Hair conditioner composition

Abstract

To provide a granular hair conditioner composition excellent in feeling of use when particles are applied to wet hair, and finger combing and flexibility of hair after drying.SOLUTION: A particulate hair conditioning composition comprising a cationic surfactant and a fatty alcohol, wherein the molar ratio of the cationic surfactant to the fatty alcohol is from 1:9 to 4:6, and the weight average particle size of the hair conditioning composition is from 10 to 500 μm.SELECTED DRAWING: None

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to hair conditioner compositions. [Background technology]

[0002] Human hair becomes dirty due to contact with the environment and sebum secreted by the scalp, which can make hair feel dirty, greasy, and unattractive. Washing hair with shampoo cleanses it by removing excess dirt and sebum. However, after shampooing, hair can become wet, tangled, and unmanageable. As hair subsequently dries, it is stripped of its natural oils and other conditioning and moisturizing ingredients, often leaving it dry, frizzy, lacking shine, or frizzy. Furthermore, as hair dries, static electricity increases, making it difficult to comb or brush and difficult to style.

[0003] Hair conditioner compositions are widely known and are applied to hair immediately after shampooing and rinsing to provide conditioning to the hair in order to avoid the above-mentioned problems. These hair conditioner compositions penetrate the hair and can then be used as a leave-on conditioner or rinsed off with water.

[0004] Cationic surfactants have traditionally been used in hair conditioner compositions. Cationic surfactants have surface activity in the positively charged cation portion of the molecule. Therefore, cationic surfactants are attracted to and adhere to the negatively charged hair surface. Among cationic surfactants, quaternary ammonium compounds are particularly suitable for treating human hair. Therefore, many hair conditioner compositions are based on quaternary ammonium compounds. (Patent Document 1) Most conditioner compositions are liquid, and liquid conditioner compositions have the problem of requiring a large amount of energy during their production process, as it is important to adjust the cooling rate, etc. Furthermore, liquid conditioner compositions contain water, which makes them heavy and increases the cost of transportation (Patent Documents 2 to 3). Although solid conditioner compositions have been available up to now, almost none of them are designed to be applied directly to hair, and even if solid conditioner compositions are used directly, there are problems such as a poor feel when applied to wet hair, and insufficient ease of running fingers through the hair and suppleness after drying (Patent Document 4). The feeling when the particles are applied to wet hair refers to the decrease in feeling when the particles are applied to wet hair due to the sudden decrease in viscosity that occurs during the process of applying the hair conditioner composition to hair. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2003 / 0103923 [Patent Document 2] Patent No. 5889468 [Patent Document 3] Special table number 2023-502132 [Patent Document 4] Patent No. 6836513 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] Therefore, the present invention provides a particulate hair conditioner composition that provides excellent feel when the particles are applied to wet hair and leaves the hair with excellent finger-combability and suppleness after drying. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] The inventors have conducted extensive research to solve the above problems and have arrived at the present invention. The present invention is a particulate hair conditioner composition containing a cationic surfactant and an aliphatic alcohol, in which the molar ratio of the cationic surfactant to the aliphatic alcohol is 1:9 to 4:6. [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] According to the present invention, it is possible to obtain a hair conditioner composition which has an excellent feel when the particles are applied to wet hair and which gives the hair excellent finger-combability and suppleness after drying. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] The present invention is a particulate hair conditioner composition comprising a cationic surfactant and a fatty alcohol.

[0010] The cationic surfactant contained in the hair conditioner composition of the present invention is preferably a quaternary ammonium salt, which reduces static electricity and improves combing of dry hair. The quaternary ammonium salt is preferably a quaternary ammonium salt having an alkyl group, as the alkyl group effectively enhances the action and effect of the fatty alcohol described below and improves the storage stability of the hair conditioner composition. The alkyl group of the quaternary ammonium salt is preferably an alkyl group having 12 to 22 carbon atoms, and more preferably an alkyl group having 16 to 22 carbon atoms. Examples of quaternary ammonium salts having an alkyl group with 12 to 22 carbon atoms include cetrimonium salts, stearyltrimonium salts, behentrimonium salts, dilauryldimonium salts, and distearyldimonium salts. These may be used alone or in combination of two or more. Behentrimonium salts are preferred. Behentrimonium salts are preferred because they are highly hydrophobic and improve conditioning effects such as ease of running fingers through and combing hair. Examples of the quaternary ammonium salt include halogen salts such as chloride, bromide, and iodide, and sulfates such as methosulfate and ethosulfate, with chloride being preferred.

