Cosmetic composition for temporarily shaping hair

A cosmetic composition and a method temporarily shaping keratinic fiber including the same are provided herein. In one embodiment, the cosmetic composition includes at least one vinylpyrrolidone homopolymer. The cosmetic composition further includes at least one crosslinked acrylate copolymer. In another embodiment, the method includes providing a cosmetic composition. The method further includes applying the cosmetic composition to keratinic fiber.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a U.S. National-Stage entry under 35 U.S.C. § 371 based on International Application No. PCT/EP2015/072829, filed Oct. 2, 2015, which was published under PCT Article 21(2) and which claims priority to German Application No. 10 2014 223 088.8, filed Nov. 12, 2014, which are all hereby incorporated in their entirety by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to a cosmetic composition for setting hair or for temporarily shaping keratinic fibers, in particular human hair, the composition containing a combination of a specific acrylate copolymer and a vinylpyrrolidone homopolymer.

BACKGROUND

The temporary shaping of hairstyles for an extended period of up to several days generally requires the use of setting active ingredients. Hair treatment agents that are used for temporarily shaping the hair therefore play an important role. Such agents for temporary shaping typically contain synthetic polymers and/or waxes as the setting active ingredient. Agents for assisting with the temporary shaping of keratin-containing fibers may be provided as a hair spray, hair wax, hair gel, or hair foam, for example.

The most important property of an agent for temporarily shaping hair, also referred to below as a styling agent, is to provide the strongest hold possible for the treated fibers in the reshaped form, i.e., a shape that is imparted to the hair. This is also referred to as a strong hairstyle hold, or a high degree of hold of the styling agent. The hold of the hairstyle is determined essentially by the type and quantity of the setting active ingredients used, although there may also be an influence by the other components of the styling agent.

Styling agents must meet a number of requirements in addition to a high degree of hold. These requirements may be roughly divided into properties on the hair, properties of the particular formulation, for example properties of the foam, gel, or sprayed aerosol, and properties that affect the handling of the styling agent, with particular importance being accorded to the properties on the hair. These include moisture resistance, low tack, and a balanced conditioning effect in particular. In addition, a styling agent should preferably be universally usable for all types of hair, and be mild on the hair and skin.

In order to meet the various requirements, a number of synthetic polymers as setting active ingredients have already been developed for use in styling agents. The polymers may be divided into cationic, anionic, nonionic, and amphoteric setting polymers. Ideally, when applied to the hair the polymers result in a polymer film which on the one hand imparts a strong hold to the hairstyle, but on the other hand is sufficiently flexible not to break down under stress. If the polymer film is too brittle, this results in so-called film plaques, i.e., residues that come off when the hair moves and give the impression that the user of the styling agent in question has dandruff. Similar problems arise when waxes are used as a setting active ingredient in the styling agent. If the styling agent is a gel or a paste, the polymers should also have thickening properties.

BRIEF SUMMARY

A cosmetic composition and a method temporarily shaping keratinic fiber including the same are provided herein. In one embodiment, the cosmetic composition includes at least one vinylpyrrolidone homopolymer. The cosmetic composition further includes at least one crosslinked acrylate copolymer including at least of the following structural units (b-1) and (b-2),

where R1stands for a hydrogen atom or a methyl group, R3stands for a (C8-C30) alkyl group, M+stands for a physiologically acceptable cation, and x stands for an integer from 5 to 35.

In another embodiment, the method includes providing a cosmetic composition. The cosmetic composition includes at least one vinylpyrrolidone homopolymer. The cosmetic composition further includes at least one crosslinked acrylate copolymer including at least of the following structural units (b-1) and (b-2),

where R1stands for a hydrogen atom or a methyl group, R3stands for a (C8-C30) alkyl group, M+stands for a physiologically acceptable cation, and x stands for an integer from 5 to 35. The method further includes applying the cosmetic composition to keratinic fiber.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Crosslinked anionic amphiphilic polymers containing a (meth)acrylic acid unit and a (meth)acrylic acid oxyalkylene alkyl ester unit are known anionic polymers that are used in hair setting products. Such polymers are described in EP 897711 B1, DE 102011077364 A1, and DE 102009001978 A1, for example, and are commercially available under the name Aculyn® 88 (INCI: Acrylates/Steareth-20 Methacrylate Crosspolymer). DE 10 2011 077 364 A1 and DE 10 2009 001 978 A1 relate to the use of such a polymer, in particular Aculyn® 88, in combination with a further specific crosslinked anionic polymer, for temporarily shaping hair.

