GB2270259A

GB2270259A - Treating hair or skin

Info

Publication number: GB2270259A
Application number: GB9218763A
Authority: GB
Inventors: David Anthony Gold
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1992-09-04
Filing date: 1992-09-04
Publication date: 1994-03-09
Also published as: GB9218763D0

Abstract

A method of treating human hair or skin comprises applying an aqueous cosmetic or toiletry composition having a pH of between 4 and 6 to the human hair or skin as the only, or the last, step of the treatment method. Treatment may be shampooing. Compositions for the treatment may be hair creams, gels, mousses or sprays. Slightly acid pH of compositions negates adverse effects of tap water on hair or skin when tap water is used for rinsing.

Description

HAIR AND SKIN TREATMENT METROD This invention relates to the cosmetic or toiletry treatment of human hair and skin and in particular to a method of treatment which has less adverse effects and more beneficial effects on human hair, the human scalp and skin than previously known methods.

It is generally well known that alkaline environments are undesirable from the point of view of hair and skin health, and hair shampoos, for example, are commonly formulated with a slightly acidic pH of less than 7 and usually about 5.5. However, when using the recommended methods for shampooing hair the instructions usually stress that the hair must be thoroughly rinsed.

It has also been known for a very long time that applying vinegar to hair after it has been washed tends to improve the appearance of hair. Vinegar is in essence a dilute solution of acetic acid. However, vinegar'has an unpleasant odour and this militates against its use as a component of a cosmetic composition.

The Applicant has discovered a general problem in previous toiletry or cosmetic treatments of human hair and skin and has also discovered a method of curing the problem.

As mentioned above, hair shampoos are usually marketed with a clear instruction that the hair must be thoroughly rinsed after shampooing. Such an instruction is essential, otherwise the surface active agents in the shampoo will remain in the hair and adversely affect the feel, appearance and other characteristics of the hair. Clearly, if the thorough rinsing is performed using an innocuous aqueous medium such as distilled or deionised water the essential rinsing step probably causes little harm, except that it may wash out ingredients in the shampoo which are intended to benefit the hair. However, if the rinsing medium is in fact detrimental to hair then although the shampoo is washed out of the hair it will be replaced by an alternative unsatisfactory environment.

Clearly there are few households where distilled or deionised water is readily available which could be used for rinsing hair and even if it were available it would occur to very few people to use it instead of tap water. In any event, a high proportion of living accommodation nowadays is equipped with shower equipment, or, at least, shower attachments, which have as one of their purposes to assist in rinsing hair with tap water after hair has been shampooed.

Accordingly, the usual procedure in following the instructions of shampoo suppliers is to spray the hair with tap water as the last step in the shampooing process.

Much concern is expressed nowadays about the effects of 'acid rain', in particular its effect on the pH of rivers and other water supply sources and on the biological environment. Accordingly attention tends to be focused on reducing acidity and increasing the pH of water, acidity tending to be regarded as an undesirable factor.

Moreover, contrary to popular belief, tap water is not neutral in pH, but is in fact slightly alkaline. Accordingly, when hair is rinsed according to shampoo manufacturers' specific instructions the hair is not provided with either an acidic or a neutral environment but is in fact put into an alkaline environment.

However, neither human hair nor human skin thrives in an alkaline environment. Both prefer a slightly acidic environment, i.e. in the range of from about 4 to 6, probably about 5.5. This is, as is already mentioned above, well appreciated by shampoo manufacturers whose products commonly have a slightly acidic pH. However, the shampooing instructions which are given usually destroy whatever benefit may be inherent in having the shampoo composition at a low pH, and moreover actually produces an environment hostile to both hair and skin.

It might be thought that a small change in pH from a slightly acidic pH to a slightly alkaline pH should have no significant effect on either hair or skin. However, an analogy might be drawn for example from the plant world in which, for example, a shrub like a rhododendron will thrive in acidic soil but will wilt or be stunted in an alkaline soil.

Likewise, human hair will flourish in a slightly acidic environment but if continually exposed to an alkaline environment by repeated rinsings with tap water it will be damaged, and normal hair renovation cannot reasonably be expected to take place as well in an alkaline environment as in a slightly acidic environment.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to counter the adverse effects of tap water on hair and skin and to provide methods of treatment and compositions which will benefit both hair and skin by providing a slightly acidic environment.

According to the present invention there are provided methods of treating human hair or skin which are characterised by applying an aqueous cosmetic or toiletry composition having a pH of between 4 and 6 to the hair or skin as the only, or the last, step of the treatment method. Preferably the pH is about 5.5.

Typically, the method would be a shampooing or other cleaning type of method wherein the hair or skin is first treated, for example, to clean it, and the shampoo or other cleansing composition is then removed by rinsing. However, the adverse effects of using a rinsing medium such as tap water are avoided by applying a cosmetic or toiletry composition as a very last step, in accord with this invention.

Also included within the scope of the invention is the use for treating hair or skin of an aqueous toiletry or cosmetic composition having a pH of between 4 and 6 either in a form ready for use or in a concentrated form which can be diluted, even with tap water, to give a composition which is suitable for applying to the hair or skin.

Additionally, the invention provides cosmetic or toiletry compositions which are either ready for use or are in concentrated form such as to provide a pH environment of between 4 and 6, and preferably about 5.5, for the hair or skin.

