NO168085B - CONDITIONING HAIR RINSE PRODUCT THAT DRIVES FEELING AND STRONG SHINE - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to new conditioning hair rinses which can be clear or opaque, which are capable of giving treated hair an excellent feeling of dryness and strong shine,

and comprising a ternary mixture of polyvinylpyrrolidone/vinyl acetate (PVP/VA) copolymer, at least one hydrophilic cationic quaternary ammonium compound and a water-soluble nonionic cellulose polymer in an aqueous carrier. The use of this ternary mixture is essential to achieve the excellent feeling of dryness and the strong hair shine. Furthermore, the mixture is easily and completely removable from the hair by simple washing with shampoo and does not cause an unwanted build-up of conditioner in the hair.

Conventional conditioners comprise emulsion systems of cationic compound and fatty alcohol which tend to make the hair oily and greasy. The cationic quaternary compounds may have a hydrophobic group or such groups as lauryl, cetyl, stearyl or benzyl attached to the nitrogen atom, or may have a less hydrophobic group, such as a polyoxy-ethyleneamidoalkyl radical with 3-60 propylene oxide groups attached to the nitrogen atom, as shown in US Patent No. 3,155,591. These hair-coating cationic compounds are used to emulsify oils or fats, such as fatty alcohols, -amides or -glycols, to increase the mixing properties of the cationic compound in wet and dry form. Unfortunately, they provide conditioning of an oily or greasy nature which leaves a mattifying effect on the hair.

Also described in the prior art are other hair conditioning preparations containing conventional: hydrophobic quaternary ammonium compounds, which in turn contain a higher alkyl or alkenyl group of more than 8 carbon atoms, usually 16 - 18 carbon atoms, together with such resins as PVP/VA copolymers , in hair styling mixtures. More specifically, US Patent No. 3,144,391 discloses hair styling preparations containing water-insoluble copolymers of vinyl pyrrolidone and vinyl esters of fatty acids, such as a copolymer of vinyl acetate and vinyl pyrrolidone (40:60

to 85:15), and a smaller proportion of a cationic surface

active agent containing a hydrocarbon radical with at least

8 carbon atoms and ethyl alcohol. US Patent No. 3,694,141 also describes a method for hair conditioning by applying an aqueous laying solution comprising a disulfide compound containing a nitrogen atom, a PVP/VA copolymer and a smaller proportion of a quaternary ammonium compound, such as trimethylcetylammonium bromide ( column 6, lines 15 - 30). Likewise, U.S. Patent No. 4,348,383 discloses hair styling creams or lotions comprising dithioether compounds to reduce the oily appearance of the hair, together with a cosmetic resin, such as PVP/VA copolymers (column 3, lines 53-54 ) and quaternary ammonium compounds (column 4, lines 7 and 52 - 54) in an aqueous, alcoholic or hydroalcoholic solution. However, this group of patents primarily relates to hair styling solutions containing the PVP/VA copolymer as the film-forming agent, non-conditioning hair rinses that give the hair an excellent feeling of dryness and strong shine properties.

The prior art also describes water-soluble quaternary ammonium compounds as a skin-covering emollient in cosmetic products, e.g. hair shaping gels shown in US Patent Nos. 3,766,267 and 3,855,290 which further comprise a carboxylated vinyl polymer.

On the other hand, the water-soluble quaternary ammonium compounds have been used as a conditioning agent in hair rinses containing such a lubricant as a higher fatty alcohol, as shown in US Patent No. 3,155,591. But no PVP/VA copolymer or other quaternary compound is described in this group of preparations.

US Patent Nos. 4,220,168 and 4,374,125 respectively describe a moisture-regulating hair spray that contains PVP/VA copolymers as a possible component, and a moisture-stabilizing conditioner that contains a quaternary ammonium salt as conditioner,

as a potential component.

