Bleaching and dyeing; fluid treatment and chemical modification – Dyeing involving animal-derived natural fiber material ,... – Hair dyeing
Reexamination Certificate
1998-05-20
2001-02-13
Liott, Caroline D. (Department: 1751)
Bleaching and dyeing; fluid treatment and chemical modification
Dyeing involving animal-derived natural fiber material ,...
Hair dyeing
C008S405000, C008S435000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06187058
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a low or no volatile organic content (VOC) composition for dyeing hair and a process for dyeing hair. More specifically, the present invention relates to a hair dyeing composition with no VOC and a low water content.
It is well known to dye keratin fibers and in particular human hair with oxidative dyes such as diamines, aminophenols and/or phenols. These compounds are not generally dyes but are converted to dyes by condensation in an oxidizing medium.
The most prevalent manor of employing these oxidative dyes to dye human hair typically comprises a two component system. The two component system comprises a tint phase which contains the oxidation dye and a developer phase which contains a suitable oxidizing agent, such as hydrogen peroxide. The tint phase and the developer phase are mixed together and immediately applied to the hair. Upon application to the hair, the dyes penetrate into the hair and are oxidized to produce the desired hair color.
If an appropriate alkalizer is used in the tint phase, the combination of the alkalizer with the oxidizing agent in the developer phase may destroy some of the natural melanin pigment in the hair to produce hair with a lighter color or shade than the initial hair color.
These two part oxidative systems that contain a low viscosity tint phase and a low viscosity developer phase to allow for easy mixing and application have been commercially available for over thirty year under the trademarks, PREFERENCE BY L'OREAL, NICE N' EASY by Clairol, MISS CLAIROL CREME FORMULA by Clairol, COLORSILK by Revlon and COLOR CHARM by Wella. Examples of these prior art products are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,376,146, 4,776,885 and 4,268,264 and are incorporated herein by reference.
Recent safety and environmental concerns by governmental agencies and private organizations have brought to light issues over the use of volatile organic compounds. In fact, many States have passed or are considering legislation that limits the VOC for various consumer products. Although no legislation has thus far impacted the VOC for hair coloring formulations, manufacturers are making a concerted effort to reduce if not eliminate volatile organic compounds, especially isopropanol and ethanol, from their hair coloring products.
The research into the reduction of the volatile organic compounds in hair coloring products has resulted in two types of products.
The first type of product uses a creme or gel that is supplied in a tube. The creme or gel is mixed with some type of dedicated developer that is commonly formulated with any of several types of non-ionic surfactants. These surfactants are required to allow ease of mixing and to produce a satisfactory consistency for stay-put ability when the mixture is applied to the hair.
The second method as described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,776,855 employs a high aqueous hair color vehicle that is combined with a developer containing a unique polymer that is stable to hydrogen peroxide. When the high aqueous tint phase is combined with the polymer containing-developer phase, the polymer swells to thicken the mixture and produce an oxidative hair dye mixture with satisfactory stay-put properties.
These two attempts at a reduced VOC hair coloring product have the disadvantages of requiring a specific dedicated developer that comprises materials needed to thicken the tint/developer mixture. These dedicated developers increase the cost of the product and complicate the manufacture of the product. These prior attempts at a reduced VOC hair coloring product also have the disadvantage of being limited to the dyes that can be used due in a high aqueous low organic content medium.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a hair coloring or dyeing composition with a reduced or no VOC that can be used for a wide variety of dyes and can be easily formulated.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a tint phase for a hair coloring or dyeing composition with a reduced or no VOC that comprises less than fifty percent water.
It is also an object of the present invention to provide a hair coloring or dyeing composition with a reduced or no VOC that exhibits acceptable stay-put ability for the prescribed development time.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The foregoing objectives are met by a lightener or dyeing composition comprising:
(a) a developer phase comprising:
(i) 63-99 weight percent, preferably 71-86 weight percent, of water;
(ii) 1-30 weight percent, preferably 3-9 weight percent, of an oxidizing agent; and
(iii) optionally 0-7 weight percent, preferably 3-5 weight percent, of a thixotropic control agent; wherein all the foregoing percentages are based upon the total weight of the developer phase alone, and
(b) a tint phase comprising:
(i) 0-50 weight percent, preferably 10-40 weight percent, of water;
(ii) 0-10 weight percent, preferably 0.01-10 weight percent, of a dye;
(iii) 10-50 weight percent, preferably 25-40 weight percent, of a non VOC solvent;
(iv) 5-60 weight percent, preferably 10-50 weight percent, of a thickener; and
(v) a sufficient amount of an alkalizer so that the hair coloring composition has a pH of 6-12, wherein all the foregoing percentages are based on the total weight of the tint phase alone.
By varying the amount of thixotropic agents and thickeners employed, the hair coloring or dyeing composition can be tailored for any specific need. For instance, lower amounts of thixotropic agents and thickeners can be used to obtain a composition with a viscosity of approximately 1,000 cps for shampoo-in products or higher amounts of thixotropic agents and thickeners can be used to obtain a composition with a viscosity of approximately 100,000 cps for professional bowl and brush applications.
The phrase “non VOC solvent” as used in this specification is a solvent that exhibits a vapor pressure of less than 0.1 mm Hg.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The developer phase of the present invention in its most basic form comprises water and about 1 to about 30 weight percent of an oxidizing agent, preferably about 1 to about 15 weight percent and most preferably about 3 to about 9 weight percent based on the total weight of the developer phase. The oxidizing agent may be a compound such as urea peroxide, melamine peroxide, perborates, such as sodium perborate, percarbonates such as sodium percarbonate or mixtures of the foregoing. The most preferred oxidizing agent is hydrogen peroxide.
The developer phase may also contain thixotropic control agents such as the polymers described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,376,146 and 4,776,885, incorporated herein by reference, or stabilizers such as phenacetin or ethylene diamine tetracetic acid (EDTA).
The viscosity of the developer phase is from about 1 cps to about 5,000 cps by weight, preferably about 1 cps to about 500 cps by weight.
The pH of the developer is from about 2 to about 6, preferably 2.5 to 4.5. Any variety of non-toxic acids or buffers may be employed to maintain the acidic pH of the developer phase. Phosphoric acid is the most preferred acidifier for the developer phase.
The tint phase of the present invention has a low water content and a high organic content, but surprisingly exhibits a very low or no VOC. The amount of water in the tint phase should be less than 50 weight percent based on the total weight of the tint phase, preferably less than 40 weight percent and most preferably about 8 to about 37 weight percent based on the total weight of the tint phase.
The organic content of the tint phase is maintained at a high level by selecting a unique combination of no VOC organic solvents and organic thickeners. Examples of no VOC organic solvents are ethoxydiglycol, propylene glycol, hexylene glycol, glycerin or any combination of the foregoing. The amount of no VOC solvent employed in the present invention should be an amount sufficient to solubilize the thickeners and produce a pourable solution that mixes easily with the aqueous developer phase. Preferably, the no VOC organic solvent sh
Combe Inc.
Liott Caroline D.
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