A similar polymer is commercially available under the name BALANCE® RTF (INCI: Acrylates/Ceteareth-20 Methacrylate Crosspolymer), whose function in styling products is essentially that of a thickener and film-forming agent.

Polyvinylpyrrolidones (PVP) are known nonionic polymers that are used in hair setting products. Polyvinylpyrrolidones are homopolymers of vinylpyrrolidone. Vinylpyrrolidone homopolymers are marketed under the name Luviskol® (BASF), for example, and are typically used as film-forming agents and/or thickeners. The Luviskol® K product line (BASF), which provides vinylpyrrolidone homopolymers in various molecular weights, is available in particular for use in cosmetic compositions and styling products as a film-forming agent or thickener.

It is an object of the present disclosure to provide further suitable polymer combinations that are characterized by good film-forming and/or setting properties and a very high degree of hold without having to sacrifice flexibility and good moisture resistance, in particular resistance to perspiration and water, and which also are suitable for producing stable viscous as well as stable transparent cosmetic compositions. In particular, currently available styling agents may be even further improved for a desired better combination of stiffness and long-term hold. It is therefore an object of the present disclosure to provide such styling agents which, in addition to the properties mentioned above, in particular result in an excellent combination of the properties stiffness and long-term hold.

These objects are achieved as contemplated herein by a combination of a specific crosslinked anionic acrylate resin and a specific nonionic polymer.

The present disclosure provides the following:

1. A cosmetic composition for temporarily shaping keratinic fibers, containing:

(a) at least one vinylpyrrolidone homopolymer and(b) at least one crosslinked acrylate copolymer composed at least of the following structural units (b-1) and (b-2):

whereR1stands for a hydrogen atom or a methyl group,R3stands for a (C8-C30) alkyl group,M+stands for a physiologically acceptable cation, andx stands for an integer from 5 to 35, in particular an integer from 10 to 24.
2. The cosmetic composition according to item 1, wherein the vinylpyrrolidone homopolymer (a) has a K value in water of about 20 to 100 (1% by weight solution of PVP, Brookfield, at 23° C.).
3. The cosmetic composition according to item 1 or 2, wherein the vinylpyrrolidone homopolymer (a) has a K value of about 80 to 100, in particular approximately 90.
4. The cosmetic composition according to one of the preceding items, wherein x in the crosslinked acrylate copolymer (b) stands for the integer 20, and R3stands for a C16 and/or C18 alkyl group, in particular a combination of stearyl and cetyl groups.
5. The cosmetic composition according to one of the preceding items, wherein a crosslinked acrylate copolymer with the INCI name Acrylates/Ceteareth-20 Methacrylate Crosspolymer, preferably BALANCE® RCF, is contained as the crosslinked acrylate copolymer (b).
6. The cosmetic composition according to one of the preceding items, wherein the composition also contains at least one thickener, in particular a carbomer.
7. The cosmetic composition according to one of the preceding items, wherein the vinylpyrrolidone homopolymer (a) has a K value of about 80 to 100, in particular approximately 90, and the crosslinked acrylate copolymer (b) has the INCI name Acrylates/Ceteareth-20 Methacrylate Crosspolymer.
8. The cosmetic composition according to one of the preceding items, which, based on the total weight of the cosmetic composition, contains:about 0.01 to about 3.0% by weight of the vinylpyrrolidone homopolymer (a) andabout 0.01 to about 2.0% by weight of the acrylate copolymer (b).
9. The cosmetic composition according to one of the preceding items, which, based on the total weight of the cosmetic composition, contains:about 0.2 to about 2.0% by weight of the vinylpyrrolidone homopolymer (a) andabout 0.1 to about 1.2% by weight of the acrylate copolymer (b).
10. The cosmetic composition according to one of items 6 to 9, which, based on the total weight of the cosmetic composition, contains:about 0.05 to about 1.5% by weight of the carbomer.
11. The cosmetic composition according to one of the preceding items, wherein the composition is present as a hair gel, hair spray, hair wax, or hair foam.
12. Use of a cosmetic composition according to one of items 1 to 11 for temporarily shaping keratinic fibers.
13. A method for temporarily shaping keratinic fibers, in particular human hair, in which the cosmetic composition according to one of items 1 to 11 is applied to keratinic fibers.

