Bleaching and dyeing; fluid treatment and chemical modification – Dyeing involving animal-derived natural fiber material ,... – Hair dyeing
Reexamination Certificate
2002-11-04
2003-07-29
Boyer, Charles (Department: 1751)
Bleaching and dyeing; fluid treatment and chemical modification
Dyeing involving animal-derived natural fiber material ,...
Hair dyeing
C008S428000, C008S431000, C008S432000, C008S435000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06599330
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
The invention is in the field of coloring hair with hair dye compositions.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
At one time or another, most individuals have been interested in coloring their hair. An individual's concern about how the color will look on them, and the inability to quickly change bad color results, is one common deterrent to experimentation with hair color.
Commercially available hair color generally falls into one of three categories: permanent, semi-permanent, or temporary.
The term “permanent” generally refers to oxidative dyes, which provide hair color that lasts about four to six weeks. Oxidative hair dyes are usually sold in the form of a two component kit. In one container is an aqueous alkaline composition in the liquid, gel, or crème form that contains oxidative dyes in addition to other ingredients. In the other container is a developer composition that contains an oxidizing agent, usually hydrogen peroxide. The two components are mixed immediately prior to use and applied to hair. The peroxide in the composition causes the hair shaft to swell, permitting the dye precursors in the lotion to penetrate the hair shaft. The oxidizing agent then oxidizes the dye precursors, which then combine to form large color molecules within the hair shaft. The mixture is left on the hair for an appropriate period of time, generally 20 to 60 minutes, then rinsed off with water. Oxidative dyes provide the most long lasting color because the dye molecules polymerize within the hair shaft. However, the oxidizing agents necessary to the process sometimes cause undesirable effects on sensitive hair. Some consumers with sensitive hair note that prolonged use of oxidizing agents may cause dry, brittle, overprocessed hair.
It is known in the art that oxidative hair color can be removed from the hair by applying to the hair an aqueous composition containing an oxidizing agent. However, the color removal is very inconsistent, and the oxidizing agents are prone to causing further damage to the hair.
Semi-permanent hair color differs from oxidative color because the dye molecules are preformed prior to application to the hair, and the size of the molecules does not change during the dye process. These molecules tend to deposit on the surface of the hair, rather than penetrating the hair shaft. Semi-permanent hair color is perceived to be gentler to hair because peroxide is not used, and the dye molecules deposited on the hair surface do not affect the integrity of the hair shaft. Unfortunately, semi-permanent hair color only remains on the hair through six to twelve shampoos.
As with oxidative color, semi-permanent color may be removed from the hair by application of an aqueous based composition containing an oxidizing agent, however with the same drawbacks.
Temporary hair color is applied to the hair much in the manner of a superficial coating. It is generally removable with shampooing. Temporary hair color is most often used when a unique effect is desired for a very short period of time. An example of temporary haircolor is “hairscara”, which is a colored mixture that can be dabbed onto the hair with a brush much like makeup is applied to the skin. Like makeup, hairscara is removed when the hair is washed.
The gold standard for hair color is a color that does not utilize peroxide or similar oxidizing agents, is as gentle to hair as semi-permanent color, yet provides the permanence see with oxidative color, but at the same time can be removed from the hair when desired with a simple process and composition that does not damage the hair.
It is an object of the invention to provide a method for coloring hair with a hair color composition that will color hair to the same degree as permanent hair color but can be removed from the hair when desired.
It is an object of the invention to provide a method for coloring hair with a hair color composition that will color hair to the same degree as permanent haircolor, but can be removed from the hair when desired.
It is an object of the invention to provide a method for coloring hair with a hair color composition that does not utilize oxidizing agents, or utilizes them in very small amounts.
It is another object of the invention to provide a method for coloring hair with a hair color composition that provides the same degree of gentleness as found in semi-permanent hair color, yet provides the relative permanence found with oxidative hair color, which color can be removed from the hair when desired in a simple one-step process.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A method for coloring hair and removing the color from the hair when desired, comprising the steps of:
(a) coloring the hair with an aqueous hair color composition comprising, in combination: (i) a reducing agent capable of reducing the —S—S— bonds on the hair fiber surface to form reactive —SH groups and (ii) a dye molecule containing chemical groups reactive with the —SH groups on the hair fiber surface to form —S—S— bonds between the dye molecule and the hair fiber surface when the hair color composition is applied to the hair at ambient conditions;
(b) wearing the colored hair for the desired period of time;
(c) removing the color applied in step (a) from the hair by contacting the hair with an aqueous based composition containing a reducing agent capable of disrupting the —S—S— bonds between the dye molecule and the hair fiber surface to cause the dye molecule to become disassociated from the hair fiber.
The invention further comprises a method for removing a dye molecule bonded to the hair fibers via an —S—S— linkage, comprising applying to the hair an aqueous based composition containing a reducing agent capable of disrupting the —S—S— bonds between the dye molecule and the hair fiber surface.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
The invention comprises a method for coloring hair and removing the color from the hair when desired. The ability to achieve this result is dependent upon the interaction between a hair color composition containing a reducing agent and specific dye molecules having reactive groups capable of bonding with similar reactive groups formed on the hair fiber surface by the reducing agent; and a removal composition that contains specific ingredients that are capable of disrupting the bond formed between the reactive groups of dye molecule and the hair fiber. In particular, the hair fiber contains disulfide bonds, generally referred to as K—S—S—K′ where K and K′ refer to hair keratin, and S is sulfur. In the method of the invention, the reducing agent found in the hair color composition will cause the K—S—S—K′ bonds to cleave and form K—S—H and H—S—K′ bonds. The dye molecule, which contains free chemical groups reactive with the —S—H groups on the hair fiber surface, will react with these —SH groups and, at ambient conditions, the oxygen in the air will cause the disulfide bonds to reform between the dye molecule and the hair fiber surface, such that the dye molecule is bonded to the hair fiber surface in a manner that can be depicted below (where K and S are as above defined).
K—SH+HS—Dye Molecule→K—S—S—Dye Molecule and Dye Molecule—S—S—K′
The hair color composition and the reducing agent composition, and related method will be further described below, with all percentages mentioned herein being percentages by weight unless otherwise indicated.
I. The Hair Color Composition
The hair color composition used in the method of the invention is preferably an aqueous based composition containing the reducing agent and the dye molecule in aqueous media, and, if desired, ancillary ingredients that improve the aesthetics of the composition.
A. The Dye Molecule
The hair color composition used in the method of the invention comprises a dye molecule that contains a chromophore, and at least one free reactive group which, upon contact with hair, reacts with the —SH groups on the hair fiber surface which may be formed by the reducing agent, to form an —S—S— bond between the dye molecule and the hair fiber surface. The —S—S— bond between the dye
Chan Alexander C.
Hawkins Geoffrey Robert
Tian Minmin
Blackburn Julie
Boyer Charles
Elhilo Eisa
Revlon Consumer Products Corporation
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