Hair straightening compositions containing fatty acid lactylates and glycolates and their method of use

Claim 2

In an aqueous composition for the straightening of hair which contains a hair reactant for straightening hair, selected from the group consisting of at least one reducing agent for hair and sodium hydroxide, wherein the improvement comprises having in the composition for straightening hair at least one humectant compound selected from the group consisting of fatty acid lactylates and fatty acid glycolates of the formula: ##STR4## wherein RCO is an acyl radical of a fatty acid having from about 6 to about 22 carbon atoms, A is CH 3 or H, and x has a value of from about 1 to about 4, and ammonium, alkali metal and amine salts thereof; the total amount of humectant compound included in said composition being sufficient to impart to hair, straightened using the composition, a higher degree of straightening as compared to hair straightened using the composition for straightening hair in the absence of said humectant compound.

Claim 3

A composition as claimed in claim 1 in which the reducing agent for hair is selected from the group consisting of thioglycolic acid, a salt of thioglycolic acid, an ester of thioglycolic acid and bisulfite salts.

Claim 4

A composition as claimed in claim 1 in which the humectant compound is sodium isostearoyl-2-lactylate.

Claim 5

A composition as claimed in claim 2 in which the humectant compound is sodium isostearoyl-2-lactylate.

Claim 6

A composition as claimed in claim 2 in which the reducing agent is glycerolmonothioglycolate.

Claim 7

A composition as claimed in claim 2 in which an emulsifying agent is present.

Claim 8

A composition as claimed in claim 6 in which the emulsifying agent is oleth-20.

Claim 9

A composition as claimed in claim 5 in which an emulsifying agent is present.

Claim 10

A composition as claimed in claim 8 in which the emulsifying agent is oleth-20.

Claim 11

In a composition for the straightening of hair which is an aqueous solution containing sodium hydroxide present in a concentration sufficient to straighten hair, wherein the improvement comprises having in the composition for straightening hair at least one humectant compound selected from the group consisting of fatty acid lactylates and fatty acid glycolates of the formula: ##STR5## wherein RCO is an acyl radical of a fatty acid having from about 6 to about 22 carbon atoms, A is CH 3 or H, and x has a value of from 1 to about 4, and ammonium, alkali metal and amine salts thereof present in a quantity sufficient to impart to hair, straightened using the composition, a higher degree of straghtening as compared to hair straightened using the composition for straightening hair in the absence of said humectant compound, said solution having a viscosity sufficient to maintain curled hair in a substantially straightened state on application of the solution thereto for reaction of sodium hydroxide with the hair to straighten the hair.

Claim 12

In a composition for the straightening of hair which is an aqueous solution containing sodium hydroxide present in a concentration sufficient to straighten hair, wherein the improvement comprises having in the composition for straightening hair at least one humectant compound selected from the group consisting of fatty acid lactylates and fatty acid glycolates of the formula: ##STR5## wherein RCO is an acyl radical of a fatty acid having from about 6 to about 22 carbon atoms, A is CH 3 or H, and x has a value of from 1 to about 4, and ammonium, alkali metal and amine salts thereof present in a quantity sufficient to impart to hair, straightened using the composition, a higher degree of straghtening as compared to hair straightened using the composition for straightening hair in the absence of said humectant compound, said solution having a viscosity sufficient to maintain curled hair in a substantially straightened state on application of the solution thereto for reaction of sodium hydroxide with the hair to straighten the hair.

Claim 13

A composition as claimed in claim 10 in which sodium hydroxide is present in a concentration up to about 3% by weight of the solution.

Claim 14

A composition as claimed in claim 10 in which sodium hydroxide is present in a concentration of from about 2 to about 3% by weight of the solution.

Claim 15

A composition as claimed in claim 10 in which the humectant compound is sodium isostearoyl-2-lactylate.

Claim 16

A composition as claimed in claim 11 in which the humectant compound is sodium isostearoyl-2-lactylate.

