Hair Treatment

Hair treatment composition

Hair Treatment Abstract
A hair treatment composition comprising from 0.00001 to 0.01 % by weight of a perfluoropolyether material.

Hair Treatment Claims
We claim:

1. A hair treatment composition comprising from 0.00001 to 0.008% by weight of a perfluoropolyether material and from 0.01 to 10% by weight of at least one cationic conditioner.

2. A hair treatment composition according to claim 1, wherein the perfluoropolyether is of the formula:

wherein

z is an integer from 1 to 6;

for each monomer, y is independently selected from the integer-range from 1 to 6;

n indicates the total number of monomer units in the polymer backbone and is at least 1.

3. A hair treatment composition according to claim 2, wherein n is such that the molecular weight of the perfluoropolyether is from 100 to 100,000.

4. A hair treatment composition according to claim 1, wherein the perfluoropolyether is of the formula: ##STR3## wherein the ratio of n to m is from 20 to 40.

Hair Treatment Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to hair-treatment compositions, and more particularly to shampoos or conditioning compositions which comprise a perfluoropolyether material.

It is known that oils can provide conditioning benefits such as ease of combing of wet or dry hair, soft feel and improved shine. Generally, however, these materials are only effective at high levels.

The use of perfluoropolyethers of the formula

where n is from 4 to 500, in cosmetics is disclosed in JP 63 10 79 11 (Shiseido).

EP 360 292 (AUSIMONT) relates to the use of 0.01 to 20% by weight of perfluoropolyethers having perfluoroalkyl end groups in foam baths, cleansing milks, bath oils and liquid soaps for the treatment of seborrhea.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Surprisingly, we have found that the condition of hair can be improved by using a hair-treatment composition which contains only low levels of a perfluoro polyether material. In particular it has been found that conditioning benefits to hair can be provided by using a hair-treatment composition which comprises from 0.00001 to 0.01% by weight of a perfluoropolyether material. Other possible advantages obtained by using low levels of perfluoropolyether materials in hair treatment compositions are: low-risk of over-conditioning, improved cleanliness and interference with sebaceous distribution.

Accordingly, the invention provides a hair treatment composition comprising from 0.00001 to 0.01% by weight of a perfluoropolyether material.

Preferably the hair treatment composition according to the invention is a shampoo or a hair-conditioner.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Perfluoropolyether

The hair-treatment composition of the invention comprises a perfluoropolyether material. Suitable perfluoropolyethers and their method of preparation are described in GB 1,104,482, U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,242,218, 3,665,041, 3,715,378, 4,523,039, EP 148,482 and EP 191,490.

Preferred perfluoropolyether materials are homo- or copolymers of the following formula:

wherein

z is an integer from 1 to 6, more preferably 1-3, most preferably 1 or 2;

for each monomer, y is independently selected from the integer-range from 1 to 6, more preferably 1-5, most preferably 1-3;

n indicates the total number of monomers in the polymer backbone and is at least 1, more preferably at least 5, most preferably at least 10.

Since y is independently selected for each monomer unit, polymers of the invention may be homopolymers (if for each monomer y is the same) or copolymers (if at least two values of y are chosen for different monomers).

Most preferably n is selected such that the molecular weight of the polymer is from 100-100,000, more preferably 500-50,000, most preferably 1,000 to 10,000.

Particularly preferred end-groups of the perfluoro polyether (PFPE) material are those wherein z is 1 or 2.

Suitable monomer units for use in polymers of the invention are for example disclosed in EP 360 292. Particularly preferred polymer backbone monomers are of the group consisting of: ##STR1## and mixtures of these monomers.

Particularly preferred polymers comprise a combination of branched polymer unit, for example monomers d) and/or e), with linear monomers, for example a)-c), f) or g). Especially suitable are polymers comprising mixtures of isopropylether groups and methyl ether groups. Especially preferred examples of PFPE materials are those having the formula: ##STR2## wherein the ratio of n to m is from 20 to 40, and wherein preferably the backbone monomers are randomly distributed along the PFPE chain.

Preferred PFPE materials of this formula are those sold under the trade name FOMBLIN HC by Montefluos. For example, FOMBLIN HC/04 (average molecular weight 1500), FOMBLIN HC/25 (average molecular weight 3200) and FOMBLIN HC/R (average molecular weight 6600).

