Abstract:
A method for shaping hair comprising the steps of: (i) folding a curling sheet consisting of or comprising a super-absorbent material around the tips of the hair strand like an end-wrap; (ii) winding the hair around the folded sheet, thereby using said sheet as a curler; (iii) fixing the curlers with a clip, a pin, or another tool appropriate for fixing the hair on a curler; (iv) applying a aqueous hair shaping composition onto the hair on the curler; (v) leaving the shaping composition to act on the hair for about 1 to about 30 minutes, whereby said sheet is swelling and produces tension on the hair wound on it; and (vi) removing the said sheet.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     The present invention relates to a method of hair shaping for the winding of the hair on curlers. A curler in form of a sheet is used, which serves also as an end-wrap and the sheet is provided at least partially with at least one super-absorbent polymer in non-swollen form.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     For producing permanent hair shaping on human hair, winding bodies are required besides the use of a reducing agent and oxidizing agent. The hair is rolled up along its longitudinal axis from the ends of the hair to the roots close to the scalp. The curlers used conventionally in the hairdresser salon have some disadvantages. They display a rigid shape and because of this, when the hair relaxes by the effect of the reducing agent, the tension on the hair is either reduced or completely lost. On the other hand it is well known that the duration and elasticity of the curl can be improved by keeping the hair under tension during the reshaping process. From U.S. Pat. No. 5,020,552 a hair curler is known whose diameter can be expanded or contracted by internal mechanical devices. In order to bring all of the curlers (about 30 to about 50) under tension much time and effort is needed by the hairdresser and it is impossible to apply the same quantity of tension on each of the curlers.  
         [0003]     It is therefore a goal of the invention to provide a method which easily allows to bring tension onto the hair wound on curlers without the aid of internal mechanical devices and without the disadvantages discussed above.  
         [0004]     Another goal of the invention is to provide a method which allows to keep tension on the hair during the whole duration of waving process.  
         [0005]     It is still another goal of the invention to provide a self acting method to keep the hair under tension.  
         [0006]     It is still another goal of the invention to provide a simple, cheap, and effective method to keep the hair under tension.  
         [0007]     It is still another goal of the invention to provide a method of curling hair which avoids the need to clean the curlers after their use and therefore is more time saving, comfortable, and hygienic.  
         [0008]     It is still another object of the present invention to avoid over curling effect on the hair tips so that during the contact time of the waving preparation, lengths and ends are protected in a particular way compared with conventional methods, thus avoiding the known disadvantages. The hair structure should be less damaged, and the lengths and ends should, despite tighter windings, be given a comparable wave radius to the roots close to the scalp.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0009]     The inventors have surprisingly found that the tension on the hair wound on the curlers can be automatically increased during the hair waving process and all other disadvantages discussed above are avoided, when a method according to the invention is used.  
         [0010]     Either a non-permanent or a permanent shaping composition may be used for carrying out the method of the invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0011]     If a non-permanent shaping composition is used, it may be applied in addition to step (iv) of the method also before step (i), whereby the majority, preferably more than ⅔ of the non-permanent shaping composition, is applied to the hair in step (iv). The non-permanent shaping composition preferably comprises about 0.1% by weight to about 10% by weight, more preferably about 0.2% by weight to about 5.0% by weight, of a hair fixing polymer, e.g., PVP/VA copolymer; native zein; a homopolymer of acrylic acid, crosslinked with an allyl ether of pentaerythriol; CTFA: OCTYLACRYLAMIDE/ACRYLATES/BUTYLAMINOETHYL METHACRYLATE COPOLYMER (Amphomer® of National Starch); vinylpyrrolidone/styrene-copolymer; CTFA: QUATERNIUM-79 HYDROLYZED WHEAT PROTEIN; and vinylpyrrolidone/vinylacetate-copolymer. The amount of solvent, selected from water, ethanol, propanol, isopropanol, and the mixture thereof, in the non-permanent shaping composition is from about 50% by weight to about 98% by weight, preferably about 70% by weight to about 95% by weight of the composition.  
         [0012]     The invention also provides a “curling-sheet” for the winding of hair during permanent hair shaping.  
         [0013]     The curling-sheet, besides its actual function, namely that as a curler, serves as end-wrap and as carrier for the super-absorbent polymer and ensures targeted effectiveness, particularly at the hair ends. The super-absorbent polymer is present in non-swollen form, it is thus virtually anhydrous and is not in the form of a gel.  
