Process for straightening keratin fibres with a composition comprising a urea and/or a urea derivative and a polymeric thickener

Abstract

The invention relates to a cosmetic composition comprising: (a) at least 2% by weight, relative to the total weight of the composition, of one or more compounds chosen from urea and/or urea derivatives, (b) one or more polymeric thickeners chosen from nonionic, cationic, amphoteric polymeric associative thickeners or anionic polymeric associative thickeners comprising one or more acrylic and/or methacrylic units. The invention also relates to the use of this composition for straightening keratin fibres. Finally the invention relates to a process for straightening keratin fibres.

Claims

1. A process for straightening hair, comprising: (i) applying to the hair a composition comprising: (a) urea, present in an amount ranging from 2% to 12% by weight, relative to the total weight of the composition; and (b) cetyl hydroxyethylcellulose, present in an amount ranging from 0.2% to 10% by weight, relative to the total weight of the composition; and (ii) raising the temperature of the hair via a heating tool, to a temperature ranging from about 100 to about 250° C.

2. The process according to claim 1, wherein the urea is present in an amount ranging from about 2% to about 10% by weight, relative to the total weight of the composition.

3. The process according to claim 1, wherein the cetyl hydroxyethylcellulose is water-soluble or water-dispersible at a pH of 7 and at room temperature (25° C.).

4. The process according to claim 1, wherein the heating tool is an iron.

5. The process according to claim 1, wherein the composition further comprises water.

6. The process according to claim 1, wherein the composition further comprises water in an amount ranging from 1% to 95% by weight, relative to the total weight of the composition.

7. The process according to claim 1, wherein the composition further comprises water in an amount ranging from 20% to 80% by weight, relative to the total weight of the composition.

8. The process according to claim 1, wherein the composition further comprises water in an amount ranging from 40% to 70% by weight, relative to the total weight of the composition.

9. The process according to claim 1, wherein the hair is wet when the composition is applied thereto.

10. The process according to claim 9, wherein the hair is dried after the composition is applied thereto and before the temperature of the hair is raised.

11. The process according to claim 1, wherein the composition is applied to the hair in a bath ratio ranging from 0.1 to 10.

Description

EXAMPLE 1

(1) Compositions 1 to 2 for straightening keratin fibres according to the invention are prepared, along with a control composition not containing any thickener according to the invention. The formulations are indicated in Table I (the amounts are expressed as weight percentages relative to the total weight of the composition).

(2) TABLE-US-00001 TABLE I Weight % of active Composition Compound material Control Urea  10% Water qs 100% 1 Urea 10% Cetythydroxyethylcelluose.sup.(a)   1% Water qs 100% 2 Urea  10% SMDI/polyethylene glycol 8.5% polymer bearing decyl end groups, as a water-glycol solution.sup.(b) Water qs 100%

(3) (a) The cetylhydroxyethylcellulose used is sold under the name Polysurf 67CS by the company Ashland.

(4) (b) the SMDI/polyethylene glycol polymer bearing decyl end groups, as a water-glycol solution, used is sold under the name Aculyn 44 by the company Röhm & Haas.

(5) Compositions 1 and 2 and the control composition are applied to locks of moderately curly hair (curliness level 3 according to the article Shape variability and classification of human hair, Roland De La Mettrie et al., Human Biology, 2007, vol. 79, No. 3, pages 265-281) according to the following protocol:

(6) The keratin fibres are prewashed with a shampoo.

(7) Each composition is applied to a separate wet lock. The excess product is then removed by rubbing dry.

(8) The locks are then predried with a hairdryer. A straightening iron is then applied slowly along the locks twice in succession at a temperature of 210° C. (for about 1 minute). The locks are then shampooed and are finally dried using a hairdryer.

(9) The Applicant finds that the straightening of the hair for the two compositions according to the invention and the control composition is persistent.

(10) On the other hand, the Applicant finds that the working qualities in terms of ease of distribution onto the head of hair, the ease of blow-drying and the ease of passage of flat tongs are greater in the case of compositions 1 and 2 according to the invention relative to the control composition.

(11) Furthermore, the Applicant finds that compositions 1 and 2 according to the invention afford the hair greater sheen and cosmeticity than the control composition.

EXAMPLE 2

(12) Composition 3 for straightening keratin fibres according to the invention is prepared, along with a control composition not containing any thickener according to the invention. The formulations are indicated in Table II (the amounts are expressed as weight percentages relative to the total weight of the composition).

(13) TABLE-US-00002 TABLE II Weight % of active Composition Compound material Control Urea 5% Water qs 100% 3 Urea 5% Crosslinked acrylic acid/alkyl 1% acrylate polymer.sup.(a) Water qs 100%

(14) (a) The crosslinked acrylic acid; alkyl acrylate polymer used is sold under the name Pemulen TR-2 Polymer by the company Lubrizol.

(15) Composition 3 and the control composition are applied to locks of moderately curly hair (curliness level 3 according to the article Shape variability and classification of human hair, Roland De La Mettrie et al., Human Biology, 2007, vol. 79, No. 3, pages 265-281) according to the following protocol:

(16) The keratin fibres are prewashed with a shampoo.

(17) Each composition is applied to a separate wet lock. The excess product is then removed by rubbing dry.

(18) The locks are then predried with a hairdryer. A straightening iron is then applied slowly along the locks twice in succession at a temperature of 210° C. (for about 1 minute). The locks are then shampooed and are finally dried using a hairdryer. The Applicant finds that the straightening of the hair for composition 3 according to the invention and the control composition is persistent.

(19) On the other hand, the Applicant finds that the working qualities in terms of ease of distribution onto the head of hair, the ease of blow-drying and the ease of passage of flat tongs are greater in the case of composition 3 according to the invention relative to the control composition.

(20) Furthermore, the Applicant finds that composition 3 according to the invention affords the hair greater sheen and cosmeticity than the control composition.