Within the scope of the present disclosure, it was surprisingly found that a greatly improved combination of long-term effect and stiffness of styling products, in particular hair gels, may be obtained by combining two polymers known per se, wherein the two required components appear to interact synergistically. Such a combination of good stiffness and good long-term hold was not expected.

As contemplated herein, the term “keratinic fibers” comprises fur, wool, and feathers, but in particular human hair.

The essential components of the cosmetic composition as contemplated herein are the vinylpyrrolidone homopolymer (a) and the crosslinked acrylate copolymer (b).

The agent as contemplated herein must contain a vinylpyrrolidone homopolymer as component (a). As contemplated herein, it is preferred to select the vinylpyrrolidone homopolymers from vinylpyrrolidone homopolymers having a K value in water of about 20 to 100 (1% by weight solution of PVP, Brookfield, at 23° C.). A K value of about 80 to 100 is more preferable, and a K value of approximately 90 is even more preferable. The K value, also referred to as the intrinsic viscosity, is a parameter for characterizing polymers, and is easily determinable from the relative viscosity by employing viscosity measurements of polymer solutions.

Preferred vinylpyrrolidone homopolymers are available under the trade names Luviskol® K 30, Luviskol® K 80, Luviskol® K 85, and Luviskol® K 90 from BASF SE. Luviskol® K 90 is most preferred as contemplated herein. Luviskol® K90 is a 20% aqueous, colorless to light yellowish solution of polyvinylpyrrolidone. The product has a K value of about 90.0 to about 98.0 (1% (m/V) in water), a solids content of about 19.0 to about 21.0% by weight, and a pH of about 7.0 to about 9.0 (10% by weight solids content in water).

The crosslinked anionic acrylate copolymer (b) is composed at least of the following structural units (b-1) and (b-2):

whereR1stands for a hydrogen atom or a methyl group,R3stands for a (C8-C30) alkyl group,M+stands for a physiologically acceptable cation, andx stands for an integer from 5 to 35, in particular an integer from 10 to 24.

The crosslinked acrylate copolymer (b) is amphiphilic due to the structural units that it contains. Those skilled in the art generally understand “amphiphilic” to mean that the same molecule includes hydrophilic structural elements (for example, those of formula (b-1)) and lipophilic structural elements (for example, those of formula (b-2)).

In the above formulas and all of the following formulas, a chemical bond denoted by the symbol “*” stands for a free valence of the structural fragment in question. Metal cations of the physiologically acceptable metals from groups Ia, Ib, IIa, IIb, IIIb, VIa, or VIII of the periodic table of the elements, ammonium ions, and cationic organic compounds having a quaternized nitrogen atom are particularly suited as physiologically acceptable cations M+ for compensating for the negative charge of the amphiphilic, anionic polymers. Cationic organic compounds having a quaternized nitrogen atom are formed, for example, by protonation of primary, secondary, or tertiary organic amines with an acid, or by permanent quaternization of these organic amines. Examples of these cationic organic ammonium compounds are 2-ammonium ethanol and 2-trimethylammonium ethanol.

Within the meaning of the invention, “crosslinked” or “crosslinking” is the linkage of polymer chains to one another by covalent chemical bonding to form a network. This covalent linkage of the polymer chains may take place by direct covalent bonding, or may be provided by a molecular fragment that bridges the polymer chains. The molecular fragment bonds to the polymer chains bridged by the molecular fragment by employing covalent chemical bonding in each case.

As contemplated herein, copolymer (b) may be composed of further structural units. According to embodiments of the invention, however, copolymer (b) is composed only of units (b-1) and (b-2); i.e., it consists of these structural units.

The at least one unit (b-1) is a (meth)acrylic acid unit, and as contemplated herein may be a methacrylic acid unit and/or acrylic acid unit.

x in unit (b-2) of the crosslinked acrylate copolymer (b) preferably stands for an integer from 10 to 24, more preferably 16 to 22, most preferably 20.

R3 in unit (b-2) of the crosslinked acrylate copolymer (b) preferably stands for a (C12-C20) alkyl group, more preferably a (C14-C20) alkyl group, likewise preferably a (C16-C18) alkyl group. The alkyl group is preferably linear, but may also be branched. R3 is more preferably a combination of linear C16 and C18 alkyl groups, i.e., stearyl and cetyl groups (INCI name: Ceteareth).