Claim 17

In an aqueous hair straightening system which consists of a hair straightening composition containing at least one reducing agent for hair, selected from the group consisting of thioglycolic acid, salts of thioglycolic acid, esters of thioglycolic acid and bisulfite salts, wherein the improvement comprises providing in the hair straightening composition at least one humectant compound selected from the group consisting of fatty acid lactylates and fatty acid glycolates of the formula: ##STR6## wherein RCO is an acyl radical of a fatty acid having from about 6 to about 22 carbon atoms, A is CH 3 or H, and x has a value of from 1 to about 4, and ammonium, alkali metal and amine salts thereof; the total amount of humectant compound included in said composition being sufficient to impart to hair, straightened using the net composition, a higher degree of straightening as compared to hair straightened using the hair straightening composition in the absence of said humectant compound, the hair straightening composition having a viscosity, when applied to hair, sufficient to maintain curled hair in a substantially straightened state during reaction of the contained reducing agent with the hair.

Claim 18

In an aqueous hair straightening system which consists of a hair straightening composition containing at least one reducing agent for hair, selected from the group consisting of thioglycolic acid, salts of thioglycolic acid, esters of thioglycolic acid and bisulfite salts, wherein the improvement comprises providing in the hair straightening composition at least one humectant compound selected from the group consisting of fatty acid lactylates and fatty acid glycolates of the formula: ##STR6## wherein RCO is an acyl radical of a fatty acid having from about 6 to about 22 carbon atoms, A is CH 3 or H, and x has a value of from 1 to about 4, and ammonium, alkali metal and amine salts thereof; the total amount of humectant compound included in said composition being sufficient to impart to hair, straightened using the net composition, a higher degree of straightening as compared to hair straightened using the hair straightening composition in the absence of said humectant compound, the hair straightening composition having a viscosity, when applied to hair, sufficient to maintain curled hair in a substantially straightened state during reaction of the contained reducing agent with the hair.

Claim 19

A hair straightening system as claimed in claim 15 in which the humectant compound is sodium isostearoyl-2-lactylate.

Claim 20

A hair straightening system as claimed in claim 16 in which the reducing agent is selected from the group consisting of glycerol monothioglycolate and ammonium monothioglycolate.

Claim 21

A hair straightening system as claimed in claim 15 in which the composition includes an emulsifying agent.

Claim 22

A hair straightening system as claimed in claim 18 in which the emulsifying agent is oleth-20.

Claim 23

A hair straightening system as claimed in claim 17 in which the composition includes an emulsifying agent.

Claim 24

A hair straightening system as claimed in claim 20 in which the emulsifying agent is oleth-20.

Claim 25

A hair straightening system as claimed in claim 17 in which the reducing agent is glycerol monothioglycolate further includes a balancer for addition to the combination of the glycerol monothioglycolate and sodium isostearoyl-2-lactylate.

Claim 26

A hair straightening system as claimed in claim 22 in which the balancer is a buffered aqueous ammoniacal solution.

Claim 27

In an aqueous hair straightening system which consists of a hair straightening composition containing at least one reducing agent for hair, selected from the group consisting of thioglycolic acid, salts of thioglycolic acid, esters of thioglycolic acid and bisulfite salts, wherein the improvement comprises providing in the hair straightening composition at least one humectant compound selected from the group consisting of fatty acid lactylates and fatty acid glycolates of the formula: ##STR7## wherein RCO is acyl radical of a fatty acid having from about 6 to about 22 carbon atoms, A is CH 3 or H, and x has a value of from 1 to about 4, and ammonium, alkali metal and amine salts thereof; the ratio of total moles of reducing agent to total moles of humectant compound in said hair straightening composition having a viscosity, when applied to hair, sufficient to maintain curled hair in a substantially straightened state during reaction of the contained reducing agent with the hair.