However, none of the above-mentioned patents describe a hair conditioning rinse agent with properties that give a feeling of dryness and strong hair shine, and which comprises the ternary mixture of a PVP/VA copolymer, one or more hydrophilic cationic quaternary ammonium compounds and a water-soluble non- ionic cellulose polymer in an aqueous medium, wherein the quaternary compound is present in the prescribed amount relative to the PVP/VA copolymer.

It has been found that a conditioning hair rinse comprising a ternary mixture of a PVP/VA copolymer, one or more hydrophilic quaternary ammonium compounds free of alkyl radicals having more than 8 carbon atoms, and a water-soluble nonionic cellulose polymer in an aqueous medium , provides a stable mixture that adds excellent properties in terms of feeling of dryness and hair shine, as well as very good volume and compliance for dry hair, to hair treated with the product.

Accordingly, a primary object of the present invention is to provide a conditioning hair rinse which adds excellent properties in terms of dryness feeling and strong shine to the hair, and which comprises a ternary mixture of a PVP/VA copolymer, at least one hydrophilic quaternary compound with water solubility which is free of hydrophobic alkyl or alkenyl radicals with more than 8 carbon atoms in the molecule, and a water-soluble nonionic cellulose polymer in an aqueous medium.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a conditioning hair rinse which gives good volume and flexibility for dry hair to the hair treated with the conditioner. Yet another object of the invention is to provide an aqueous conditioning hair rinse with minimal build-up effects on the hair.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a conditioning hair rinse that can be easily removed from the hair by simple washing with shampoo.

Further objects, advantages and new features of the invention will be partially indicated in the description below,

and will in part be apparent to those skilled in the art upon review of the description below, or may be learned by practice of the invention. The purposes and advantages of the invention can also be realized and achieved by means of the features and combinations that are specifically stated in the claims.

To achieve the above mentioned and other purposes, is

according to the present invention, a conditioning hair rinse agent is provided which is able to provide excellent properties with regard to a feeling of dryness and strong shine, and which is characterized by comprising a ternary mixture of 0.5 - 15% by weight polyvinylpyrrolidone/vinyl acetate copolymer where the weight ratio between polyvinylpyrrolidone and vinyl acetate is within the range 70:30 - 30:70, 0.1 - 10

weight % of at least one hydrophilic, cationic, quaternary ammonium salt which is free of alkyl and alkenyl radicals containing at least 8 carbon atoms in the molecular structure, but which contains a polyoxyalkylene radical with at least 9 carbon atoms in the molecular structure, the weight ratio between the quaternary compound and the copolymer being in range 1:5 -

20:1, and 0.1 - 4% by weight of a water-soluble, non-ionic cellulose polymer, in 71 - 99.3% by weight of an aqueous medium,

where the agent has a pH in the range 3-6.

The decisive usage characteristics of a good hair conditioning rinse are: disperses well in the hair after application; provides good ease when combing wet, i.e. dissolves tangles in the hair without damaging it; provides good ease when dry-combing with good hair flexibility; and maintains good hair shine without an oily feeling. Generally, clean hair is shiny and hair treated with conditioning rinses usually looks dull.

It has been found that more desirable conditioning rinses can be made by using polyvinylpyrrolidone/vinyl acetate (PVP/VA) copolymers in place of the fatty substances commonly used. Such conditioners give a feeling of dryness, good volume and improved shine properties to the hair. Furthermore, it has been found that conditioning rinses which provide an excellent feeling of dryness/strong hair shine can be made by using such polyvinylpyrrolidone/vinyl acetate copolymers in admixture with a quaternary ammonium compound having hydrophilic properties, i.e. a compound which is completely or partially soluble in water and which does not contain a hydrophobic alkyl or alkenyl radical with more than 8 carbon atoms in the molecule. This improved conditioning conditioner provides good wet combing, excellent hair shine, good volume and very good compliance for dry hair, to hair treated with the product. It has also been found that the addition of the more hydrophilic cationic compound improves the hair shine properties of PVP/VA copolymer conditioning rinses even when a common hydrophobic type of cationic compound such as stearyldimethylbenzylammonium chloride or dihydrogenated tallow dimethylammonium chloride is also present. Furthermore, the presence of a water-soluble nonionic cellulose polymer further enhances the conditioning properties of the hair rinse. It is believed that the interaction of this ternary mixture of ingredients is responsible for the excellent and unexpected conditioning effects, including the substantial absence of conditioner build-up in the hair. The three essential components are completely compatible.

