Dual-Composition Hair Conditioner for Dry-Hair Flow and Smoothness

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing hair conditioning products compromise on achieving reduced clumpiness, stickiness, and lightweight feel on dry hair while maintaining reduced friction and smoothness, often at the cost of these benefits.

Innovation Solution

A hair conditioning product comprising two separate compositions: one with a cationic surfactant, high melting point fatty compound, and aqueous carrier, and another with a cationic polymer and aqueous carrier, which are mixed before use, allowing for improved free flowing and reduced friction on dry hair without compromising other benefits.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If conditioning agents are contained at higher levels to achieve reduced friction and smoothness on dry hair, then reduced friction and smoothness are improved, but free flowing (reduced clumpiness and stickiness) on dry hair deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefriction on dry hairVSAvoidfree flowing on dry hair

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the conditioning product into two separate compositions: a first composition containing cationic surfactant and high melting point fatty compound, and a second composition containing cationic polymer. This segmentation allows each composition to be optimized for specific functions - the first composition provides reduced friction and smoothness, while the second composition provides free flowing and reduced clumpiness - without compromising the other benefits when combined during use.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Device complexity

If a single composition is used to provide multiple conditioning benefits, then product simplicity is maintained, but achieving all benefits (reduced friction, smoothness, and free flowing) simultaneously becomes difficult

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveproduct formulationVSAvoidmultiple conditioning benefits

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the conditioning agents into two separate compositions that can be mixed before use. The first composition (cationic surfactant + high melting point fatty compound) addresses friction and smoothness, while the second composition (cationic polymer) addresses free flowing and clumpiness. This segmentation enables achievement of multiple conditioning benefits that would be difficult to balance in a single composition.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent merges the two separate compositions by instructing the user to mix them before application to hair. This combining step allows the synergistic effect of both compositions to work together, providing comprehensive conditioning benefits including reduced friction, smoothness, and free flowing properties that neither composition could achieve alone.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentUS20260069526A1Hair conditioning product comprising first and second compositions

Publication Date: 2026.03.12 PROCTER & GAMBLE CO

AI summary

Disclosed is a hair conditioning product comprising a first composition and a second composition, wherein the first and second compositions are kept separate from one another until use, wherein the first composition comprises: a cationic surfactant; a high melting point fatty compound; and an aqueous carrier, wherein the second composition comprises: a cationic polymer; and an aqueous carrier, and wherein the first composition and/or the second composition further comprises a silicone compound. The product of the present invention provides improved free flowing (i.e., reduced clumpy hair) on dry hair, while not deteriorating other benefits especially friction on dry hair.