Hair cosmetic composition

Provided is a hair cosmetic composition which comprises the following components (A) to (D): (A): an organic acid, (B): an organic solvent selected from aromatic alcohols, polyols and carbonates, (C): a cationic surfactant, and (D): a higher alcohol, and water and has a pH ranging from 2 to 6. The hair cosmetic composition has excellent effects for repairing or preventing hair damage caused by coloring, permanent waving or blow drying and features good feeling upon use and luster improving effect.

EXAMPLES 
 Example 1 The hair conditioners shown in Table 1 were prepared. The disappearance ratio of pores inside of the hair was measured; and smoothness of the hair upon rinsing, and smoothness of the hair, improvement in luster, dryness and styling ease of the hair after drying were evaluated. The results are shown in Table 1. (i) Disappearance Ratio of Pores Inside of the Hair A hair bundle (0.5 g) damaged by coloring was washed with 1 g of a plain shampoo (prepared using sodium polyoxyethylene (2.5) laurylether sulfate and diethanolamide). After water was drained off roughly, 1 g of a hair conditioner was applied to the hair bundle. The resulting hair bundle was allowed to stand for 1 minute, followed by further application of 4 g of the hair conditioner. It was then allowed to stand at 35 C. for 15 minutes. The hair bundle was rinsed with running water for 15 seconds, towel dried and hot-air dried by a drier for 1 minute (this hair treatment corresponds to successive use of the hair conditioner for 1 week). After this hair treatment was repeated 4 times in total, the disappearance ratio of pores inside of the hair was determined. Measurement of Pores The hair was exposed to a light irradiated obliquely (angle: 15 to 60 degrees between the hair axis and light irradiation axis from a light source) from the hair root direction and observed from a direction on the same plane with the hair axis and light irradiation axis and at the same time, vertical to the hair axis by using a simple measuring microscope (“WIDE STAND MICRO”, product of PEAK, ×10). This method makes it possible to remove a specular reflection light on the surface of the hair, which otherwise disturbs observation, thereby permitting observation of only the porous structure at the medulla as white streaks at the center portion of the hair when the hair has pores formed therein (“Fragrance Journal, No.6, 11(2000)”). Before treatment, the whole length of the porous portion observed at the medulla as white streaks was measured. The hair after treatment was subjected to similar measurement. From the ratio of pores before treatment to those after treatment, the disappearance ratio or formation ratio of pores was determined. (ii) Evaluation Methods of Smoothness, Improvement of Luster, Dryness and Styling Ease of the Hair A hair bundle (20 g) was washed sufficiently with 1 g of a plain shampoo (prepared using sodium polyoxyethylene (2.5) laurylether sulfate and diethanolamide). After water was drained off roughly, 2 g of a hair conditioner was applied to the hair bundle. The hair bundle was rinsed for 30 seconds with water of 40° C. running at 6 liter/min, towel dried and dried sufficiently by a hot wind of a drier for 2 to 3 minutes. Organoleptic evaluation was conducted by a panel of 20 experts in accordance with the below-described standards and ranking was made based on the average of their scores. Smoothness (Upon Rinsing and After Drying) 4: The hair is markedly smooth. 3: The hair is very smooth. 2: The hair is smooth. 1: The hair is slightly smooth. 0: The hair is not smooth. Improvement of Luster (After Drying) 4: Marked improvement in luster is observed. 3: Improvement in luster is observed. 2: Slight improvement in luster is observed. 1: No improvement in luster is observed. 0: Luster is lost. Dryness (After Drying) 4: Dryness is not observed at all. 3: Dryness is not observed. 2: Slight dryness is observed. 1: Dryness is observed. 0: Much dryness is observed. Styling Ease (After Drying) 4: The hair can be styled at excellent ease. 3: The hair can be styled at ease. 2: The hair can be styled. 1: The hair cannot be styled at ease. 0: The hair cannot be styled. &lsqb;Rank&rsqb; A: 3.50 to 4.00 on average B: 3.00 to 3.45 on average 5 C: 2.00 to 2.95 on average D: 1.00 to 1.95 on average E: 0.00 to 0.95 on average 1 TABLE 1 (%) Invention Product Comparative Product 1 2 1 2 Behenyltrimethylammonium chloride 1.7 1.7 Stearyltrimethylammonium chloride 1.2 1.2 Cetanol 3.5 3.5 Behenyl alcohol 5.1 5.1 Benzyl oxyethanol 0.3 0.5 0.3 PPG400 (molecular weight: 400) 1 1 Malic acid 1 Lactic acid 4 4 Hydroxyethl cellulose 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2 48% NaOH 0.2 0.2 1.5 Purified water Balance Balance Balance Balance pH (25° C.) 3.3 3.2 4.0 7.0 Disappearance ratio of pores 72 70 8 11 inside of the hair (%) Smoothness of the hair upon rinsing A B A B Smoothness of the hair after drying A B A B Hair luster improving effect A A D C Dryness of the hair after drying A A D D Styling ease of the hair after drying A A D D From the hair treated with the hair conditioners of the present invention, marked disappearance of pores was recognized. According to the organoleptic evaluation, the hair treated with them had excellent smoothness, improved luster, and good styling ease without dryness. 