The PVP/VA copolymer, which is one of the essential components according to the present invention, is a practically water-insoluble film-forming material which has previously been used in hair spray, hair laying preparations in liquid form or in foam form, and the like. Suitable PVP/VA copolymers can be obtained in the form of a 50% A.I. (active ingredient)

clear liquid solution either in ethanol or in isopropanol at room temperature, where the weight ratio between PVP/VA varies from 70:30 to 30:70. E.g. is PVP/VA E-735 a 50%

(A.I.) solution in ethanol of PVP/VA in the weight ratio 70:30, PVP/VA E 335 is a 50% (A.I.) solution in ethanol of PVP/VA

in the weight ratio 30:70 and PVP/VA 1-735 is a 50% (A.I.) solution in isopropanol of PVP/VA in the weight ratio 70:30. The alcohol solutions of the PVP/VA copolymers exhibit water tolerance and thereby enable use in aqueous systems, such as aqueous conditioning preparations. E.g. is the water tolerance of E-series PVP/VA copolymers, expressed in parts water added to 100 parts of a 25% copolymer solution in anhydrous ethanol until a slight haze occurs, as follows:

When used, a clear film of PVP/VA copolymer is deposited on the hair which is treated with preparations containing such polymers, whereby hair with a high shine is obtained. The PVP/VA copolymer is used in amounts of 0.5 - 15% by weight, preferably 0.9 - 10% by weight and most preferably 1.35 - 3% by weight, of the mixture.

Another essential ingredient in the new hair rinse preparation is a cationic quaternary ammonium compound such as . is at least partially soluble in water. Such compounds do not contain any hydrophobic alkyl or alkenyl group with at least 8 carbon atoms in the molecular structure, such as the traditional conditioning quaternary ammonium compounds, such as cetyl or stearyldimethylbenzylammonium chloride, but contain a polyoxyalkylene radical with at least 9 carbon atoms in the molecular structure. Because of this difference, these compounds are soluble in water to a degree that varies from complete water solubility for compounds containing a relatively small number of C 1 -C 4 -alkylene oxide groups, e.g. 8 propylene oxide groups, to partial solubility in water for compounds containing a larger number of the alkylene oxide groups, e.g. 25 or 41 propylene oxide groups. These components have cationic surface groups in both oil and water, the lipophilic property being proportional to the amount of polyether structure that is included in the single compound's molecular weight. A high degree of antistatic efficiency is due to the combined effects of the cationic activity and the hygroscopic property of the polyether structures.

Suitable compounds generally correspond to the following

formula:

where R and R 1 are each an alkyl radical containing 1-3, preferably 1-2, carbon atoms; R2 is either [CH2CH(R4)0]nH or alkylene-0[CH2CH(R4)0]nH where R4 is an alkyl radical with 1-2 carbon atoms, preferably methyl, n is 3 - 60, preferably 9 - 41, and the alkylene contains no more than 3 carbon atoms; X is a lower alkyl or alkenyl radical containing 1-4 carbon atoms, or is an alkaryl radical containing from 7 to 9 carbon atoms; and A is an anion selected from the group consisting of chlorine, bromine, hydroxy, sulfate, metho- or ethosulfate, nitrate, phosphate, acetate, formate and sulfonate, preferably chlorine or bromine. Particularly preferred compounds are methyl, diethyl, polyoxypropylene (8-41) quaternary ammonium chlorides. These preferred compounds can be purchased under the trade names "Emcol CC9" ("Quaternium 6") containing 9 moles of propylene oxide; "Emcol CC-36" ("Quaternium 20") which contains approx. 25 moles of propylene oxide; and "Excol CC-42"

("Quaternium 21") containing 41 moles of propylene oxide.