Other suitable materials are sold under the Demnam trade name ex Daikin Industries Ltd, for example Demnam S-20 having a molecular weight of 2,500, Demnam S-65 having a molecular weight of 4,500, Demnam S-100 having a molecular weight of 5,600 and Demnam S-200 having a molecular weight of 8,400.

If mixtures of backbone monomers are used, preferably the different types of monomers are randomly distributed along the PFPE chain.

The level of PFPE materials in hair treatment compositions of the invention is from 0.00001 to 0.01% by weight of the composition, more preferably 0.0001 to 0.008%, most preferably 0.0001 to 0.005%.

If less than 0.00001% by weight of PFPE is used in the composition, no appreciable improvement in condition will be observed. The use of PFPE levels over 0.01% by weight of the composition provides cost disadvantages, also this may lead to problems in manufacturing and the hair may appear oily or dull, also the use of levels of perfluoropolyethers at higher levels will generally generate the need for suspending agents.

OTHER INGREDIENTS

Preferred hair treatment compositions of the invention comprise one or more surfactant materials and/or one or more conditioning agents.

Shampoo compositions in accordance to the present invention preferably comprise one or more surfactant materials selected from anionic, nonionic, amphoteric or cationic surfactants or mixtures thereof.

Hair conditioning products preferably comprise one or more cationic surfactants. The use of cationic surfactants is especially preferred, because thes ingredients are capable of providing conditioning benefits to hair.

Suitable anionic surfactants are the alkyl sulphates, alkyl ether sulphates, alkaryl sulphonates, alkyl succinates, alkyl sulphosuccinates, N-alkoyl sarcosinates, alkyl phosphates, alkyl ether phosphates, alkyl ether carboxylates, and .alpha.-olefin sulphonates, especially their sodium, magnesium, ammonium and mono-, di- and tri-ethanolamine salts. The alkyl groups generally contain from 8 to 18 carbon atoms and may be unsaturated. The alkyl ether sulphates, alkyl ether phosphates and alkyl ether carboxylates may contain from 1 to 10 ethylene oxide or propylene oxide units per molecule, and preferably contain 2 to 3 ethylene oxide units per molecule.

Examples of suitable anionic surfactants include sodium oleyl succinate, ammonium lauryl sulphosuccinate, ammonium lauryl sulphate, sodium dodecylbenzene sulphonate, triethanolamine dodecylbenzene sulphonate and sodium N-lauryl sarcosinate. The most preferred anionic surfactants are sodium lauryl sulphate, triethanolamine lauryl sulphate, triethanolamine monolauryl phosphate, sodium lauryl ether sulphate 1EO, 2EO and 3EO, ammonium lauryl sulphate and ammonium lauryl ether sulphate 1EO, 2EO and 3EO.

The nonionic surfactants suitable for use in the composition of the invention may include condensation products of aliphatic (C.sub.8 -C.sub.18) primary or secondary linear or branched-chain alcohols or phenols with alkylene oxides, usually ethylene oxide and generally 6-30 EO.

Other suitable nonionics include mono- or di-alkyl alkanolamides or alkyl polyglucosides. Examples include coco mono- or di-ethanolamide, coco mono-isopropanolamide, and coco di-glucoside.

The amphoteric surfactants suitable for use in the composition of the invention may include alkyl amine oxides, alkyl betaines, alkyl amidopropyl betaines, alkyl sulphobetaines, alkyl glycinates, alkyl carboxyglycinates, alkyl amphopropionates, alkyl amidopropyl hydroxysultaines, acyl taurates and acyl glutamates wherein the alkyl and acyl groups have from 8 to 18 carbon atoms. Examples include lauryl amine oxide, cocodimethyl sulphopropyl betaine and preferably lauryl betaine, cocamidopropyl betaine and sodium cocamphopropionate.

Examples cationic surfactants include: cetyl trimethylammonium chloride, stearyl dimethylbenzyl ammonium chloride, cetylpyridinium chloride, quaternium-5, -31, -18 and mixtures thereof.

The level of surfactant materials in shampoo compositions of the invention is preferably more than 1%, more preferably 2-35% and most preferably from 5 to 30% by weight of the composition. In hair-conditioner products according to the invention the level of cationic surfactants is preferably from 0.01 to 10%, more preferably 0.05 to 5%, most preferably 0.1 to 2% by weight of the composition.

If the hair-treatment composition of the invention comprises in addition to the perfluoropolyether materials and the cationic surfactant-if any- an additional conditioning agent, this material is preferably chosen from cationic polymers, volatile and non-volatile silicones, protein hydrolysates or quaternised protein hydrolysates.

