GB2132653A - Hair treatment compositions - Google Patents

Abstract

A hairspray composition which contains a hairspray resin, ethyl alcohol and/or propyl alcohol, an aerosol propellant and from more than 1% up to 15% by weight, based on the total weight of the composition, of at least one methylsiloxane having a boiling point in the range from 100 DEG C to 140 DEG C.

Description

SPECIFICATION Hair treatment compositions This invention relates to compositions for application to the hair and is particularly concerned with hairspray preparations.

Hairspray compositions for holding the hair in place have been well known and widely employed for a number of years. Such compositions contain a film forming resin which is applied from an aerosol container. In order to improve the properties of the resin film on the hair, in particular its flexibility and gloss, it is customary to include in the composition additives such as isopropyl myristate, glycerine, dimethyl phthalate, methylphenyl siloxanes and polydimethylsiloxane-poly(alkylene oxide) copolymers.

Hairspray compositions containing siloxanes and siloxane copolymers are described in U.K. Patent 1 424002 and Cosmetics and Toiletries, Vol. 91, January 1976, pages 29-32 (Todd and Byers). It has also been disclosed in the article by Todd and Byers that volatile silicones act as plasticisers for the hairspray resin. According to the typical formulations set out in the said article the volatile silicone is employed in proportions of 0.03% and 0.5% by weight based on the total composition.

Hair dressing compositions which contain at least one dimethylpolysiloxane having a boiling point falling within the range of from 1 700C to 265"C and which may be formulated as emulsions, gell preparations or aerosols are disclosed in U.K. Patent 1 1 58 139.

The ability of hairspray resin compositions to hold the hair in a desired style can be improved by increasing the proportion of resin in the compositions. However, such a modification results in a more inflexible film on the hair accompanied by a decrease in gloss and ease of combing. We have now discovered that if the proportion of the so called volatile silicone is increased above the previously recommended levels improved softness, gloss and ease of combing are imparted to the treated hair.

Surprisingly it has also been found that such improvement is not obtained at the expense of the holding power of the composition, that is its ability to hold the hair in a particular style.

According to the present invention there is provided a hairspray composition comprising a hairspray resin, at least one alcohol-selected from ethyl alcohol and propyl alcohol, an aerosol propellant and from more than 1 percent to 1 5 percent by weight, based on the total weight of the composition of at least one methylsiloxane having a boiling point of 760 mm Hg in the range from 1000C to 240cm.

The hairspray resin component of the compositions of this invention may be any of those which are suitable for fixing the hair according to any particular style. A variety of such resins are known and employed commercially for this application. They include, for example, polyvinyl pyrrolidone, vinylpyrrolidone-vinyl acetate copolymers, poly(vinylpyrrolidone/dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate), crotonic acid-vinyl acetate copolymers, crotonic acid-vinyl propionate-vinyl acetate terpolymers, crotonic-acid-maleic anhydride-vinyl acetate terpolymers, ethylene-maleic anhydride copolymers, monoaikylesters of poly(methylvinyl ether-maleic acid), dimethyl hydantoin formaldehyde, carboxylated polyvinyl acetate and quaternised acrylic resin.Depending on type the resins are supplied as solventless products or as solutions in a cosmetically-acceptable vehicle for example ethyl alcohol or isopropyl alcohol. In general the hairspray resin is present in a proportion of from about 0.5 to about 5 percent by weight based on the total weight of the composition.

As the alcohol component there are preferably employed ethyl alcohol or isopropyl alcohol. The proportion of alcohol may vary within wide limits, for example from about 7.5% to about 50% of the total weight of the composition.

The methylsiloxanes which are employed in the compositions of this invention are those having a boiling point in the range from 1000C to 2400C at 760 mm Hg. The methylsiloxanes may be linear or cyclic and include hexamethyldisiloxane, hexamethylcyclotrisiloxane, octamethylcyclotetrasiloxane, decamethylcyclopentasiloxane, and dodecamethylcyclohexasiloxane. The methylsiloxanes may be employed as the individual compounds or as mixtures of two or more. In order to obtain the benefits of softness and gloss associated with good holding power the methylsiloxane should be employed in a proportion of more than 1 percent by weight based on the total weight of the composition. Up to 1 5 percent by weight of the methylsiloxane may be employed, the preferred proportion being from 2 to 8 percent by weight based on the total composition weight.

Any suitable liquified organic gas may be employed as the aerosol propellant. The use of such propellants for dispensing hairspray resins and other cosmetic substances is well known and the choice of a suitable propellant system and the amount to be employed will be readily apparent to the skilled person. Such gases are normally hydrocarbons or halogenated hydrocarbons which are liquid under the pressure obtaining in the dispensing container but which vapourise when this pressure is released.

