DEVICE AND FORMULATION FOR HAIR

Abstract

Hair grooming device comprising a head, a nebuliser, a power supply therefore and a reservoir containing a composition to be applied to the hair during use by the nebuliser, the composition comprising a solution comprising hydrocarbon having an average carbon chain length of 13 or less and a benefit agent, and wherein the composition has a viscosity of 4.5 cSt or less 25° C.

Description

The present invention relates to a hair grooming device and a formulation for use therewith.

The present invention is concerned with the problem of deposition of a benefit agent, in particular silicone from a hair grooming device.

Accordingly, the present invention provides a hair grooming device comprising a head, a nebuliser, a power supply therefore and a reservoir containing a composition to be applied to the hair during use by the nebuliser, the composition comprising a solution comprising hydrocarbon having an average carbon chain length of 13 or less and a benefit agent, and wherein the composition has a viscosity of 5 cSt or less at 25° C.

Preferably, the head is bristle or tooth-bearing, more preferably the device is a comb or brush. Most preferably it is a brush.

The nebuliser is selected from those known in the art. Preferably, the nebuliser comprises a gauze defined by a rigid ring, a reservoir for containing a composition to be nebulised and a circuit connected to the power supply. Such a nebuliser is commercially available from Aerogen®.

Preferably, the gauze is convex with regard to the reservoir. This improves the movement of the nebulised fluid on to the hair during use.

Preferably, the nebuliser is located within the head and the head also comprises an aperture for releasing the nebulised fluid during use on to the hair. Preferably, the aperture is a hole or slot in the head. In a preferred embodiment there is a plurality of apertures.

Where the device is a brush it is preferred that the aperture is located centrally on the brush head. More preferably, the aperture is surrounded by bristles. Where there are more than one aperture they are preferably arranged symmetrically on the brush head to provide uniform release of nebulised.

Where the device is a comb it is preferred that there is a plurality of apertures located uniformly on the comb head.

Preferably, the nebuliser is located in a chamber in the device and the chamber is connected to the exterior by a channel.

Preferably, the device comprises a handle which houses the power source. Alternatively, the power source could be separate and the device powered through the mains.

The composition contained within the reservoir comprises a hydrocarbon having an average carbon chain length of 13 or less.

Benefit agents can be selected from the group consisting of moisturisers, anti-wrinkle agents, hair nutrients, and the like, fragrances, silicone oils, waxes, higher fatty acids, essential oils, lipids, skin coolants, vitamins, sunscreens, glycerine, hair styling polymers, colourants, hair conditioners, hair growth promoters, vitamins, hair straighteners, hair growth stimulants, hair shedding inhibitors, antibacterial compounds, antifungal compounds, anti-inflammatory compounds, anti-pruritic agents, sebum suppressants, sunscreens and mixtures thereof.

The benefit agent is preferably a silicone.

Suitable silicones include polydiorganosiloxanes, in particular polydimethylsiloxanes which have the CTFA designation dimethicone.

It is preferable if the silicone has a viscosity below 1000 cSt at 25° C., more preferably a viscosity below 700 cSt, more preferably a viscosity below 500 cSt at 25° C. Silicones with a viscosity of 350 or below are particularly preferred.

Suitable silicones having the required viscosities are available form Dow Corning, Wacker, GE and Clearco. Examples of these silicones are DC200 ex Dow, Wacker AK 350 and pure Silicone Fluid 350 cSt (food grade) from Clearco.

Preferably the total level of silicone within the composition is below 2 wt %, more preferably 1 wt % or below.

Hydrocarbons for use with the invention have an average hydrocarbon chain length of 13 or less, preferably the hydrocarbon chain has an average chain length greater the 6, more preferably the hydrocarbon has an average chain length from 8 to 12. Suitable primary solvents include isododecane and in isoparrafin H (C9-12) (Isopar H).

In some aspects of the invention the solvent system may comprise at least two components. Suitable secondary solvents for use in this solvent mix include cyclopentasiloxane, isopropyl palmitate and isopropyl myristate. The level of secondary solvent should not exceed 20 wt % of the solvent mix, preferably the level of secondary solvent should not exceed 10 wt %.

