Composition and method for levelling hair colour

The present invention relates to a composition and a method of levelling hair color especially lighter colored hair or including lightened streaks or bleached streaks or bleached as a whole and after certain period of time contrast—difference in color—between the re-growth and formerly lightened parts is clearly visible. The first objective of the present invention is an aqueous composition for levelling hair color comprising at least one fatty acid salt, preferably an in-situ formed ammonium salt, and one or more amphoteric surfactants at a total concentration between 5 and 30% by weight, calculated to total of the composition, and has a pH between 5 and 12. Further the use of the composition for levelling hair color and the method of levelling hair color are disclosed.

This application is a 371 application of PCT/EP2010/004006 filed Jul. 2, 2010, which claims foreign priority benefit under 35 U.S.C. §119 of European Application No. 09008901.2 filed Jul. 8, 2009.

The present invention relates to a composition and a method of levelling hair colour, especially lighter coloured hair or including lightened streaks or bleached streaks or bleached as a whole and after certain period of time contrast—difference in colour—between the re-growth and formerly lightened parts is clearly visible.

Making streaks, lightening and bleaching are commonly used hair dressing practices. The aim of such hair dressing services is to get lighter coloured hair parts, or colouring hair to a lighter shade and finally bleaching hair—taking away hair colour as a whole—in order to give attractive appearance. In practice, immediately after such service, consumers' hair has very attractive appearance and naturalness, but this lasts only for a limited period of time because of unattractive contrast between the re-growth and lighter coloured and/or lightened parts by means of bleaching becomes clearly visible. This is especially problem when the uncoloured natural hair is considerably darker, i.e. re-growth has a considerably darker colour than the lighter coloured parts. Colour difference does reduce attractiveness and naturalness and it is highly desirable to give hair attractive colour appearance again without extensive additional chemical treatments. Especially, since such correction is often needed in a relatively short period of time after previous chemical treatment, the corrective treatment must not take a long time, preferably must easily be combinable with other type of hair dressing services, such as hair styling and preferably not involving any further chemical treatments. In other words, the corrective treatment should not cause any further damage to the hair or the damage caused by such service should be negligible compared to the damage caused by the previous colouring and/or bleaching.

After a long discussion with hair dressers and the end-user groups, the needs have been clearly identified of such a service. On these bases, various ways have been practiced and surprisingly found out that a levelling service combined with any hair care service is especially suited and it is easily applicable in any hair dressing salons.

It has further been identified that with the existing products and/or compositions, might be thought suitable for levelling hair colour, cause often dermatological incompatibilities with scalp such as itchiness, redness and scaling reported by volunteers.

Therefore, present invention starts from the problems of effective and easy applicable levelling service wherein the compositions and/or mixtures used for this purpose are mild to skin and do not cause any dermatological incompatibilities.

The inventors of the present invention have surprisingly found out that an aqueous composition comprising at least one fatty acid salt, preferably an in-situ formed ammonium salt and one or more amphoteric surfactants at a total concentration between 5 and 30% by weight, calculated to total of the composition, and having a pH in the range between 5 and 12 is perfectly suitable for levelling hair colour.

Thus, the first objective of the present invention is an aqueous composition for levelling hair colour comprising at least one fatty acid salt, preferably an in-situ formed ammonium salt, and one or more amphoteric surfactants at a total concentration between 5 and 30% by weight, calculated to total of the composition, and has a pH between 5 and 12.

The second objective of the present invention is a ready to use aqueous composition for levelling hair colour resulting from mixing two compositions, A and B, prior to application onto hair wherein composition A comprises at least one oxidizing agent and has an acidic pH, preferably between 2 and 5, and composition B comprises at least one fatty acid salt, preferably an ammonium salt formed in-situ and one or more amphoteric surfactants at a total concentration between 5 and 30% by weight, calculated to total of the composition, and has a pH between 5 and 12.

The third objective of the present invention is a method of levelling colour of hair comprising at least two parts wherein one part being the part not closer to scalp which is artificially colour changed to a lighter colour by means of lightening and/or colouring and/or bleaching than the other part closer to scalp which is preferably undamaged and has its natural colour, wherein hair is optionally shampooed and optionally towel dried and the part directly at the scalp, preferably undamaged and preferably has its natural colour, is applied a composition resulting from mixing two compositions, A and B, prior to application, wherein composition A comprises at least one oxidizing agent and has an acidic pH, preferably between 2 and 5 and composition B comprises at least one fatty acid salt, preferably an ammonium salt formed in-situ and one or more amphoteric surfactants at a total concentration between 5 and 30% by weight, calculated to total of the composition, and has a pH between 5 and 12, and processed for up to 10 min, preferably between 1 and 8 min, more preferably between 2 and 7 min and most preferably between 2 and 5 min (all values are included) at a temperature between 20 and 45° C., preferably at an ambient temperature and rinsed off from hair and hair is optionally dried.

Further objective of the present invention is to use of the above composition and process for levelling hair colour.

It should be noted that with the term non-ionic surfactant, the surfactants without silicone in their molecule are meant.

