Hair darkening compositions

Claim 2

A composition for darkening hair, comprising: (i) a first component, which comprises a shampoo detergent base and at least one metal salt; and (ii) a second component, which comprises at least one organic compound which, in use, changes colour as a consequence of the formation of a dark-coloured complex when mixed with the said metal ion, and a base suitable for use as a hair shampoo, conditioner, tonic, cream, styling gel or mousse.

Claim 3

A composition as claimed in claim 1 in which the metal salt is an iron (II) salt.

Claim 4

A composition as claimed in claim 2 in which metal salt is iron (II) ammonium sulphate.

Claim 5

A composition as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3 in which the shampoo detergent base comprises, as a major portion, an anionic surfactant.

Claim 6

A composition as claimed in claim 4 in which the shampoo detergent base further contains an amphoteric surfactant.

Claim 7

A composition as claimed in claim 5 in which the amphoteric surfactant is a (long chain alkyl)betaine or a (long chain alkyl)amidoalkylbetaine.

Claim 8

A composition as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6 in which the organic compound is selected from the group comprising ortho-substituted phenols, aromatic amines and precursors of melanin.

Claim 9

A composition as claimed in claim 7 in which the ortho-substituted phenol is a ortho-dihydroxy benzene derivative.

Claim 10

A composition as claimed in claim 8 in which the ortho-dihydroxy benzene derivative is selected from the group consisting of catechol, pyrogallol, gallic acid or an ester thereof or tannic acid or a mixture thereof.

Claim 11

A composition as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 9 in which, when the second component is a hair conditioner, said component comprises at least one surfactant which is a cationic surfactant or an organofunctional silicone compound.

Claim 12

A composition as claimed in 10 in which the cationic surfactant is selected from the group consisting of: quartenary ammonium compounds of the formula (I): wherein: X is an anion, preferably a halide (particularly chloride), methyl sulphate or ethanoate; R¹ and R² are each alkyl or hydroxy substituted alkyl of 1 of 3 carbon atoms; R³ is hydrogen, alkyl of 1 to 3 carbon atoms, benzyl, a polyethoxy or polypropoxy moiety containing up to 10 ethylene oxide units, alkoxypropyl or hydroxy substituted alkoxypropyl wherein the alkoxy moiety contains 12 to 20 carbon atoms, alkyl of 12 to 20 atoms, or alkylamidopropyl wherein the alkyl moiety contains from 12 to 20 carbon atoms; and R₄ is alkyl of 12 to 20 carbon atoms, a polyethoxy or a polypropoxy moiety containing up to 10 ethylene oxide units, alkyl acetate wherein the alkyl moiety contains 12 to 20 carbon atoms or alkylamido propyl wherein the alkyl moiety contains 12 to 20 carbon atoms; quaternised guar gum derivatives; quaternised cellulose derivatives; polyhalide salts of polyionenes terminated with triethanolammonium groups; quaternised derivatives of gluconic acid; quaternary oleyl amine esters; synthetic polymers formed by the condensation of polyglycols with polyamines, polymers formed by combining vinyl pyrrolidone units with dimethylamine ethyl methacrylate units and homopolymers of dimethyl diallyl ammonium chloride.

Claim 13

A composition as claimed in claim 10 in which the organofunctional silicone is a diaminofunctional silicone of general formula (II) in which X and Y, which may be the same or different, are each C₁₋₆ alkyl or -OH, R is C₁₋₃ alkylene and m and n are each integers of from 1 to 100; or a (β-hydroxy ammonium) functional silicone of general formula (III) in which R¹ is C₁₋₈ alkyl or alkenyl, preferably methyl; R² is C₁₋₈ alkylene or C₁₋₈ alkylenoxy; Q⁻ is a halide ion, preferably chloride; and m and n are each integers from 1 to 100; or an amphoteric silicone.

Claim 14

A composition as claimed in claim 12 in which the compound of formula (II) is: amodimethicone, wherein X and Y are -OH and R is -(CH₂)₃-; or trimethylsilyl-amodimethicone, wherein X and Y are -CH₃ and R is -(CH₂)₃-.

Claim 15

A multi-compartment device or kit for darkening human hair which comprises, in a first compartment, a shampoo component as defined in any one of claims 1 to 6, and in a second compartment, an organic compound as defined in any one of claims 1 and 7 to 9, and a base suitable for use as a hair shampoo, conditioner, tonic, cream, styling gel or mouse.

Claim 17

A composition substantially as described herein with reference to any one of Examples 1 to 8.

Claim 18

A composition substantially as described herein with reference to any one of Examples 1 to 8.