Hair conditioning composition

Abstract

To enable the amount of blending of a hair conditioning base composition to be selected with a high degree of freedom, allow a conditioning component to be efficiently applied to the hair, and achieve an improved conditioning composition satisfying consumer needs.SOLUTION: A hair conditioning base composition comprises a mixture (A) in which a linear higher alcohol having 16 or more carbon atoms and a cationic surfactant are mixed at a molar ratio of 2:1-5:1, and an aqueous component (B), with the mass ratio between the mixture (A) and the aqueous component (B) being 1:6-1:3. A hair conditioning composition comprises the hair conditioning base composition and a dilution component added thereto so that the content of the mixture (A) becomes 4-13 mass%.SELECTED DRAWING: None

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a hair conditioning base composition containing a conditioning component for conditioning hair to a healthy state, a method for producing the same, a hair conditioning composition using the hair conditioning base composition as an intermediate product, and a method for producing the same.

Background Art

[0002] Generally, hair conditioning compositions such as hair conditioners, hair rinses, and hair treatments contain conditioning components to reduce the dry feeling during or after hair washing with shampoo or to repair hair damage caused by various factors. Most of them are prepared in a gel form by dispersing and stabilizing an oily component in an aqueous component of 70% by mass or more.

[0003] In the field of cosmetic formulations, as a gel-like hair conditioning composition, a gel network is formed by stirring and mixing the mixing ratio of a cationic surfactant and a higher alcohol using water as a solvent and including moisture in a solid hydrated crystal such as a lamellar liquid crystal, which is well known.

[0004] Such a molecular structure of the lamella is a structure in which the surfactant is regularly arranged in layers like a lamellar liquid crystal while maintaining a hexagonal crystal state, and is called an "α-gel". Since the α-gel retains a large amount of water between the bimolecular membranes of the lamellar structure, the viscosity can be adjusted even when the water content is relatively high.

[0005] Therefore, when the α-gel hair conditioning composition is applied to wet hair after shampooing or diluted with water by subsequent rinsing, the viscosity decreases relatively slowly, the active ingredient attached to the hair is not easily washed away, and the contact time between the active ingredient and the hair can be lengthened. Thus, the conditioning component can be efficiently imparted to the hair.

[0006] Patent Document 1 describes a method for obtaining a hair conditioning composition by adding a cationic surfactant and a higher alcohol to water while stirring, uniformly dissolving at about 80°C, then cooling to about 55°C, and adding and homogenizing a silicone compound, a preservative, and a fragrance while stirring, and then cooling to room temperature.

[0007] The hair conditioning composition described in Patent Document 1 is characterized by shear stress so as to obtain the desired "slippery feeling", and the storage modulus G' of the viscoelastic parameter is from 2200 Pa to 10000 Pa (paragraph

[0021] ).

[0008] Patent Document 2 also describes a method for producing a personal care composition such as a hair conditioner by separately heating an oil phase containing a cationic surfactant and a higher alcohol and an aqueous phase, uniformly dissolving the premixes, and simultaneously feeding them into an in-line type high-shear homogenizer for mixing.

[0009] Regarding concentrated types of hair conditioners that consumers dilute with water during use, techniques for keeping the water content low have been reported. For example, Patent Document 3 describes a method for producing a high-concentration hair conditioner in a solid, powder, granule, or paste form with a low water content that is 10-fold concentrated using a polyol instead of water.

[0010] Patent Document 4 describes a product such as a hair care composition in which discrete particles containing beneficial components are dispersed in an aqueous base composition containing a surfactant, a high-melting-point aliphatic compound, and an aqueous carrier.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0011]

Patent Document 1

Patent Document 2

Patent Document 3

[0012] However, the hair conditioning compositions described in Patent Documents 1 and 2 are those in which the skeletal components consisting of a cationic surfactant and a higher alcohol are at concentrations commonly used in general manufacturing methods.

[0013] Also, the hair conditioning composition described in Patent Document 3 substitutes polyhydric alcohol or polyethylene glycol in place of water, but the dosage form is not a gel but a powder or a solid.

[0014] The discrete particles described in Patent Document 4 have a mixture before being dispersed in an aqueous carrier corresponding to the base of the product, but since no liquid crystal is formed in such a non-aqueous mixture, a lamellar gel network is not constructed in the base of the product.

[0015] Thus, the above-described techniques have not yet reached a satisfactory conditioning composition. Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a better conditioning composition that satisfies consumers. [Means for Solving the Problems]

[0016] In order to solve the above-described problems, the present invention is configured to obtain a better final product hair conditioning composition through a hair conditioning base composition containing specific components in specific ratios. In particular, in the present invention, a concentrated base is prepared by reducing the weight of water relative to the total amount of the cationic surfactant and the higher alcohol, which are the conditioner skeletal components, so that the conditioning components of the final product can be efficiently applied to the hair.