With the term “levelling” it is meant that hair colour is made more uniform, if not equal, among the parts, preferably between two parts, having different colours wherein one part is artificially colour changed to a lighter colour than its natural colour by means of colouring and/or lightening and/or bleaching either as a whole or only in streaks which is not closer to the scalp and the other part which is closer to the scalp and being undamaged and having darker and preferably natural colour than the remaining part of the hair.

With the phrase “being not closer to the scalp” it is meant the part of hair towards to the tips.

With the phrase “being closer to the scalp” it is meant the hair that has grown since the previous colouration (re-growth) and it is between scalp and colour changed part.

It should be noted that the composition, use of it and the method of the present invention is certainly suitable for levelling colour of sun-lightened hair, especially seasonally, and/or age-darkened hair as well.

Throughout the description, the definitions “composition B” and “aqueous composition” are used interchangeably and have the same meaning.

Composition B comprises at least one fatty acid salt, preferably formed in situ and preferably it is an ammonium or substituted ammonium salt. In principal salt of any fatty acid, preferably ammonium or substituted ammonium salt, saturated or unsaturated, branched or straight and substituted or unsubstituted is suitable for the purpose of the present invention. Non-limiting suitable examples are especially ammonium or substituted ammonium salts of lauric acid, myristic acid, palmitic acid, palmitoleic acid, stearic acid, oleic acid, linoleic acid and ricinoleic acid. Preferred are especially ammonium or substituted ammonium salts of myristic acid, palmitic acid, palmitoleic acid, stearic acid, oleic acid, linoleic acid and ricinoleic acid. More preferred are especially ammonium or substituted ammonium salts of palmitoleic acid, oleic acid, linoleic acid and ricinoleic acid and the most preferred are especially ammonium or substituted ammonium salts of oleic and linoleic acids.

Concentration of fatty acid salt varies between 0.5 and 20% preferably 1 and 15, more preferably 2 and 12.5 and most preferably 5 to 10% by weight calculated to the total of composition B.

The salt is formed in-situ during the preparation of the composition B with the reaction of fatty acid with an amine compound which is either ammonia (including ammonium hydroxide) or a substituted ammonium compound according to general formula
R1R2R3N
wherein R1, R2and R3are same or different H, C1-C6alkyl, C1-C6monohydroxyalkyl or C2-C6polyhydroxyalkyl with the condition that at least one of R1, R2and R3is a mono or polyhydroxyalkyl.

Preferred are monoethanolamine, diethanolamine and triethanolamine. The most preferred is monoethanolamine.

Concentration of the ammonia or the amine compound according to the general formula above is dependent on the concentration of the fatty acid and also dependent on the alkalinity value targeted. In general it varies between 1 and 20%, preferably 1 and 15, more preferably 1 and 12.5 and most preferably 1 to 10% by weight calculated to the total of composition B.

Composition B comprises one or more amphoteric surfactants. Useful are in particular the various known betaines such as alkyl betaines, fatty acid amidoalkyl betaines and sulfobetaines, for example, lauryl hydroxysulfobetaine; long-chain alkyl amino acids, such as cocoaminoacetate, cocoaminopropionate and sodium cocoamphopropionate and -acetate have also proven suitable.

In detail, it is possible to use betaines of the structure

wherein R4is a C8-C18-alkyl group and n is 1 to 3;
sulfobetaines of the structure

wherein R4and n are same as above;
and amidoalkyl betaines of the structure

wherein R4and n are same as above.

Preferred amphoteric surfactants are of betaine types such as coco betaine and cocoylamidpropyl betaine.

Composition B further can comprise one or more surfactants selected from anionic, non-ionic and cationic ones at a total concentration up to 15% by weight, calculated to total of Composition B.

Composition B preferably comprises additionally one or more anionic surfactants at a total concentration up to 15% by weight calculated to total of composition B.

Preferably the weight ratio of amphoteric to anionic surfactants is in the range between 5:1 to 1:1 and more preferably 4:1 to 2:1 and most preferable 3:1 to 2:1.

Nonlimiting suitable examples of anionic surfactants are the sulfate, sulfonate, carboxylate and alkyl phosphate type, especially, of course, those customarily used C10-C18-alkyl sulfates, and in particular the respective ether sulfates, for example, C12-C14-alkyl ether sulfate, lauryl ether sulfate, especially with 1 to 4 ethylene oxide groups in the molecule, monoglyceride (ether) sulfates, fatty acid amide sulfates obtained by ethoxylation and subsequent sulfatation of fatty acid alkanolamides, and the alkali salts thereof, as well as the salts of long-chain mono- and dialkyl phosphates and their salts.

Particular reference is made to the fatty alcohol ether sulfates of the general structure
R5(OCH2CH2)nOSO3M
wherein R5is a saturated or unsaturated, straight or branched, substituted or unsubstituted alkyl chain with 10 to 18 C atoms, n is from 1 to 5 and M is a cation, preferably sodium or potassium.