[0011] The aliphatic alcohol is preferably an aliphatic alcohol having 10 to 30 carbon atoms from the viewpoint of forming α-gel together with the aliphatic alcohol and the cationic surfactant, and more preferably an aliphatic alcohol having 12 to 22 carbon atoms from the viewpoint of storage stability. By forming an α-gel, the viscosity decreases relatively slowly when applied to wet hair after shampooing or when diluted with water during subsequent rinsing, making it difficult for the active ingredient attached to the hair to be washed away and extending the contact time between the active ingredient and the hair, thereby enabling the conditioning ingredient to be efficiently applied to the hair.

[0012] Specific examples of preferred fatty alcohols include lauryl alcohol (C12), myristyl alcohol (C14), cetyl alcohol (C16), stearyl alcohol (C18), cetostearyl alcohol (C16 to C18), and behenyl alcohol (C22). These may be used alone or in combination of two or more. From the viewpoint of α-gel formation, cetostearyl alcohol is more preferred.

[0013] The hair conditioner composition of the present invention is preferably in the form of particles obtained by heating the cationic surfactant and the fatty alcohol to 75 to 120°C to uniformly dissolve them, and then cooling the mixture to 5 to 60°C.

[0014] The molar ratio of the cationic surfactant to the aliphatic alcohol is 1:9 to 4:6. If the molar ratio is less than 1:9, the conditioning effect of the hair conditioner composition will be poor, and if it exceeds 4:6, an α-gel cannot be formed, resulting in poor application to hair.

[0015] The hair conditioner composition of the present invention is in a particulate form. When the hair conditioner composition is in a particulate form, it has the advantage of being easy to transport, and when the hair conditioner composition of the present invention is applied as is to wet hair after washing, the particulate hair conditioner composition of the present invention can form an α-gel due to the moisture in the hair. The particulate hair conditioner composition of the present invention may be mixed with water and other ingredients before use. The hair conditioner composition applied to the hair may be left as is or may be washed off from the hair by rinsing.

[0016] There is no limitation on the shape of the particles, and they may be spherical or irregularly shaped. The spherical particles refer to powder particles with rounded corners. The irregularly shaped particles are particles that do not have a fixed shape, such as crushed, plate-like, scale-like, or needle-like.

[0017] The weight average particle size of the hair conditioner composition of the present invention is preferably 10 to 500 μm, more preferably 10 to 400 μm, and most preferably 100 to 400 μm. When the particle size is 10 to 500 μm, the feeling when the particles are applied to wet hair is good. The weight average particle size of the hair conditioner composition is a value measured, for example, with a laser diffraction / scattering particle size distribution measuring device. [Example]

[0018] The present invention will be further described below with reference to examples and comparative examples, but the present invention is not limited thereto. Unless otherwise specified, % means % by weight and parts means parts by weight.

[0019] <Examples 1 to 10> The cationic surfactant and aliphatic alcohol were weighed out according to the weights shown in Table 1, heated to 115°C, dissolved uniformly, and then cooled to 25°C to obtain particulate hair conditioner compositions A1 to A10. The weight-average particle size of the obtained hair conditioner compositions A1 to A10 was measured, and the α-gel forming ability in a 1% aqueous solution, the feel when the particles were applied to wet hair, and the ease of running fingers through the hair and suppleness after drying were evaluated. The results are shown in Table 1.

[0020] <Weight average particle size of hair conditioner composition> Measurement was performed using a laser diffraction / scattering particle size distribution analyzer (Horiba, Ltd.; Partica LA-960V2). Using the dry measurement unit of this analyzer, the volume-based median particle size was measured by the dry method under compressed air conditions of 0.30 MPa. Since this composition has a uniform composition, the volume-based median particle size was used as the weight-average particle size.

[0021] [Table 1]

[0022] <Comparative Examples 1 to 3> The cationic surfactant and aliphatic alcohol were weighed out according to the weights shown in Table 2, heated to 115°C, and dissolved uniformly, followed by cooling to 25°C to obtain hair conditioner compositions A11 to A13. The weight-average particle size of the obtained hair conditioner compositions A11 to A13 was measured, and they were evaluated for their α-gel forming ability in a 1% aqueous solution, the feel when the particles were applied to wet hair, and the ease of running fingers through the hair and suppleness after drying, and the results are shown in Table 2.

