Enhanced hair straightening system

Abstract

The present enhanced hair straightening system is directed to enhancing the removal of natural curl from hair having a visibly wavy to tight curly configuration using methods and compositions that provide straightened hair which retains desirable sensory tactile properties and hair sheen. The present invention is particularly suited to straightening hair having a curl configuration classified as resistant to conventional hair straightening.

1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 15  wherein the alkaline composition comprises a sufficient amount of chemical base to maintain a pH of at least 9.5 during step (a). 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the chemical base in the alkaline composition comprises at least one compound selected from the group consisting of an alkali metal hydroxide, an alkaline earth metal hydroxide, an organic amine, and alkaline salts thereof. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the chemical base in the alkaline composition comprises at least one alkali metal hydroxide selected from the group consisting of sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide, and lithium hydroxide. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the chemical base in the alkaline composition comprises calcium hydroxide. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the chemical base in the alkaline composition comprises at least one organic amine selected from the group consisting of guanidine, guanidine hydroxide, and a C 1 -C 6  alkanolamine. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the chemical base in the alkaline composition comprises at least one salt selected from the group consisting of guanidine carbonate, sodium carbonate, and sodium phosphate. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the acidic composition comprises at least one glyoxylic amide selected from the group consisting of N-glyoxylcarbocysteine, N-glyoxylderivatives of keratin amino acids and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the oxidizing agent in the hair conditioning composition in step (i), when present, is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen peroxide and sodium bromate. 
     
     
         10 - 14 . (canceled) 
     
     
         15 . A method of enhancing the removal of the natural curl from hair having a visibly wavy to tight curly configuration, the method comprising the steps of:
 (a) contacting naturally wavy, curly hair with an alkaline composition comprising a sufficient amount of chemical base to provide alkalinity in the range of at least pH 8.5 to about pH 14 for a period sufficient to partially straighten the original configuration of the hair;   (b) optionally washing the partially straightened hair;   (c) drying the partially straightened hair to a substantially dry state, optionally with a hair conditioning composition on the hair;   (d) contacting the so-dried, partially straightened hair with an acidic composition having an acidity of less than about pH 2.5, the acidic composition comprising at least one compound selected from the group consisting of glyoxylic acid, a glyoxylic amide, and a mixture thereof, in a cosmetically acceptable vehicle and present in an amount sufficient to further straighten the configuration of the hair;   (e) optionally heating the hair in step (d) for a period of up to about 30 minutes;   (f) optionally washing the further straightened hair;   (g) drying the further straightened hair to a substantially dried state; and   (h) pressing the substantially dried straightened hair with a heated iron.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the hair is covered with a cap during step (e), the cap being removed before steps (f) and (g). 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , further including the steps of:
 (i) washing the pressed, straightened hair with water after step (h), and optionally contacting the washed hair with a hair conditioning composition comprising an oxidizing agent, and optionally, washing the conditioned hair with water;   (j) blow drying the hair after step (i) optionally with a thermal protectant composition present on the hair; and   (k) pressing the blow-dried hair with a heated iron, optionally with a hair conditioning composition on the hair.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the chemical base in the alkaline composition comprises at least one compound selected from the group consisting of an alkali metal hydroxide, an alkaline earth metal hydroxide, an organic amine, and alkaline salts thereof. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the chemical base in the alkaline composition comprises at least one alkali metal hydroxide selected from the group consisting of sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide, and lithium hydroxide. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the chemical base in the alkaline composition comprises calcium hydroxide. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the chemical base in the alkaline composition comprises at least one organic amine selected from the group consisting of guanidine, guanidine hydroxide, and a C 1 -C 6  alkanolamine. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the chemical base in the alkaline composition comprises at least one salt selected from the group consisting of guanidine carbonate, sodium carbonate, and sodium phosphate. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the acidic composition comprises at least one glyoxylic amide selected from the group consisting of N-glyoxylcarbocysteine, N-glyoxylderivatives of keratin amino acids and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 15  wherein the chemical base in the alkaline composition comprises calcium hydroxide, guanidine carbonate, and a mixture thereof. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the alkaline composition comprises guanidine hydroxide and the acidic composition comprises N-glyoxylcarbocysteine, N-glyoxylderivatives of keratin amino acids, and a mixture thereof. 
     
     
         26 . An article of manufacture in the form of a kit containing the following components for practicing the method of  claim 15 , each in separately packaged form:
 an alkaline composition comprising at least one chemical base selected from the group consisting of an alkali metal hydroxide, an alkaline earth metal hydroxide, an organic amine, and alkaline salts thereof in an amount sufficient to provide alkalinity in the range of at least pH 8.5 to about pH 14;   an acidic composition having an acidity of less than about pH 2.5, the acidic composition comprising at least one compound selected from the group consisting of glyoxylic acid, a glyoxylic amide, and a mixture thereof, in a cosmetically acceptable vehicle; and   optionally a hair conditioning composition;   instructional indicia on how to use the components during the method for enhancing the removal of the natural curl from hair having a visibly wavy to tight curly configuration; and   optionally, one or more hair straightening implements.