Oxidative dye compositions containing a 2,5-dihydroxyphenylalkanoic acid or salts thereof as antioxidant

Claim 2

A composition suitable for dyeing human hair, consisting essentially of at least one oxidative dyestuff and, as anti-oxidant, a 2,5-dihydroxyphenylalkanoic acid or a salt thereof corresponding to the general formula: ##STR22## in which R 1 and R 2 are identical or different and denote hydrogen or a straight- or branched-chain alkyl group of 1 to 4 carbon atoms, X denotes hydrogen, an alkali metal, ammonium, or an alkanolamine radical and n is an integer from 1 to 4.

Claim 3

A composition according to claim 1 in which R 1 or R 2 denotes a methyl, ethyl or propyl group, and X denotes sodium, potassium or a monoethanolamine, diethanolamine or triethanolamine radical.

Claim 4

A composition according to claim 1 in which at least one of R 1 and R 2 denotes a said alkyl group.

Claim 5

A composition according to claim 1 in which the 2,5-dihydroxyphenylalkanoic acid is selected from the group consisting of 2-(2',5'-dihydroxy-4'-methylphenyl)-acetic acid, 2-(2',5'-dihydroxy-3',4'-dimethylphenyl)-acetic acid and 3-(2',5'-dihydroxy-4'-methylphenyl)-propionic acid.

Claim 6

A composition according to claim 1 in which the 2,5-dihydroxyphenylalkanoic acid is selected from the group consisting of homogentisic acid and 2-(2',5'-dihydroxy phenyl)propionic acid.

Claim 7

A composition according to claim 1 which contains 0.05 to 5% weight of a 2,5-dihydroxyphenylalkanoic acid or salt thereof of formula (I).

Claim 8

A composition according to claim 6 which contains 0.1 to 3% by weight of a 2,5-dihydroxyphenylalkanoic acid or salt thereof of formula (I).

Claim 9

A composition according to claim 1 which additionally includes a sulphite, mercaptan or pyrazolone antioxidant.

Claim 10

A composition according to claim 8 in which the antioxidant is selected from the group consisting of sodium bisulphite, thioglycolic acid and thiolactic acid or a salt thereof, and 1-phenyl-3-methylpyrazol-5-one.

Claim 11

A composition according to claim 8 in which the sulphite or mercaptan is present at a concentration not exceeding 1% by weight.

Claim 12

A composition according to claim 1 which additionally includes a nitro benzene series, azo or anthraquinone direct dyestuff at a concentration from 0.005% to 3% by weight.

Claim 13

A composition according to claim 11 in which the direct dyestuff is selected from nitrophenylenediamines, nitroaminophenols, dinitroaminophenols, dinitroaminobenzenes, nitroaminobenzenes and nitrodiphenylamines.

Claim 14

A composition according to claim 1 in which the at least one oxidative dyestuff is an oxidative base selected from the group consisting of para-phenylenediamines, para-aminophenols, ortho-phenylenediamines, orthoaminophenols, substituted and unsubstituted heterocyclic bases and bases corresponding to the general formula: ##STR23## in which: Z 1 and Z 2 are identical or different and represent a hydroxyl group or --NHR 3 group in which R 3 denotes a hydrogen atom or a lower alkyl radical; R 1 and R 2 are identical or different and represent a hydrogen or halogen atom or an alkyl group; R represents a hydrogen atom, an alkyl or hydroxyalkyl group or an aminoalkyl group or an aminoalkyl group in which the amino radical is substituted; and Y represents a radical of the formula: ##STR24## n being 0 or an integer from 1 to 8 and n' being 0 or an integer from 1 to 4, or an acid addition salt of a said base.

Claim 15

A composition according to claim 13 in which the oxidative base is present at a concentration from 0.005% to 10% by weight.

Claim 16

A composition according to claim 14 in which the oxidative base is present at a concentration from 0.01% to 5% by weight.

Claim 17

A composition according to claim 1 which additionally includes one or more phenol, metadiphenol, meta-aminophenol or meta-diamine coupler, or salt thereof.

Claim 18

A composition according to claim 1 which additionally includes one or more of α-naphthol, 6-hydroxybenzomorpholine, 6-aminobenzomorpholine, 2,6-diaminopyridine, a pyrazolone or diketone coupler, or a salt thereof.

Claim 19

A composition according to claim 16 or 17 in which the coupler is present at a concentration from 0.005 to 5% by weight.

Claim 20

A composition according to claim 16 or 17 in which the coupler is present at a concentration from 0.01 to 3% by weight.

Claim 21

A composition according to any one of claims 1 to 19, which additionally includes a leuco derivative of an indoaniline at a concentration from 0.005 to 4% by weight.

Claim 22

A composition according to claim 1 in the form of a gellable composition, which additionally includes, in an aqueous vehicle, a polyoxyethyleneated or polyglycerolated non-ionic compound at a concentration of 5 to 60% by weight, or a soap of a liquid fatty acid at a concentration from 0.5 to 15% by weight, and a solvent at a concentration of 2 to 20% by weight and an alkalising agent.

Claim 23

A composition according to claim 1 in the form of a cream which additionally includes, in an aqueous vehicle, a soap of a natural or synthetic C 12 to C 18 fatty acid at a concentration of 10 to 30% by weight, or a natural or synthetic C 12 to C 18 fatty alcohols at a concentration of 5 to 25% by weight, an emulsifier at a concentration of 1 to 25% by weight, and an alkalising agent.

Claim 24

A composition according to claim 21 or 22 which contains a sequestering agent, thickener or perfume.

Claim 25

A composition according to claim 1 which has a pH of 6 to 11.

Claim 26

A composition according to claim 24 which has a pH of 8 to 11.

Claim 27

A composition according to claim 22 which additionally includes a fatty amide at a concentration of up to 10% by weight.

Claim 28

A composition according to claim 26 which contains a sequestering agent, thickener or perfume.

Claim 29

Process for dyeing human hair which comprises mixing at the time of use a composition as defined in claim 1 with a cosmetic oxidising agent and applying the mixture to the hair, leaving it thereon for 5 to 45 minutes, and then rinsing and drying the hair.