Abstract:
A hair care product which exhibits an excellent setting power, an excellent use feeling, and improved solubility comprising the following ingredients (A), (B) and (C), 
     (A) a polyacidic amino acid or its salt, 
     (B) cationic cellulose, and 
     (C) an ampholytic surfactant.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a hair care product which comprises a polyacidic amino acid or its salt, cationic cellulose and an ampholytic surfactant, and which exhibits an excellent setting power, an excellent use feeling and improved solubility. 
     2. Description of the Background 
     Polyacidic amino acids such as polyaspartic acid, polyglutamic acid and the like exhibit a wettability (Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application (Kokai) No. 157,237/1994), and give a moist feeling and an excellent setting power to the hair when these compounds are mixed with hair care products such as a shampoo, a hair setting agent, a hair foam and the like. Meanwhile, cationic cellulose improve a rough feeling and give a smooth feeling to the hair. Accordingly, these are widely used in hair care products. 
     It was, however, found that when polyacidic amino acids are used in combination with cationic cellulose, insoluble complexes are formed and they cannot be dissolved. Such a problem did not occur when using a combination of polyacidic amino acids and cationic polymers other than cationic cellulose or a combination of anionic polymers other than polyacidic amino acids and cationic cellulose. It is an object of the present invention to provide a hair care product which exhibits an excellent setting power, an excellent use feeling and improved solubility. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present inventors have assiduously conducted investigations, and have consequently found that the combined use of a polyacidic amino acid, cationic cellulose and an ampholytic surfactant can give a hair care product in which an insoluble complex is not formed and solubility is therefore improved. This finding has led to the completion of the present invention. 
     That is, the present invention relates to a hair care product comprising (A) a polyacidic amino acid or its salt, (B) cationic cellulose, and (C) an ampholytic surfactant. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The polyacidic amino acid which is used in the present invention includes polyaspartic acid and polyglutamic acid. The molecular weight thereof is not particularly limited, but it is preferably between approximately 500 to approximately 50,000 (degree of polymerization--between approximately 4 and approximately 430) with regard to the feeling property, especially preferably between approximately 1,000 and approximately 10,000 (degree of polymerization--between approximately 8 and approximately 90). Examples of the salt include salts of alkali metals such as sodium and potassium, amines such as diethanolamine and triethanolamine and amino acids such as arginine and lysine. 
     The cationic cellulose which is used in the present invention is not particularly limited. Cellulose which is obtained by reacting hydroxyethyl cellulose with 3-chloro-2-hydroxypropyltrimethylammonium chloride or glycidyltrimethylammonium chloride is preferable. 
     The ampholytic surfactant which is used in the present invention is not particularly limited. Examples thereof are as follows. 
     1) Betaine-type ampholytic surfactant: 
     Carbobetaine-type surfactants such as alkyldimethylaminoacetate betaine and alkyl dihydroxyethylaminoacetate betaine; amidobetaine-type surfactants such as fatty acid amidopropyl dimethylaminoacetate betaine; hydroxysulfobetaine-type surfactants; amidosulfobetaine-type surfactants; and phosphobetaine-type surfactants. 
     2) Imidazoline-type ampholytic surfactant: 
     2-Alkyl-N-carboxymethyl-N-hydroxyethylimidazolinium betaine, 2-alkyl-N-carboxyethyl-N-hydroxyethylimidazolinium betaine and 2-alkyl-N-sodiumcarboxymethyl-N-carboxymethyloxyethylimidazolinium betaine. 
     3) Alkylamino acid-type ampholytic surfactant: 
     Laurylaminopropionic acid or its salt, laurylaminodipropionic acid or its salt, and β-alanine-type ampholytic surfactants such as N-alkyl-β-alanine. 
     The amounts of the ingredients in the hair care product of the present invention are mentioned below. The amount of the polyacidic amino acid or its salt (A) is between 0.05 and 15% by weight, preferably between 0.1 and 5% by weight; the amount of the cationic cellulose (B) is between 0.05 and 5% by weight, preferably between 0.1 and 3% by weight; and the amount of the ampholytic surfactant (C) is between 0.3 and 50% by weight, preferably between 0.9 and 10% by weight. 
     The formulation of the hair care product of the present invention is not particularly limited. The hair care product can be in the form of a liquid, a paste, a gel, a solid or a powder. 
     The hair care product of the present invention can contain, besides the above-mentioned essential ingredients, other additives which are usually incorporated in toiletries as required. Examples of other additives include anionic surfactants such as polyoxyethylenelauryl ether sodium sulfate; cationic surfactants such as stearyltrimethylammonium chloride and distearyltrimethylammonium chloride; nonionic surfactants such as glyceryl monostearate, sorbitan monopalmitate and polyoxyethylenecetyl ether; wetting agents such as propylene glycol, 1,3-butylene glycol, glycerin, sorbitol, pyroglutamic acid salts, amino acids and trimethylglycine; hydrocarbons such as liquid paraffins, petrolatum, solid paraffins, squalane and olefin oligomers; higher alcohols such as stearyl alcohol and cetyl alcohol; superfatting agents; antidandruff agents; disinfectants; anti-inflammatory agents; crude drugs; water-soluble polymers such as methyl cellulose, hydroxycellulose and partially deacetylated chitin; antiseptics such as paraben; UV absorbers; pearling agents; pH adjustors; perfumes; and pigments. 
    