The process for producing these quaternary ammonium compounds is described in US Patent Nos. 3,141,905, 3,155,591 and 3,123,641.

Due to the substantiality of the above-mentioned quaternary ammonium compounds to the hair, the compounds seem to work together with the PVP/VA film-forming component, so that treated hair is obtained with an adherent shiny film which can be easily removed by washing with a shampoo. In addition, these ingredients are essentially non-irritating and are compatible with anionic and nonionic surfactants, as well as with phenolic germicides. The cationic polyoxyalkylene-containing quaternary ammonium compounds constitute 0.1 - 10% by weight, preferably 0.45 - 8% by weight, preferably 1.35 - 3% by weight of the hair conditioning preparation. Furthermore, the weight ratio between these cationic polyoxyalkylene-containing quaternary ammonium compounds and the PVP/VA polymer component should be regulated so that it is in the range of 1:5 to 20:1, preferably from 1:3 to 2:1.

The third essential ingredient in the hair conditioning preparations is a water-soluble, non-ionic cellulose polymer which acts both as a thickening agent and as a conditioning agent. Suitable cellulose polymers are selected from the group consisting of hydroxyethyl cellulose and hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose, with hydroxyethyl cellulose being preferred. Hydroxyethyl cellulose is the product of the reaction of an alkali cellulose and ethylene oxide, and such products are available in a variety of viscosity grades. Viscosity is primarily dependent on the viscosity of the cellulose used with the turnover. The degree of substitution for hydroxyethyl groups per glucose unit is 1.4 - 1.5 and these hydroxyethylcelluloses have an average molecular weight range from approx. 80,000 to approx. 900,000.

A particularly preferred hydroxyethylcellulose is available under the trade name Natrosol<®> 250 HP. Water-

soluble hydroxypropyl cellulose has a methoxyl content between approx. 25% by weight and approx. 32% by weight, and a hydroxypropyl content between approx. 2 and 10% by weight, preferably 2 to 7% by weight. Again, the chain length of the cellulose used in the reaction can be regulated so that a molecular weight is obtained which gives a viscosity for a 2% solution in water in the range 10 eps to 5000 eps, preferably 50 eps to 4000 eps.

These cellulose polymers provide stability to the preparation after storage by means of viscosity regulation. The preparation retains its viscosity without being diluted or thickened. In addition to regulating the viscosity of aqueous hair rinses, the cellulose polymer contributes to its conditioning properties. Hydrogen bonding appears to occur between the water-soluble nonionic cellulose polymer and the cationic quaternary compound, resulting in additional conditioning benefits of the conditioner. This unexpected double action and synergy with the other two essential conditioning ingredients makes for a uniquely excellent hair rinse product. The cellulose polymer content is 0.1-4% by weight, preferably 0.2-2% by weight, preferably 0.25-1.2% by weight, of the conditioning hair rinse preparation.

The last essential ingredient in the conditioning hair rinse preparations is an aqueous medium which is primarily water. As the PVP/VA polymer is usually supplied as a solution in ethanol or isopropanol, it contains the aqueous

medium usually a small amount of a C₁-C₂ alkanol.

Furthermore, if desired, further amounts of C₁-C₂-alkanol can be added to the preparation, particularly when the preparation is sold in the form of a "mousse". The proportion of the aqueous medium is in the range 71 - 99.3% by weight, preferably 80 - 98.3% by weight, preferably 90 - 99.7% by weight,

of the hair rinse. Generally, the C2-C1 alkanol will make up a smaller proportion of the aqueous medium, varying from 2 to 25% by weight of the hair rinse, the largest amounts of such alkanol being present in the "mousse" preparations.

An optionally desirable component in the present hair conditioning preparation is a foaming cationic surface-active agent which acts as a dispersant and contributes to the conditioning properties of the final product. The cationic surface-active agent is a hydroxylated quaternary ammonium compound containing polyethoxy radicals, a gluconamidopropyl radical or a hydroxylated gluconamido-C^-C-j-alkyl radical bound to the nitrogen atom, in a concentration of 0.1-8% by weight, preferably 0.5- 4% by weight.

