Cationic Surfactant Anionic Polymer Hair Composition pH Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing cosmetic and personal care compositions struggle to provide effective conditioning and moisturizing benefits while ensuring fast and efficient rinsability, especially for chemically treated or damaged hair.

Innovation Solution

A cosmetic composition containing at least 0.3 wt.% of non-hydrophobically modified anionic polymer, cationic surfactant, fatty alcohol, and cosmetically acceptable solvent, with a pH below about 5, which provides conditioning, moisturizing, and improved rinsability properties.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conditioning and moisturizing agents are used to improve hair quality and manageability, then the conditioning benefits are enhanced, but the rinsability and ease of removal deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconditioning benefitsVSAvoidrinsability

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies parameter changes by carefully controlling the pH of the composition to be below 7, which optimizes the electrostatic interactions between cationic and anionic components. This pH control enables the formulation to provide effective conditioning while maintaining good rinsability, resolving the contradiction between conditioning benefits and ease of removal

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses composite materials by combining cationic surfactants with anionic polymers in a single composition. This composite approach creates synergistic effects where the oppositely charged components work together to provide conditioning benefits while the specific formulation ensures manageable rinse-off properties, eliminating the need to choose between conditioning and rinsability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

2Reliability

If chemical treatments are applied to alter hair color or shape, then the cosmetic performance is improved, but the hair fiber damage increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecosmetic performanceVSAvoidhair fiber damage

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent converts the harm of chemical treatments into benefit by designing a composition specifically tailored for chemically treated or damaged hair. The cationic surfactants and anionic polymers work synergistically to repair and condition hair that has been subjected to oxidative dyeing, relaxing, or perming treatments, transforming the previously damaged state into an opportunity for improved hair quality

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies parameter changes by formulating the composition with a pH below 7, which is specifically optimized for damaged or chemically treated hair. This pH control helps neutralize residual alkalinity from chemical treatments and promotes hair repair while maintaining cosmetic performance

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Ease of operation

If rinse-off products are designed to be quickly removed, then the rinsability is improved, but the deposition of conditioning benefits deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproverinsabilityVSAvoidconditioning deposition

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies parameter changes by optimizing the pH to be below 7 and carefully controlling the concentrations of cationic surfactants and anionic polymers. This parameter optimization enables the composition to deposit sufficient conditioning agents during the rinse-off process while still allowing for easy removal, resolving the contradiction between rinsability and conditioning deposition

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses composite materials by combining cationic and anionic components that work synergistically to provide both conditioning deposition and rinsability. The electrostatic interactions between oppositely charged components enhance deposition during application while the specific formulation ensures manageable rinse-off properties

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The composition effectively conditions and moisturizes keratinous substrates, such as hair, while ensuring fast and efficient rinsability, even on chemically treated or damaged hair, without leaving noticeable residues.

Implementation Method 1

compositions containing cationic surfactants and anionic compounds selected from anionic polymers

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectrostatic interaction: Ion Repulsion/Attraction

Implementation Method 2

at least one fatty alcohol; wherein the pH of the composition is below about 5

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSurface film formation: Surface Tension

Data Source

PatentUS12290589B2Cosmetic and personal care compositions containing cationic surfactants and anionic compounds

Publication Date: 2025.05.06 LOREAL SA

AI summary

The instant disclosure relates to cosmetic compositions that include a non-hydrophobically modified anionic polymer; a cationic surfactant, including a cationizable surfactant; a fatty alcohol; and a cosmetically acceptable solvent; wherein the pH of the composition is below 5. Methods for using such cosmetic compositions are also provided.