         [0014]     The curling-sheet either consist of a super-absorbent polymer in non-swollen form or of any other foil material known, per se, for this purpose as carrier, where paper, fabric, felt, nonwoven, or plastic being preferred, and this other foil material is provided at least partially with at least one super-absorbent polymer in non-swollen form.  
         [0015]     End-foils for permanent waving are known, per se; usually, ends-papers made of wet-strength paper, e.g., long-fiber paper, tissue paper, or Japan paper, are used. Instead of paper, it is also possible to use alternative materials, such as, for example, nonwoven material or nonwoven fabric, cotton fabric, fabric mixtures of synthetic fibers with natural fibers and other absorbent materials, or else polymer films. Further suitable natural or synthetic materials are polyester, acetate, cotton, nylon, orlon, silk, polypropylene, viscose, wool, polyamide and polyethylene. In case the curling-sheet does not consist of a super-absorbent polymer, then the sheet material is provided at least partially with at least one super-absorbent polymer in non-swollen form.  
         [0016]     The super-absorbent polymers are known through their use as absorbents for liquids, for example, in nappies. These are polymers or hydrophilic copolymers of acrylic acid, methacrylic acid or graft copolymers of starch and acrylic acid, where the polymers may be present in neutralized or partially neutralized form as salts. They are formed by polymerization with partial crosslinking with suitable crosslinkers of ethylenically unsaturated hydrophilic monomers, in particular acrylic acid, methacrylic acid, or alkali metal salts thereof. Such polymers and their preparation are described widely; for example, reference is made to European Patent No. EP A 0 312 952, German Patent No. DE A 44 18 818, and European Patent No. EP A 0 441 507. U.S. Pat. No. A 5,121,762 describes a water-soluble or water-swelling ends-foil made of super-absorbent polymer (Fiebersorb® SAF), on which an ammonium thioglycolate resin solution is dispersed.  
         [0017]     The super-absorbent polymers are characterized by their large water absorption capacity and their large water retention capacity. They are commercially available in powder or granule form. Suitable super-absorbent polymers are, for example, AQUA-KEEP® D (Elf Atochem S.A.), Sanwet® IM 7015 (BASF AG), Sanwet® 3746-5 (BASF AG), Hysorb® E1290-00 (BASF AG), or Hysorb® E 1291-00 (BASF AG). The average particle size of the dry polymers is preferably about 5 μm to about 850 μm. However, particular preference is given to relatively small particle sizes of about 200 μm or below. The absorption capacity for demineralized water, measured in accordance with the method “Centrifuge Retention Capacity Determination for Super-absorbent Samples” Edna Doc. 87/RS7/037; Absorbency II 441. 1-99, is preferably at least about 20 g/g.  
         [0018]     The preparation of the curling-sheet with the super-absorbent polymer is described here by way of representation for all suitable materials, such as, for example, a paper, a fabric, a nonwoven, or a foil, using the example of the curling-sheet.  
         [0019]     The curling-sheet can be supplied in different ways with the super-absorbent polymer. One way is the homogeneous application of finely distributed polymer particles to the surface of the curling-sheet. In addition to the surface coating, the polymer can also be incorporated into the paper matrix (matrix=bulk, inside of the material). An alternative preparation variant consists in integrating the super-absorbent polymer into the paper matrix of the paper without coating the surface.  
         [0020]     The curling-sheet according to the invention can be produced, for example, by applying the pulverulent super-absorbent polymer to the surface of the sheet in a manner known, per se, for pulverulent substances (e.g., spray application, roller application method “gravure coating”).  
         [0021]     For example, the production can be carried out by first washing and drying the surface of the carrier (sheet). The pulverulent super-absorbent polymer is then suspended in a nonaqueous liquid, in particular an alcohol. The carrier is then immersed into the stirred suspension on one or more sides. The well-wetted carrier sheet is then removed from the suspension. Finally, the curling sheet (carrier+super-absorbent polymer) is dried.  
         [0022]     Another production option consists in applying super-absorbent and also non-super-absorbent polymers (e.g., crosslinked or crosslinkable homopolymers or copolymers) to the carrier material (paper, nonwoven, foil, fabric, etc.) and only subsequently crosslinking the polymers with suitable crosslinkers (e.g., glyoxal, etc.) on the carrier surface.  
