Abstract: An acyl amide product of reaction of polypeptides useful in cosmetics such as hair sprays because it is alcohol soluble and forms continuous films which are insoluble in water of neutral or acidic pH, is prepared by hydrolyzing proteins with either alkali metal hydroxides or calcium hodroxide mixture, bonding to the hydrolyzate an acyl radical selected from the group consisting of 12, 14, 16 and 18 carbon atoms through amide linkages to produce reaction products of for example, alkali metal hydrolyzates, the reaction products of the respective acyl radicals having an average total molecular weight in the ranges of 433 to 583; 386 to 486; 389 to 489; and 392 to 467.