[0017] That is, the inventors of the present application prepared a base composition in which the ratio of a linear higher alcohol having 16 or more carbon atoms, a mixture (A) in which a cationic surfactant is blended at a molar ratio of 2:1 to 5:1, and an aqueous component (B) is a predetermined ratio, and further diluted the base composition to obtain the desired final composition.

[0018] The hair conditioning base composition of the present invention has a loss modulus G'' of dynamic viscoelasticity of 400 to 950 Pa due to the characteristics of the mixture (A) and adjustment in the manufacturing process, and has a lamellar structure and its three-dimensional network structure to such an extent that the gel is not too dense. Therefore, even when the mixture (A) is in a high-concentration state, it retains a certain amount of moisture, has relatively low viscosity, and conversely, even in a low-concentration state with a large amount of moisture, it can maintain a relatively high-viscosity state.

[0019] The hair conditioning base composition exhibiting such viscosity has a viscosity low enough to be transferred by a rotary pump, and the conditioning composition of the final product obtained by diluting this with water or the like also does not extremely decrease in viscosity, and can efficiently apply the conditioning component to the hair.

[0020] This hair conditioning base composition employs a mixture (A) in which a linear higher alcohol having 16 or more carbon atoms and a cationic surfactant are blended at a molar ratio of 2:1 to 5:1.

[0021] Such a hair conditioning base composition can be uniformly dissolved at a ratio of the mixture (A) and the aqueous component (B) of 1:6 to 1:3, and then, by cooling, a three-dimensional network in which lamellar structures are arranged in a hexagonal crystal can be formed.

[0022] By providing such a three-dimensional network, a large amount of moisture can be incorporated into the lamellar structure, and therefore, a hair conditioning composition that does not extremely decrease in viscosity when diluted with water or the like can be obtained.

[0023] In the above manufacturing method, the stirring and mixing is not particularly limited, such as a roller mixer or a vacuum emulsifying kettle. However, in order to efficiently and uniformly stir in a state where the higher alcohol and the cationic surfactant are heated and dissolved, it is preferable to perform the stirring and mixing using a three-axis planetary motion type stirrer.

[0024] Also, by storing the hair conditioning base composition at room temperature and then diluting it with water or the like while stirring at 55°C or lower, a hair conditioning composition can be efficiently produced that can efficiently impart the conditioning component to the hair without extremely reducing the viscosity.

[0025] It is preferable to blend the diluting component so that the content of the mixture (A) in the hair conditioning composition is 4 to 13% by mass. The hair conditioning composition is a gel-like composition having a crystal structure in which the lamellar layers are arranged in a hexagonal crystal, and the interlayer spacing of the lamellar layers measured by the small-angle X-ray scattering method is preferably 25 nm or more, more preferably 30 nm or more. Incidentally, the small-angle X-ray scattering method (SAXS: Small Angle X-ray Scattering) is a well-known analysis method for irradiating a substance with X-rays and measuring the X-rays scattered in the low (small) angle region where 2θ < 10° to evaluate the structure of the substance.

[0026] In this way, the blending amount of the hair conditioning base composition can be selected with a high degree of freedom, so that hair conditioning compositions with a wide range of uses can be produced, from hair conditioning compositions for damage care to light conditioning compositions with a fluffy, soft and natural finish.

Advantages of the Invention

[0027] The present invention can prepare a more excellent final product through a hair conditioning base composition containing specific components in a specific ratio. By reducing the mass ratio of the aqueous component to 1:6 or less with respect to the total amount of the cationic surfactant and the higher alcohol, which are the conditioner skeletal components, a thick base is prepared, and the conditioning components in the hair conditioning composition of the final product can be efficiently imparted to the hair.

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0028] The hair conditioning base composition of the embodiment of this invention is a composition in which the ratio of a linear higher alcohol having 16 or more carbon atoms, a mixture (A) in which a cationic surfactant is blended at a molar ratio of 2:1 to 5:1, and an aqueous component (B) is blended at a ratio of 1:6 to 1:3.

[0029] When this hair conditioning base composition is diluted, that is, the hair conditioning composition to which a diluting component is added has a three-dimensional network in which lamellar lamellae having a lamellar spacing of preferably 25 to 35 nm called an α gel are arranged in a hexagonal crystal as a skeletal structure, and the lamellar spacing is more preferably 30 to 35 nm.

