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.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0001]This invention relates to removal of the natural curl of hair, and in particular to a hair straightening system, method, and compositions for enhancing the removal of all of the natural curl of hair with minimal loss of desirable hair aesthetics.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]There is a growing desire and demand globally by persons of ethnic persuasions, other than African descent, who have naturally curly hair ranging from a wavy to tightly curled configuration, for products that can remove substantially all of the natural curl from the hair. In an attempt to describe the visual natural curl configuration of hair, regardless of the ethnicity of the person, one classification system was developed by Andre Walker, a well known hair stylist to celebrities, which has been generally adopted and modified by the trade.[0003]Briefly described, Walker classified Type 1 hair as straight hair (no curl); Type 2 hair as wavy hair (somewhat “S”-shaped, curls); Type ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The invention is about a method for straightening curly hair that results in a desirable texture and shine. The method involves using an alkaline composition to partially straighten the hair, followed by an acidic composition to further straighten the hair. The hair is then dried and pressed with a heated iron. A hair conditioning composition can be used to further condition the hair. The method can provide a soft, silky, and shiny texture for Type 2 to Type 4 hair.

Problems solved by technology

It is well known that Type 3 and Type 4 hair is very difficult to comb and style.

Typically, Type 3 and Type 4 hair has a bulky volume, especially under humid conditions, so maintaining a desirable hair style daily is very difficult.

The art of removing the natural curl from naturally curly hair was practiced, in the early days, by applying a pomade to the hair and then straightening the curl by combing the pomade-coated hair, under tension, using a heated metal comb, a process commonly referred to as “pressing.” Although pressing left the hair shiny, silky, the process was cumbersome, and the straightening effect was only temporary.

The pomades were cosmetically unaesthetic greases and difficult to remove from the hair.

Additionally, the metal combs were heated, either electrically or on a stove, to relatively high temperatures, which posed the risk of burning the unprotected skin and scalp or of singeing the hair.

However, the hair straightening effect is temporary and the curls configuration of hair that is has been temporarily straightened by these procedures reverts to its natural curly or wavy configuration readily on exposure to humidity, or perspiration, and especially upon washing the hair.

For effectively removing all the natural curl, the lanthionizing chemical relaxer must be left on the hair for long periods, such as 30 to 45 minutes, which results in unacceptable levels of undesirable hair damage.

This process, however, was tediously long, taking between four and six hours to complete, and chemical damage was not avoided.

While hair straightened by the foregoing Brazilian processes was silky, straight and shiny, there are major drawbacks to using formaldehyde-based products due to health and environmental concerns and governmental Regulatory restrictions.

The permissible amount of formaldehyde in hair and skin care products in many countries, including Brazil, cannot exceed 0.2% free formaldehyde, making it cosmetically undesirable.

Additionally, exposure to formaldehyde solutions can cause contact dermatitis and formaldehyde fumes given off during the blow-drying process raises health concerns to the users and practitioners, because formaldehyde generally is presumed to be a carcinogen.

Cross-links produced by formaldehyde are not stable to acid or alkaline hydrolysis, and in aqueous solution, formaldehyde undesirably forms methylene glycol and can react with oxygen to produce formic acid.

Thus, formaldehyde is toxicologically unacceptable.

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