A crosslinked acrylate copolymer having the INCI name Acrylates/Ceteareth-20 Methacrylate Crosspolymer is most preferably contained as crosslinked acrylate copolymer (b). The crosslinked acrylate copolymer available under the trade name BALANCE® RCF (AkzoNobel) is very particularly preferred as the crosslinked acrylate copolymer (b). This product is an approximately 30% by weight dispersion in water.

In one particularly preferred embodiment of the present disclosure, the cosmetic composition contains the copolymer commercially available under the name Luviskol® K90 (BASF) as the vinylpyrrolidone homopolymer (a), and contains the copolymer commercially available under the name BALANCE® RCF as the anionic crosslinked acrylate copolymer (b). With this combination, particularly good results have been achieved with regard to a combination of stiffness and long-term hold in various packagings.

Further properties of styling products that are generally required, such as moisture resistance and low tack, are likewise achieved in particular with this combination.

The cosmetic composition of the present disclosure contains the vinylpyrrolidone homopolymer (a) and the acrylate copolymer (b) in quantities that are customary and suitable for styling agents, and which may be adapted to the specific application and type of packaging.

The cosmetic composition as contemplated herein contains the vinylpyrrolidone homopolymer (a), based on the total weight of the cosmetic composition, for example in a quantity of about 0.01 to about 5.0% by weight, preferably about 0.1 to about 3.0% by weight, more preferably about 0.2 to about 2.0% by weight, even more preferably about 0.5 to about 1.5% by weight or about 0.8 to about 1.2% by weight, in each case expressed as the solids content of active substance in the cosmetic composition.

The cosmetic composition as contemplated herein contains the crosslinked acrylate copolymer (b), based on the total weight of the cosmetic composition, for example in a quantity of about 0.01 to about 3.0% by weight, preferably about 0.015 to about 1.5% by weight, more preferably about 0.1 to about 1.2% by weight, preferably about 0.5 to about 1.5% by weight or about 0.8 to about 1.2% by weight, even more preferably about 0.2 to about 0.7% by weight, in each case expressed as the solids content of active substance in the cosmetic composition.

The cosmetic composition of the present disclosure preferably contains one or more further component(s) which act(s) as a thickener or gel-forming agent and which is/are different from the vinylpyrrolidone homopolymer (a) and the crosslinked acrylate copolymer (b), and likewise assist(s) with film formation. Examples are cationic, anionic, nonionic. or amphoteric polymers. The weight fraction of this/these further component(s) in the total weight of the cosmetic composition may be comparatively low due to the presence of components (a) and (b), and for example is about 0.02 to about 3% by weight, preferably about 0.05 to about 1.5% by weight, more preferably about 0.2 to about 0.8% by weight.

However, the present disclosure also encompasses embodiments in which the cosmetic composition contains no other components besides components (a) and (b) that act as thickeners, film-forming agents, or gel-forming agents.

The following are examples of nonionic polymers:vinylpyrrolidone/vinyl ester copolymers, as marketed under the trademark Luviskol (BASF), for example. Luviskol VA 64 and Luviskol VA 73, which are vinylpyrrolidone/vinyl acetate copolymers, are preferred nonionic polymers.cellulose ethers such as hydroxypropyl cellulose, hydroxyethyl cellulose, and methylhydroxypropyl cellulose, as marketed under the trademarks Culminal and Benecel (Aqualon), for example.shellac.siloxanes. These siloxanes may be water-soluble or also water-insoluble. Volatile as well as nonvolatile siloxanes are suitable; nonvolatile siloxanes are understood to mean those compounds having a boiling point above 200° C. at standard pressure. Preferred siloxanes are polydialkylsiloxanes such as polydimethylsiloxane, polyalkylarylsiloxanes such as polyphenylmethylsiloxane, ethoxylated polydialkylsiloxanes, and polydialkylsiloxanes containing amine and/or hydroxy groups.glycosidically substituted silicones.

The further component, which acts as a gel-forming agent, is preferably a homopolyacrylic acid (INCI: Carbomer), commercially available in various versions under the name Carbopol®. The carbomer is preferably contained in a proportion of about 0.02 to about 3% by weight, more preferably about 0.05 to about 1.5% by weight, and even more preferably about 0.2 to about 0.8% by weight, based on the total weight of the cosmetic composition. In embodiments of the invention, the cosmetic composition contains no other components besides components (a) and (b) and the carbomer as components that act as gel-forming agents, film-forming agents, or thickeners.