Suitable cationic polymers include Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium chloride, Quaternium-19, -23, -40, -57, poly (dimethyldiallyammonium chloride), poly (dimethyl butenyl ammonium chloride)-, w- bis (triethanolammonium chloride), Poly (dipropyldiallylammonium chloride), Poly (methyl-betapropaniodiallylammonium chloride), Poly (diallylpiperidinium chloride), poly (vinyl pyridinium chloride), quaternised poly (vinyl alcohol), quaternised poly (dimethylaminoethylmethacrylate) and mixtures thereof.

Examples of suitable volatile silicone materials include cyclomethicone, available commercially as Dow Corning DC 345, and Volatile Silicone 7158, available form Union Carbide.

Suitable protein derivatives include lauryl dimonium hydroxy propylamino hydrolysed animal protein, available commercially under the tradename LAMEQUAT L, and hydrolysed keratin containing sulphur-bearing amino acids, available commercially under the tradename CROQUAT WKP.

Conditioning agents which are especially suitable for use in shampoos or conditioners according to the invention include volatile and non-volatile silicone oils, such as for example polyalkylsiloxanes, polyalkylaryl siloxanes, silicone gums, cyclomethicones and aminofunctional silicones. Preferably these silicone materials are incorporated in the shampoo conditioner as small particles, preferably of particle size 0.01 to 1 um.

The preferred level of conditioning agents other than perfluoropolyethers and cationic surfactants in compositions of the invention is from 0 to 20%, for example from 0.01 to 10% or from 0.1 to 5% by weight.

Another ingredient that may advantageously be incorporated into products of the invention is a fatty alcohol material. The use of these materials is especially preferred in conditioning compositions of the invention, in particular conditioning compositions which comprise one or more cationic surfactant materials. The combined use of fatty alcohol materials and cationic surfactants in conditioning compositions is believed to be especially advantageous, because this leads to the forming of a lamellar phase, wherein the cationic surfactant is dispersed.

Preferred fatty alcohols comprises from 8 to 22 carbon atoms, more preferably 16 to 20. Examples of preferred fatty alcohols are cetyl alcohol and stearyl alcohol. The use of these materials is also advantageous in that they contribute to the overall conditioning properties of compositions of the invention.

The level of fatty alcohol materials is conveniently from 0 to 10%, more preferred from 0.1 to 5% by weight of the product. The weight ratio of cationic surfactant to fatty alcohol is preferably from 10:1 to 1:10, more preferably from 4:1 to 1:8, most preferably from 1:1 to 1:4.

MINOR INGREDIENTS

The hair-treatment composition of the invention may also include minor amounts of other ingredients commonly found in hair-treatment compositions, such as antibacterial agents, antidandruff agents such as zinc pyridinethione or Octopirox, foam boosters, pearlescers, perfumes, dyes, colouring agents, preservatives, viscosity modifiers, proteins, polymers, buffering agents, polyols and other moisturising agents, herb extracts, mink oil or honey.

WATER

Compositions of the invention preferably comprise from 20-99.5% of water, more preferably 60-98%, most preferably 80-96% by weight.

USE OF THE COMPOSITION

After preparation, hair treatment compositions according to the invention are preferably packed. Any suitable container can be used for this purpose, but generally compositions of the invention will be packed in closed containers like bottles, sachets and the like.

Hair treatment compositions of the invention are generally applied in an amount of from 1 to 50 mls. Preferred amounts for shampoos are 3 to 5 mls to wet hair. After applying the shampoo the wet hair is worked to create a lather. The lather may be retained on the head for a short time before rinsing, e.g. from 1 to 4 minutes, or may immediately be rinsed. The treatment may be repeated, if required. For conditioners the preferred dosage is from 8 to 20 mls which is applied to hair after washing or rinsing, whereafter the wet hair is worked and rinsed.

In preparing hair-treatment compositions of the invention, preferably conventional hot or cold mixing processes are used. Preferred methods for adding the PEPE ingredient to the compositions are the forming of a predispersion of PFPE with small amounts of surfactants in combination with a thickening amount of electrolyte, or a predispersion can be formed of PEPE with polymer ingredients, or a predispersion of PFPE with low levels of surfactant in combination with glycerol. This predispersion is than used in the preparation of the final hair-treatment composition.