Further anionic surfactants of the carboxylate type are alkyl polyether carboxylic acids and the salts thereof of the formula
R6—(C2H4O)n—O—CH2COOX,
wherein R6is a C8-C20-alkyl group, preferably a C12-C14-alkyl group, n is a number from 1 to 20, preferably 2 to 17, and X is H or preferably a cation of the group sodium, potassium, magnesium and ammonium, which can optionally be hydroxyalkyl-substituted, as well as alkyl amido polyether carboxylic acids of the general formula

wherein R6and X have the above meanings, and n is in particular a number from 1 to 10, preferably 2.5 to 5.

Further suitable anionic surfactants are also C8-C22-acyl aminocarboxylic acids or the water-soluble salts thereof. Suitable ones are N-lauroyl glutamate, in particular as sodium salt, as well as, for example, N-lauroyl sarcosinate, N—C12-C18-acyl asparaginic acid, N-myristoyl sarcosinate, N-oleoyl sarcosinate, N-lauroyl methylalanine, N-lauroyl lysine and N-lauroyl aminopropyl glycine, preferably in form of the water-soluble alkali or ammonium, in particular the sodium salts thereof, preferably in admixture with the above-named anionic surfactants.

Among the anionic surfactants preferred are alkyl ether sulphates, alkyl polyether carboxylic acids, alkyl amido polyether carboxylic acids and acyl aminocarboxylic acids and their salts.

Composition B can further comprise one or more non-ionic surfactants at a concentration up to 15% by weight calculated to total of composition B, preferably with the condition non-ionic surfactant system has an HLB value not exceeding but including 10, preferably between 1 and 9 and more preferably between 2 and 8 and most preferably between 4 and 7, calculated from the mol fraction of individual non-ionic surfactants excluding non-ionic silicone surfactants in the non-ionic surfactant mixture and individual HLB values of non-ionic surfactant (see below for calculation of system HLB value with the example).

Suitable non-ionic surfactants are alkyl polyglucosides of the general formula
R7—O—(R8O)nO—Zx
wherein R7is an alkyl group with 8 to 18 carbon atoms, R8is an ethylene or propylene group, Z is a saccharide group with 5 to 6 carbon atoms, n is a number from 0 to 10 and x is a number between 1 and 5. Examples are decyl glucoside, carpylyl glucoside, ceteary glucoside, cocoyl ethyl glucoside, lauryl glucoside, myristyl glucoside and coco glucoside. Preferred are decyl glucoside and coco glucoside which are commericially available with the trade name Plantacare from the company Cognis.

Further non-ionic surfactants suitable are long-chain fatty acid mono- and dialkanolamides according to the general structure

wherein R9is an alkyl chain which may be saturated or unsaturated, straight or branched, substituted or unsubstituted with a length of 8 to 22 C atoms, preferably 10 to 18 and more preferably 12 to 18 C atoms, R10and R11are same or different H, C1to C4alkyl or hydroxyl alkyl, preferably C2hydroxy alkyl with the condition that at least one of the R7and R8is not H.

Further additionally useful non-ionic surfactants are, for example, the various sorbitan esters, such as polyethylene glycol sorbitan stearic acid ester, fatty acid polyglycol esters or poly-condensates of ethyleneoxide and propyleneoxide, as they are on the market, for example, under the trade name “Pluronics®”.

Further suitable and preferred non-ionic surfactants are glyceryl fatty acid esters according to the general formula

wherein R12and R13are same or different H, or a fatty acid group which may be saturated or unsaturated, branched or straight, substituted or unsubstituted with a C number between 10 and 22 with the condition at least one of the R12and R13is a fatty acyl group. The esters according the above general structure has preferably C number between 12 and 18 and more preferably 14 and 18. In particular glyceryl steric acid esters are preferred.

Most preferred glyceryl fatty acid esters are glyceryl stearate and glyceryl distearate.

Further suitable non-ionic surfactants within the meaning of present invention are glycol fatty acid esters according to the general structure

wherein R14is a saturated or unsaturated, branched or straight, substituted or unsubstituted alkyl with a 9 to 21 C atoms and R15is H or a saturated or unsaturated, branched or straight, substituted or unsubstituted acyl with 10 to 22 C atoms.

Among the non-ionic surfactants mentioned above fatty alcohol ethoxylates and fatty acid glyceryl esters and glycol fatty acid esters and their mixtures at any weight ratio are the most preferred ones.

In a preferred form of the present invention, composition B comprises at least one fatty alcohol ethoxylate, at least one glyceryl fatty acid ester and at least one glycol fatty acid ester. In a further preferred embodiment the surfactants are contained at a weight ratio of fatty alcohol ethoxylate:glyceryl fatty acid ester:glycol fatty acid ester between 1:0.1:0.05 and 1:1:0.5, preferably between 1:0.2:0.1 and 1:0.75:0.4, more preferably between 1:0.3:0.15 and 1:0.6:0.3 and most preferably between 1:0.4:0.2 and 1:0.6:0.3.

