An article of manufacture comprising an absorbent hair wrapping material coated or impregnated with a hair structure altering, water soluble solution and the process of employing the wrapping. The hair wrapping material is capable of retaining between about 5 and about 15 times its weight of water and a water soluble hair reducing lotion. The water soluble hair reducing lotion contains one of an N--C.sub.8 to C.sub.22 alkyl lactam conditioner or an N-- quaternized amino lactam.

The present invention deals with the composition, and application of novel alkoxylated ether containing lactam compounds, useful as surface active agents. Compounds of this invention have emulsification, wetting, softening, anti-tangle, conditioning, complexation and solubilization properties. The compounds of the current invention conform to the following structure; ##STR1## wherein; R is an alkyl having from 10 to 36 carbon atoms; x, y and z are independently integers from 0 to 50, with the proviso that the sum of x+y+z be greater than zero.

The present invention relates to an improved conditioning shampoo composition which is stable, thoroughly cleanses the hair, and imparts improved physical and cosmetic properties to hair such as wet and dry comb, wet and dry feel, gloss, static control and manageability, yet does not cause build-up on human hair as is common with many conditioning shampoos. The shampoo composition comprises by weight 8%-20% of an anionic surfactant, 0.1%-5% of a water soluble cationic surfactant, 0.1%-8% of an insoluble, dispersed or emulsified, non-volatile silicone, and 0.5%-5% of a suspending or emulsifying nonionic surfactant such as an N-alkylated-2-pyrrolidone having a structure: ##STR1## wherein R is an alkyl moiety, straight chain or branched chain, including from about 8 to about 16 carbon atoms, and water. Preferred embodiments additonally may contain from about 0.5% to about 1% by weight of a non-volatile amine-functional siloxane.

A leave-on oxidizing solution useful for permanent waving of hair containing water, an oxidant which is capable of being left on the hair and dried on the hair without damage to the hair, and an acidic agent to provide the solution with a pH value of less than about 7. The use of the leave-on oxidizing solution decreases the amount of time required for carrying out a permanent waving of hair process.

A method and composition for fixing and stabilizing tissues, cells, and cell components such that the antigenic sites and nucleic acids are preserved is provided. The fixative employs a formaldehyde donor that is non-toxic, non-flammable, and that stabilizes the cell with minimal damage to and alteration of the cell morphology. The cell antigenic sites are left intact so that studies with monoclonal antibodies may be conducted. Vaccines and related immunotherapeutic methods utilizing antigens stabilized by the fixative of the present invention are also provided. Also disclosed is a method for developing a positive control for test reagents and for test instrumentation.