         [0023]     Production may also take place by first washing the surface of the carrier sheet, e.g., made of fabric, with water and then uniformly applying about 10 g to about 20 g of pulverulent super-absorbent polymer to the surface on the wet carrier sheet. Finally, the curling sheet (carrier+super-absorbent polymer) is dried on a glass plate overnight at 40° C. to 100° C., preferably 60° C. to 80° C., in a drying cabinet and, if appropriate, rolled smooth.  
         [0024]     Another production variant consists of a sandwich-like combination in which the super-absorbent polymer is embedded between two foil layers, in particular two paper layers (this last variant refers specifically to the use of paper as carrier material).  
         [0025]     In a particular embodiment of the invention, adhesion of the super-absorbent polymer to the surface or within the paper matrix of the curling sheet takes place with the help of thickeners or gel formers. Suitable thickeners for this purpose are, for example, carboxyvinyl polymers, in particular polyacrylates, such as, for example, the various carbopol grades, also polyglycols, cellulose derivatives, in particular hydroxyalkylcelluloses, and alginates and carrageenan. Preference is given to using nonionic cellulose ethers, such as, methylcellulose, ethylcellulose, e.g., Culminal (nonionic cellulose ether, Aqualon), Viscotran (methylcellulose, Aqualon) or Aquacoat ECD (ethylcellulose, FMC Corporation).  
         [0026]     These thickeners or gel formers are expediently processed in the form of the aqueous gels. Preferably, the use concentration of these materials for producing the gels is about 0.1% by weight to about 10% by weight. The aqueously swollen gel is applied to the ends-foil or the ends-paper preferably in an amount of from about 0.1 mg to about 20 mg per square centimeter area of the ends-foil or ends-paper. The preferably pulverulent super-absorbent polymer is then applied to the surface of the ends-foil or ends-paper, or it is integrated into the paper matrix, in an amount of from about 0.05 mg to about 500 mg per square centimeter area of the ends-foil or ends-paper, preferably in an amount of from about 0.1 mg to about 50 mg per square centimeter area of the ends-foil or ends-paper, particularly preferably in an amount of from about 0.3 mg to about 10 mg per square centimeter area of the ends-foil or ends-paper.  
         [0027]     Pretreatment with the gel causes the particles of the super-absorbent polymer to stick to the surface and/or in the paper matrix of the curling sheet and gives rise to a durable bond which withstands the mechanical stresses of application.  
         [0028]     The curling sheet according to the invention can, of course, together with the super-absorbent polymer, comprise all additives which are known and customary for hair-treatment compositions. These are, for example, wetting agents or emulsifiers from the classes of nonionic, anionic, cationic, or amphoteric surface-active surfactants, such as ethoxylated or nonethoxylated fatty alcohol sulphates, alkylbenzenesulphonates, alkyltrimethylammonium salts, alkylbetaines; humectants, such as, for example, 1,2-pentanediol, perfume oils; opacifiers, such as, for example, ethylene glycol distearate; pearlizing agents, such as, for example, a mixture of fatty acid monoalkylolamide and ethylene glycol distearate; bactericidal and fungicidal active ingredients, such as, for example, 2,4,4-trichloro-2-hydroxydiphenyl ether or methylchloroisothiazolione; buffer substances, such as, for example, sodium citrate or sodium phosphates; acids, such as, for example, citric acids; dyes; care substances, such as, for example, plant and herb extracts, protein and silk hydrolysates, lanolin derivatives; physiologically compatible silicone derivatives, such as, for example, volatile or nonvolatile silicone oils or high molecular weight siloxane polymers; deodorizing active ingredients, such as, for example, polyhydric alcohols having preferably about 5 to about 8 carbon atoms, e.g., 1,2-pentanediol, 1,3-pentanediol, 1,5-pentanediol, 1,2-hexanediol, 1,3-hexanediol, 2,5-hexanediol, 1,5-hexanediol, 1,6-hexanediol, 1,2-heptanediol, 1,3-heptanediol, 1,2-octanediol and 1,3-octanediol, and citric trialkyl esters, such as, for example, triethyl citrate, tributyl citrate, tricapryl citrate, tri-C 12-13 -alkyl citrate and tri-C 14-15 -alkyl citrate, and perfume oils; photoprotective agents, oxidizing agents, antioxidants, free-radical scavengers, antidandruff active ingredients; fatty alcohols, shine-imparting agents, vitamins, betaine, softeners, combability improvers, refatting agents and antifoams.  
