Hair conditioning composition

#This invention pertains to cosmetic hair conditioning compositions. In particular, the present invention relates to an aqueous hair conditioning composition that preferably imparts a silky wet feel to hair and inhibits fly-away at low relative humidity (RH) when applied as a rinse off conditioner.

#As is well known, many consumers apply a rinse-off conditioner to hair after shampooing. In this respect, hair shampoos generally contain surfactants that often leave the hair undesirably harsh, dull, and dry. In addition, shampooed hair often becomes tangled when wet and/or dry such that combing and brushing of the hair is hampered. Furthermore, especially in low humidity environments (e.g., an RH below 35% such as can be found in cold winter climates), the hair frequently exhibits poor electrostatic properties such that it is susceptible to “fly-away.” Thus, to address the conditioning properties of the hair, both in the wet and dry states, conditioner is applied to render the hair more manageable, to minimize fly away, static charge, and tangling of the hair, as well as to soften hair and facilitate combing.

#There is a continuing need for improved hair conditioning compositions, particularly low cost alternatives. Typically, hair conditioning formulations contain, as an active ingredient, a quaternary ammonium compound in which the molecular structure includes a nitrogen joined to four organic groups (i.e., the cation) and a negatively charged acid radical (i.e., the anion). Some quaternary ammonium compounds provide desirable antistatic properties in dry hair but suffer from poor application properties and do not provide the hair with a smooth, silky, aesthetically pleasing feel in wet hair. Other quaternary ammonium compounds provide a smooth, silky feel to wet hair and can be applied with ease, but do not provide sufficient antistatic properties to dry hair. Conventional hair conditioners often include other ingredients, such as, for example, a polyoxyethylene stearate ether like polyoxyethylene (21) stearyl ether (steareth 21) or a polyoxythylene cetearyl ether like polyexethylene (20) cetearyl ether (ceteareth 20), silicone derivates, and/or an amidoamine. Such ingredients tend to add significant cost to the end product because they are expensive raw materials.

#This example demonstrates methods for producing exemplary hair conditioning compositions of the invention.

#The list of ingredients and their wt. % amounts for each of Hair Conditioning Compositions 1A, 1B, and 1C are summarized in Table 1. The preparation of Hair Conditioning Composition 1A consisted of a two-part process. Deionized water, citric acid, and disodium EDTA were placed in an appropriately sized vessel and heated, with stirring, to 80° C. In a separate vessel, cetyl alcohol, stearyl alcohol, glyceryl stearate, and stearalkonium chloride (85% active) (“oil-phase ingredients”) were melted together with stirring to form a homogeneous mixture. The oil phase ingredient mixture was added to the aqueous mixture and stirred for 10 minutes at 80° C. The mixture was then cooled to 60° C. and cetrimonium chloride (25% active) was added under slow mixing. The mixture was then further cooled to 45° C. and DMDM hydantoin and the fragrance were added. Hair Conditioning Composition 1A had a final pH of 3.31

#Hair Conditioning Compositions 1B and 1C were prepared using a one-part process. Deionized water, citric acid, and disodium EDTA were placed in an appropriately sized vessel and heated, with stirring, to 80° C. When the aqueous solution had reached 70° C., cetyl alcohol, stearyl alcohol, glyceryl stearate (if present), and stearalkonium chloride (85% active) were added. The mixture was heated with stirring until the temperature reached 80° C. and then the temperature was maintained for 10 minutes. The mixture was then cooled to 60° C. and cetrimonium chloride (25% active) was added at a slow mixing speed. The mixture was then cooled to 45° C. and DMDM hydantoin and the fragrance were added. Hair Conditioning Compositions 1B and 1C had a final pH of 3.44 and 3.37, respectively. As used herein, the “total amount of actives” refers to the total amount of cetrimonium chloride and stearalkonium chloride in the formulation. 1 TABLE 1 1A 1B 1C Hair Conditioning Composition (wt. %) (wt. %) (wt. %) Water 93.98 94.16 94.36 Citric Acid 0.015 0.015 0.015 Cetyl Alcohol 1.20 1.80 1.80 Stearyl Alcohol 1.80 1.20 1.20 Cetrimonium Chloride, 25% 1.70 1.44 1.44 Stearalkonium Chloride, 85% 0.56 0.64 0.64 Glyceryl Stearate 0.20 0.20 0 DMDM Hydantoin 0.20 0.20 0.20 Disodium EDTA 0.03 0.03 0.03 Fragrance 0.315 0.315 0.315 Total Amount of Actives 0.90 0.90 0.90