS, SLES, and NaCl or other salts.

The concentration of the said gelling agent is in the range of 0.01% w/w to 10% w/w., preferably in the range of 0.1% w/w to 5% and most preferably in the range of 0.5% to 2% w/w.

Advantages of the Invention:
The disclosed invention is an electrolysis method, device, and composition for permanent reshaping (straightening or perming) of hair which can provide a permanent reshaping of the hair in a single step without the need to use heating or any aggressive chemicals, such as hydroxides, reducing agents or oxidizing chemicals, but without compromising the reshaping efficacy.

The disclosed invention is an electrolytic device that is not bulky, does not require accessories like electrolyte reservoirs or circulation system, and has a very simple design that makes it intuitive for the users and suitable for use without the requirement of a salon treatment and DIY (do it yourself) friendly.

The disclosed invention is about an electrolytic device configuration and the method that does not require changing consumer habits (for example – making the device pass very slowly over the length of hair) and which can straighten the hair in a single step without intermediate steps of realigning the hair or reversal of polarity between the electrodes.

The disclosed invention is about an electrolytic device configuration that provides maximum current density and control over the selective exposure of hair to the desired components of the electrolysis zone (anode or cathode) so that maximum hair straightening efficiency and longevity are achieved.

EXAMPLE
Examples as set forth illustrate the nature of the invention and the manner of carrying it out. However, the invention should not be considered as being limited to the details thereof.

Example 1: Straightening Natural kinky hair

In order to test the efficacy of the present invention, Natural kinky hair tresses having curliness ranging from 4b to 4C were used. Hair tresses were electrolytically treated with the formulation described in Table 1 and as per the methodology described below.

Table.1: Composition of electrolytically conductive medium
Chemical % W/W
Sodium sulfate 4% W/W
Hydroxyethyl cellulose 1.5%
Water 95.5%

Methodology:
• In this example, hair was straightened using the device shown in figure 2. Hair tresses (weighing 1-2 grams) were sufficiently wetted with the electrolyte gel and the gel was also applied on both the sides of the electrolysis membrane.

• Hair tresses were then clamped between the both the arms of the device and inducing the electrolysis by applying a potential difference of 15 V between the cathode and the anode and thereby allowing current (observed values- 1 Amp to 6 Amp) to pass between the electrodes.

• Care was taken to place the hair between the cathode and the separator/ membrane during the electrolysis to avoid contact of hair with the anode.

• During electrolysis the device was moved across the length of the hair in the direction from root to tip of the hair at a speed such that one pass over the entire length of the hair tress is completed within 30 seconds.

• Electrolysis was stopped after passing the device over the hair after desired number of passes. Generally, the treatment was completed within 5-10 passes depending on the thickness of the hair tresses.

• After the electrolysis treatment was completed, the hair was thoroughly rinsed for 2-5 minutes after washing with shampoo. The hair was then towel dried and subsequently blow – dried to make it substantially dry.

• A control treatment, was performed in the same manner as described above but without allowing any current to pass, keeping all other parameters same in order to validate the role of electrolytic process in reshaping of hair.

• Additionally, the hair tresses were kept in humidity chamber (at 40 deg C and 75% relative humidity) for 30 days to observe the longevity of the hair straightening.

• Observed results (immediate and observation after 30 days) are depicted in Fig 5. And it was observed that hair tresses were substantially straightened after the electrolysis treatment compared to control treatment. And also the hair tresses remained substantially straight after exposure to high humidity for 30 days, indicating the resulting change in shape of the hair was permanent.

Example 2: Straightening wavy hair
In this example, naturally wavy hair tresses were straightened using the same device, formulation and the methodology as described in example 1. The Observed results (after 30 days) are depicted in Fig 6.
, Claims:
1. A system for permanent reshaping of hair, wherein the system comprises of:
a. a holder assembly 10 having a first arm 11, a second arm 12 and a third arm 13;
b. an anode 1 coupled to an anode holder 2, which inturn abuts first arm 11 of the holder assembly 10;
c. an proton exchange membrane 5 disposed next to the anode 1 and gripped in a first membrane holder 6 and a second membrane holder 7, wherein the holders 6 and 7 are detachably connected to arm 12 of the holder assembly 10, and
d. an electrolytic gel 9 layering the electrolytic membrane 5, either on one side or both the sides of said electrolytic membrane 5, and
e. a cathode 3 coupled to a cathode holder 4, disposed next to electrolytic membrane 5, and abuts the third arm 13 of the holder assembly 10,
wherein, the system relies on electrolysis of water to reshape the hair.

