Drug – bio-affecting and body treating compositions – Live hair or scalp treating compositions – Polymer containing
Reexamination Certificate
2000-07-20
2003-01-21
Page, Thurman K. (Department: 1615)
Drug, bio-affecting and body treating compositions
Live hair or scalp treating compositions
Polymer containing
C424S401000, C424S070100, C510S119000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06509011
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a method of reducing hair fibre cuticle loss from hair treated with an oxidative composition, such as a hair bleach, using certain selected organic amino compounds.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Hydrogen peroxide is the most commonly used hair bleaching agent. However, hydrogen peroxide treatment of the hair not only solubilises the melanin but can also lead to undesirable hair qualities, which are in part due to the preferred conditions of conventional peroxide treatment which requires high pH (greater than 9), extended exposure (from 20 to 90 minutes) and relatively high concentration of bleaching solutions (up to 30% volume of oxygen) in order to deliver effective results.
A particular problem associated with hydrogen peroxide treatment of the hair is loss of the hair fibre cuticle, which leads to structural weakness of the hair fibre, and which is exacerbated by subsequent washing and mechanical treatment such as brushing and styling.
We have now found that certain selected organic amino compounds, in particular arginine and urea, are effective for reducing hair fibre cuticle loss from hair previously or subsequently treated with an oxidising agent such as an hair bleach.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,997,659 describes hair bleaching compositions comprising arginine or a protein or polypeptide having a high arginine content, and theorises that the high arginine content of the compositions enhances the penetration of the peroxide into the hair shaft, thereby increasing the rate of melanin bleaching.
In the above case the arginine or proteins are an integral component of the bleaching composition itself. In contrast, the present invention provides a method in which the selected organic amino compounds are incorporated into a conventional hair treatment composition such as a shampoo or conditioner to be applied in a separate stage to the oxidative composition. Advantageously, such a shampoo or conditioner can be applied repeatedly to give a beneficial progressive build-up of the cuticle protection effect, independently of the oxidative composition, for which repeated use would be damaging to the hair.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides a method for reducing hair fibre cuticle loss from hair treated with an oxidative composition, such as an hair bleach, the method comprising the step of contacting the hair, either prior to or after treatment of the hair with the oxidative composition, with a cuticle protective composition comprising an organic amino compound selected from:
(i) basic amino acids;
(ii) urea;
(iii) guanidine;
(iv) salts and/or derivatives of any of (i) to (iii);
(v) mixtures of any of (i) to (iv).
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
According to the method of the present invention, hair is contacted with a cuticle protective composition comprising certain selected organic amino compounds as described above, either prior to, or after treatment of the hair with an oxidative composition.
Preferably the cuticle protective composition is applied after treatment of the hair with the oxidative composition.
Oxidative Composition
By “treatment with an oxidative composition” is meant contacting the hair with an oxidative composition such as an hair bleach.
The composition employed may be formed separately from the hair and then applied. It may also be formed by mixing the separate reactants as they are applied to the hair, for example by mixing the streams from separate aerosol containers as the streams are applied to the hair. It may also be formed by contacting the reactants with the hair to be treated as the reactants are applied to the hair, either concurrently or successively.
Hair bleaching is a chemical process by which the melanin pigment granules are gradually destroyed by the hair bleach resulting in lighter hair colour. Examples of typical hair bleaches include liquid- or creme-based compositions utilizing alkaline hydrogen peroxide solutions as the main oxygen-generating agent to oxidize and bleach the melanin, often in conjunction with a hair colouring process. Just before use, the peroxide is mixed with an alkalizing agent such as ammonia, and the resulting liquid or creme is applied to hair, generally for about 30 to 60 minutes. Further examples of hair bleaches which are typically used include powder compositions based on persulfate salts (ammonium, potassium, sodium) as auxiliary or booster supplies of active oxygen, and silicate and/or carbonate salts as sources of alkalinity. Again, just before use, they are mixed with hydrogen peroxide solutions to form a workable creme that can be applied to the hair. Some powder bleaches even have the hydrogen peroxide itself incorporated in a solid form such as urea peroxide.
Cuticle Protective Composition
The cuticle protective composition comprises an organic amino compound selected from:
(i) basic amino acids;
(ii) urea;
(iii) guanidine;
(iv) salts and/or derivatives of any of (i) to (iii);
(v) mixtures of any of (i) to (iv).
Basic Amino Acids
Basic amino acids (i) may be selected from lysine, arginine and histidine and mixtures thereof. These amino acids are hydrophilic due to their polar side chains. Lysine and arginine are positively charged at neutral pH, whereas histidine can be uncharged or positively charged depending on its local environment.
Arginine is the most preferred amino acid (i) in the method according to the invention.
Alternatively, proteins, polypeptides or other natural extracts having a high basic amino acid content can be used. For example, proteins having a major proportion of arginine units (in the range from about 50 to about 90%, by weight, of the total protein) in their structures are members of that class of proteins known as protamines. The protamine proteins are characterised by having: (a) a low molecular weight, in the range of about 5,000; (b) a high isoelectric point, in the pH range of about 10 to 12; and (c) a high arginine content, in the range from about 50 to about 90%, by weight of the total protein. Suitable examples are described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,997,659.
Proteins of high basic amino acid content as described above can be subjected to acid or base hydrolysis to yield polypeptides which also have a high basic amino acid content. Examples of suitable polypeptides are also described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,997,659, being protamine-derived polypeptides having a molecular weight below about 5,000, a basic pH (10-12), and an arginine content of about 50%, or greater, by weight of the total polypeptide.
Not only may naturally occurring proteins be used, but also synthetic proteins, for example, polylysine and polyarginine, or mixtures thereof.
An example of a suitable natural extract which is rich in arginine is aloe vera extract.
The basic amino acids and the proteins and polypeptides having a basic amino acid content of 50%, or greater, are often isolated from natural sources in the form of salts and hydrosalts, which are also suitable for use according to the invention. Such salts and hydrosalts are formed by reaction with mineral acids such as hydrochloric acid, phosphoric acid, carbonic acid, sulfuric acid, nitric acid, and the like, or the organic acids such as formic acid, acetic acid, lauric acid, chloroacetic acid and the like. A suitable example is arginine hydrochloride.
Guanidine (iii) may also be present as a salts or hydrosalts formed by reaction with mineral or organic acids as described above. A suitable example is guanidine hydrochloride.
The most preferred organic amino compounds in the method according to the invention are arginine and urea and their respective salts and/or hydrosalts.
Mixtures of any of the above organic amino compounds may also be used.
The total amount of organic amino compound may suitably range from 0.01% to 10% by weight based on total weight of the hair treatment composition in which it is employed. Preferably, the amount of organic amino compound ranges from 0.02 to 5% by weight based on total weight, and will ideally range from 0.05% to 2% by weight based on total weight.
Product F
Ellis Frances Ann
Pearce Matthew Leslie
Taylor Cheryl Anne
Boxer Matthew
Page Thurman K.
Sheikh Humera N.
Unilever Home & Personal Care USA , division of Conopco, Inc.
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