Personal care products, particularly hair care products, are made herein by mixing (A) a polymer having defined repeat units of a monomer (e.g. .alpha.-olefin) maleic anhydride alkyl half-ester or full acid, maleamic acid and maleimide, which is derivatized with an amine, and (B) a compound or polymer having a carboxylic acid functionality. These products exhibit excellent high humidity curl retention properties, as well as an advantageous blend of toughness and cohesiveness, and a strong affinity to natural fibers, when applied to keratin-based fibers, e.g. hair, skin, or textiles, e.g. cotton, wool; and also they are water-soluble and water-resistant.
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED U.S. PATENTS
This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Ser. No. 10/233,838, filed Aug. 30, 2002, and assigned to the same assignee, and related to U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,869,695; 5,886,194; 5,959,122; 5,994,385; and 6,025,501, also assigned to the same assignee as herein.