[0023] [Table 2]

[0024] <α-gel forming ability in 1% aqueous solution> The hair conditioner compositions to which water was added to make a 1% aqueous solution were judged based on the following measurement results to determine whether or not they formed an α-gel. ◯: A single sharp peak is observed at 21.5° in wide-angle X-ray diffraction. ×: Multiple peaks or no peaks are observed around 21.5° in wide-angle X-ray scattering.

[0025] <Evaluation of the feel when particles are applied to wet hair and the ease of running fingers through hair and suppleness after drying> A hair bundle (human hair, 40 cm long, 10 g in weight) was washed with 3% sodium laureth sulfate, and then 0.5 g of the hair conditioner composition was applied evenly to the wet hair bundle by hand combing. After application, the hair was rinsed and dried with a hair dryer. The feel of the hair conditioner composition when applied to wet hair, and the ease of running fingers through the hair and softness of the hair after drying were rated according to the following rating scale. The average scores of the five panelists are shown in Tables 1 and 2.

[0026] <Rating criteria for feel when particles are applied to wet hair> 5 points: The particles quickly turned into a cream after application and were very easy to blend into the hair. 4 points: The particles turned into a cream during application and were easy to blend into the hair. 3 points: About half of the particles turned into a cream during application, allowing it to be absorbed into the hair. 2 points: Some of the particles turned into a cream during application, allowing it to be absorbed into the hair to some extent. 1 point: The grainy texture remained and it was not able to be absorbed into the hair at all.

[0027] <Rating criteria for hair runnability and suppleness after drying> 5 points: Excellent smoothness and suppleness 4 points: Excellent smoothness and suppleness 3 points: Improved smoothness and suppleness 2 points: Slight improvement in finger smoothness and suppleness 1: No effect at all

[0028] As shown in Table 1, hair conditioner compositions A1 to A9, which have a molar ratio of cationic surfactant to aliphatic alcohol of 1:9 to 4:6, formed α-gel in a 1% aqueous solution, and when the particles were applied to wet hair, the feel when used was good, and the hair was easy to run fingers through and supple after drying. Conditioner composition A10, which contained large particles due to coarse grinding, formed α-gel in a 1% aqueous solution, but some particles remained when the particles were applied to wet hair, and the hair was unsatisfactory in easy to run fingers through and supple after drying. As shown in Table 2, hair conditioner composition A11, in which the molar ratio of cationic surfactant to aliphatic alcohol was greater than 4:6, and hair conditioner composition A13, in which the molar ratio of cationic surfactant to aliphatic alcohol was less than 1:9, did not form α-gel in a 1% aqueous solution, and furthermore, the feel when the particles were applied to wet hair and the ease of running fingers through the hair and suppleness after drying were poor. Hair conditioner composition A12, which had a molar ratio of cationic surfactant to aliphatic alcohol of less than 1:9, formed an α-gel in a 1% aqueous solution, but the feel when the particles were applied to wet hair and the ease of running fingers through the hair and suppleness after drying were poor. [Industrial Applicability]

[0029] The hair conditioner composition of the present invention can be used as a particulate hair conditioner because it provides an excellent feel when the particles are applied to wet hair and makes the hair smooth and silky after drying.

Claims

1. A particulate hair conditioner composition comprising a cationic surfactant and a fatty alcohol, A hair conditioner composition in which the molar ratio of cationic surfactant to aliphatic alcohol is 1:9 to 4:

6.

2. 2. The hair conditioner composition according to claim 1, wherein the weight average particle size of the hair conditioner composition is 10 to 500 μm.

3. 2. The hair conditioner composition according to claim 1, wherein the cationic surfactant is a quaternary ammonium salt.

4. 4. The hair conditioner composition according to claim 3, wherein the quaternary ammonium salt is a quaternary ammonium salt having an alkyl group having 12 to 22 carbon atoms.

5. 2. The hair conditioner composition according to claim 1, wherein the fatty alcohol has 10 to 30 carbon atoms.

6. 6. The hair conditioner composition according to claim 5, wherein the fatty alcohol is at least one compound selected from the group consisting of lauryl alcohol, myristyl alcohol, cetyl alcohol, stearyl alcohol, cetostearyl alcohol, and behenyl alcohol.

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