The cosmetic composition as contemplated herein may contain further substances that are customary in styling products. In particular, additional care substances are mentioned as further suitable auxiliary materials and additives.

The agent may contain, for example, at least one protein hydrolysate and/or one of the derivatives thereof as care substance. Protein hydrolysates are product mixtures that are obtained by acidically, basically, or enzymatically catalyzed degradation of proteins. As contemplated herein, the “protein hydrolysates” is also understood to mean total hydrolysates as well as individual amino acids and the derivatives thereof, in addition to mixtures of various amino acids. The molecular weight of the protein hydrolysates usable as contemplated herein is between about 75 Dalton, the molecular weight of glycine, and about 200,000 Dalton; the molecular weight is preferably about 75 to about 50,000 Dalton, and very particularly preferably about 75 to about 20,000 Dalton.

The agent as contemplated herein may also contain at least one vitamin, one provitamin, one vitamin precursor, and/or one of the derivatives thereof as care substance. Vitamins, provitamins, and vitamin precursors customarily associated with the groups A, B, C, E, F, and H are preferred as contemplated herein.

The addition of panthenol as well as glycerin and/or propylene glycol increases the flexibility of the polymer film that is formed during use of the agent as contemplated herein.

The agents as contemplated herein may also contain at least one plant extract, or also mono- or oligosaccharides and/or lipids, as care substance.

Oil bodies are also suitable as care substances. The natural and synthetic cosmetic oil bodies include, for example, plant oils, liquid paraffin oils, isoparaffin oils, and synthetic hydrocarbons, as well as di-n-alkyl ethers having a total of 12 to 36 C atoms, in particular 12 to 24 C atoms. Preferred cosmetic agents as contemplated herein contain at least one oil body, preferably at least one oil body from the group of silicone oils. The group of silicone oils includes in particular dimethicones, which also include cyclomethicones, aminofunctional silicones, and dimethiconols. The dimethicones may be linear or branched, as well as cyclic or cyclic and branched. Suitable silicone oils or silicone gums are in particular dialkyl and alkylaryl siloxanes, for example dimethylpolysiloxane and methylphenylpolysiloxane, and the alkoxylated, quaternized, or anionic derivatives thereof. Cyclic and linear polydialkylsiloxanes, the alkoxylated and/or aminated derivatives thereof, dihydroxypolydimethylsiloxanes, and polyphenylalkylsiloxanes are preferred.

Also suitable as care substances are dicarboxylic acid esters, symmetrical, asymmetrical, or cyclic esters of carbonic acid with fatty alcohols, and trifatty acid esters of saturated and/or unsaturated linear and/or branched fatty acids with glycerin or fatty acid partial glycerides, which are understood to include monoglycerides, diglycerides, and the technical mixtures thereof.

In addition, emulsifiers or surface-active agents are preferably contained in the composition as contemplated herein. PEG derivatives of hydrogenated castor oil, which are available, for example, under the name PEG Hydrogenated Castor Oil, for example PEG-30 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, PEG-33 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, PEG-35 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, PEG-36 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, or PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, are preferred. The use of PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil is preferred as contemplated herein, and is preferably contained in a quantity of about 0.05 to about 1.5% by weight, preferably about 0.1 to about 1.0% by weight, likewise preferably about 0.2 to about 0.8% by weight, or about 0.3 to about 0.6% by weight.

The cosmetic composition of the present disclosure may also contain neutralizers or pH adjusters for setting the pH. Primary amino alcohols are examples of neutralizers used in styling products. One example of such a neutralizer that is preferably usable as contemplated herein is Aminomethyl Propanol (INCI), commercially available under the name AMP Ultra® PC, for example. AMP Ultra® PC 2000, containing 5% water, is preferred as contemplated herein.

The cosmetic agents as contemplated herein contain the ingredients and active substances in a cosmetically acceptable carrier.

Preferred cosmetically acceptable carriers are aqueous, alcoholic, or aqueous-alcoholic media preferably containing at least about 10% by weight water, calculated based on the total weight of the agent.

The cosmetic carrier as contemplated herein particularly preferably contains water, in particular in the quantity that the cosmetic agent contains at least about 10% by weight, in particular at least about 20.0% by weight, most preferably at least about 40% by weight, water, calculated based on the total weight of the agent.

