Process for permanent shaping of the hair using ultrasound

Abstract

The invention relates to a process for permanent reshaping of keratin fibres, in particular of the hair, comprising: a) a step of applying, to the keratin fibres, a reducing composition containing one or more reducing agents chosen from non-sulphur-containing reducing agents, protective thiols, sulphites, bisulphites or derivatives of sulphinic acid, b) an optional step of rinsing said fibres, then c) an optional step of fixing by oxidation, characterized in that the process comprises a step d) of applying, to the keratin fibres, ultrasonic waves delivered by a generator supplying mechanical vibrations of which the frequency is between 20 kHz and 1000 kHz, step d) being carried out after or during step a), it being possible for the process to optionally comprise a step e) of placing the keratin fibres under mechanical tension by means of a device capable of imposing a shape on said fibres.

1 - 14 . (canceled) 
     
     
         15 . A method of shaping keratin fibers, said method comprising:
 a. applying a reducing composition to the keratin fibers, wherein said reducing composition contains at least one reducing agent chosen from non-sulphur-containing reducing agents, protective thiols, sulphites, bisulphites, and derivatives of sulphinic acid;   b. optionally rinsing the keratin fibers;   c. optionally fixing the keratin fibers with an oxidation compound;   d. applying ultrasonic waves to the keratin fibers, said ultrasonic waves having a frequency ranging from about 20 kHz to about 1000 kHz; and   e. optionally placing the keratin fibers under mechanical tension by a device configured to impose a shape on keratin fibers through means of mechanical tension;   wherein step (d) is carried out during or after step (a).   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the frequency of the ultrasonic waves ranges from about 25 kHz to about 500 kHz. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the frequency of the ultrasonic waves ranges from about 30 kHz to about 100 kHz. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein ultrasonic waves are applied to the keratin fibers by means of a device configured to impose a shape on keratin fibers by means of mechanical tension. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the device configured to impose a shape on keratin fibers is chosen from ultrasound-emitting curlers, ultrasound-emitting straightening tongs, and ultrasound-emitting curling tongs. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the ultrasonic waves are applied to the keratin fibers by a device that is different from the device configured to impose a shape on keratin fibers. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the device configured to impose a shape on keratin fibers is chosen from probes and guns. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the at least one reducing agent is chosen from non-sulphur-containing reducing agents chosen from phosphines, alkali metal or alkaline-earth metal borohydrides, reducing sugars, and reductones. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the at least one reducing agent is chosen from sulphites, bisulphites, and derivatives of sulphinic acid. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the at least one reducing agent is chosen from alkali metal and alkaline-earth metal sulphites and bisulphites; ammonium sulphites and bisulphites; and alkanolamine sulphites and bisulphites. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the at least one reducing agent is chosen from protective thiols chosen from thioesters, thiocarbonates, thiocarbamates, and thioethers. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the pH of the reducing composition ranges from about 2 to about 13. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the pH of the reducing composition ranges from about 7 to about 11. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the oxidation compound is chosen from alkali metal bromates and hydrogen peroxide. 
     
     
         29 . A kit comprising:
 a device configured to apply a mechanical tension to keratin fibers to impose a shape on keratin fibers;   a device configured to deliver ultrasonic waves having a frequency ranging from about 20 kHz to about 1000 kHz to keratin fibers; and   a compartment containing a reducing composition comprising at least one reducing agent chosen from non-sulphur-containing reducing agents, protective thiols, sulphites, bisulphites, and derivatives of sulphinic acid.   
     
     
         30 . The kit of  claim 29 , wherein the device configured to apply a mechanical tension to keratin fibers and the device configured to deliver ultrasonic waves are identical. 
     
     
         31 . The kit of  claim 29 , wherein the device configured to apply a mechanical tension to keratin fibers and the device configured to deliver ultrasonic waves are different.