Hair Styling Polymer Coating for Damage-Free Durability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional hair styling methods often require harsh chemicals that damage hair and are not flexible, as they involve breaking disulfide bonds or using hazardous aldehydes, leading to temporary effects and potential harm to hair health.
Innovation Solution
A method using a composition comprising water-insoluble phenol-based monomers and hygroscopic agents that penetrate and cure within hair fibers without breaking disulfide bonds, allowing for temporary or permanent styling without altering the hair's molecular structure, and can be restyled or de-styled without damaging the hair.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Duration of action of stationary object
If harsh chemicals (reductive agents, strong alkaline agents, aldehydes) are used to achieve permanent hair styling, then the styling durability is improved, but the hair health deteriorates and harmful effects increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary substance (polymer composition) that mediates between the hair fiber and the styling effect. This composition forms a coating on the hair surface that provides styling durability without requiring harsh chemicals to penetrate and alter the hair's molecular structure. The intermediary polymer layer delivers the styling effect externally, protecting the hair's internal disulfide bonds from damage.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the chemical mechanism of bond breaking and reformation (using reductive agents and aldehydes) with a physical mechanism of coating and conformational constraint. The polymer composition forms a mechanical coating that constrains the hair fiber in the desired shape, eliminating the need for chemical disruption of disulfide bonds and avoiding the harmful effects of traditional chemical styling methods.
2Duration of action of stationary object
If formaldehyde and glutaraldehyde are used as cross-linkers to prolong styling durability, then the styling longevity is improved, but the safety and health effects worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a temporary polymer coating that provides styling longevity without the need for persistent chemical cross-linkers like formaldehyde and glutaraldehyde. The polymer composition forms a protective layer that maintains style over time through physical constraint rather than chemical bonding, eliminating the carcinogenic and irritating effects of traditional cross-linking agents.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the chemical parameters of the styling composition by replacing hazardous aldehyde-based cross-linkers with a polymer composition that cures through alternative mechanisms (e.g., moisture curing or oxidation). This parameter change maintains styling longevity while eliminating the harmful chemical properties of formaldehyde and glutaraldehyde.
3Duration of action of stationary object
If disulfide bonds are broken to achieve permanent hair styling, then the styling permanence is improved, but the hair structural integrity worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the styling function from the hair fiber structure by applying a separate polymer coating that provides permanence without affecting the internal disulfide bonds. The coating acts as an independent styling layer, allowing the hair's natural structural integrity to remain unchanged while achieving permanent styling effects through the external polymer constraint.
Solution Approach 2:
The polymer composition serves as an intermediary that achieves styling permanence without directly interacting with or breaking the hair's disulfide bonds. The coating mediates the styling effect by physically constraining the hair fiber in the desired shape, preserving the hair's structural integrity while achieving permanent results.
4Duration of action of stationary object
If aldehyde-based straightening agents are applied to achieve semi-permanent styling, then the styling durability is improved, but the hair moisture and shine deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the harmful effect of aldehyde-based agents (which strip moisture and shine) into a beneficial effect by using a polymer coating that actually protects the hair surface. The coating provides styling durability while maintaining or enhancing hair moisture and shine, transforming the traditional trade-off into a dual benefit.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a flexible polymer shell or thin film that coats the hair surface and provides styling durability without compromising the hair's moisture and shine. The flexible coating maintains the hair's natural appearance and texture while delivering long-lasting styling effects, unlike rigid chemical treatments that strip the hair of its natural properties.
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 method provides long-lasting hair styling without compromising the hair's mechanical properties, allowing for flexible changes in style without the need for new treatments and minimizing damage, while using safer chemicals.
Implementation Method 1
The hair styling composition is applied to the hair fibers and allowed to remain in contact therewith for a period of time sufficient to ensure at least partial penetration of the PBM(s) into the hair fibers. Energy is then applied to the hair fibers, so as to at least partially cure at least part of the PBMs having penetrated within the hair fibers.
Implementation Method 2
at least one water-soluble hygroscopic agent (WHA)
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure relates to a hair styling composition comprising a phenol-based monomer and a water-soluble hygroscopic agent capable of penetrating within the hair upon application thereto, the curing of the monomers adapted to internally form a polymer able to overcome the tendency of the hair to revert to its native shape. When curing is performed while the hair is in a desired modified shape, the resulting polymers may maintain the modified shape, whilst the hygroscopic agents may prolong the hair styling effect. Kits allowing to prepare the hair styling composition and methods of using the same are also disclosed.