A typical hydroxylated cationic quaternary ammonium compound containing a gluconamidopropyl radical is "Quaternium 22" (T-gluconamidopropyldimethyl-2-hydroxyethyl-ammonium chloride). "Quaternium 22" is a water-soluble quaternary gluconamidopropyl salt that can be obtained

under the trademark "Ceraphyl 60" in the form of a clear yellow to light amber liquid containing 58 - 62% by weight of the salt in water, and with a pH of 4 - 5 and a specific gravity at 25°C of 1.17 - 1 ,21. The method for producing this compound is fully described in US Patent No. 3,766,267.

A typical hydroxylated quaternary compound containing polyethoxy radicals is "Q.. ternium 3 6" (stearylpenta-ethoxyammonium chloride) which can be obtained

under the trademark Genamin<®> KS-5 in the form of a clear yellow liquid containing 20-22% by weight of the quaternary salt in water. The pH in Genamin<®> KS-5 is 6.5 - 0.5. "Quaternium 36" has the following chemical formula:

where R is primarily C^g*

Another hydroxylated quaternary ammonium compound containing polyethoxy radicals is alkylpolyethoxyammonium lactate with the following formula:

where R is primarily C^g and the sum of x + y + z is approximately 5. This alkylpentaethoxyammonium lactate is also available as a clear liquid in the form of a water/ethylene glycol solution containing 30% of the quaternary compound, under the trademark Genamine<®> KSL.

The hair conditioning agents according to the invention can be in the form of a clear or opaque pourable liquid, a gel or a liquid under pressure for use either as a hair rinse or after washing with shampoo, or as a hair conditioning/shaping mousse. The viscosity of the final product may vary from at least 50 centipoise to up to 20,000 centipoise, and the product may be in the form of a liquid, a viscous lotion or a cream. The hair conditioning product in the form of a gel may be packaged in and extruded from a squeeze tube or any suitable container by the application of pressure. Thus, the product can be in the form of a liquid under pressure packaged in an aerosol container containing a propellant, a packaging that is particularly useful for hair shaping mousses. Instead of the aerosol container, the conditioning product can also be packaged in a squeeze-out spray container.

The pH of the hair conditioner according to the present invention is acidic and varies from 3 to 6, preferably 4-5.

The hair conditioning agents according to the invention can also contain conventional additive ingredients, such as dyes, perfumes, preservatives, such as formaldehyde (formalin), lightening agents, such as Uvinul<®>, cationic hydrophobic quaternary ammonium compounds and other polymers, such as copolymers of polydimethylsiloxane and a polyoxyalkylene ether. The total weight of these possible additives usually does not exceed 5% by weight of the preparation, and preferably does not exceed 2% by weight of the preparation.

The present hair conditioners are made

easily by mixing the ingredients in the prescribed manner. E.g. a preferred method for producing the present preparations includes the steps of forming a thick uniform dispersion of hydroxyethyl cellulose by mixing the hydroxyethyl cellulose in cold water, heating the dispersion to approx. 60°C until viscous, then cool to 49°C; successively mixing the quaternary ammonium compound(s) ("Quaternium 21", "Quaternium 22" and "Quaternium 36") and the PVP/VA copolymer into the dispersion; cool the mixture to 38°C; adding the dye, perfume, formalin and other optional additives while stirring; and cooling the resulting mixture to room temperature (24°C), thereby forming an opaque or clear product. Instead of continuously adding the cationic quaternary compound(s) and the PVP/VA copolymer, the compounds can be premixed and added as a ready mixture to the viscous aqueous hydroxyethyl cellulose dispersion.