[0030] Incidentally, the α gel is a molecular structure in which the surfactant is regularly arranged in layers like a lamellar liquid crystal while maintaining a hexagonal crystal state, and is a bilayer aggregate. In wide-angle X-ray diffraction, a specific sharp peak derived from the hexagonal crystal structure of the α gel is observed around 2θ = 21°.

[0031] As the linear higher alcohol having 16 or more carbon atoms used in this invention, well-known ones used in cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, etc. can be used, and examples thereof include cetyl alcohol, stearyl alcohol, behenyl alcohol, etc. Preferably, they are cetyl alcohol and stearyl alcohol. In addition, linear alcohols having more than 22 carbon atoms are not suitable for this invention because they have a high melting point and poor solubility.

[0032] As the cationic surfactant suitable for use in this invention, those used in ordinary cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, etc. can be used, and examples thereof include quaternary cationic surfactants and tertiary cationic surfactants.

[0033] Examples of the quaternary cationic surfactant include mono-long-chain alkyl type quaternary ammonium salts represented by the general formula of Chemical Formula 1 below.

[0034] [Chemical Formula] (In the formula, one of R 1 , R 2 , R 3 and R 4 is selected from an alkyl group or hydroxyalkyl group having 8 to 30 carbon atoms, an aryl group, or an alkylaryl group, and the other R 1 , R 2 , R 3 and R 4 are independently selected from an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms or an alkoxy group having a maximum of 4 carbon atoms, a polyoxyalkylene group, an alkylamide group, a hydroxyalkyl group, an aryl group, or an alkylaryl group, and X - represents a halogen atom.)

[0035] Typical examples of the quaternary ammonium salt represented by the formula of Chemical Formula 1 include stearyltrimethylammonium chloride , B benzyltrimethylammonium chloride , na and the like.

[0036] Also, the di-long-chain alkyl type quaternary ammonium salt in which two of R 1 , R 2 , R 3 and R 4 in the formula of Chemical Formula 1 are selected from an alkyl group or hydroxyalkyl group having 8 to 30 carbon atoms, an aryl group, or an alkylaryl group may be used in combination with the mono-long-chain alkyl type quaternary ammonium salt.

[0037] Typical examples of the above-mentioned long-chain alkyl type quaternary ammonium salts include dialkyl(14-18)dimethylammonium chloride, ditallow alkyldimethylammonium chloride, dihydrogenated tallow alkyldimethylammonium chloride, distearyldimethylammonium chloride, and dicetyldimethylammonium chloride, etc.

[0038] Examples of the tertiary cationic surfactant include long-chain alkyl type tertiary amines represented by the general formula of Chemical Formula 2 below.

[0039] [Chemical Formula] (In the formula, one of R 1 , R 2 and R 3 is selected from an alkyl group or hydroxyalkyl group having 8 to 30 carbon atoms, an aryl group, or an alkylaryl group, and the other R 1 , R 2 , R 3 and R 4 are independently selected from an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms or an alkoxy group having a maximum of 4 carbon atoms, a polyoxyalkylene group, an alkylamide group, a hydroxyalkyl group, an aryl group, or an alkylaryl group.)

[0040] Typical examples of the tertiary amines represented by the formula of Chemical Formula 2 include neutralization salts such as cetaramidopropyldimethylamine, oleamidopropyldimethylamine, isostearamidopropyldimethylamine, stearoxypropyldimethylamine, behenamidopropyldimethylamine, eicosamidopropyldimethylamine, and stearamidopropyldimethylamine.

[0041] These tertiary amines undergo quaternization by neutralization by adding acids such as citric acid, lactic acid, L-glutamic acid, hydrochloric acid, malic acid, succinic acid, acetic acid, fumaric acid, and tartaric acid, etc., and act as cationic surfactants. The molar ratio of amine to acid is about 1:0.8 to about 1:1.5, more preferably about 1:1 to about 1:1.2.

[0042] In the present invention, it is preferable to use one or more of the mono-long-chain alkyl type quaternary ammonium salts represented by Chemical Formula 1. Preferably, they are stearyltrimethylammonium chloride, behenyltrimethylammonium chloride, distearyldimethylammonium chloride, and dicetyldimethylammonium chloride. More preferably, it is behenyltrimethylammonium chloride which contributes to the stabilization of the preparation.

[0043] The molar ratio in the mixture (A) of the above-mentioned straight-chain higher alcohol having 16 or more carbon atoms and the cationic surfactant is in the range of 2:1 to 5:1, preferably 2:1 to 4:1, more preferably 2:1 to 3:1. These ratios are optimal or comparable ratios for forming a lamellar gel network containing an α gel.