         [0029]     The abovementioned additives are used in the amounts customary for such purposes. The weight percentages given below refer to the amount of super-absorbent polymer. For example, the surface-active substances, the conditioning constituents such as combability-improving substances and the care substances are in each case used in an amount of from about 0.1% by weight to about 20% by weight, the UV absorbers in concentrations of in total about 0.1% by weight to about 5% by weight, the perfume oils, anti-grease active ingredients, plant extracts, vitamins and vitamin derivatives, pH stabilizers, antidandruff active ingredients, and the bactericidal or fungicidal substances in an amount in total about 0.1% by weight to about 10% by weight and the preservatives and dyes in an amount in each case about 0.01% by weight to about 5% by weight.  
         [0030]     The application of the invention described below is presented by way of a representation of the various carrier materials using the example of a curling sheet. For this purpose, a conventional ends-paper (Jumbo End Wraps, Sally Beauty Company, area 60 cm 2 ) was tested against the variant of the invention described in Example 1.  
         [0031]     The permanent shaping agents that can be used in the process described herein are those that are based on typical hair keratin-reducing materials, such as, for example, salts of sulfuric acid or certain mercapto compounds, particularly salts or esters of mercapto carboxylic acids. The permanent shaping composition contains the keratin-reducing compounds in the quantities typical for restructuring, for example, the ammonium salts of mercaptoacetic acid or thiolactic acid or cysteine, in a concentration of from about 6% by weight to about 12% by weight. The pH value of the alkaline permanent shaping composition is generally 7 to 10, wherein the pH is preferably set with ammonia, monoethanolamine, ammonium carbonate, or ammonium hydrogen carbonate.  
         [0032]     If the permanent shaping composition is adjusted to be acidic (for example, to a pH=6.5 to 6.9), then esters of mercapto carboxylic acids are used, such as, for example, monothioglycol acid glycol esters or -glycerin esters, with mercapto acetamides or 2-mercaptopropionic acid amides being preferred, in a concentration of from about 2% by weight to about 14% by weight; or the salts of the sulfuric acid, for example, sodium, ammonium, or monoethanol ammonium sulfite, in a concentration of from about 3% by weight to about 8 by weight (calculated as SO 2 ).  
         [0033]     It is preferred that the hair keratin-reducing compound used be the salt or the derivative of a mercapto carboxylic acid. It is especially preferred that the keratin-reducing compound be selected from mercaptoacetic acid, cysteine, and thiolactic acid, or salts thereof.  
         [0034]     To increase the effect, bulking and penetration agents, for example, urea, polyvalent alcohols, ether, melamine, alkali or ammonium thiocyanate, isopropanol, imidazolidine-2-on, 2-pyrrolidone, and 1-methyl-2-pyrrolidone can be added to the permanent shaping composition in a concentration of about 0.5% by weight to about 50% by weight, or preferably about 2% by weight to about 30% by weight.  
         [0035]     It is advantageous if the permanent shaping composition also contains the disulfide of a hair keratin-reducing compound (thiol), particularly dithioglycolate. The preferred quantity for use is about 2 wt % to about 20 wt %, or preferably about 3 wt % to about 10 wt %, wherein the ratio between the hair keratin-reducing compound and the disulfide is preferably 2:1 to 1:2, or particularly 2:1 to 1:1.  
         [0036]     The amout of water in the permanent shaping composition is from about 50% by weight to about 98% by weight, preferably about 70% by weight to about 95% by weight, of the composition.  
         [0037]     After an action time has elapsed that is sufficient for the permanent restructuring, which is about 1 minute to about 30 minutes, or preferably about 2 minutes to about 20 minutes, depending on hair quality, the pH value, and the restructuring effectiveness of the permanent shaping composition as well as on the application temperature, the hair is, if necessary, rinsed with water, and then fixed with an oxidative agent.  
         [0038]     The fixing composition is used in a quantity of about 50 g to about 200 g depending on hair thickness. Any oxidizing agent that has been used before in fixing agents can be used for the fixation. Examples of such oxidizing agent are potassium bromate, sodium bromate, sodium perborate, dehydroascorbic acid, hydrogen peroxide, and urea peroxide. The concentration of the oxidizing agent varies depending on application time (normally about 1 minute to about 40 minutes, or preferably about 5 minutes to about 20 minutes) and application temperature (25° C. to 50° C.). Normally, oxidizing agents are used in a concentration of about 0.5% by weight to about 12.0% by weight in the aqueous fixing agents. The fixing agents can obviously contain other materials, for example, weak acids or peroxide stabilizers.  