These hair conditioning products have unexpected excellent properties due to the simultaneous action of the particular ternary combination of PVP/VA copolymer, the cationic quaternary compound with a polyoxyalkylene group attached to the nitrogen atom, and the nonionic water-soluble cellulose polymer. The new hair conditioners give a feeling of dryness, very good volume and excellent strong shine properties to the hair treated with the products, and it is avoided that the clean hair becomes dull, as with the use of conventional hair conditioners. In addition, the conditioners according to the invention provide complete washing out with shampoos, while conventional conditioning hair rinses or hair "mousses" are retained and thereby cause an unwanted build-up of conditioner in the hair. Consequently, constant use of the conventional hair conditioners makes the hair dull. Current products have eliminated this problem. Additional conditioning benefits imparted to the hair include very good wet and dry combing, very good pliability and good anti-static properties.

The following examples illustrate the invention. All amounts of various ingredients in the examples, as well as elsewhere in the description, are based on weight unless otherwise indicated.

Example 1

Opaque conditioning conditioner

The hydroxyethyl cellulose is dispersed in cold water with mixing and the mixture is heated to 60 - 66°C until it is viscous and homogeneous, and then cooled to 49°C. "Quaternium 21", "Quaternium 22" and "PVP/VA E-735" are continuously added to the cellulose dispersion while stirring and mixed until the mixture is homogeneous. The mixture is cooled to 38°C

and the dye, perfume and formalin are mixed. The product becomes opaque after cooling to 24 - 29°C.

When applied to the hair, this product spreads well throughout the hair and rinses out easily. Wet and dry combing is very good and the hair retains a good shine even after 1 hour of blow drying. The flexibility is very good and the hair feels dry, has good volume and no static electricity.

This product was satisfactorily stored for 13 weeks under accelerated storage conditions at temperatures of -18, 4, 25, 38 and 49°C.

In contrast to common (previously known) conditioning rinses containing C±2~ C18 mono-alkyl-

and dialkyl-containing quaternary ammonium salts that accumulate in the hair during several treatments with shampoo and conditioning rinse, this product is washed out of the hair by shampooing, which is a desirable advantage. In addition, practical use testing shows that the degree of conditioning can be regulated with this product by varying the rinsing time. Short rinse periods provide maximum conditioning, and long rinse periods provide less conditioning effects. To achieve maximum conditioning properties, the product can be applied directly to the hair without rinsing. Such use suggests that the conditioner can be used as a hair "mousse".

Example 2

Conditioning rinse aid

This product was prepared according to the procedure of Example 1.

When applied to the hair after shampooing, this product provided good wet and dry combing properties and a very good shine to the hair.

Example 3

Conditioning rinse aid

This product was prepared according to the procedure of Example 1. "Quaternium 36" was used as a dispersant. Similar good hair conditioning results were achieved when this product was applied to the hair.

Examples 4-7

All of the above products, when applied to the hair as conditioning rinses after shampooing, gave very good conditioning properties, such as release (spreadability), shine and wet and dry combing properties. The preparations according to examples 6 and 7, which contain the quaternary compound with the long propoxylated chain, provide excellent release, wet and dry combing, shine and antistatic properties to the hair. Furthermore, all preparations are stable when stored at 25°C.

Example 8

Hair conditioning mousse

With the exception of the propellant component, the above-mentioned preparation was prepared according to the method according to example 1. An aerosol container was filled with the resulting mixture in the form of a milky solution and the container was closed with a valve of the type used on aerosol containers with shaving foam. The valved container was then pressurized by adding the propellant components. When the valve is opened by the consumer, a foam "mousse" of the low-foaming type is ejected which quickly breaks down, and which provides excellent conditioning effects when distributed throughout the consumer's hair.

Example 9

Hair conditioning mousse

This product was prepared and filled into a valved container according to the method of Example 8. When sprayed from the container, the product produced a delayed breakdown foam, a fairly stable, stiff foam, which produced good hair conditioning effects when dispensed out into the hair.

Example 10

Hair conditioning mousse

This product was prepared and filled into a valved container according to the procedure of Example 8.

This hair "mousse" product lathered well after dispensing from the container, produced a stiff lather, and applied easily to dry locks.

