Hair styling method

Abstract

Provided is a method for styling hair that includes contacting the hair with a compositions that includes a poly(vinylamine-vinylformamide) copolymer and conditioning agents, applying heat to the hair in an amount effective to at least semi-permanently style the hair, and styling the hair. The method of the present invention promotes improved hair styling properties such as improved curl retention or straightness retention, e.g., under conditions of high relative humidity and temperature. The method can be used for semi-permanently straightening or curling the hair.

1 . A method for styling hair, the method comprising contacting the hair with a composition comprising a hair styling effective amount of a poly(vinylamine-vinylformamide) copolymer, applying heat to the hair in an amount effective to at least semi-permanently style the hair, and styling to at least semi-permanently style the hair. 
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the heat is applied at a temperature of at least about 100° C. for at least about 1 second. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the heat is applied at a temperature of from about 190° C. to about 240° C. for at least about 1 second. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the heat is applied for about 10 seconds. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the hair is contacted with the composition for from about 1 minute to about 20 minutes. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the styling comprises straightening the hair. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the styling comprises curling the hair. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the styling comprises contacting the hair with a shaped surface so as to manipulate the hair to conform to the shape of the surface. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the shaped surface is heated and the heat is applied to the hair with the shaped surface. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the shaped surface comprises a straight surface for straightening the hair, a curved surface for curling the hair, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the shaped surface is selected from flat iron surfaces, curling iron surfaces, hair curlers, hair straighteners, hair rollers, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the heat is applied via an indirect heat source. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the indirect heat source is selected from blow dryers, hood dryers, heating caps, steamers, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the heat is applied via an indirect heat source and the styling comprises contacting the hair with a shaped surface so as to manipulate the hair to conform to the shape of the surface. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the composition is substantially free of carbohydrates or analogues thereof. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the composition comprises from about 2 wt % to about 50 wt % of the poly(vinylamine-vinylformamide) copolymer. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the composition comprises from about 4 wt % to about 30 wt % of the poly(vinylamine-vinylformamide) copolymer. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the composition further comprises an aqueous carrier. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the composition further comprises a solvent. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the solvent is selected from the group consisting of alcohols, polyols, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the solvent comprises an alcohol. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the alcohol is ethanol. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the solvent comprises a polyol. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the polyol is selected from the group consisting of ethylene glycol, propylene glycol, butylene glycol, glycerine, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the composition further comprises a polyvinylpyrrolidone. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the poly(vinylamine-vinylformamide) copolymer comprises a high molecular weight poly(vinylamine-vinylformamide) copolymer. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the high molecular weight poly(vinylamine-vinylformamide) copolymer comprises at most about 95 mol % vinylamine monomers. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein the high molecular weight poly(vinylamine-vinylformamide) copolymer comprises at most about 50 mol % vinylamine monomers. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the poly(vinylamine-vinylformamide) copolymer comprises a high molecular weight poly(vinylamine-vinylformamide) copolymer, a low molecular weight poly(vinylamine-vinylformamide) copolymer, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the composition is in the form of a mousse or a gel. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the heat application and styling occur simultaneously. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the heat application and styling are performed two or more times. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein the heat application and styling are performed three or more times. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the step of contacting the hair with a conditioning composition. 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 34 , wherein the conditioning composition comprises a silicone. 
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 35 , wherein the silicone is a cyclomethicone. 
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 34 , wherein the conditioning composition comprises an alcohol. 
     
     
         38 . A method for straightening hair, the method comprising contacting hair with a composition comprising a hair styling effective amount of a poly(vinylamine-vinylformamide) copolymer, and contacting the hair with a styling device comprising at least one flat surface at a temperature of at least about 100° C. for at least about 1 second to at least semi-permanently straighten the hair. 
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 38 , further comprising the step of contacting the hair with a conditioning composition. 
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 34 , wherein the conditioning composition comprises a silicone. 
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 35 , wherein the silicone is a cyclomethicone. 
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 34 , wherein the conditioning composition comprises an alcohol. 
     
     
         43 . A method for curling hair, the method comprising contacting the hair with an effective amount of a composition comprising a hair straightening effective amount of a poly(vinylamine-vinylformamide) copolymer, and contacting hair with a styling device comprising at least one curved surface at a temperature of at least 100° C. for at least about 1 second to at least semi-permanently curl the hair. 
     
     
         44 . A method for straightening hair, the method comprising contacting hair with a composition comprising a hair styling effective amount of a poly(vinylamine-vinylformamide) copolymer, contacting the hair with a conditioning composition, and contacting the hair with a styling device comprising at least one flat surface at a temperature of at least about 100° C. for at least about 1 second to at least semi-permanently straighten the hair.