         [0039]     The shaping composition used with the method according to the present invention and the fixing agent can be present in the form of an aqueous solution or an emulsion, as well as in a thickened form on an aqueous basis, particularly as a cream, gel, or paste.  
         [0040]     It is especially preferred that the fixation be in low viscosity liquid form. It is preferred that the fixing agent be an oxidation agent-containing, liquid preparation with a viscosity of from about 1 mPa.s to about 100 mPa.s at 25° C., wherein viscosity of from about 1 mPa.s to about 10 mPa.s at 25° C. is especially preferred. The viscosity values are based on measurements with a Haake rotational viscometer, type VT 501, at a shear speed of 64.5 per second.  
         [0041]     It is also possible to fill this agent into aerosol cans under pressure and to release it as aerosol foam.  
         [0042]     With regard to the compounds cited in the examples reference is made to the  International Cosmetic Ingredient Dictionary and Handbook,  10 th  Edition of 2004, published by The Cosmetic, Toiletry, and Fragrance Association, 1101 17 th  Street, NW, Suite 300, Washington, D.C. 20036-4702.  
       EXAMPLES  
     Example 1  
       [0043]     A non-woven fleece Sawaloom 06615SO16 needle punched non-woven, including about 50% of the super-absorbent fiber PP/30% CV/20% SAP 180 g/m 2 , having a thickness of about 3 mm, is cut into a sheet with the dimensions length about 120 mm and width about 70 mm. This curling sheet is folded along the longitudinal axis around the hair tips in the way as with an end wrap.  
         [0044]     The hair is wound up by hand or by the aid of a clip without the use of curlers, just using the curling sheet as the curler. The curl is fixed with a clip, e.g., Wella Creative Shaper®. A conventional permanent waving composition of the formula below is evenly distributed onto the rolled hair. The curling sheet, which serves as a curler, swells by absorption of the aqueous liquid and produces tension on the hair wound on it.  
                                             Permanent waving composition                                12.00   g   ammonium thioglycolate, 70% aqueous               solution       5.00   g   dithioglycolate       1.00   g   ammonia, 25% aqueous solution       4.00   g   ammonium hydrogen carbonate       1.00   g   Castor oil, oxyethylated with 35 mol               ethylene oxide       1.00   g   polydimethyl diallyl ammonium chloride               homopolymer (CTFA: POLYQUATERNIUM-6)       0.50   g   perfume oil       balance to 100.00   g   Water                  
 
         [0045]     The permanent waving composition is left on the hair for about 15 minutes, and a hood-type infrared radiator is used at a temperature of 40° C. The hair is then rinsed with lukewarm water. The rolled up hair is then treated with about 80 g of the following fixing agent:  
                                             Liquid fixing agent                                4.00   g   hydrogen peroxide, 50% aqueous solution       0.10   g   salicylic acid       0.20   g   disodium hydrogen phosphate       0.15   g   o-phosphoric acid       1.00   g   castor oil, oxyethylated with 35 mol               ethylene oxide       0.10   g   vinylpyrrolidone/styrene-copolymer       0.10   g   perfume oil       balance to 100   g   water                  
 
         [0046]     There is then an action period of about 10 minutes. After the action period has elapsed, the curling sheets are removed and the hair is thoroughly rinsed with warm water and then treated with a known acidic rinse. The hairstyle is then created in the normal manner with a blow dryer and brush. The curled hair displays an even curl from the tip to the roots and no overcurling at the tips is considered. The curls look very natural and keep their elasticity over a period of more than 3 weeks.  
       Example 2  
       [0047]     Natural hair of about 25 cm length on the left side of the head is wound with commercial paper end-wraps on curlers of about 30 mm diameter (Wella Creative Shaper No.23). On the right side the hair is wound on curling sheets of example 1. Then the hair on both sides of the head is treated as disclosed in example 1.  
         [0048]     The hair is treated with the curling sheets according to the invention (right side) shows a more even curl from the tip to the roots compared to the hair on the left side, treated conventionally. No overcurling at the tips is noticed. The hair on the right side moreover shows a more natural and well-groomed look.  
       Example 3  
       [0049]     A non-woven fleece Sawaloom 06615SO16 needle punched non-woven, including about 50% of the super-absorbent fiber PP/30% CV/20% SAP 180 g/m 2 , having a thickness of about 3 mm, is cut into a sheet with the dimensions length about 120 mm and width about 70 mm. This curling sheet is folded along the longitudinal axis around the hair tips in the way as with an end wrap.  