[0044] The aqueous component (B) used in the present invention and the diluting component added to the hair conditioning base composition are not particularly limited as long as they are water and components soluble in water. Examples thereof include water, ethanol, glycerin, diglycerin, propylene glycol, dipropylene glycol, 1,3-butylene glycol and the like. Among the aqueous components, a part of the main component water is stabilized in the form of being incorporated into the inside of the lamellar liquid crystal or the bimolecular film of the lamellar liquid crystal, and the remaining water serves as a continuous phase and becomes a dispersant for the formed lamellar liquid crystal.

[0045] In addition to the above-mentioned essential constituent components, components usually used in hair conditioning compositions such as cosmetics and pharmaceuticals can be blended in the hair conditioning composition of the present invention within a range not impairing the effects of the present invention as needed. For example, surfactants, fats and oils, polyhydric alcohols, lower alcohols, ultraviolet absorbers, silicone oils, thickeners, antibacterial and preservatives, antioxidants, chelating agents, organic acids, drugs, natural extracts, pH adjusters, fragrances, dyes, water and the like can be appropriately blended in general cosmetics. Specific examples of these constituent components are as follows.

[0046] As surfactants, nonionic surfactants such as polyoxyethylene (hereinafter abbreviated as POE-) octyldodecyl alcohol, POE-branched alkyl ethers such as POE-2-decyltetradecyl alcohol, POE-alkyl ethers such as POE-oleyl alcohol ether and POE-cetyl alcohol ether, sorbitan esters such as sorbitan monooleate, sorbitan monoisostearate and sorbitan monolaurate, POE-sorbitan esters such as POE-sorbitan monooleate, POE-sorbitan monoisostearate and POE-sorbitan monolaurate, glycerin fatty acid esters such as glycerin monooleate, glycerin monostearate and glycerin monomyristate, POE-glycerin fatty acid esters such as POE-glycerin monooleate, POE-glycerin monostearate and POE-glycerin monomyristate, POE-dihydrocholesterol ester, POE-hydrogenated castor oil, POE-hydrogenated castor oil fatty acid esters such as POE-hydrogenated castor oil isostearate, POE-alkylaryl ethers such as POE-octylphenyl ether, glycerin alkyl ethers such as monoisostearyl glyceryl ether and monomyristyl glyceryl ether, POE-glycerin alkyl ethers such as POE-monostearyl glyceryl ether and POE-monomyristyl glyceryl ether, polyglycerin fatty acid esters such as diglyceryl monostearate, decaglyceryl decastearate, decaglyceryl decaisostearate and diglyceryl diisostearate; anionic surfactants such as potassium, sodium, diethanolamine, triethanolamine, salts of amino acids, etc. of higher fatty acids such as myristic acid, stearic acid, palmitic acid, behenic acid, isostearic acid, oleic acid, the above alkali salts of ether carboxylic acids, N-acyl amino acid salts, N-acyl sarcosinate salts, higher alkyl sulfonates; cationic surfactants such as alkylamine salts, polyamines, amino alcohol fatty acid organic silicone resins, alkyl quaternary ammonium salts; or amphoteric surfactants such as lecithin and betaine derivatives, etc.

[0047] Examples of oils and fats include vegetable oils and fats such as macadamia nut oil, corn oil, rapeseed oil, sunflower oil, castor oil, olive oil, cocoa butter, camellia oil, coconut oil, candelilla wax, jojoba oil, grape seed oil, avocado oil, rice bran oil, evening primrose oil, soybean oil, cottonseed oil, sesame oil, safflower oil, palm oil, linseed oil, perilla oil, shea butter, and seal oil; animal oils and fats such as mink oil and egg yolk oil; waxes such as beeswax, spermaceti wax, lanolin, carnauba wax, and candelilla wax; hydrocarbons such as liquid paraffin, squalene, microcrystalline wax, ceresin wax, paraffin wax, and petrolatum; natural and synthetic fatty acids such as lauric acid, myristic acid, palmitic acid, stearic acid, behenic acid, isostearic acid, oleic acid, linolenic acid, linoleic acid, and oxystearic acid; polar oils such as ethyl linoleate; natural and higher alcohols such as cetyl alcohol, stearyl alcohol, hexyl decanol, octyl decanol, and lauryl alcohol; and esters such as isopropyl myristate, isopropyl palmitate, isopropyl stearate, octyldodecyl myristate, octyldodecyl oleate, glycerol 2-ethylhexanoate, and cholesteryl oleate.

