Hydrocarbon tolerant hair fixing compositions

Claim 1

An improved hair fixing composition having increased hydrocarbon tolerance, for use in aerosol formulations, comprising a copolymer of 20-35% (by wt.) of vinyl acetate or vinyl propionate, 35-50% (by wt.) of a vinyl ester of a C 5 -C 18 α-branched carboxylic acid, 25-40% (by wt.) of a C 3 -C 8 monoalkyl maleate, and up to 20% if a comonomer selected from the group consisting of acrylic and methacrylic esters of C 1 -C 12 aliphatic alcohols, hydroxy alkyl esters of acrylic and methacrylic acids, C 1 -C 4 alkyl/C 2 -C 4 amino alkyl esters of acrylic and methacrylic acids, styrene and alkyl substituted styrene monomers vinyl esters, C 1 -C 8 dialkyl maleates, N-vinyl pyrroliodone, and N-substituted alkyl (C 1 -C 8 ) maleamic acid, wherein percentages total 100% and all the improvement comprises neutralizing at least 70% of the carboxylic acid functionalities with an alkaline neutralizing agent comprising at least one base selected from the group consisting of NaOH and KOH, such that the tolerance of the copolymer to hydrocarbons is enhanced.