System HLB value of the non-ionic surfactants is calculated from their mol fraction in the non-ionic surfactant mixture starting from their concentration in the mixture in weight % followed by calculation of their concentration in mol by dividing the concentration by molecular weight of the surfactants. Afterwards, the total non-ionic surfactant concentration in mol is calculated and mol fraction of each surfactant in the system is calculated by dividing the mol concentration of a surfactant in the system with the total non-ionic surfactant concentration in mol. In order to calculate the system HLB value, subsequently, mol fraction of each non-ionic surfactant is multiplied by its HLB value and sum of the resulting numbers is system HLB value. The silicone non-ionic surfactants are excluded as a rule from calculation of the HLB value of the non-ionic surfactant system and, therefore, wherever any HLB value is referred throughout the description and claims of the present application, it should be understood that the non-ionic silicone surfactants are not meant, unless otherwise stated.

HLB values of some non-ionic surfactants are given in Table I.

Composition B may further comprise one or more cationic or cationizable surfactants with the general formula
R16-A-R17-B
wherein R16is a saturated or unsaturated, straight or branched alkyl group with 8 to 24 C atoms, R17is a straight or branched alkyl group with 1 to 4 C atoms, A is a group selected from O,

and B is selected from

wherein R18and R19are the same or different is H or an alkyl with 1 to 4 C atoms, hydroxyl alkyl with 1 to 4 C atoms and dihydroxyl alkyl with 2 to 4 C atoms,

R20, and R21are the same or different, an alkyl with 1 to 4 C atoms, hydroxyl alkyl with 1 to 4 C atoms and dihydroxyl alkyl with 2 to 4 C atoms, R22is an alkyl with 1 to 4 C atoms, hydroxyl alkyl with 1 to 4 C atoms or dihydroxyl alkyl with 2 to 4 C atoms and
—R17-A-R16
wherein R16, A and R17have the above meaning and X is chloride, bromide, methosulfate,
or
a quaternary ammonium surfactant according to the general formula

where R23is a saturated or unsaturated, branched or non-branched alkyl chain with 8-24 C atoms and R24is unsaturated or saturated, branched or non-branched alkyl chain with 1-24 C atoms and R25and R26are lower alkyl chain with 1 to 4 carbon atoms which may be substituted with one or more hydroxyl groups, and X is anion such as chloride, bromide, methosulfate, up to 15% by weight calculated to total of Composition B.

In a further preferred embodiment of the present invention composition B comprise at least one silicone surfactant preferably at a concentration of 0.1 to 5%, more preferably 0.1 to 3%, most preferably 0.2 to 2% calculated to total of composition B. Preferred silicone surfactants are ethoxylated and/or propoxylated dimethicones.

Composition B may further comprise one or more fatty alcohol of the general formula
R27—OH
wherein R13is a linear or branched, saturated or unsaturated, substituted or unsubstitited alkyl chain with 12 to 22 C atoms.

Suitable fatty alcohols are myristyl alcohol, cetyl alcohol, stearyl alcohol and behenyl alcohol and their mixtures. Most preferred is the mixture of cetyl and stearyl alcohol also known as cetearyl alcohol.

The concentration of one or more fatty alcohols is in the range of 0.1 to 10%, preferably 0.5 to 7.5%, more preferably 0.5 to 5% and most preferably 1 to 5% by weight calculated to total of composition B.

The composition B may further comprise hair-conditioning agents. Conditioning agents can be selected from oily substances, non-ionic substances, cationic amphiphilic ingredients, cationic polymers or their mixtures. Cationic amphiphilic compounds are the quaternary ammonium compounds mentioned above.

Oily substances are selected from such as silicone oils, either volatile or non-volatile, natural and synthetic oils. Among silicone oils those can be added to the compositions include dimethicone, dimethiconol, polydimethylsiloxane, DC fluid ranges from Dow Corning, as well as aminated silicones such as amodimethicone, aminopropyl phenyl trimethicone; arylated silicones with one to 5 phenyl groups in its molecule such as trimethylpentaphenyl trisiloxane, phenyl trimethicone, triphenly trimethicone and cyclic siloxanes such as cyclomethicone, cyclotrisiloxane, cyclopentasilioxane, cycloheptasiloxane and cyclotrisiloxane. Natural oils such as olive oil, almond oil, avocado oil, wheatgerm oil and ricinus oil may be included as conditioning agents in the composition B.

Synthetic oils may be included in composition B as conditioning agent such as mineral oil, alkyl esters of fatty acids such as isopropyl myristate, palmitate, stearate and isostearate, oleyl oleate, isocetyl stearate, hexyl laurate, dibutyl adipate, dioctyl-adipate, myristyl myristate and oleyl erucate.

Further conditioning agents may be polyols such as glycerin, glycol and derivatives, polyethyleneglycoles known with trade names Carbowax PEG from Union Carbide and Polyox WSR range from Amerchol, polyglycerin, polyethyleneglycol mono or di fatty acid esters having general formula
R28CO(OCH2CH2)nOH
or
R28CO(OCH2CH2)nOOCR29
where R28and R29are independent from each other saturated, unsaturated or branched or non-branched alkyl chain with 7 to 21 C atoms and n is typically 2-100.

