Colouring composition

Abstract

A rinse off colouring composition comprises: (i) a clay having a net positive or negative charge at its surface; and (ii) an agent capable of imparting a colour to hair. The agent has a net charge which is opposite from the charge on the surface of the clay. The compositions have good colour delivery to hair and reduced colouration of skin relative to colouration of hair.

1 . Rinse off hair colouring composition comprising: 
 (i) a clay having a net positive or negative charge at its surface;    (ii) an agent capable of imparting a colour to hair; and    (iii) a perfume and/or a surfactant,    wherein the agent has a net charge which is opposite from the charge on the surface of the clay.    
     
     
         2 . Composition as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the clay has a layered structure.  
     
     
         3 . Composition as claimed in  claim 1  or  claim 2  wherein the clay is present in the form of a dispersion or suspension of clay particles.  
     
     
         4 . Composition as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, which contains at least sufficient clay to balance the charge on the agent.  
     
     
         5 . Composition as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the weight ratio of clay to agent is in the range of from 1:10 to 1:0.5.  
     
     
         6 . Composition as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein the weight ratio of clay to agent is in the range of from 1:5 to 1:0.7.  
     
     
         7 . Composition as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the agent is a molecular cation or a molecular anion.  
     
     
         8 . Composition as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the clay is an anionic clay and the agent is a cationic dye.  
     
     
         9 . Composition as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein the clay is from the smectite class of clays.  
     
     
         10 . Composition as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein the clay is a natural, synthetic or chemically modified clay of the type selected from the group consisting of hectorite, montmorillonite, nontronite, saponite, beidelite, sauconite and mixtures thereof.  
     
     
         11 . Composition as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein the clay is synthetic hectorite.  
     
     
         12 . Composition as claimed in any one of  claims 8  to  11 , wherein the agent is the cation of a Basic dye.  
     
     
         13 . Composition as claimed in any one of  claims 1  to  7 , wherein the clay is a cationic clay and the agent is an anionic dye.  
     
     
         14 . Composition as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein the clay is a natural or synthetic layered double hydroxide clay.  
     
     
         15 . Composition as claimed in  claim 13  or  claim 14 , wherein the agent is the anion of an Acid dye.  
     
     
         16 . Composition as claimed in any one of the preceding claims which is a hair colourant composition.  
     
     
         17 . Composition as claimed in any one of the preceding claims which is a hair conditioning composition comprising a hair conditioning agent.  
     
     
         18 . Composition as claimed in any one of  claims 1  to  17  which is a shampoo composition further comprising a surfactant.  
     
     
         19 . Method of producing a composition of any one of  claims 1  to  18  which comprises dispersing the clay in an aqueous liquid to form a dispersion and then bringing the agent into contact with the dispersion.  
     
     
         20 . Method as claimed in  claim 19  wherein the clay is hydrated before the agent is added.  
     
     
         21 . Method of colouring hair which comprises applying to the hair a composition as claimed in any one of  claims 1  to  18 .  
     
     
         22 . Use of a clay to reduce the amount that an agent capable of imparting a colour to hair colours skin relative to the amount that the agent colours hair, wherein the clay has a net charge at its surface and the agent has a net charge which is opposite from that of the clay.  
     
     
         23 . Use as claimed in  claim 22 , wherein the clay is an anionic clay and the agent is a cationic dye molecule.  
     
     
         24 . Use as claimed in  claim 22 , wherein the clay is a cationic clay and the agent is an anionic dye molecule.