[0048] Examples of polyhydric alcohols include ethylene glycol, polyethylene glycol, propylene glycol, 1,3-butylene glycol, 1,4-butylene glycol, dipropylene glycol, glycerin, diglycerin, triglycerin, tetraglycerin, and other polyglycerins, glucose, maltose, maltitol, sucrose, fructose, xylitol, sorbitol, maltotriose, threitol, erythritol, and the like. Examples of lower alcohols and glycol ethers include diethylene glycol monopropyl ether, polyoxyethylene polyoxypropylene pentaerythritol ether, polyoxypropylene butyl ether, and the like.

[0049] Examples of ultraviolet absorbers include para-aminobenzoic acid, isopropyl paramethoxycinnamate, butyl methoxybenzoylmethane, glyceryl mono-2-ethylhexanoyl di-paramethoxybenzophenone, digaloyl trioleate, 2,2'-dihydroxy-4-methoxybenzophenone, ethyl 4-bis(hydroxypropyl)aminobenzoate, 2-ethylhexyl 2-cyano-3,3'-diphenylacrylate, ethylhexyl paramethoxycinnamate, 2-ethylhexyl salicylate, glyceryl para-aminobenzoate, homomethyl salicylate, methyl ortho-aminobenzoate, 2-hydroxy-4-methoxybenzophenone, amyl para-dimethylaminobenzoate, 2-phenylbenzimidazole-5-sulfonic acid, 2-hydroxy-4-methoxybenzophenone-5-sulfonic acid, and the like.

[0050] Examples of silicone oils include dimethylpolysiloxane, highly polymerized dimethylpolysiloxane, amino-modified silicone, dimethiconol, polyether-modified silicone, polyglycerin-modified silicone, methylphenylsilicone, betaine-modified silicone, alkyl-modified silicone, alkoxy-modified silicone, cyclic silicone, and the like.

[0051] Examples of thickeners include natural polymer substances such as sodium alginate, xanthan gum, aluminum silicate, quince seed extract, gum arabic, tragacanth gum, starch, collagen, sodium hyaluronate, semi-synthetic polymer substances such as methylcellulose, hydroxyethylcellulose, carboxymethylcellulose, soluble starch, cationized cellulose, and synthetic polymer substances such as carboxyvinyl polymer, polyvinyl alcohol, and the like.

[0052] Examples of antibacterial and preservative agents include methyl paraben, propyl paraben, ethyl paraben, butyl paraben, 1,2 - alkanediol, phenoxyethanol, benzyl alcohol, methylchloroisothiazolinone benzoate, salicylate, sorbate, dehydroacetate, 2,4,4’ - trichloro - 2’ - hydroxydiphenyl ether, 3,4,4’ - trichlorocarbanilide, benzalkonium chloride, hinokitiol, resorcinol, ethanol, etc.

[0053] Examples of antioxidants include tocopherol, butylhydroxyanisole, dibutylhydroxytoluene, nordihydroguaiaretic acid, propyl gallate, phytic acid, etc. Examples of chelating agents include sodium edetate, sodium citrate, etc.

[0054] Examples of organic acids include acyl sarcosinic acid (e.g., sodium lauroyl methyl sarcosinate), glutathione, citric acid, malic acid, tartaric acid, lactic acid, etc.

[0055] Examples of drugs include nicotinamide, benzyl nicotinate, γ - oryzanol, allantoin, glycyrrhizic acid (salt), glycyrrhetinic acid and its derivatives, muscin, bisabolol, eucalyptol, thymol inositol, saponins (carrot saponin, loofah saponin, mukuroji saponin, etc.), pantothenyl ethyl ether, ethinyl estradiol, tranexamic acid, cephalandine, etc.

[0056] Examples of natural extracts include extracts obtained by using organic solvents such as ginseng, clara, kouhonne, orange, sage, saw - toothed herb, zeni - ao - i, senkyu, senburi, thyme, toki, tohii, birch, sugina, loofah, maronier, yukinoshita, arnica, lily, mugwort, peony, aloe, gardenia, sawara, etc., alcohol, polyhydric alcohol, water, aqueous alcohol, etc.

[0057] Other examples include starches obtained from corn, potatoes, etc., anhydrous silicic acid, talc, kaolin, magnesium aluminum silicate, calcium alginate, and other water-absorbing powders and porous pigments.

[0058] In addition, the hair conditioning composition of this invention is a concept that can include all products applied to the skin, such as pharmaceuticals and quasi-drugs, in addition to cosmetics.