Examples of such propellants include propane, butane, dichlorodifluoromethane, dichloro-tetra-fluoroethane, fluorotrichloromethane and methylene chloride. The propellants are normally employed in a proportion of from about 35 percent to about 75 percent by weight based on the total weight of the composition.

In addition to the essential components described hereinabove the compositions of this invention may contain any of the additives normally present in resin hairspray compositions, for example, perfumes, colourants, plasticisers and medicaments. The compositions should however, be substantially free of water, that is they should contain less than 2%, and preferably less than 0.5% by weight of water.

The invention is illustrated by the following examples.

EXAMPLE 1 Resin hairsprays according to the invention were formulated having the compositions set out in Table A, the amounts being shown as percentages by weight. For comparison a control formulation for each resin was also prepared wherein the methylsiloxane was replaced by 0.2 percent by weight of dimethylphthalate and the ethanol content made up to 43.9 percent by weight (Amphomer) and 41.2 percent by weight (PVP/VA 735).

TABLE A Formulation 1 2 3 4 5 Amphomer Resin (1) 0.750 0.750 0.750 PVPNA 735 (2) - - - 3.5 3.5 2-aminoethyl- 0.123 0.123 0.123 propanol Ethanol 41.921 35.303 35.303 39.42 33.18 Methylsiloxane A (3) - - 8.824 2.08 Methylsiloxane B B(4) 2.206 8.824 - - 8.32 Propellant (5) 55 55 55 55 55 (1) amphoteric acrylic resin (2) polyvinylpyrrolidone-vinyl acetate copolymer (50% solution) (3) hexamethyldisiloxane (4) octamethylcyclotetrasiloxane (70%) and deca methylcyclopentasiloxane (30%) by weight (5) CCI3F/CCI2F2 (65/35) The formulations were applied from an aerosol dispenser to samples of virgin curled brown hair and the treated samples examined for softness and ease of combing. The holding power of each of Formulations 1-5 relative to the control was measured by suspending the treated hair samples in an atmosphere at 97% Relative Humidity and measuring the percentage extension of the curl after 5 hours.

The Relative Holding Power was calculated as percentage extension of control x 100 percentage extension of formulation values above 1 00 indicating superior holding power of the Formulation compared with the control.

Formulation 1 2 3 4 5 Relative Holding Power % 120 89 122 141 126 Softness Very Soft, Soft, soft, slightly Very soft, silky silky Silky silky silky Ease of Very Very Fairly Fairly Combing Easy easy easy difficult easy Curls sprayed with the control formulation tended to be harsh and dry and were difficult to comb out. The control for Formulation 4 was very difficult to comb.

EXAMPLE 2 Resin hairsprays having the compositions shown in the following table were prepared by admixing all ingredients except the propellants, charging the mixture to an aerosol dispenser and thereafter adding the propellants. The proportions are expressed as percentages by weight.

Composition 1 2 PVP/VA 735(1) 3.5 3.5 Ethanol 9.31 28.8 Methylsiloxane)2) 13.97 12.35 Methylene chloride 18.59 Composition 1 2 Octadecanol - 0.2 Dimethylphthalate - 0.1 Butane 23.25 P123 32.38 19.25 P114 35.80 (1) polyvinylpyrrolidone-vinyl acetate copolymer (50% solution) (2) Mixture of octamethylcyclotetrasiloxane (70%) and decamethylcyclopentasiloxane (30%) by weight (3) CCl2F2 (4) CCI3F For comparison control compositions were prepared except that the methylsiloxane was omitted and the ethanol content increased to 23.28% (Composition 1) and 41.15% (Composition 2).

The compositions were sprayed on to samples of virgin curled brown hair and the treated samples examined for softness and ease of combing. The Relative Holding Power of the compositions was measured as described in Example 1 except that the curls were suspended in an atmosphere at 97% Relative Humidity for 22 hours.

The results were as follows: Composition 1 Composition 2 Relative Holding Power 100 132 Handle Very soft Very soft Ease of Combing 'First stroke difficult thereafter easy Easy In each case the control curls were difficult to comb and were harsh and stiff to the touch.

Claims (5)

1. A hairspray composition comprising a hairspray resin, at least one alcohol selected from ethyl alcohol and propyl alcohol, an aerosol propellant and from more than 1% to 15% by weight, based on the total weight of the composition, of at least one methylsiloxane having a boiling point at 760 mm. Hg in the range from 1000C to 2400C.

2. A composition as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the methylsiloxane is present in a proportion of from 2% to 8% by weight based on the total weight of the composition.

3. A composition as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2 wherein the alcohol is present in a proportion of from 7.5% to 50% by weight based on the total weight of the composition.

4. A composition as claimed in Claim 1 substantiallly as described with reference to the Examples.

5. A process for treating hair which comprises applying thereto a hairspray composition as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 4 inclusive.