    
     EXAMPLES 
     The present invention will be described more specifically by referring to the following Examples. However, the present invention is not limited thereto. In these Examples, the unit of the amount is % by weight. 
     Examples 1 to 3 and Comparative Examples 1 to 3 
     With respect to the following shampoos, the solubility was evaluated. The results are shown in Table 1. 
     (Evaluation Method) 
     The ingredients shown in Table 1 were heat-stirred at 70° C., and dissolved. The solution was allowed to stand at room temperature until the temperature of the solution reached a normal temperature. Then, the dissolved condition was visually observed, and evaluated according to the following standard. 
     ◯ : clearly dissolved 
     x : precipitated or opaque 
     
                       TABLE 1______________________________________                   Comparative        Examples   Examples        1    2      3      1    2    3______________________________________polyoxyethylene-          15.0   15.0   15.0 15.0 15.0 15.0laurylether sodiumsulfatecocoyldiethanol-amide          1.0    1.0    1.0  1.0  1.0  1.0cationic       1.0    1.0    1.0  1.0  1.0  1.0cellulose.sup.1)lauryl dimethyl-          0.9acetate betainecocoyl amidopropyl-   1.2dimethylacetatebetaine2-alkyl-N-                   0.3carboxymethyl-N-hydroxyimidazoliniumbetainesodium         1.0    1.0    1.0  1.0  1.0  1.0polyaspartate(molecular weight3600)glycerin       5.0    5.0    5.0  5.0  5.0  5.0antiseptic     0.2    0.2    0.2  0.2  0.2  0.2purified water *      *      *    *    *    *Dissolved condition          ∘                 ∘                        ∘                             X    X    X______________________________________ .sup.1) &#34;Leoguard GP&#34; (a product of Lion Corporation) *balance 
    
     Examples 4 to 7 and Comparative Examples 4 to 6 
     A shampoo having the formulation shown in Table 2 was prepared in a usual manner, and an organoleptic test was conducted for this shampoo. The results are shown in Table 2. 
     (Evaluation Method) 
     Eight panelists washed the hair with the shampoo shown in Table 2. At this time, they evaluated the feeling organoleptically. The evaluation was conducted according to the following score. 
     good: 2 
     slightly good: 1 
     common: 0 
     slightly bad: -1 
     bad: -2 
     The average in this 5-grade evaluation was obtained. The results are as follows. 
     ⊚: 1.5 to 2.0 
     : 0.5 to 1.4 
     Δ: -0.5 to 0.4 
     x : -2.0 to -0.6 
     
                                           TABLE 2__________________________________________________________________________                       Comparative         Examples      Examples         4   5  6   7  4   5  6__________________________________________________________________________polyoxyethylene ether         7.0 12.0   7.0                       12.0                           7.0                              15.0sodium sulfatecoconut oil fatty acid         5.0     5.0                    5.0    5.0glycine potassiumlauric acid diethanolamide         1.5 1.5 1.5                    1.5                       1.5 1.5                              1.5lauryl        5.0           5.0dihydroxyethylacetatebetainelauric acid       3.0    2.0    3.0amidopropyldimethylacetate betaine2-alkyl-N-carboxyethyl-N-                 8.0hydroxyethylimidazoliniumbetainecationic cellulose.sup.1)         1.5 1.5 1.5                    1.5                       1.5sodium polyaspartate         3.0 2.0 3.0                    1.0    2.0                              3.0(molecular weight 4200)trimethylglycine         1.5 1.5 1.5                    1.5                       1.5 1.5                              1.51,3-butylene glycol         5.0 5.0 5.0                    5.0                       5.0 5.0                              5.0antiseptic    0.2 0.2 0.2                    0.2                       0.2 0.2                              0.2purified water         *   *   *  *  *   *  *Organoleptic  Rough feeling         ⊚             ⊚                 ∘                    ⊚                       ∘                           Δ                              Δevaluation  in rinsing  Finger-combing         ⊚             ⊚                 ∘                    ∘                       Δ                           ∘                              x  in rinsing  Moist feeling         ⊚             ⊚                 ⊚                    ⊚                       Δ                           Δ                              ∘  after drying  Dry feeling         ⊚             ⊚                 ⊚                    ∘                       ∘                           ∘                              Δ  after drying__________________________________________________________________________ .sup.1) &#34;Polymer JR400&#34; (a product of Amerchol Corporation) *balance 
    