Additionally composition B may comprise one or more cationic polymers as conditioning agents. Suitable cationic polymers are those of known with their CTFA category name Polyquaternium. Typical examples of those Polyquaternium 6, Polyquaternium 7, Polyquaternium 10, Polyquaternium 11, Polyquaternium 16, Polyquaternium 22, Polyquaternium 28, Polyquaternium 70, Polyquaternium 67, and Polyquaternium 87.

The cationic polymers also include the quaternized products of graft polymers from organopolysiloxanes and polyethyl oxazolines described in EP-A 524 612 and EP-A 640 643.

The composition B according to the invention may also comprise further conditioning substances such as protein hydrolyzates and polypeptides, e.g., keratin hydrolyzates, collagen hydrolyzates of the type “Nutrilan®” or elastin hydrolyzates, as well as also in particular plant protein hydrolyzates, optionally, cationized protein hydrolyzates, e.g., “Gluadin®”.

Suitable trade products are, for example, the various “Extrapone” products and “Herbasol®”. Extracts and the preparation thereof are also described in “Hagers Handbuch der pharmazeutischen Praxis”, 4thEd.

The composition B can comprise one or more organic solvents such as ethanol. propanol, isopropanol, benzyl alcohol, benzyloxyethanol, alkylene carbonates such as ethylene carbonate and propylene carbonate, phenoxyethanol, butanol, isobutanol, cyclohexane, cyclohexanol, hexyleneglycol, ethylenecarbonate, ethyleneglycol monoethylether, ethylene glycol monobutyl ether, ethylene glycol monophenyl ether, 1-phenylethylalcohol, 2-phenylethylalcohol, o-methoxyphenol. Concentration of organic solvent can be in the range of 1 to 40%, preferably 1 to 25% by weight, calculated to total composition prior to mixing with oxidizing agent.

Composition B of the present invention can comprise UV filters for protection of hair from enviroental influences such as loss of elasticity, loss of hair colour (bleaching effect of sun light). The UV-absorbing substance is preferably selected from the following compounds: 4-Aminobenzoic acid and the esters and salts thereof, 2-phenyl benzimidazole-5-sulfonic acid and the alkali and amine salts thereof, 4-dimethyl aminobenzoic acid and the esters and salts thereof, cinnamic acid and the esters and salts thereof, 4-methoxycinnamic acid and the esters and salts thereof, salicylic acid and the esters and salts thereof, 2.4-dihydroxybenzophenone, 2.2′.4.4′-tetrahydroxy-benzophenone, 2-hydroxy-4-methoxybenzophenone and its 5-sulfonic acid or the sodium salt thereof, 2,2′-dihydroxy-4,4′-dimethoxybenzophenone, 2-hydroxy-5-chlorobenzophenone, 2,2′-dihydroxy-4-methoxybenzophenone, 2.2′-dihydroxy-4.4′-dimethoxy-5.5′-disulfobenzo-phenone or the sodium salt thereof, 2-hydroxy-4-octyloxybenzophenone, 2-hydroxy-4-methoxy-4′-methyl benzophenone, 3-benzyl-idenecampher, 3-(4′-sulfo)-benzyl-idenebornane-2-one and the salts thereof and/or 3-(4′-methyl benzylidene)-DL-campher, polysilicone-15. The preferred amount of the UV-absorber ranges from about 0.01% to 2.5%, more preferably from 0.05% to 1% by weight, calculated to the total composition.

It should be noted that for levelling hair colour within the meaning of the present invention, hair dyes are not required, especially when this is done on a previously partly or as a whole bleached hair.

On the other hand, in principal any kind of hair dye may be included in the compositions of the present invention.

