NL6406777A - - Google Patents

Abstract

A predetermined configuration is imparted to human hair by contacting it before it is confined or after it is confined in the predetermined configuration with an aqueous solution containing 3-20% by weight of an N-alkanoyl cysteine having up to 10 carbon atoms in the alkanoyl radical or an N-aroylcysterine having up to 12 carbon atoms in the aroyl radical and having a pH of 7-9.5 for from 10 minutes to 12 hours and then subjecting it to oxidizing conditions. The N-alkanoyl-cysteine may be N-acetylcysteine, N-butyrylcysteine, N-valerylcysteine, N-caproylcysteine or N-heptenoylcysteine and the N-aryolcysteine may be N-benzoyl cysteine, N-toluoylcysteine, N-ethylbenzoyl cysteine or N-propylbenzoylcysteine. The solution may be adjusted to the desired pH by the addition of sodium hydroxide, ammonia, potassium hydroxide, methylamine, ethylamine, propylamine, butylamine, dimethylamine, diethylamine, manoethanolamine, ethylenediamine, piperazine, tetramethylenediamine, or the sodium, potassium or ammonium salts of lactic, acetic, carbonic or citric acids. The solution may also contain welting agents, e.g. sodium and potassium salts of alkyl sulphuric, alkyl sulphonic or aralkylsulphonic acids having at least 12 carbon atoms, polyethylene oxides and polypropylene oxides and the ethers and esters thereof, swelling agents, e.g. urea, thiourea, methylurea, ethylurea and thermineral acid salts of guanidine, thickeners, e.g. carboxymethyl cellulose, polyacrylates, polystyrene, emulsified oils, lanolin, chlorinated hydrocarbons, pectins and gums, perfumes, silicones, dyes, disodium ethylene diamine tetracetic acid and agents preventing over processing of the hair, e.g. ammonium chloride, sulphate and phosphate. The fixing may be effected by exposure of the hair to air for a prolonged period or by the use of hydrogen peroxide or an alkali metal bromate, iodate or perborate. Straight hair may be curled and curled hair straightened by the process.