     Example 8 
     The ingredients shown in Table 3 were heat-stirred, and dissolved. Then, the mixture was stirred at room temperature until the temperature of the mixture reached a normal temperature. The resulting shampoo exhibited excellent solubility. It was also excellent in terms of a rough feeling in rinsing, a moist feeling after drying and a dry feeling after drying. 
     
                       TABLE 3______________________________________Hair shampoo______________________________________sodium cocoylglutamate                8.0lauroyl-N-methyl-β-alanine sodium                4.02-alkyl-N-carboxymethyl-N-                2.0hydroxyethylimidazolinium betainecationic cellulose.sup.1)                1.2pqlyoxyethylene (40) hardened                1.0castor oilsodium pyroglutamate 0.51,3-butylene glycol  5.0potassium polyaspartate                3.0(molecular weight 4200)citric acid          suitable amountantiseptic           suitable amountpurified water       balanceTotal                100.0______________________________________ .sup.1) &#34;Polymer JR400&#34;- 
    
     Example 9 
     The ingredients shown in Table 4 were heat-stirred at 70° C, and dissolved. Then, the mixture was gradually cooled to 30° C. while being stirred to obtain a product. The resulting hair lotion exhibited an excellent solubility. It as also excellent in terms of a moist feeling after drying and a dry feeling after drying. 
     
                       TABLE 4______________________________________Hair lotionpyroglutamic acid isostearic acid                 0.5polyoxyethyleneglyceryllauroyl glutamate-    0.5di (cholesteryloctyldodecyl) mixed estercationic cellulose.sup.1)                 1.0sodium laurylaminodipropionate solution                 3.0(30%)1,3-butylene glycol   3.0sodium polyaspartate (molecular weight                 1.23600)N-lauroyl lysine      0.2wetting agent .sup.2) 0.5antiseptic            suitable amountdistilled water       balanceTotal                 100.0______________________________________ .sup.1) &#34;Leoguard GP&#34;- .sup.2) &#34;Prodew 400&#34; (a product of Ajinomoto Co., Inc.) 
    
     Example 10 
     The ingredient (a) shown in Table 5 was gradually added to the ingredients (b) shown in Table 5 which had been heat-dissolved at 80°, and the mixture was emulsified using a homogenizer. The emulsion was added to the ingredients (c) shown in Table 5, and the mixture was gradually cooled to 30° C. while being stirred to obtain a stock solution. This stock solution was filled in a spray can, and a valve was mounted on the spray can. A gas was then charged therein. The resulting hair foam exhibited excellent solubility, and was also excellent in terms of a moist feeling after drying and a dry feeling after drying. 
     
                       TABLE 5______________________________________Hair foam(Formulation of a stock solution)______________________________________(a)   ingredient dimethylsiloxane    5.0(b)   ingredients dipropylene glycol  7.0 polyoxyethylene hardened castor oil                     1.0(c)   ingredients hydroxysulfobetaine-type surfactant                     5.0 cationic cellulose.sup.1)                     2.5 sodium polyaspartate (molecular                     2.0 weight 3600) hydrolyzed collagen 0.5 ethanol             15.0 antiseptic          suitable amount purified water      62.0 Total               100.0______________________________________(Formulation of filling)______________________________________ stock solution      90.0 liquefied petroleum gas                     10.0______________________________________ .sup.1) &#34;Leoguard GP&#34;- 
    
     The disclosure of Japan priority patent application No. 296432/1995, filed Nov. 15, 1995, is hereby incorporated by reference. 
     Obviously, numerous modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in light of the above teachings. It is therefore to be understood that within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described herein.