 Example 2 In a similar manner to (i) of Example 1, treatment was performed four times (hot-air drying time by a drier was increased to 5 minutes) by using 0.5 g of a hair bundle free from pores inside of the hair and hair conditioners of the invention product and comparative product. The formation ratio of pores after treatment was measured in a similar manner and results are shown in Table 2. 2 TABLE 2 (%) Formation ratio of pores Invention 1 0 products 2 0 Comparative 1 35 products 2 35 From the hair treated with the conditioner according to the present invention, formation of pores was not recognized, indicating that they have marked effects for preventing formation of pores. According to the organoleptic evaluation, use of the hair conditioner according to the present invention prevented dryness of the hair, thereby bringing about good styling ease even after drier treatment for 5 to 10 minutes. 
 Examples 3 Hair conditioners shown in Table 3 were prepared. As in Example 1, a disappearance ratio of pores inside of the hair was measured and smoothness of the hair upon rinsing, and smoothness of the hair, improvement of luster, dryness and styling ease after drying were evaluated. The results are shown in Table 3. 3 TABLE 3 (%) Comparative Invention products products 3 4 5 6 3 4 Malic acid 2 2 0.5 2 Lactic acid 4 1 1 Polypropylene glycol (molecular 1 2 0.5 2 weight: 400) Behenyltrimethylammonium 1.7 2.25 1.7 1.7 2.25 chloride Stearyltrimethylammonium 1.2 chloride Cetanol 3.5 0.3 0.3 Behenyl alcohol 5.1 7.2 5 5.1 7.2 Methyl polysiloxane (SH500- 3 2 2 2.5 3 5000CS) Isopropyl palmitate 1 1.5 1 0.5 1 Dipentaerythritol fatty acid ester 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.2 0.1 Benzyloxyethanol 0.3 0.5 0.3 0.3 0.5 Hydroxyethyl cellulose 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2 Polyethylene glycol (molecular 0.1 0.05 weight: 100000 48% NaOH 0.2 0.2 0.25 0.2 0.25 Purified water Balance Balance Balance Balance Balance Balance pH (25° C.) 3.3 3.2 3.3 3.0 3.3 3.3 Disappearance ratio of pores 70 75 80 70 0 10 inside of the hair (%) Smoothness upon rinsing A B A A C C Smoothness after drying A B A A C D Hair luster improving effect A A A B E C Dryness of the hair after drying A A A A B C Styling ease of the hair after A A A A B C drying From the hair treated with any one of the hair conditioners according to the present invention, marked disappearance of pores was recognized. According to the organoleptic evaluation, the hair treated by them had excellent smoothness, improved luster, and good styling ease without dryness. In addition, they were stable for a long period of time. 
 Example 4 A hair conditioner (pH 3.0) having the below-described composition was prepared. 4 (%) Behenyltrimethylammonium chloride 1.7 (behenyl content: 85%) Behenyl alcohol (behenyl content: 85%) 5.0 Isopropyl palmitate 0.5 Dipentaerythritol fatty acid ester 0.2 Methyl polysiloxane (“Silicone KHS-3”, 2.5 trade name; product of Shin-etsu Chemical) Benzyl oxyethanol 0.3 Polypropylene glycol 400 (PPG400) 2.0 Malic acid 0.5 Hydroxyethyl cellulose 0.2 Purified water Balance It has been found that this hair conditioner had good touch feeling during the period from application to rinsing, and even after drying, had good styling ease without dryness. The pore disappearance ratio as measured in a similar manner to Example 1 was 78%, indicating a marked pore repairing effect. The pore disappearance ratio of a composition obtained by using the above-described components except benzyl oxyethanol, PPG400 and malic acid, balancing the mixture with purified water, and adjusting its pH to 5.0 was measured, which resulted in 0%, indicating no pore repairing effect. 
 Example 5 A hair treatment (pH 3.3) having the below-described composition was prepared. 5 (%) Stearylamidopropyldimethylamine · lactate 2.4 Cetanol 7.0 Isopropyl palmitate 1.0 Dipentaerythritol fatty acid ester 0.3 Methyl polysiloxane (“Silicone KHS-3”, 2.5 trade name; product of Shin-etsu Chemical) Benzyloxyethanol 0.5 Malic acid 1.0 Hydroxyethyl cellulose 0.2 48% Aqueous solution of sodium hydroxide 0.15 Purified water Balance It has been found that this hair treatment had good touch feeling during the period from application to rinsing, and had good styling ease without dryness after drying. The pore formation ratio as measured in a similar manner to Example 2 was 0% after 4-week use, indicating a marked pore preventing effect. The pore formation ratio of a composition prepared by using the above-described components except benzyloxyethanol and malic acid, balancing the mixture with purified water, and adjusting its pH to 4.5 was measured, which resulted in 40%, indicating no pore preventing effect.