Method of treating hair

Abstract

A method for styling hair comprising: applying to hair a hair treatment composition comprising from 4 to 25 wt % a citric or aconitic acid and having a pH of from 1 to 3; leaving the product on the hair for from 5 to 90 minutes; rinsing the product from the hair; and styling.

Claims

1. A method for styling hair consisting of: i) applying to dry hair an aqueous hair treatment composition consisting of from 4 to 25 wt % citric acid and having a pH of from 1 to 3; ii) leaving the hair treatment composition on the hair for from 5 to 90 minutes; iii) rinsing the hair treatment composition from the hair; and iv) styling.

2. The method according to claim 1 in which the composition is left on the hair for at least 5 minutes 20 minutes.

3. The method according to claim 1 in which the level of citric acid is from 8 to 20 wt % of the total composition.

4. The method according to claim 1 wherein styling constitutes straightening, providing body or retaining curl.

5. The method according to claim 1 for durably styling the hair.

6. The method for durably styling the hair consisting of: i) applying to dry hair an aqueous hair treatment composition consisting of from 4 to 25 wt % citric acid and having a pH of from 1 to 3; ii) shampooing the hair after the application of the hair treatment composition; and iii) styling.

Description

EXAMPLE 1

(1) To demonstrate the straightening benefit of citric acid as a function of pH.

(2) Dark brown European wavy #6 switches of length 25 cm and weight 2 g, were dosed with 2 ml each of 5% citric acid solutions at various pH's. They were combed straight and left to dry 20 minutes. They were subsequently rinsed for 30 seconds under the tap. They were then combed straight and left to dry overnight. When dry, the switches were combed straight and images taken. The volume of the switches shows the straightening benefit of citric acid. Volume refers to the projection of the switch image onto the screen and is given in mm.sup.2.

(3) TABLE-US-00001 Treatment Volume in mm.sup.2 % benefit over water water 14278 0 5% citric acid at pH 2 9481 33.6 5% citric acid at pH 3 9574 32.9 5% citric acid at pH 4 11717 17.9 5% citric acid at pH 5 10871 23.9 5% citric acid at pH 6 12136 15.0

(4) From the table it can be seen that the straightening benefit for citric acid is achieved only at low pH.

EXAMPLE 2

(5) In this experiment the effect of re-wetting some of the switches above is investigated. Switches from Example 1 were re-wetted, combed straight and left to dry. When dry the switches were combed and images recorded.

(6) TABLE-US-00002 Treatment Volume in mm.sup.2 % benefit over water water 14081 0 5% citric acid at pH 2 10205 27.5 5% citric acid at pH 4 11509 18.3

(7) The table above shows that the straightness benefit is maintained even after re-wetting. This illustrates that the style supported by a composition with citric acid is durable over time and is not immediately washed out when the hair is next cleansed.