AU6730287A - Hair treatment - Google Patents

Description

TITLE: "HAIR TREATMENT" TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates to a method of treatment of hair and to a hair treatment composition for use in the method. BACKGROUND ART

Methods for treatment of human hair which result in the hair being "permanently waved" or "permed" are well known as are methods of bleaching, highlighting, dyeing and tinting hair. Such methods each involves a chemical treatment of the hair which is damaging to an acceptably small degree.

However if two such treatments are applied in sequence on the same day the damage or risk of damage to hair becomes unacceptably great. Accordingly it is usual to allow a recovery period of from two to six weeks between treatments, the duration depending on the nature of the treatment and the condition of the hair.

For example it would be usual to allow a recovery interval of two weeks between a "perm" treatment and a mild highlighting bleach, or up to six weeks between a perm and a tint treatment.

An object of the present invention is to provide a conditioning agent which enables two or more of such treatments to be applied to hair sequentially on the same day. DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

According to one aspect the invention consists in a composition for treating hair comprising in combination at least one water soluble protein, D-Panthenol or a derivative thereof, and aloe.

According to a second aspect the invention consists in a method of treating hair comprising the steps of treating the hair with a composition according to the first aspect, and within 24 hours applying at least two treatments to the hair selected from the group consisting of permanent waving, tinting, dyeing, bleaching, and highlighting. BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

The invention will now be more particularly described by way of example only. A composition according to the invention is shown in Formulation A.

FORMULATION A Crotein Q 500g.

D Panthenol 100g.

Aloe Powder 100g.

Methyl Paraben 200g.

Demineralized water 9,280g.

10,000g. Crotein Q is a trade name for a mixture of cold water soluble proteins obtained from pharmaceutical grade gelatin, and is available from Croda Chemical Company. Other water soluble hydrolyzed proteins of the kind used in hair care preparations may be employed. Hydrolyzed protein has been found to improve the flexibility, manageability and body of the hair and to bind water to the hair when used in preparations according to the invention.

D Panthenol is the alcohol corresponding to the vitamin Pantothenic acid, a growth factor of yeast and a precursor of normal hair vitamin B5. It has been found that inclusion of Panethol thickens hair to a much greater degree than water when used in preparations according to the invention.

Aloe is a gel extract from the Aloe Vera plant. The major component is a glucosaccharide while other components are galactose, uronic acid, pentoses and various trace elements. Preferably, the Aloe Vera Barbadenisis species is selected.

Methyl Paraben is a preservative available for example from Bronson & Jacobs. Demineralized water acts as the application medium.

The components are dissolved in the demineralized water, for preference with warming and agitation. A considerable time may be required in order to dissolve the aloe at the concentrations employed. Preferably, other moisturizers such as Propylene Glycol are added. Optionally also, a water soluble quaternary ammonium compound is added such as Polyquaternium II made by GAF for use as a conditioning agent. Tocopherol Acetate (Vitamin E) may also be included and in that case a solubilizer such as Polysorbate 80 (Esters of Sorbitol) may be included.

Chelating agents such as Tetrasodium Ethylene Diamine Tetra Acetic Acid (EDTA) may be included in the solution to complex metal ions which otherwise tend to form undesireable insoluble compounds producing colouration or rancid odours.

In use the solution is painted onto the hair immediately prior to treatment, for example prior to a perm treatment. Desirably half an ounce of a composition according to the invention for example Formulation A is then combined with the permanent waving solution to be employed and the perm procedure is then carried out in the normal way. After perming, a bleach or tint may be applied immediately. For preference a small quantity of a composition according to the invention, for example, Formulation A is included with the bleach or tint solution prior to application.

If desired Methyl Paraben may be omitted from the composition, particularly if a freshly prepared solution is to employed.

Compositions including Panthenol and Crotein Q have been found to be more effective than those having either ingredient alone. While the relative proportions shown in Formulation A have been found to be optimum, the proportions can be varied to an extent which may be determined by routine testing. It is believed that the concentration of aloe should be at least 0.8% in the working solution.

A concentration of Crotein Q of at least 3% in the working solution is desirable. In trials in which compositions according to Formulation A have been used and in which various other hair treatments have been applied on the same day, the treatments have been applied without any noticeable detrimental effect either to the treatment or to the hair.

As will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the teaching hereof the combination of active components herein described may be included in other hair care products such as shampoos or conditioners and the viscosity of the solution may be modified by the inclusion of gelling agents and the like without the departing from the inventive concept herein disclosed.

Claims (10)

1. A composition for treating hair comprising in combination at least one water-soluble protein, panthenol or a derivative thereof, and aloe.

2. A composition according to Claim 1 comprising an aqueous solution containing in excess of 0.8% by weight of aloe at the solution working strength.

3. A composition according to Claim 2 comprising from 3 - 6% of Crotein Q, and from 0.8 - 1% of Aloe Powder.

4. A composition according to Claim 1 substantially as herein described with reference to the example.

5. A method for treating hair comprising the steps of:-

(A) applying a composition according to Claim lto the hair, and

(B) within 24 hours applying at least two treatments to the hair selected from the group consisting of permanent waving, tinting, dyeing, bleaching and highlighting.

6. A method according to Claim 5 wherein one of the treatments selected in step (B) is permanent waving.

7. A method according to Claim 5 wherein one of the treatments selected in step (B) is bleaching or dyeing.

8. A method according to Claim 5 wherein one of the treatments selected is permanent waving and the second treatment is bleaching, dyeing or tinting.

9. A method according to Claim 6 further comprising the step of adding a solution according to Claim 1 to the permanent waving solution.

10. A method according to Claim 9 further comprising the step of adding a solution according to Claim 1 to the bleaching, dyeing or tinting solution.