In particular the lower alcohols having 1 to 4 carbon atoms which are typically used for cosmetic purposes, for example ethanol and isopropanol, may be contained as alcohols.

Examples of water-soluble solvents as cosolvents are glycerin and/or ethylene glycol and/or 1,2-propylene glycol in a quantity of 0 to about 30% by weight, based on the overall agent.

The cosmetic composition of the present disclosure may be provided in forms that are customary for the temporary shaping of hair, for example as a hair gel, hair spray, hair foam, or hair wax. Provision as a hair gel is preferred.

Hair foams as well as hair sprays require the presence of propellants. As contemplated herein, the propellants customarily employed in cosmetic agents are usable. Dimethyl ether is a suitable propellant as contemplated herein.

The present disclosure further relates to the use of cosmetic compositions as contemplated herein for temporarily shaping keratinic fibers, in particular human hair, and to a method for temporarily shaping keratinic fibers, in particular human hair, in which the cosmetic composition as contemplated herein is applied to keratinic fibers.

Overview in Tabular Form

The compositions of several preferred cosmetic agents are provided in the following tables (unless stated otherwise, entries are in % by weight, based on the total weight of the cosmetic agent).

As contemplated herein, “Miscellaneous” is understood to mean a cosmetic carrier, in particular water and optionally further customary components of styling products.

Examples

1. The following styling gel was prepared:

In the table, quantities are expressed in % by weight of the particular raw material, based on the overall composition.

850 mg of a test composition in gel form was rubbed into a dry hair strand with the fingers (Euro-Naturhaar 826500 from Kerling, compacted glued tress, adhesively bonded on one side, total length 150 mm, free length 130 mm, width 20 mm, weight 1.8±0.2 g). The hair strand treated with the test composition to be examined was straightened in a Teflon bar having a diameter of 20 mm. The prepared strands were subsequently dried and conditioned overnight in a climatic chamber at 21° C. and 50% relative humidity.

The conditioned strand was carefully removed from the Teflon bar. The resulting flat strand was placed on measuring blocks spaced 40 mm apart. The 3PB adapter of an AMETEK LF Plus universal test apparatus from AMETEK Precision Instruments Europe GmbH, Lloyd product group, was mounted centrally above the strand. The entire measurement was performed in the climatic chamber under constant climatic conditions at 21° C. and 50% relative humidity.

To create standardized starting conditions, the measurement began with an initial load of 0.05 N upon start-up. The strand was subsequently compressed by 15 mm at a speed of 500 mm min-1, the required force for this being measured. After the characteristic force K at the maximum deformation of 15 mm was recorded.

By use of this measuring method, the stiffness of the polymer film, based on the force Fmax as a parameter, and the degree of hold of the hairstyle hold thus produced may be measured.

Ten strands were created and measured for each test composition. Stiffness values in the range of 3-8 N were obtained (arithmetic mean).

The composition was tested with regard to its shaping properties by employing a long-lasting hold measurement. Standardized hair strands from Kerling (Article No. 826500) of hair type European Natural, color 6/0), having a length (Lmax) of 220 mm and a weight of 3.0 g, were used for this purpose. The strands were prepared by washing with a 12.5% by weight sodium laureth sulfate solution. The hair strands were dried overnight at 318 K in a drying oven.

The hair was soaked in lukewarm water for 20 min and then blotted until approximately 50% residual moisture remained in the hair.

750 mg of the composition was applied to each of the hair strands and rubbed in. The hair strands were placed in a Teflon bar, straightened using a steel roller, and dried overnight at 21° C. and 50% relative humidity.

The hair strands were subsequently clamped at one end into a holding apparatus and stored for a period of six hours at 21° C. and 85% relative humidity. The strand length protruding from the holding apparatus before (Lo) and after (Lt) the storage was measured for calculating the long-lasting hold (LLH).

The long-lasting hold is a measure of the change over time in the length of a hair strand that is fixed by employing a hair shaping agent. The higher the LLH value, the less the change in length of the hair strand under the effect of humidity in a given time period, and the better the degree of hold of the hair shaping agent.

The long-lasting hold was calculated according to the following formula:
LLH=1−(Lt−Lo/Lmax)
An LLH value of 40-60% was determined (arithmetic mean of the LLH values from 10 test strands).

The gel as contemplated herein thus showed an exceptionally good combination of long-term hold and stiffness.