2. The system as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the cathode 3 and anode 1 are made up of electrically conductive material such as metals and the alloys thereof, metal coated materials, metal oxide coated metals and/or alloys, graphites, graphene, carbon cloth and the like.

3. The system as claimed in Claim 2, wherein the metal is selected from, but not limited to, Iron, Copper, Zinc, Steel 306, Stainless Steel 316, Aluminium, Titanium, Zirconium, Tungsten, Tantalum and Niobium, Iridium, Ruthenium, Rhodium, Palladium, Platinum, Silver, Gold, Brass, Tin, Lead and the like.

4. The system as claimed in claim 2, wherein the metal oxides is selected from a group which includes, but not limited to, RuO2, IrO2, or PtO2, titanium dioxide, or the mixtures thereof.

5. The system as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the said membrane 5 is a cation exchange membrane or a proton exchange membrane.

6. The system as claimed in claim 5, wherein the electrolytic membrane 5 is an ion exchanger, including cation exchange membranes commonly known as proton exchange membranes or chloralkali membranes or anion exchange membranes.

7. The system as claimed in claim 6, wherein the cation exchange membrane is selected form, but not limited to, perfluorosuphfonic acid, sulphonated polyfluorostyrene, sulphonated polystyrene-divinylbenzene, perfluorosulphonimide, and perfluoro carboxylate membranes.

8. The system as claimed in Claim 7, wherein the perfluorosulphonic acid membrane is selxted form Nafion 424™, Nafion 117.

9. The system as claimed in claim 6, wherein the anion exchange membrane is selected from, but not limited to, quaternary ammonium polystyrene-divinylbenzene and doped polybenzimidazole membranes.

10. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the electrolytic gel 9 comprises of water, at least one salt, and optionally a viscosity-building agent.

11. The system as claimed in Claim 10, wherein the salt is an inorganic salt containing at least one salt such as sodium chloride (NaCl), calcium chloride (CaCl2), magnesium chloride (MgCl2), sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3), potassium chloride (KCl), sodium sulphate (Na2SO4), Potassium sulphate (K2SO4), calcium carbonate (CaCO3), and calcium phosphate [Ca3(PO4)2 and the like.

12. The system as claimed in Claim 10, wherein the viscosity building agent contains at least one substance such as acrylic acid-based Polymeric gelling agents like Carbomers, preferably non-ionic gelling agents such as Hydroxypropyl cellulose (HPC), carboxymethylcellulose, and hydroxyethyl cellulose (HEC), xanthan gum, gellan gum, guar gum, pectin, gelatine, and the like.

13. The system as claimed in Claim 12, wherein the said viscosity building agent could be a mixture of salt and surfactant such as SLS, SLES, and NaCl or other salts and all other known thickening agents.

14. The system as claimed in Claim 12, wherein the concentration of the salt or mixture of salts is in the range of 0.1% w/w to 30% w/w. Preferably in the range of 1% w/w to 10% and most preferably in the range of 2.5% to 5% w/w.

15. The system as claimed in Claim 13, wherein the concentration of the said viscosity building agent is in the range of 0.01% w/w to 10% w/w. Preferably in the range of 0.1% w/w to 5% and most preferably in the range of 0.5% to 2% w/w.

16. A method of changing the shape of the hair, comprising the steps of:
a. Providing an electrically conductive medium that contains water, at least one salt, and optionally a viscosity-building agent, on the hair to be treated or between the arms of the straightening device and also in contact with hair 8 in which one arm is configured as a cathode 3 and another arm as an anode 1, wherein cathode and anode have an opposite charge;
b. separating the catholyte and anolyte fluids and containing the reducing zone and oxidizing zone within the cathode chamber and anode chamber respectively, using at least one suitable separator 5;
c. wetting hair 8 with an electrolytic gel 9 and also optionally applying the electrolytic gel 9 on both sides of the separator 5;
d. inducing electrolysis in said electrically conductive medium by applying a potential difference between the cathode 3 and the anode 1 and thereby allowing current to pass between the electrodes;
e. placing the hair 8 between the cathode 3 and the separator 5 during the electrolysis;
f. optionally, placing the hair 8 such that each section of hair comes in contact with the cathode 3 and anode 1 in a sequential manner, wherein more than one separator is used;
g. rinsing off the hair 8 with water or shampoo to remove the residual electrolyte salts & the generated electrolysis products from the hair to bring the hair back to its native pH when (e) is followed, and
h. optionally, bringing the hair back to its native pH by contacting the hair with the cathode and anode in a sequential manner.

