Process and composition for protecting the hair from the degradation effects of a permanent wave

A process for protecting the hair from the degradation effects of a permanent wave operation comprising applying to the hair immediately before or immediately after said permanent wave operation an effective amount of a lotion composition, free of an anionic polymer, comprising an aqueous solution of at least one polymer having units of the formula ##STR9## wherein R.sub.1, R.sub.2, R.sub.3 and R.sub.4, each independently represent alkyl having 1-20 carbon atoms, hydroyxalkyl having 1-20 carbon atoms, cycloalkyl having 5 or 6 carbon atoms in the ring, alkyl substituted cycloalkyl having 5 or 6 carbon atoms in the ring and wherein the total number of carbon atoms is less than 20 and phenylalkyl wherein the alkyl moiety has 1-3 carbon atoms, one or both of the pairs R.sub.1 and R.sub.2, and R.sub.3 and R.sub.4, together with the nitrogen atom to which each of said respective pairs is attached, form a ring having 2-6 carbon atoms or a ring having 2-6 carbons atoms and a heteroatom other than nitrogen;

• X.sup.- is an inorganic or organic acid anion;
• m is 2 or 3;
• and
• A represents linear or branched alkylene or alkenylene having 2-18 carbon atoms, linear or branched alkylene or alkenylene having 2-18 carbon atoms and substituted by one or more of --OH and .dbd.O groups, linear or branched alkylene or alkenylene having 2-18 carbon atoms and interrupted by one or more of oxygen, sulfur, nitrogen or phenylene groups said polymer being present in an amount ranging from 0.1 to 10 percent by weight based on the total weight of said composition.