Formulations and methods for straightening hair

Abstract

Compositions and methods for treating keratin-related conditions and disorders such as straightening and styling hair, treating nail fungal conditions such as onychomycosis, ingrown nails, and hyperkeratotic conditions of the epidermis such as psoriasis, acne, callouses, corns, verruca, particularly plantar warts, and surface lines and blemishes of aging skin by aiding the exfoliation of keratinocytes. The compositions comprise at least one alkanoic acid in aqueous solution.

I claim:  
     
         1 . A hair-straightening formulation comprising: 
 (i) at least one alkanoic acid; and    (ii) an acceptable diluent, wherein the hair-straightening formulation does not include use of an effective amount of an alkaline hair-straightening agent.    
     
     
         2 . The formulation of  claim 1  wherein the diluent comprises water, and comprising about 0.25% to 30% alkanoic acid and greater than 50% water by weight.  
     
     
         3 . The formulation of  claim 2  further comprising less than 30% of at least one auxillary component selected from a fragrance, odor masker, conditioner, gelling agent, and penetration enhancer.  
     
     
         4 . The formulation of  claim 1  in which the alkanoic acid is selected from the group consisting of acetic, methanoic, ethanoic, 2-methylbutanoic, propanoic, 2-methylpropanoic, 2,2 dimethylpropanoic, decanoic, octanoic, hex-2-enoic, heptanoic, 6-methylheptanoic, 3-ethylpentanoic, 3-chloropentanoic, 2-hydroxypropanoic, 2-chloro-4-hydroxyhexanoic, hexanedioic, octadecanoic, 4-oxopentanoic, and 6-hydroxy-4-oxonanoic acids.  
     
     
         5 . A hair-straightening formulation consisting essentially of about 0.25 to 30% by weight of at least one alkanoic acid diluted in greater than 50% water by weight; and less than 30% by weight of at least one auxiliary component selected from a fragrance, odor masker, conditioner, penetration enhancer, and gelling agent,  
     
     
         6 . The formulation of  claim 5  having a pH value of less than 7.0 effective for straightening hair.  
     
     
         7 . A method for straightening hair comprising 
 (i) contacting said hair with a formulation comprising at least one alkanoic acid, an acceptable diluent comprising greater than one-percent water, and optionally at least one auxiliary component;    (ii) optionally washing said hair with a shampoo;    (iii) optionally conditioning said hair,    wherein an effective amount of an alkaline hair straightening agent is not applied to the hair.    
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7  in which the alkanoic acid is selected from the group consisting of acetic, methanoic, ethanoic, 2-methylbutanoic, propanoic, 2-methylpropanoic, 2,2 dimethylpropanoic, decanoic, octanoic, hex-2-enoic, heptanoic, 6-methylheptanoic, 3-ethylpentanoic, 3-chloropentanoic, 2-hydroxypropanoic, 2-chloro4-hydroxyhexanoic, hexanedioic, octadecanoic, 4-oxopentanoic, and 6-hydroxy-4-oxonanoic acids  
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 7  comprising at least one of hair-straightening maintenance, relaxation of curl, and reduction of frizziness of hair produced from humid weather.  
     
     
         11 . A method for straightening hair comprising contacting said hair with a hair-straightening formulation comprising at least one alkanoic acid and a diluent comprising greater than one-percent water wherein the hair-straightening formulation has a pH of less than 7.0.  
     
     
         12 . A hair-straightening formulation comprising approximately 0.25 to 70% of at least one alkanoic acid diluted in acceptable diluent comprising greater than five percent water.  
     
     
         13 . A hair-straightening formulation comprising approximately 0.25 to 70% of at least one alkanoic acid diluted in acceptable diluent comprising greater than five percent water, wherein the formulation does not include use of an effective amount of an alkaline hair-straightening agent and has a pH of less than 7.0.  
     
     
         14 . A formulation for hair-straightening maintenance, relaxation of curl, and reduction of frizziness of hair comprising approximately 0.25% to 70% of at least one alkanoic acid diluted in an acceptable diluent comprising greater than five percent water.