17. The method as claimed in Claim 16, wherein the salt is an inorganic salt containing at least one salt such as sodium chloride (NaCl), calcium chloride (CaCl2), magnesium chloride (MgCl2), sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3), potassium chloride (KCl), sodium sulphate (Na2SO4), Potassium sulphate (K2SO4), calcium carbonate (CaCO3), and calcium phosphate [Ca3(PO4)2 and the like.

18. The method as claimed in Claim 16, wherein the viscosity building agent contains at least one substance such as acrylic acid-based Polymeric gelling agents like Carbomers, preferably non-ionic gelling agents such as Hydroxypropyl cellulose (HPC), carboxymethylcellulose, and hydroxyethyl cellulose (HEC), xanthan gum, gellan gum, guar gum, pectin, gelatine, and the like.

19. The method as claimed in Claim 18, wherein the said viscosity building agent could be a mixture of salt and surfactant such as SLS, SLES, and NaCl or other salts and all other known thickening agents.

20. The method as claimed in Claim 16, wherein the concentration of the salt or mixture of salts is in the range of 0.1% w/w to 30% w/w. Preferably in the range of 1% w/w to 10% and most preferably in the range of 2.5% to 5% w/w.

21. The method as claimed in Claim 16, wherein the concentration of the said viscosity building agent is in the range of 0.01% w/w to 10% w/w. Preferably in the range of 0.1% w/w to 5% and most preferably in the range of 0.5% to 2% w/w.

22. The method as claimed in Claim 16, wherein the said membrane 5 is a cation exchange membrane or a proton exchange membrane.

23. The method as claimed in claim 16, wherein the electrolytic membrane 5 is an cation exchange membranes commonly known as proton exchange membranes or chloralkali membranes or anion exchange membranes.

24. The method as claimed in claim 23, wherein the cation exchange membrane is selected form, but not limited to, perfluorosuphfonic acid, sulphonated polyfluorostyrene, sulphonated polystyrene-divinylbenzene, perfluorosulphonimide, and perfluoro carboxylate membranes.

25. The method as claimed in Claim 24, wherein the perfluorosulphonic acid membrane is selected form Nafion 424™, Nafion 117.

26. The method as claimed in claim 23, wherein the anion exchange membrane is selected from, but not limited to, quaternary ammonium polystyrene-divinylbenzene and doped polybenzimidazole membranes.

27. The method as claimed in Claim 16 wherein the required electric current for the said electrolysis is induced by applying a potential difference of at least 1V between the two electrodes. Preferably by applying a potential difference in the range of 2.5 V to 50 V and most preferably in the range of 3V to 24 V. And where in the said electric current is at least 0.1 A direct current. Preferably in the range of 0.1 A to 10 A and most preferably in the range of 1 A to 5 A.

28. The method as claimed in Claim 16, wherein the hair is pressed between the cathode and the separator, for the desired contact time by passing the device on the hair slowly over a single pass or through multiple passes at a speed that is most convenient for the user.

29. The method as claimed in Claim 16, wherein each section of hair is contacted sequentially with n and n+ 1 electrolytic cell.

30. The method as claimed in Claim 16, wherein the cathode 3 and anode 1 are made up of electrically conductive material such as Metals and the alloys thereof, Metal coated materials, metal oxide coated metals and/or alloys, graphite, graphene, carbon cloth, etc.

31. The method as claimed in Claim 30, wherein the metal can be a standalone metal or component of an alloy or as a coating material.

32. The method as claimed in Claim 31, wherein the metal iron, copper, zinc, steel 306, stainless steel 316, aluminium, titanium, zirconium, tungsten, tantalum and niobium, iridium, ruthenium, rhodium, palladium, platinum, silver, gold, brass, tin, lead and the like.

33. The method as claimed in Claim 31, wherein the metal oxides are selected form RuO2, IrO2, or PtO2, titanium dioxide, or the mixtures thereof.

34. The method as claimed in Claim 30, wherein the said cathode and anode can be of any shape, but has the total conductive surface area facing each other in the range of 0.5 cm2 to 5000 cm2, preferably in the range of 5 cm2 to 500 cm2 and most preferably in the range of 10 cm2 to 250 cm2.

35. The method as claimed in Claim 30, where in the electric current is at least 0.1 Amp direct current, preferably, in the range of 0.1 Amp to 10 Amp and most preferably in the range of 1 Amp to 5 Amp.

36. The method as claimed in Claim 16, wherein the anode and cathode can also be optionally configured and separated from each other using Membrane electrode assemblies.