The hydrocarbons present in this composition are preferably present at levels in which they can solubilise the benefit agent. Preferably the levels of hydrocarbon are above 80 wt % of the total composition, more preferably above 90 wt %, most preferably above 95 wt %.

The viscosity of the final composition is 4.5 cSt or less 25° C., more preferably 4 cSt or less 25° C. Preferably the viscosity is 1.5 cSt or above at 25° C., more preferably above 2 cSt.

It is preferred if compositions that are applied using this system are left on hair after application and not immediately washed off (within 10 minutes of application). Such products are known as leave in compositions.

The invention will now be described with reference to the following non-limiting drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic section of a brush according to the invention, and

FIGS. 2a, b and c are plan views of a brush according to the invention.

In detail FIG. 1 shows a brush head 1 connected to a handle 2 which houses a power supply 3. The head 1 houses a nebuliser 10 which consists of a support 5 for a gauze 7 and a reservoir 6 containing a hair care composition. The brush head 1 also has bristles 8 depending there from and an aperture 9 in the head 1 for release of the nebulised hair care composition.

FIG. 2 shows three embodiments of apertures according to the invention. FIG. 2a shows a brush head 1 with an aperture 9 which runs centrally down the brush head and is surrounded on all sides by bristles 8. In FIG. 2b there are three apertures spaced uniformly and perpendicular to the general longitudinal axis of the brush (not shown). In FIG. 2c there are six apertures arranged in two lines of three diamond shaped apertures.

The following non-limiting Examples illustrate the benefit of the invention.

X g of a composition was placed in the reservoir of the device of FIG. 1. The device was placed so the mist emerging from it would deposit onto hair. The device was activated until the reservoir was empty. The amount of silicone deposited onto the hair measured using standard X-ray fluorescence techniques.

	Example 1	Example 2	Example A	Example 3	Example B	Example C
DC200 (350 cSt 25° C.)	1	1	1	1	1	1
Isopar H(9-12)	99
Isododecane		99		89
Isopropyl Palmitate			99	10
Isopar P(C13-C16)					99
Cyclopentasiloxane						99
Viscosity	3.00-3.50	3.50-4.00	>5.00	3.50-4.00	5.33	>4.00
(cSt @ 25° C.)
Deposited DC200	Can be	Can be	Cannot	Can be	Cannot	Cannot
(ppm) Measured by	nebulised	nebulised	be	nebulised	be	be
XRF		(550 ± 156)	nebulised		nebulised	nebulised

Claims

1. Hair grooming device comprising a head, a nebuliser, a power supply therefore and a reservoir containing a composition to be applied to the hair during use by the nebuliser, the composition comprising a solution comprising hydrocarbon having an average carbon chain length of 13 or less and a benefit agent, and wherein the composition has a viscosity of 4.5 cSt or less 25° C.

2. Device according to claim 1 in which the benefit agent is a silicone.

3. Device according to claim 2 in which the silicone has a viscosity below 500 cSt at 25° C.

4. Device according to claim 2 in which the total level of silicone within the composition is 1 wt % or below.

5. Device according to claim 1 in which the hydrocarbon has an average chain length from 8 to 12.

6. Hair grooming device according to claim 1 in which the head is bristle or tooth-bearing head.

7. Device according to claim 1 which is a brush.

8. Device according to claim 1 wherein the nebuliser comprises a gauze defined by a rigid ring, a reservoir for containing a composition to be nebulised and a circuit connected to the power supply.

9. Device according to claim 8 wherein the gauze is convex with regard to the reservoir.

10. Device according to claim 1 wherein the nebuliser is located within the head and the head also comprises an aperture for releasing the nebulised fluid during use on to the hair.

11. Device according to claim 1 comprising a handle which houses the power source.

12. A process for depositing a hair benefit agent onto the hair, the process comprising the following steps:

i) forming a composition comprising a hydrocarbon having an average carbon chain length of 13 or less and a benefit agent, and wherein the composition has a viscosity of less than 5 cSt at 25° C.

ii) nebulising the formulation using the apparatus described in any previous claim.