[0059] The hair conditioning base composition of this invention is formulated at a ratio (mass ratio) of the mixture (A) to the aqueous component (B) of 1:6 to 1:3. This is because when the blending ratio of the aqueous component (B) is less than 1:3 with respect to the mixture (A), the mobility of the hydrophobic groups in the lamellar layers with less water content also decreases, resulting in an increase in viscosity and a narrowing of the lamellar spacing beyond the desired level, leading to a decrease in the water retention capacity.

[0060] On the other hand, when the blending ratio of the aqueous component (B) is greater than 1:6 with respect to the mixture (A), the viscosity of the hair conditioning base composition decreases, and the conditioning components of the hair conditioner composition, which is a diluted product thereof, cannot be efficiently applied to the hair.

[0061] For the above reasons, the preferred blending ratio of the mixture (A) and the aqueous component (B) is 1:6 to 1:3.5, and more preferably 1:4 to 1:3.5. By blending in this way, when diluting the hair conditioning base composition, the blending amount can be selected with a high degree of freedom, without extremely reducing the viscosity, and the conditioning components can be efficiently applied to the hair. Although it is possible to produce a base composition with less aqueous component (B) than 1:3, it is not preferable because the texture becomes too hard to dilute and uniformly stir the hair conditioning base composition.

[0062] The content of the mixture (A) in the hair conditioning composition is preferably 4 to 13% by mass, more preferably 6 to 13% by mass, and still more preferably 8 to 13% by mass.

[0063] The hair conditioning base composition produced as an intermediate product can be subsequently produced into the final product hair conditioning composition. However, when continuing the process of final product formation at a later date, after cooling to room temperature, the obtained base composition can also be stored.

Examples

[0064] The hair conditioning base compositions of Examples 1 to 6 and Comparative Examples 1 to 3 were prepared at the compounding ratios shown in Table 1 below, and their viscosity and ease of preparation were evaluated.

[0065] [Examples 1 to 5, Comparative Examples 1 to 3] A mixture (A) in which behenyltrimethylammonium chloride, cetyl alcohol, and stearyl alcohol were blended at a mass ratio of 3:1 in molar ratio was charged into a three-axis planetary high-shear mixer, heated to 80°C to dissolve, and stirred for homogenization. For the preparation, a three-axis planetary high-shear mixer (High Dispermix (registered trademark) manufactured by the same company) was used. An aqueous component (B) was added to this mixture (A), and it was stirred under a reduced pressure of 0.06 to 0.08 MPa, and the temperature of the mixture was cooled to 55°C or lower to produce a hair conditioning base composition.

[0066] [Example 6] Example 6, which is a hair conditioning base composition, was produced in the same manner as Example 4, except that in Example 4, instead of "charging the mixture (A) into a three-axis planetary high-shear mixer and heating to 80°C to dissolve", "charging the mixture (A) together with the aqueous component (B) into a three-axis planetary high-shear mixer and heating to 80°C to dissolve".

[0067] The hair conditioning base compositions of Examples 1 to 6 and Comparative Examples 1 to 3 obtained as described above were measured for viscosity using a Discovery Hybrid rheometer manufactured by TA Instruments. Further, these hair conditioning base compositions were diluted with a certain amount of water or the like, and the ease of application of the final composition to the hair at that time was evaluated in three stages as follows, and the results are shown by symbols in Table 1. <Evaluation Criteria> ◎: Very easy to apply ○: Slightly hard but can be applied ×: Very hard and difficult to apply

[0068]

Table 1

[0069] As is clear from the results shown in Table 1, the maximum value of rheology increased as the blending amount of the aqueous component (B) decreased. As a result of diluting the hair conditioning base composition with water or the like, in the range where the blending ratio of the mixture (A) and the aqueous component (B) was "1:6 to 1:3", the ease of application of the hair conditioning composition to the hair was excellent.

[0070] In Example 6, a production method of "heating and dissolving the mixture (A) and the aqueous component (B) and then cooling as it is" was adopted, but even with such a production method, it was possible to prepare the hair conditioning base composition.

[0071] Next, based on the hair conditioning base composition of Example 4 or Example 6, hair conditioning compositions of Example 7 and Example 8 diluted with a preservative, a fragrance, and water were produced.

[0072] [Example 7] To the hair conditioning base composition of Example 4 at 55°C or lower, silicone (amodimethicone) as a conditioning component shown in Table 2, a preservative (phenoxyethanol), optional components such as fragrance, and the required amount of a diluent component were added to adjust to a concentration that can be used by consumers, and it was prepared so that the formulated amount of mixture (A) would be 8.6%, and this was stirred until uniform. Next, after cooling to 32°C or lower, shear force was applied with a homomixer to produce the hair conditioning composition of Example 7 in which the formation of α-gel was promoted.

