Acrylic hair fixatives and methods of making same

A method for preparing an acrylic hair fixative composition, the method comprising:

• combining a solvent system which comprises water and optionally an organic solvent at levels of greater than 50 weight percent water, based on total weight of the water and the organic solvent, and 0 to less than 50 weight percent of the organic solvent, based on total weight of the water and the organic solvent, an acrylic polymer which is insoluble in the solvent system and which is suitable for use in a hair fixative composition, and a neutralizing base in amounts effective to neutralize the acrylic polymer to the extent that the neutralized acrylic polymer is soluble in the solvent system, thereby forming a homogenous solution of the neutralized acrylic polymer in the solvent system, which solution has a pH of about 7 or greater,
• adding to the homogeneous solution of the neutralized acrylic polymer an acid in amounts effective to provide a solution of a partially-neutralized acrylic polymer in the solvent system, which solution of partially-neutralized acrylic polymer has a pH which is lower than the pH of the solution of the neutralized acrylic polymer and a viscosity which is less than the viscosity of the solution of the neutralized acrylic polymer, wherein the addition of the acid is conducted under conditions effective to provide the homogeneous solution of the partially-neutralized acrylic polymer and wherein the pH and the viscosity of the solution of the partially-neutralized acrylic polymer are effective for use in the acrylic hair fixative composition;
• and
• combining with the solution of the partially-neutralized acrylic polymer water, 0 to 40 weight percent of a propellant, and 0 to 15 weight percent of an emulsifier,
• thereby forming the acrylic hair fixative composition, wherein the acrylic hair fixative composition comprises from about 3 to about 10 dry weight percent of the partially-neutralized acrylic polymer and from about 25 to about 97 weight percent of the water, wherein the respective weight percents of the propellant, the emulsifier, the partially-neutralized acrylic polymer and the water are based on the total weight of the hair fixative composition.

A hair fixative composition, comprising:

• a homogenous solution of a partially-neutralized acrylic polymer which is suitable for use in a hair fixative composition in an amount effective for use in the hair fixative composition,
• from about 25 to about 97 weight percent of water,
• 0 to 40 weight percent of a propellant,
• 0 to 15 weight percent of an emulsifier;
• and
• 0 to 35 weight percent of an organic solvent,
• wherein the respective weight percents of the water, the propellant, the emulsifier and the organic solvent are based on the total weight of the hair fixative composition, the hair fixative composition characterized in that the homogenous solution of the partially-neutralized acrylic polymer was prepared by,
• combining a solvent system which comprises water and optionally an organic solvent at levels of greater than 50 weight percent water, based on total weight of the water and the organic solvent, and 0 to less than 50 weight percent of the organic solvent, based on total weight of the water and the organic solvent, an acrylic polymer which is insoluble in the solvent system and which is suitable for use in a hair fixative composition, and a neutralizing base in amounts effective to neutralize the acrylic polymer to the extent that the neutralized acrylic polymer is soluble in the solvent system, thereby forming a homogenous solution of the neutralized acrylic polymer in the solvent system, which solution has a pH of about 7 or greater;
• and
• adding to the homogeneous solution of the neutralized acrylic polymer an acid in amounts effective to provide a solution of the partially-neutralized acrylic polymer in the solvent system, which solution of partially-neutralized acrylic polymer has a pH which is lower than the pH of the solution of the neutralized acrylic polymer and a viscosity which is less than the viscosity of the solution of the neutralized acrylic polymer, wherein the addition of the acid is conducted under conditions effective to provide the homogeneous solution of the partially-neutralized acrylic polymer and wherein the pH and the viscosity of the solution of the partially-neutralized acrylic polymer are effective for use in the acrylic hair fixative composition.