Nanoscopic hair care products

Abstract

The present invention is directed to a hair treatment preparation comprising a payload in an intimate relationship to a polymeric nanostructure, the polymeric nanostructure being reactive to hair or capable of being immobilized onto or in hair. The nanoscopic nature of the entities being engineered ensures three distinct characteristics. First, the imparted attribute can be either nearly permanent or semi-permanent, depending on the attachment chemistry. In the semi-permanent version, the intended effect can be controllably erased by removal of the nanostructure by simple chemical or physical means. Second, the nanoscopic entities are invisibly small. Their presence does not deteriorate the hand or feel of the hair. Third, the nano-technology approach is infinitely flexible and adaptable. It can be coupled with many existing dyes, colorants, UV absorbers, fragrances, softening agents and the like for hair treatment. Methods for treating hair with the hair treatment preparations of the invention are also encompassed.

1 . A hair treatment preparation comprising a payload in an intimate relationship to a polymeric nanostructure, the polymeric nanostructure being reactive to hair or capable of being immobilized onto or in hair. 
     
     
         2 . A hair treatment preparation according to  claim 1  wherein the polymeric nanostructure is a nanoparticle comprising the payload entrapped in a polymer shell. 
     
     
         3 . A hair treatment preparation according to  claim 1  wherein the polymeric nanostructure is a nanoscopic network. 
     
     
         4 . A hair treatment preparation according to  claim 3  wherein the nanoscopic network is selected from the group consisting of a linear polymer, a branched polymer, and a highly branched polymer. 
     
     
         5 . A hair treatment preparation according to  claim 1  wherein the polymeric nanostructure further comprises hair-reactive functional groups. 
     
     
         6 . A hair treatment preparation according to  claim 1  wherein the polymeric nanostructure further comprises functional groups that will react with a mordant. 
     
     
         7 . A hair treatment preparation according to  claim 1  wherein the polymeric nanostructure further comprises functional groups that will react with a cationic fixing agent. 
     
     
         8 . A hair treatment preparation according to  claim 1  wherein the polymeric nanostructure further comprises functional groups that will react with an anionic fixing agent. 
     
     
         9 . A hair treatment preparation according to  claim 1  wherein the polymeric nanostructure further comprises functional groups that will react with a fixing agent that relies on hydrophobic interactions or on hydrogen bonding. 
     
     
         10 . A method of treating hair which comprises,
 applying a hair treatment preparation to the hair, the hair treatment preparation comprising a payload in an intimate relationship to a polymeric nanostructure, the polymeric nanostructure being reactive to hair or capable of being immobilized onto or in the hair; and   changing the conditions such that the payload and nanostructure are attached to the hair.   
     
     
         11 . A method according to  claim 10  wherein the nanostructure further comprises hair-reactive functional groups that, under the change in conditions, will covalently bond to the hair. 
     
     
         12 . A method according to  claim 10  wherein the nanostructure further comprises functional groups that are electrostatically interactive with complementary groups on the surface of the hair when, under the change of conditions, the ionic strength or surfactant content is shifted by rinsing. 
     
     
         13 . A method according to  claim 12  wherein the electrostatic interaction is selected from the group consisting of charge-charge, dipolar, hydrogen-bonding, hydrophobic, and dehydration interactions. 
     
     
         14 . A method according to  claim 10  wherein the nanostructure is a polyelectrolyte and the change in conditions is exposure of the nanostructure to a polyelectrolyte of opposite isoelectric point to form a complex coating the treated hair. 
     
     
         15 . A method according to  claim 10  wherein the hair treatment preparation further comprises a surfactant, and the nanostructure is in a finely divided dispersion; and the change of conditions is rinsing away the surfactant, leaving the nanostructure adhering to the treated hair. 
     
     
         16 . A method according to  claim 10  wherein the nanostructure is a crosslinkable surfactant comprising functional groups that are reactive with a mordant, and the change of conditions is the application of a mordant to the hair to form a complex coating the treated hair. 
     
     
         17 . A method according to  claim 10  wherein the nanostructure is dispersed in a medium, and the change of conditions is a change in the thermodynamic balance of the medium, causing the nanostructure to be deposited on the surface of the treated hair. 
     
     
         18 . A method according to  claim 10  wherein the nanostructure comprises functional groups that are reactive with a mordant, and the change of conditions is the application of a mordant to the hair to form a complex coating the treated hair. 
     
     
         19 . A method according to  claim 10  which comprises the further step of changing the conditions back, such that the payload and nanostructure are detached from the hair.