[0073] [Example 8] In Example 7, the hair conditioning composition of Example 8 was produced in exactly the same manner as the production method of Example 7, except that the hair conditioning base composition of Example 6 was used instead of the hair conditioning base composition of Example 4.

[0074] For the obtained Example 7 and Example 8, the rheology maximum value was measured using a rheometer, and the viscoelasticity ratio (tan delta = G” / G’) was calculated. Also, α-gel confirmation by wide-angle X-ray scattering (peak at 2θ = 21°) was measured, and small-angle X-ray diffraction (lamellar spacing nm) was measured, and these results were also shown in Table 2.

[0075]

Table 2

[0076] As is clear from the results shown in Table 2, the loss coefficient tan delta = G” / G’ of Example 7 showed a high value. The reason is considered to be that in the viscoelasticity measurement by a rheometer, the loss elasticity modulus (viscosity) G” of Example 7 was higher than that of Example 8, and the storage elasticity modulus (elasticity) G’ had no significant difference between the two products (Example 7 and Example 8).

[0077] Incidentally, the loss factor represents the ratio of the loss modulus (viscosity) to the storage modulus (elasticity). It can be said that if the numerical value is high, it is a fluid with a high loss modulus and a viscous nature, and conversely, if it is low, it is a fluid with a high storage modulus and an elastic nature. From this, it can be seen that the hair conditioning composition of Example 7 is a more viscous fluid than the hair conditioning composition of Example 8.

[0078] Also, as shown in Table 1 and Table 2, the maximum rheology value of Example 4 was lower than that of Example 6. However, in the comparison between Example 7, which diluted Example 4, and Example 8, which diluted Example 6, the maximum rheology value of Example 7 was maintained higher than that of Example 8.

[0079] From this, it was found that Example 7 does not reduce the viscosity of the conditioning composition of the final product obtained using the hair conditioning base composition compared to Example 8. Therefore, Example 7 was considered to be an excellent vibration-resistant final product that can efficiently apply the conditioning component to the hair compared to Example 8.

[0080] From the comparison between Example 7 and Example 8 like this, although the hair conditioning base composition can be prepared in various ways, it was found that the "preparation method obtained by putting the mixture (A) into a three-axis planetary high-shear mixer, heating and dissolving it, and then adding the aqueous component (B)" is more preferable.

[0081] Furthermore, the following was revealed from the comparison between Example 7 and Example 8. That is, the lamellar liquid crystal containing the α-gel has a bimolecular film structure, and the distance between the bimolecular films (lamellar plane spacing) can be measured by using the small-angle X-ray scattering method. In the hair conditioning base composition of the present invention composed of a cationic surfactant - higher alcohol - water, water is taken into the space between the bimolecular films. That is, the larger the distance between the bimolecular films, the more water is taken into the gel. Therefore, the more water is taken into the gel, the less water there is in the outer layer, and as a result, the viscosity of the entire conditioning composition becomes higher.

[0082] Also, for conditioning compositions with the same composition, the higher the viscosity, the higher the physical adsorption amount to the hair, so that the conditioning components can be more efficiently applied to the hair accordingly. Therefore, in the application of the efficient conditioning composition to the hair as in Example 8, the lamellar spacing between the lamellar surfaces of the α-gel is preferably 25 nm or more, and it has been found that it is more preferable if it is 30 nm or more as in Example 7.

[0083] Regarding the hair conditioning composition of the above-described final product, for Example 7 which is most excellent in practicality and the hair conditioning composition of Comparative Example 4 prepared without going through the preparation process of the base composition in the present invention, the following actual use test was conducted.

[0084] [Comparative Example 4] As a method for preparing a hair conditioning composition without going through the process of preparing the base composition, the aqueous component (B) and the diluting component were put into a vacuum emulsifying kettle and heated to 80°C. After putting the mixture (A) therein and stirring and dissolving it, it was cooled to 55°C or lower under a reduced pressure of 0.06 to 0.08 Mpa to form a lamellar liquid crystal containing α-gel. Thereafter, in the same manner as in Example 7, silicone, preservative, and fragrance were added, cooled to 32°C, and passed through a homomixer to obtain the final product. Example 7 and Comparative Example 4 had exactly the same formulation.

[0085] [Actual Use Test] Nine adult female panelists were examined for their evaluation when using Example 7 and Comparative Example 4 alternately for two days after shampooing during bathing. The order of using Example 7 and Comparative Example 4 was examined by dividing them into two groups. Also, a non-silicone shampoo was used to minimize the influence on the evaluation of the conditioning composition.