In order to adjust the compositions of the present invention to the desired pH range, citric acid is the preferred acidic agent, although other weak acids may be used. In general it is not feasible to use strong acids in this invention as they will tend to produce a pH which is too low.

Buffering agents may also be incorporated in order to provide stability to the pH. Thus, in conjunction with citric acid, sodium citrate can be used as a buffering agent.

The cosmetic compositions of this invention may also of course include conventional components of cosmetic or toiletry compositions. However, it is particularly preferred in performing the present invention to include hair, or skin, nutrients and/or vitamins. Thus, in accord with the present invention, not only is the hair or skin provided with a more congenial environment but also vitamins and nutrients are better able to act to assist to provide healthy hair and skin. Suitable ingredients in this category may include panthenol, biotin and niacin.

Additionally, as mentioned above, the compositions may include conventional components such as resins, gelling agents, conditioners, humectants, emulsifiers and/or propellants and/or any other conventional cosmetic or toiletry ingredients, such as colourings, flavourings and perfumes.

Also, the compositions may contain herbal extracts.

Following are examples of formulations of compositions in accord with the invention.

Example 1 Tap water hair rinse to follow shampooinq.

The following composition is made up as a concentrate in distilled water: (Percentages in these examples are percentages by weight) Citric Acid 0.5 to 10% (Optionally together with Sodium Citrate as a buffer) Panthenol (vitamin B5) 2 to 15% Biotin (Vitamin H) 0.001 to 0.5% Colours and Fragrances Herbal Extracts Balance: Distilled Water The concentrate is diluted with tap water before use as a final rinse for the hair after shampooing.

Example 2 Hair Gel Polyvinyl Pyrollidone/Vinyl Acetate 0.5 to 10% Hydroxyethyl Cellulose (Gelling agent) 0.5 to 10% Hydrolysed Vegetable Proteins (Conditioner) 0.5 to 5% Sorbitol (Humectant) 2 to 10% Citric Acid 0.5 to 7% Colours and Fragrances Balance: Distilled Water Example 3 Hair Mousse Polyvinyl Pyrollidone/Vinyl Acetate 0.5 to 5% Hydrolysed Vegetable Proteins (Conditioner) 0.5 to 5% Polysorbate 120 (Emulsifier) 0.1 to 2% Butane/Propane (Mixture) (Propellant) 5 to 15% Citric Acid 0.5 to 7% Colours, Fragrances, etc.

Distilled Water plus possibly alcohol, to balance.

It should be understood that the above examples are merely illustrative of the types of composition in accord with the present invention and that variations can be made without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the following claims. Thus, for example, as the resin a polyvinyl pyrrolidone may be used on its own; as alternative gelling agents, for example, can be used carbopols of acrylate derivatives; as alternative conditioners, for example, can be mentioned polyethylene glycol - 75 lanolin and cetearyl-trimonium metho sulfate; and glycerol is an example of an alternative humectant. As alternative conditioners can be mentioned polyethylene glycol-3 lauramine oxide or cellulose hydroxy ethyl trimonium chloride. Other variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art of cosmetics or toiletries formulations.

Claims

1. Methods of treating human hair or skin which are characterised by applying an aqueous cosmetic or toiletry composition having a pH of between 4 and 6 to the hair or skin as the only, or the last, step of the treatment method.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the pH is 5.5.

3. A method as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 which is a hair or skin cleansing method.

4. A method as claimed in claim 3 which is a method of shampooing hair.

5. A method as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the cosmetic or toiletry composition is in the form of a concentrate which is diluted prior to application to the hair or skin.

6. A method as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the aqueous cosmetic or toiletry composition is applied in the form of a final rinse in a method of shampooing hair.

7. A method as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the composition includes vitamins and/or nutrients for the hair or skin.

8. A method as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the composition includes citric acid to adjust the pH to the desired level.

9. A method as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the composition is buffered with a combination of a weak acid and the salt of a weak acid.

10. A method as claimed in claim 1 substantially as hereinbefore described.

11. An aqueous cosmetic or toiletry composition suitable for use in a method as claimed in any one of the preceding claims.

12. A composition as claimed in claim 11 which is in the form of a concentrate to be diluted with water to form a final rinse in a shampooing method.

13. A composition as claimed in claim 11 which is in the form of a hair cream, gel, mousse or spray.

14. A composition as claimed in claim 11 which is in the form of a skin treatment composition.

15. A composition as claimed in claim 11 substantially as described in any one of the Examples.

16. The use of a toiletry or cosmetic composition to adjust the pH of tap water to between 4 and 6, preferably 5.5, before application of the tap water to the human hair or skin.

17. The use of a toiletry or cosmetic composition to adjust the pH environment of the human hair or skin to between 4 or 6, preferably 5.5, after the hair or skin has been washed or rinsed with tap water.

18. A hair rinse kit comprising a container of concentrated aqueous cosmetic or toiletry composition suitable for dilution with water to produce a rinse solution of pH between 4 and 6, preferably 5.5, and a mixing vessel in which to mix the concentrate with water.

19. A kit as claimed in claim 18 which also comprises means for applying the diluted concentrate to hair as a final rinse.