Claim 28

In an aqueous hair straightening system which consists of a hair straightening composition containing at least one reducing agent for hair, selected from the group consisting of thioglycolic acid, salts of thioglycolic acid, esters of thioglycolic acid and bisulfite salts, wherein the improvement comprises providing in the hair straightening composition at least one humectant compound selected from the group consisting of fatty acid lactylates and fatty acid glycolates of the formula: ##STR7## wherein RCO is acyl radical of a fatty acid having from about 6 to about 22 carbon atoms, A is CH 3 or H, and x has a value of from 1 to about 4, and ammonium, alkali metal and amine salts thereof; the ratio of total moles of reducing agent to total moles of humectant compound in said hair straightening composition having a viscosity, when applied to hair, sufficient to maintain curled hair in a substantially straightened state during reaction of the contained reducing agent with the hair.

Claim 29

A hair straightening system as claimed in claim 24 in which the humectant compound is sodium isostearoyl-2-lactylate.

Claim 30

A hair straightening system as claimed in claim 25 in which the reducing agent is selected from the group consisting of glycerol monothioglycolate and ammonium monothioglycolate.

Claim 31

A hair straightening system as claimed in claim 24 in which the composition includes an emulsifying agent.

Claim 32

A hair straightening system as claimed in claim 27 in which the emulsifying agent is oleth-20.

Claim 33

A hair straightening system as claimed in claim 26 in which the composition includes an emulsifying agent.

Claim 34

A hair straightening system as claimed in claim 29 in which the emulsifying agent is oleth-20.

Claim 35

A hair straightening system as claimed in claim 26 in which the reducing agent is glycerol monothioglycolate further includes a balancer for addition to the combination of the glycerol monothioglycolate and sodium isostearoyl-2-lactylate.

Claim 36

A hair straightening system as claimed in claim 31 in which the balancer is a buffered aqueous ammoniacal solution.

Claim 37

In a process for the straightening of hair which includes the step of contacting straightened hair with an aqueous hair straightening solution containing a reducing agent for hair, selected from the group consisting of thioglycolic acid, salts of thioglycolic acid, esters of thioglycolic acid and bisulfite salts, the improvement of which comprises providing in the aqueous hair straightening solution at least one humectant compound selected from the group consisting of fatty acid lactylates and fatty acid glycolates of the formula: ##STR8## wherein RCO is acyl radical of a fatty acid having from about 6 to about 22 carbon atoms, A is CH 3 or H, and x has a value of from 1 to about 4, and ammonium, alkali metal and amine salts thereof, to open the disulfide linkages of the straightened hair by application of an oxidizing agent of the hair to set the hair in a straightened state; the total amount of humectant compound included in said hair straightening solution of a reducing agent for hair being sufficient to increase the degree of straightening of the hair as compared to the degree of straightening achieved with the hair straightening solution in the absence of the humectant compound.

Claim 38

In a process for the straightening of hair which includes the step of contacting straightened hair with an aqueous hair straightening solution containing a reducing agent for hair, selected from the group consisting of thioglycolic acid, salts of thioglycolic acid, esters of thioglycolic acid and bisulfite salts, the improvement of which comprises providing in the aqueous hair straightening solution at least one humectant compound selected from the group consisting of fatty acid lactylates and fatty acid glycolates of the formula: ##STR8## wherein RCO is acyl radical of a fatty acid having from about 6 to about 22 carbon atoms, A is CH 3 or H, and x has a value of from 1 to about 4, and ammonium, alkali metal and amine salts thereof, to open the disulfide linkages of the straightened hair by application of an oxidizing agent of the hair to set the hair in a straightened state; the total amount of humectant compound included in said hair straightening solution of a reducing agent for hair being sufficient to increase the degree of straightening of the hair as compared to the degree of straightening achieved with the hair straightening solution in the absence of the humectant compound.

Claim 39

A process as claimed in claim 33 in which the humectant compound is sodium isostearoyl-2-lactylate.

Claim 40

A process as claimed in claim 33 in which said solution of a reducing agent for hair contains an emulsifying agent.

Claim 41

A process as claimed in claim 35 in which the emulsifying agent is oleth-20.

Claim 42

A process as claimed in claim 34 in which said solution of a reducing agent for hair contains an emulsifying agent.

Claim 43

A process as claimed in claim 37 in which the emulsifying agent is oleth-20.