One or more oxidative dye precursors can be comprised in composition B in case the leveling process is carried out on a lighter coloured hair. On the other hand, oxidative dye precursors may also be used if such leveling process is carried out for previously bleached hair depending on the target colour direction, warmer colours including more of golden and red tones as well as cooler colours including ash, matt and violet may require use of oxidative dye precursors. It should be noted that leveling is carried out in the absence and as well in the presence of oxidative dye precursors. Suitable oxidative dyestuffs precursors, if required, are tetraminopyrimidines, in particular 2,4,5,6-tetraminopyrimidine and the lower alkyl derivatives thereof; suitable triaminohydroxypyrimidines are, for example 4-hydroxy-2,5,6-triaminopyrimidine, 2-hydroxy-4,5,6-triaminopyrimidine and 5-hydroxy-2,4,6-triaminopyrimidine; suitable mono- and diamino dihydroxypyrimidines are, for example, 2,6-dihydroxy-4,5-diaminopyrimidine, 2,4-diamino-6-hydroxy-pyrimidine or 4,6-dihydroxy-2,5-diaminopyrimidine or the water-soluble salts thereof, aminophenol derivatives such as 4-aminophenol, 4-amino-3-methylphenol, 2-chloro-4-aminophenol, 2,6-dichloro-4-aminophenol, 2,4-diamino-phenol, 2,6-dibromo-4-aminophenol and/or 2-aminophenol and water-soluble salts thereof, furthermore, phenylenedimanine derivatives such as 2,5-diamino-toluene, 2-n-propyl or 2-ethyl-p-phenylene-diamine, 2,6-dimethyl-p-phenylenediamine, 2-(2,5-diaminophenyl)ethanol, 1-amino-4-bis-(2′-hydroxy-ethyl)aminobenzene, 2-(2-hydroxyethylamino)-5-aminotoluene, 4,4′-diaminodiphenylamine, 4-aminodiphenylamine, 2-amino-5-N,N-diethyl aminotoluene, 4-amino-N-ethyl-N-isopropyl aniline, 2-chloro-p-phenylenediamine, 1-β-hydroxyethyl-2,5-diamino-4-chlorobenzene, 1-β-hydroxyethyl-2,5-diamino-4-methyl benzene, 2-methoxy-p-phenylenediamine, N,N-diethyl-p-phenylenediamine, 1-amino-4-β-methoxyethyl aminobenzene, 1-dimethyl-amino-4-aminobenzene, 1-hydroxy-2,5-diamino-4-methyl benzene, 1-hydroxymethyl-2,5-diaminobenzene, 1,3-dimethyl-2,5-diaminobenzene, 1,4-diamino isopropyl benzene and/or 1-amino-4-β-hydroxypropyl aminobenzene or the water-soluble salts thereof, pyrazole derivatives such as 1-hydroxyethyl-4,5-diaminopyrazole, 3,4-diamino-5-hydroxypyrazole, 3,5-diaminopyrazole, 3,5-diamino pyrazol-1-carboxamide, 3-amino-5-hydroxypyrazole, 1-phenyl-2-methylpyrazole, 1-phenyl-3-methylpyrazole-5-one, 3,5-dimethylpyrazole, 3,5-dimethylpyrazole-1-methanol, 1-methyl-4,5-diaminopyrazole, 1-methylethyl-4,5-diaminopyrazole, 1-phenylmethyl-4,5-diaminopyrazole, 1-methyl-4,5-diaminopyrazole, 1-(4-methylphenyl)methyl-4,5-diaminopyrazole, 1-methyl-3-phenyl-4,5-diaminopyrazole and the water-soluble salts. The use of the above mentioned oxidative dye precursors as mixture is also customary in hair coloring area.

The total concentration of the oxidation dyestuff precursors and/or their water soluble salts if required may vary between 0.0001% and 1%, preferably 0.001% and 1%, in particular 0.001% to 0.5% by weight, calculated to the total of composition B.

The concentration of coupling substances is customarily adjusted to the concentration of developing, oxidative dye precursor, substances.

The composition B can further comprise additionally direct dyes of neutral, cationic and anionic character. Some examples to suitable cationic dyes are Basic Blue 6, Basic Blue 7, Basic Blue 9, Basic Blue 26, Basic Blue 41, Basic Blue 99, Basic Brown 4, Basic Brown 16, Basic Brown 17, Natural Brown 7, Basic Green 1, Basic Red 2, Basic Red 12 Basic Red 22, Basic Red 51, Basic Red 76, Basic Violet 1, Basic Violet 2, Basic Violet 3, Basic Violet 10, Basic Violet 14 and Basic Yellow 57. According to the invention, suitable cationic dyestuffs are in principal those any available on the market for cosmetic hair colouring applications. For this purpose, special reference is made to the PCT application WO 95/15144 of Ciba-Geigy AG. The content of the PCT application WO 95/15144 is by reference incorporated here.

The total concentration of direct dyes and/or their water soluble salts if required may vary between 0.0001% and 1%, preferably 0.001% and 1%, in particular 0.001% to 0.5% by weight, calculated to the total of composition B.

The composition B may further comprise an organopolysiloxane wherein at least one silicon atom is linked to an alkylene group having a hetero-atom, in particular a nitrogen atom, with a poly-(N-acyl alkyleneimine) units of the formula

wherein n is a number from 1 to 5 and R30is hydrogen, a C1-C12-alkyl or cycloalkyl, aralkyl or aryl group.

Preferred organopolysiloxane polymers are those of the type disclosed in EP-A 640 643, in particular optionally quaternized aminoalkyl, in particular aminopropyl dimethyl polysiloxane/polyethyl oxazoline copolymers of the formula

wherein m and n each are numbers from 20 to 10,000, in particular 50 to 7,000, especially 100 to 5,000, x is a number between 1 and 5, preferably 3, and y is a number from 5 to 30, R31is a C1-C12-alkyl or aryl group, in particular a methyl, ethyl or benzyl group, and Y−is an anion.

Especially suited are the organopolysiloxanes disclosed under the terms A-1, A-2 and A-3 on pages 12 to 13 of EP-A 640 643. The proportion of graft copolymers in the hair colouring compositions according to the invention ranges from 0.05% to 5%, preferably 0.1% to 2.5%, in particular 0.5% to 1.5% by weight, calculated to the total composition.

