A cosmetic method of treating scalp hair comprising the step of: applying to said hair a non-toxic composition comprising a fluorinated, non-polymeric compound with a cosmetically acceptable excipient, wherein the compound is according to one of the formulae: wherein R 1' is -CO 2 R A"; and wherein R A" is wherein n is an integer between 1 and 20, inclusive; and m is 1; and R 2' is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen; halogen; cyclic or acyclic, substituted or unsubstituted, branched or unbranched aliphatic; cyclic or acyclic, substituted or unsubstituted, branched or unbranched heteroaliphatic; substituted or unsubstituted, branched or unbranched acyl; substituted or unsubstituted aryl; substituted or unsubstituted heteroaryl; -OR A'; -C R A'; -CO 2 R A'; -C N(R A') 2; -SR A'; -SOR A'; -SO 2 R A'; -NR A'; -N(R A') 2;-NHC R A'; and -C(R A') 3; and wherein each occurrence of R A' is independently selected from a group consisting of hydrogen, cyclic or acyclic, substituted or unsubstituted, branched or unbranched aliphatic; cyclic or acyclic, substituted or unsubstituted, branched or unbranched heteroaliphatic; substituted or unsubstituted, branched or unbranched acyl; substituted or unsubstituted aryl; substituted or unsubstituted heteroaryl; alkoxy; aryloxy; alkylthio; arylthio; amino; alkylamino; dialkylamino; heteroaryloxy; heteroarylthio and a protecting group; provided that the composition and method do not employ a free radical initiator, a polymerization initiator, a polymerization catalyst, or an agent for effecting polymerization; and wherein the compound does not substantially polymerize on the hair. applying to said hair a non-toxic composition comprising a fluorinated, non-polymeric compound with a cosmetically acceptable excipient, wherein the compound is according to one of the formulae: wherein R 1' is -CO 2 R A"; and wherein R A" is wherein n is an integer between 1 and 20, inclusive; and m is 1; and R 2' is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen; halogen; cyclic or acyclic, substituted or unsubstituted, branched or unbranched aliphatic; cyclic or acyclic, substituted or unsubstituted, branched or unbranched heteroaliphatic; substituted or unsubstituted, branched or unbranched acyl; substituted or unsubstituted aryl; substituted or unsubstituted heteroaryl; -OR A'; -C R A'; -CO 2 R A'; -C N(R A') 2; -SR A'; -SOR A'; -SO 2 R A'; -NR A'; -N(R A') 2;-NHC R A'; and -C(R A') 3; and wherein each occurrence of R A' is independently selected from a group consisting of hydrogen, cyclic or acyclic, substituted or unsubstituted, branched or unbranched aliphatic; cyclic or acyclic, substituted or unsubstituted, branched or unbranched heteroaliphatic; substituted or unsubstituted, branched or unbranched acyl; substituted or unsubstituted aryl; substituted or unsubstituted heteroaryl; alkoxy; aryloxy; alkylthio; arylthio; amino; alkylamino; dialkylamino; heteroaryloxy; heteroarylthio and a protecting group; provided that the composition and method do not employ a free radical initiator, a polymerization initiator, a polymerization catalyst, or an agent for effecting polymerization; and wherein the compound does not substantially polymerize on the hair.