[0086] The evaluation criteria were as follows: for each item, "extremely good" was rated 10 points, "ordinary" was rated 5 points, and "poor" was rated 0 points. The evaluation was performed in 11 levels with integers from 0 to 10 as the evaluation scores, and the average value for each item was described in Table 3.

[0087]

Table 3

[0088] As is also clear from the results shown in Table 3, centering on the richness when picking up Example 7 or Comparative Example 4 and the conditioning effect after drying the hair, Example 7 was superior in that there was a statistically significant difference (numerical values with *) compared to Comparative Example 4. Also, although there was no significant difference in the feeling during rinsing, Example 7 was better than Comparative Example 4. From the above results, it was found that the hair conditioning composition of this invention has excellent product characteristics (product performance) compared to those obtained by conventional manufacturing methods.

[0089] Examples 9 to 11 below are hair conditioning compositions prepared by the same manufacturing process as Examples 1 to 5 above with the compositions (formulations) shown in Tables 4 to 6 below, and all of them obtained a good feeling of use to the expected extent.

[0090] [Example 9] With the formulation shown in Table 4, a high-conditioning treatment for damage care was manufactured by the following steps A to D. A: Components 1 to 4 were dissolved and stirred at 82 °C in a three-axis planetary motion type stirrer. B: A part of Component 9 was added to the oil phase prepared in Step A, and stirred under a reduced pressure of 0.06 to 0.08 Mpa, and the temperature of the mixture was cooled to 55 °C or lower. C: After cooling to 55 °C, the remaining additive components were added and uniformly stirred, and then cooled to 32 °C. D: Shearing force was applied with a homomixer to complete the formation of the α gel and obtain a high-conditioning treatment for damage care.

[0091]

Table 4

[0092] [Example 10] A volume-up conditioner was manufactured by the following steps A to D according to the formulation shown in Table 5. A: Components 1 to 4 were dissolved and stirred at 82°C in a three-axis planetary motion stirrer. B: A part of Component 8 was added to the oil phase prepared in Step A, stirred under a reduced pressure of 0.06 to 0.08 Mpa, and the temperature of the mixture was cooled to 55°C or lower. C: After cooling to 55°C, the remaining additive components were added and stirred uniformly, and then cooled to 32°C. D: Shearing force was applied with a homomixer to complete the formation of the α gel, and a light-textured volume-up conditioner was obtained.

[0093]

Table 5

[0094] [Example 11] An ultraviolet damage-preventing conditioner was manufactured by the following steps A to D according to the formulation shown in Table 6. A: Components 1 to 4 were dissolved and stirred at 82°C in a three-axis planetary motion stirrer. B: A part of Component 10 was added to the oil phase prepared in Step A, stirred under a reduced pressure of 0.06 to 0.08 Mpa, and the temperature of the mixture was cooled to 55°C or lower. C: After cooling to 55°C, the remaining additive components were added and stirred uniformly, and then cooled to 32°C. D: Shearing force was applied with a homomixer to complete the formation of the α gel, and an ultraviolet damage-preventing conditioner was obtained.

[0095]

Table 6

Claims

1. A hair conditioning base composition comprising a mixture (A) in which a straight-chain higher alcohol having 16 to 22 carbon atoms and a long-chain alkyl-type quaternary ammonium salt as a cationic surfactant are blended at a molar ratio of 2:1 to 5:1, and water as an aqueous component (B) is blended at a mass ratio of 1:6 to 1:3, and consisting of an α-gel having a maximum value of 423 to 945 Pa in flow rheology.

2. The method for producing a hair conditioning base composition according to Claim 1, wherein the mixture (A) and the aqueous component (B) are stirred and mixed with a three-axis planetary motion stirrer.

3. A hair conditioning composition in which a diluent component is added to the hair conditioning base composition according to Claim 1 so that the content of the mixture (A) is 4 to 13% by mass.

4. The hair conditioning composition according to Claim 3, wherein the hair conditioning composition is a gel composition having a crystal structure in which lamellar layers are arranged in a hexagonal crystal, and the interlayer spacing of the lamellar layers measured by the small-angle X-ray scattering method is 25 nm or more.

5. The hair conditioning composition according to Claim 3, wherein the hair conditioning composition is a gel composition having a crystal structure in which lamellar layers are arranged in a hexagonal crystal, and the interlayer spacing of the lamellar layers measured by the small-angle X-ray scattering method is 30 nm or more.

6. A method for producing a hair conditioning composition, comprising preparing the hair conditioning base composition according to Claim 1 by stirring and mixing the mixture (A) and the aqueous component (B) with a three-axis planetary motion stirrer, and then adding a diluent component so that the content of the mixture (A) is 4 to 13% by mass.

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