Another compound that may be comprised in the colouring composition comprising at least one oxidative dye precursor is a ceramide type of compounds according to the general formula

wherein R32and R33are independent from each other alkyl- or alkenyl group with 10 to 22 carbon atoms, R34is methyl, ethyl, n-propyl or isopropyl group and n is a number between 1 to 6, preferably 2 or 3. The concentration of the ceramide type of compound in colouring compositions of the present invention can be in the range of 0.01 to 2 and especially 0.01 to 1% by weight calculated to the total composition.

Preferred ceramide compound is cetyl-PG-hydroxyethylpalmitamide.

Sterols, especially the phytosterols, may as well be comprised in Composition B. Suitable ones are especially of plant origin for example ergosterol, sitosterol, stigmasterol, fucosterol, brassicasterol, fungisterol, campesterol, zymosterol, ascosterol, cerevisterol, episterol, faecosterol, spinasterol.

The concentration of ceramide may be in the range of 0.01 to 2% and phytosterol may be comprised in the range of 0.01 to 0.5% by weight calculated to the total of composition B.

The compositions A and/or B may further comprise one or more ubiquinone of the formula.

wherein n is a number from 1 to 10. The concentration of ubichinones in the compositions of the present invention can vary between 0.001% and 10% by weight, calculated to the total composition excluding the oxidizing agent.

The composition B of the present invention may comprise compounds for accelerating (catalysts) the oxidative dyeing keratin fibres such as iodine salts i.e. potassium or sodium iodide and/or dihydroxy acetone.

Further compositions A and/or B can comprise yogurt powder at a concentration of 0.01 to 5% by weight calculated to total of the compositions A or B, which is a raw material prepared by spray drying of natural yoghurt after completion of fermentation. Yogurt powder comprises the following major components:approximately 53.5% lactose,approximately 25% proteins,approximately 7.5% lactic acid,approximately 5% minerals and trace elements,approximately 1% vitamines, andapproximately 2% lipids.

Composition A and/or B may comprise at least one diamide compound. Preferred diamide compounds are according to the general structure

wherein R35is a linear or branched, saturated or unsaturated alkyl chain with 1 to 12 C atoms which may be substituted with hydroxy and/or alkoxy groups, preferably R35is linear or branched, saturated or unsaturated alkyl chain with 1 to 12 C atoms which may be substituted by 1 to 3 substituents selected from a hydroxy group and C1 to C6 alkoxy group, more preferably R35is a unsubstituted alkyl group with 1 to 12 C atoms, and alkyl group with 2 to 12 C atoms substituted by one or two hydroxyl groups, by one alkoxy group with 1 to 6 C atoms or by one hydroxyl and one alkoxy group with 2 to 6 C atoms, R36is linear or branched alkyl chain with 1 to 5 C atoms, preferably linear or branched alkyl chain with 2 to 5 C atoms and more preferably an alkyl chain with 2 to 3 C atoms, and R37linear or branched, saturated or unsaturated alkyl chain with 1 to 22 C atoms, preferably linear or branched, saturated or unsaturated alkyl chain with 11 to 22 C atoms.

Preferred individual diamide compounds are the ones according to the formula A to G.

Particularly preferred diamide compound is the compound F which is bis (methoxypropylamido) isodocosane and commercially available from Kao Corporation—Japan.

Concentration of diamide compounds in the compositions A and/or B of the present invention is in the range of 0.001 to 5%, preferably 0.002 to 3% more preferably 0.005 to 2% and most preferably 0.01 to 1% by weight calculated to total of the compositions A or B.

Compositions A and/or B may further comprise particulate matter such as synthetic mica. Use of synthetic mica coated with metal oxide or oxides mainly in decorative cosmetics is disclosed in an international patent application of Sun Chemical Corporation published with a number WO 2005/065632 A1. In the document synthetic mica and coated synthetic mica with at least one metal oxide or oxides is disclosed in detail, the content of the document is included herewith by reference.

Suitable metal oxide or oxides for coating synthetic mica are titanium dioxide, chromium oxide, ferric oxide or mixtures thereof. In the present invention the preferred is synthetic mica coated with titanium dioxide. Such materials are commercially available from Sun Chemical Corporation and are known with their INCI names Synthetic Fluorphologopite.

The particle size distribution of synthetic mica coated with a metal oxide or oxides is in the range of 1 to 750 μm, preferably 1 to 250 μm, more preferably 1 to 100 μm and most preferably 20 to 95 μm. The particle sizes referred are relating to the volume particle size distribution meaning that particles found in the coated synthetic mica having volume particle size in the given ranges.

Concentration of synthetic mica coated with at least metal oxide or oxides is from 0.001 to 10%, preferably 0.05 to 7.5%, more preferably 0.1 to 5% and most preferably 0.25 to 2.5% by weight calculated to total of the compositions A or B.

