A composition and a method for treating hair are disclosed. The composition improves properties such as the hand (feel), curl retention, color receptivity, color retention, shine, and strength of the hair and the compositions can be used to prevent or repair damage to hair caused by hair treating processes (e.g., hair waving and coloring). The composition is useful in a rinse-free waving process, that is, a permanent waving process in which the intermediate rinse between the reducing step (the waving step) and the oxidizing step (the neutralization step) is omitted. The composition is also useful in a coloring process and in a one-day combined rinse-free waving and coloring process. The composition contains (1) an alkaline earth metal (e.g., magnesium or calcium), zinc, or aluminum, preferably in the form of a water-soluble salt (e.g., magnesium sulfate), (2) a low molecular weight sulfur-containing material that can form disulfide bonds involving the keratin of the hair (e.g., cystine-containing materials such as polypeptides or other proteinaceous materials) and (3) optionally an acid, which can be a carboxylic acid (e.g., a hydroxycarboxylic acid such as citric acid) or other organic acid (e.g., acetic acid) or mineral acid. The pH of the composition is less than 7, usually ranges from 2 to 6.5, and is preferably about 2 to 3.5 when used in the rinse-free waving process.
A hair relaxation composition is provided. The hair relaxation comprises an activator containing a thiosulfate compound, an acidifier that preferably does not impart a color change to the hair, and a catalyst. The composition has a pH ranging from about 3.0 to about 4.5. A method for relaxing hair is also provided. A composition as described above is applied to the hair. The composition is allowed to remain on the hair for a period of time ranging from about 10 minutes to about 60 minutes. The composition is removed from the hair. The application, standing and removal steps are then repeated.
Compositions and methods for treating keratin-related conditions and disorders such as straightening and styling hair, treating nail fungal conditions such as onychomycosis, ingrown nails, and hyperkeratotic conditions of the epidermis such as psoriasis, acne, callouses, corns, verruca, particularly plantar warts, and surface lines and blemishes of aging skin by aiding the exfoliation of keratinocytes. The compositions comprise at least one alkanoic acid in aqueous solution.
A formulation is described for straightening hair comprising alkanoic acids and a diluent, wherein the diluent is advantageously present at greater than 5% by volume, and more preferably greater than 20% by volume. The inventive formulation is acidic and does not use an effective amount of an alkaline hair-straightening agent to perform the hair straightening function. Instead, the step of hair straightening is accomplished by applying the non-alkaline formulation to the hair and then either leaving the formulation in the hair without rinsing or rinsing the formulation out of the hair followed by optional shampooing and/or conditioning. Consequently, a safe and surprisingly effective solution is provided for hair-straightening including hair-straightening maintenance, relaxation of curl, and reduction of frizziness (e.g., in humid weather).
A method for the same-day permanent waving and coloring of hair ("same-day" meaning during a twenty-four hour period and preferably during a single session of only a few hours), which can provide to the hair improved shape retention, color receptivity, color stability, color retention, color evenness, color depth, shine, strength, softness, luster, and/or elasticity. After initial preparation (shampooing, treating with a pre-wrap, and placing on rods if the hair is to be curled), the hair is processed using a waving agent (e.g., thioglycolate), the excess is preferably removed, contacted with a first composition, the excess preferably removed, optionally but preferably contacted with a second composition, heated to dry the hair, and then contacted with a coloring composition containing an oxidative colorant and an oxidizing agent, the oxidizing agent helping develop the color and rebond the hair. The first and second compositions each contain a biologically acceptable metal (preferably a polyvalent metal, e.g., magnesium) and optionally a proteinaceous material (preferably containing cystine).