The following hair cap tests were carried out with the products of Examples 8, 9 and 10, and compared to "Alberto Mousse" currently on the market, in Table I below. All products were applied to dry tresses and the tresses were assessed with respect to the characteristics listed in Table I.

The "mousse" products according to examples 8 and 9 have weak to medium holding properties compared to the commercial control product. Preparations 8 and 9, however, provide better ease of application, easier combing and a better overall appearance than the control "mousse". Slightly poorer gloss properties were found in Example 9, which was probably due to the presence of the betaine used to provide better foaming properties. The product of Example 10 had the best overall conditioning properties, including the best foaming and draining properties.

In Examples 8-10, a C₁-C₁ hydrocarbon propellant is present as an essential component in amounts of 3-20% by weight, preferably 5-15% by weight, of the final "mousse" preparation. In the "mousse" products, the incorporation of the propellant usually reduces the proportion of the other components proportionately, as the normal method is to mix 80-97 parts by weight of the conditioning preparation with 3-20 parts by weight of propellant in an aerosol container.

Claims (10)

1. Conditioning hair rinse capable of providing excellent properties with regard to dryness and strong shine, characterized in that it comprises a ternary mixture of 0.5 - 15% by weight polyvinylpyrrolidone/vinyl acetate copolymer where the weight ratio between polyvinylpyrrolidone and vinyl acetate is within the range 70:30 - 30:70, 0.1 - 10% by weight of at least one hydrophilic, cationic, quaternary ammonium salt which is free of alkyl and alkenyl radicals containing at least 8 carbon atoms in the molecular structure, but which contains a polyoxyalkylene radical with at least 9 carbon atoms in the molecular structure, the weight ratio between the quaternary compound and the copolymer being in the range 1:5 - 20: 1, and 0.1 - 4% by weight of a water-soluble, non-ionic cellulose polymer, in 71 - 99.3% by weight of an aqueous medium, where the agent has a pH in the range 3-6. 2. Hair rinse agent according to claim i, characterized in that the hydrophilic, quaternary compound has a content of polyoxyalkylene radical which is from 6 to 100 C3~C4 alkylene oxide groups bound to the nitrogen atom. 3. Hair rinse according to claim 2, characterized in that the polyoxyalkylene radical is a polyoxypropylene radical. 4. Hair rinse agent according to claim 3, characterized in that it is hydrophilic; cationic quaternary compound is quaternary polyoxypropylene(40)-ammonium chloride. 5. Hair rinse agent according to claim 2, characterized in that the water-soluble, non-ionic cellulose polymer is hydroxyethylcellulose. 6. Hair rinse agent according to claim 1, characterized in that it additionally contains from 0.1 to 8% by weight of a hydroxylated, quaternary ammonium compound containing polyethoxy radicals, a gluconamido-propyl radical or a hydroxylated gluconamido-C^-C3-alkyl radical bound to the nitrogen atom . 7. Hair rinse agent according to claim 1, characterized in that the copolymer is present in an amount of 0.9 - 10% by weight, the hydrophilic, quaternary compound is present in an amount of 0.45 - 8% by weight, the weight ratio between the quaternary compound and the copolymer is 1:3 - 2:1, the nonionic cellulose polymer is present in an amount of 0.2 - 2% by weight and the aqueous medium is present in an amount of 80 - 98.3% by weight. 8. Hair rinse agent according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises a mixture of polyoxypropylene (40) methyldiethyl ammonium chloride, a polyvinylpyrrolidone/vinyl acetate copolymer in the weight ratio 70:30 and hydroxyethyl cellulose, in the aqueous medium. 9. Hair rinse agent according to claim 8, characterized in that it additionally contains 0.1-8% by weight of gluconamidopropyl-dimethyl-2-hydroxyethyl-ammonium chloride. 10. Hair rinse agent according to claim 7, characterized in that the hydrophilic (quaternary) compound is polyoxypropylene (40)methyldiethylaminonium chloride, the copolymer is polyvinylpyrrolidone/vinyl acetate in a 50:50 weight ratio and the cellulose is hydroxyethylcellulose.