Composition B may further comprise one or more dipeptide. Non-limiting examples to the suitable dipeptides are the ones commercially available and known with their INCI name as Dipeptide-1, Dipeptide-2, Dipeptide-3, Dipeptide-4, Dipeptide-5, Dipeptide-6, Dipeptide-7, Dipeptide-8, and carnosine. The most preferred is carnosine and is containing β-alanin and L-histidine.

Concentration of at least one dipeptide is in the range of 0.01 to 5%, preferably 0.05 to 3% and more preferably 0.1 to 2.5% and most preferably 0.2 to 1.5% by weight calculated to the total of the compositions A or B.

Composition A comprises at least one oxidizing agent, preferably at a concentration of at least 1% by weight calculated to total of composition A, preferably between 1 and 12% and more preferably 1 and 9% and most preferably 2 and 6% and in particular 2 to 3% by weight calculated to total of composition A.

In principal any oxidizing agent is suitable such as hydrogen peroxide, urea peroxide, melamine peroxide and perborate salts. The most preferred is hydrogen peroxide.

Composition A can further comprise ingredients commonly used in compositions comprising oxidizing agents such as stabilizers for peroxide compounds such as phenacetin, salicylic acid, chelating agents such as etidronic acid, EDTA and/or their salts, organic or inorganic acids such as phosphoric acid, lactic acid, for adjusting pH, surfactants in order to increase miscibility and solubilising aid for water insoluble and/or sparingly soluble substances such as fragrances and anti-foaming agents such as silicone compounds.

Compositions A and B are mixed at a weight ratio of Composition A to Composition B in the range between 5:1 to 1:5, preferably between 3:1 to 1:3, more preferably between 2:1 to 1:2, and most preferably between 2:1 to 1:1. pH of the composition thus obtained and ready to use is in the range between 5 and 12, preferably between 6 and 11, more preferably between 6.5 and 11 most preferably between 8 and 10.5.

It has been found out that the viscosity may play an important factor in carrying out the process in a short period of time because the mixed composition is applied only at one part or certain parts of hair. In order to have easy and quick application in order to secure homogeneous effect of the composition and process and as well as rinsing off once the processing time has lapsed, ready to use composition, i.e. after mixing the compositions A and B, preferably has a viscosity in the range between 1000 and 15000 mPa·s., preferably between 1500 and 10000 mPa·s. and more preferably between 2000 and 7500 mPa·s. measured at 20° C. with a rotation viscosimeter, preferably with a Brookfiled viscosimeter at 10 rpm with a spindle 5.

In order to adjust the viscosity of the compositions of the present invention thickening agents can be used. Suitable and preferred ones are the non-ionic thickeners such as celluose and its derivatives such as hydroxyethyl cellulose, hydroxyethyl ethyl cellulose, hydroxypropyl cellulose, hydroxypropyl methyl clullose, methyl ethylcellulose, and methyl hydroxyethylcellulose and guar and its derivatives such as hydroxypropy guar. Anionic acrylate based thickeners can also be used.

The following examples are to illustrate the invention but not limit it.

The Composition B had a pH of 10.5

The above compositions A and B were mixed at a weight ratio of 2:1 (A:B) and the ready to use composition had a pH of 9.5.

The above composition was applied to the grown natural hair having a medium blonde colour after mixing as given above onto previously light blonde coloured hair. The hair was coloured approximately 6 weeks before the current leveling process. After processing of 5 min the hair was rinsed of and dried with a hair drier.

It was observed that the hair colour was more homogeneous and the colour of the rewgrowth area was much closer. Additionally, volunteers, 5 people, were asked if they had any scalp problems during and also after the treatment, no negatives were mentioned. The same question was asked again 3 days after the leveling service and no complaints were noted.

Same results were observed with the same composition wherein amphoteric surfactant was replaced with cocoyl betaine.

Similar results were observed with the following examples.

The Composition B had a pH of 10.5

The above compositions A and B were mixed at a weight ratio of 1:1 (A:B) and the ready to use composition had a pH of 9.5 and viscosity of approximately 5,200 mPa·s. measured at 20° C. with a Brookfield viscosimeter using Spindle 5 at 5 rpm.

The Composition B had a pH of 10.5

The above compositions A and B were mixed at a weight ratio of 1:1 (A:B) and the ready to use composition had a pH of 9.7 and viscosity of approximately 5,800 mPa·s. measured at 20° C. with a Brookfield viscosimeter using Spindle 5 at 5 rpm.

The HLB value of the non-ionic surfactant system is calculated as follows:

Conc.Mo-MolHLB% bylecularConc.fractionHLBContri-weightweightMol(%)Value1bution2Laureth-26.02740.021973.16.24.53Glycol distearate2.85940.004715.71.00.16Glyceryl1.23580.003411.15.50.62stearate SETotal0.0601100.05.311HLB value of the pure surfactant2HLB contribution is calculated by multiplying HLB value of pure surfactant multiplied by its mol fraction in %.

The nonionic surfactant system in the Composition B has a calculated HLB value of 5.31.

The Composition B had a pH of 10.5

The Composition B had a pH of 10.5