Claim 44

In a process for the straightening of hair which comprises the steps of forming straightened hair by application of an aqueous hair straightening solution of a reducing agent for hair, selected from the group consisting of thioglycolic acid, salts of thioglycolic acid, esters of thioglycolic acid and bisulfite salts, followed by closing the disulfide linkages of the straightened hair by application of an oxidizing agent to the hair to set the hair in a straightened state, the improvement of which comprises providing in the aqueous hair straightening solution at least one humectant compound selected from the group consisting of fatty acid lactylates and fatty acid glycolates of the formula: ##STR9## wherein RCO is an acyl radical of a fatty acid having from about 6 to about 22 carbon atoms, A is CH 3 or H, and x has a value of from 1 to about 4, and ammonium, alkali metal and amine salts thereof, in which the ratio of total moles of reducing agent to total moles of humectant compound in the solution of said reducing agent is about 15 to about 80, to open the disulfide linkages of the straightened hair.

Claim 45

In a process for the straightening of hair which comprises the steps of forming straightened hair by application of an aqueous hair straightening solution of a reducing agent for hair, selected from the group consisting of thioglycolic acid, salts of thioglycolic acid, esters of thioglycolic acid and bisulfite salts, followed by closing the disulfide linkages of the straightened hair by application of an oxidizing agent to the hair to set the hair in a straightened state, the improvement of which comprises providing in the aqueous hair straightening solution at least one humectant compound selected from the group consisting of fatty acid lactylates and fatty acid glycolates of the formula: ##STR9## wherein RCO is an acyl radical of a fatty acid having from about 6 to about 22 carbon atoms, A is CH 3 or H, and x has a value of from 1 to about 4, and ammonium, alkali metal and amine salts thereof, in which the ratio of total moles of reducing agent to total moles of humectant compound in the solution of said reducing agent is about 15 to about 80, to open the disulfide linkages of the straightened hair.

Claim 46

A composition as claimed in claim 34 in which the humectant compound is sodium isostearoyl-2-lactylate.

Claim 47

A process as claimed in claim 39 in which said solution of a reducing agent for hair contains an emulsifying agent.

Claim 48

A process as claimed in claim 41 in which the emulsifying agent is oleth-20.

Claim 49

A process as claimed in claim 40 in which said solution of a reducing agent for hair contains an emulsifying agent.

Claim 50

A process as claimed in claim 43 in which the emulsifying agent is oleth-20.

Claim 51

In a process for the straightening of hair which includes the steps of forming straightened hair by application of an aqueous solution of sodium hydroxide present in a concentration sufficient to straighten hair, then removing the sodium hydroxide by application to the hair of an acid solution, the improvement of which comprises providing in the aqueous solution of sodium hydroxide at least one humectant compound selected from the group consisting of fatty acid lactylates and fatty acid glycolates of the formula: ##STR10## wherein RCO is an acyl radical of a fatty acid having from about 6 to about 22 carbon atoms, A is CH 3 or H, and x has a value of from 1 to about 4, and ammonium, alkali metal and amine salts thereof.

Claim 52

In a process for the straightening of hair which includes the steps of forming straightened hair by application of an aqueous solution of sodium hydroxide present in a concentration sufficient to straighten hair, then removing the sodium hydroxide by application to the hair of an acid solution, the improvement of which comprises providing in the aqueous solution of sodium hydroxide at least one humectant compound selected from the group consisting of fatty acid lactylates and fatty acid glycolates of the formula: ##STR10## wherein RCO is an acyl radical of a fatty acid having from about 6 to about 22 carbon atoms, A is CH 3 or H, and x has a value of from 1 to about 4, and ammonium, alkali metal and amine salts thereof.

Claim 53

A process as claimed in claim 45 in which sodium hydroxide is present in solution in a concentration up to about 3% by weight of the solution.

Claim 54

A process as claimed in claim 45 in which sodium hydroxide is present in solution in a concentration of from about 2 to about 3% by weight of the solution.

Claim 55

A process as claimed in claim 45 in which the humectant compound is sodium isostearoyl-2-lactylate.

Claim 56

A process as claimed in claim 46 in which the humectant compound is sodium isostearoyl-2-lactylate.