         [0050]     Natural hair of about 20 cm length is wound up by the aid of a clip, using the curling sheet as the curler. The curl is fixed with a pin. A non-aerosol hair spray composition of the formula below is evenly sprayed onto the rolled hair.  
                                             Non-Aerosol Hairspray                                6.00   g   CTFA: OCTYLACRYLAMIDE/ACRYLATES/               BUTYLAMINOETHYL METHACRYLATE               COPOLYMER (Amphomer ® of National Starch)       1.10   g   2-amino-isobutanol       0.20   g   Triethylcitrate       0.20   g   polyethylene glycol derivative of               Dimethicone, containing an everage of               12 moles of ethyleneoxide               (CTFA: PEG-12 DIMETHICONE)       0.10   g   vinylpyrrolidone/vinylacetate-copolymer       0.10   g   perfume oil       90.00   g   Ethanol       balance to 100   g   Water                  
 
         [0051]     The curling sheet, which serves as the curler, swells by absorption of the aqueous-alcoholic liquid and produces tension on the hair wound on it. The hair spray composition is left on the hair for about 15 minutes, during which treating period a hood-type infrared radiator is used at a temperature of 40° C. Thereafter the curlers are removed and the hair is combed to a hairstyle. The hair shows excellent elasticity and long-lasting wave.  
       Example 4  
       [0052]     Natural blond hair of about 18 cm length is treated in the same way as in example 3. Instead of the Non-Aerosol Hairspray, the following Conditioning and Setting Lotion is applied:  
                                             Conditioning and Setting Lotion                                8.00   g   PVP/N,N-dimethylaminoethyl methacrylic               acid copolymer diethylsulfate               (CTFA: POLYQUATERNIUM-11)       2.50   g   CTFA: QUATERNIUM-79 HYDROLYZED               WHEAT PROTEIN       0.50   g   Cetyl alcohol       0.10   g   perfume oil       balance to 100   g   Water                  
 
         [0053]     The curling sheet, which serves as the curler, swells by absorption of the aqueous liquid and produces tension on the hair wound on it. The hair spray composition is left on the hair for about 12 minutes, during which treating period a hood-type infrared radiator is used at a temperature of 42 C. Thereafter the curlers are removed and the hair is combed to a hairstyle. The hair shows excellent elasticity and long-lasting wave.  
       Example 5  
       [0054]     Bleached hair of about 22 cm length is treated in the same way as in example 3. Instead of the Non-Aerosol Hairspray the following Spray Hair Gel is used:  
                                             Spray Hair Gel                                0.30   g   homopolymer of acrylic acid, crosslinked               with an allyl ether of pentaerythriol               (CTFA: CARBOMER)       8.00   g   vinylpyrrolidone/vinylacetate-copolymer       2.00   g   glycerine       0.12   g   triethanolamine       0.10   g   polyethylene glycol derivative of the               mono and diglycerides of palm kernel oil               with an average of 45 moles of               ethyleneoxide (CTFA: PEG-45 PALM KERNEL               GLYCERIDES)       0.20   g   methylparabene       0.10   g   perfume oil       balance to 100   g   water                  
 
         [0055]     The curling sheet, which serves as a curler, swells by absorption of the aqueous liquid and produces tension on the hair wound on it. The hair spray composition is left on the hair for about 20 minutes, during which treating period a hood-type infrared radiator is used at a temperature of 39 C. Thereafter the curlers are removed and the hair is combed to a hairstyle and dried. The hair shows excellent elasticity and long-lasting wave.  
         [0056]     The dimensions and values disclosed herein are not to be understood as being strictly limited to the exact numerical values recited. Instead, unless otherwise specified, each such dimension is intended to mean both the recited value and a functionally equivalent range surrounding that value. For example, a dimension disclosed as “40 mm” is intended to mean “about 40 mm.” 
         [0057]     All documents cited in the Detailed Description of the Invention are, are, in relevant part, incorporated herein by reference; the citation of any document is not to be construed as an admission that it is prior art with respect to the present invention. To the extent that any meaning or definition of a term in this written document conflicts with any meaning or definition of the term in a document incorporated by reference, the meaning or definition assigned to the term in this written document shall govern.  
         [0058]     While particular embodiments of the present invention have been illustrated and described, it would be obvious to those skilled in the art that various other changes and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. It is therefore intended to cover in the appended claims all such changes and modifications that are within the scope of this invention.