CONTAINERS FOR FORMING HAIR BLEACHING

FORMULATIONS CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to U.S. S.N. 62/556,553 , filed on September 11, 2017, which is incorporated herein in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to soluble and/or degradable containers, such as capsules, pouches, sachets, or pods, for use in a hair bleaching process.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Conventional hair bleach powder compositions used for lightening hair, generally in the form of fine powders, are typically mixed with liquids or creams containing hydrogen peroxide before application to hair. These fine powders easily become airborne when transferred from containers to the bowls where they are mixed with the peroxide-containing liquids or creams. Airborne bleach powders and dusts can be inhaled by the user and can cause irritation of mucous membranes, such as in the nose and lung, and can result in coughing. Additionally, airborne bleach powders and dusts can end up in the nose and eyes causing irritation as well.

Thus, there is a need for hair bleach powder compositions that do not produce irritating airborne powders and dust when used.

There is also a need for for hair bleach powder compositions that can be used without any pre-treatments or activating steps.

There is also a need for for hair bleach powder compositions that can include a second composition or formulation which can prevent or repair damage which may otherwise occur to hair during a bleaching process.

Therefore, it is an object of this invention to provide improved methods for using hair bleach powder compositions.

It is also an object of this invention to provide containers for hair bleach powder compositions. It is also an object of this invention to provide methods of using such hair bleach powder compositions.

It is also an object of this invention to provide kits including the hair bleach powder compositions.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Containers that contain hair bleaching agent(s) and optionally other active agent(s) encapsulated therein, are described. The containers are formed from soluble and/or degradable materials or films, generally these materials or films are soluble and/or degradable in water or an aqueous liquid or cream containing hydrogen peroxide at room temperature. Methods for hair bleaching using the containers and kits that include the containers are also described.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Figure 1 is an illustration of an exemplary single compartment container 100 holding bleaching agent(s) in a compartment 110, having a soluble and/or degradable material 120, such as a film or web, encapsulating the bleaching agent(s), and where the container has a holding edge.

Figure 2 is an illustration of an exemplary two-compartment container 200 holding bleaching agent(s) in a first encapsulating

compartment 210, having a second encapsulating compartment 220 holding another agent or formulation (i.e., an active agent), where each compartment is formed from a soluble and/or degradable material 230, such as a film or web, and where the container has a holding edge 240.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

I. Definitions

Cosmetically acceptable compounds, materials, and/or formulations are, within the scope of sound medical judgment, suitable for use in contact with the tissues of human beings and animals without excessive toxicity, irritation, allergic response, or other problems or complications commensurate with a reasonable benefit/risk ratio. A cosmetically acceptable material, compound, or formulation is generally suitable for use in contact with the skin, scalp, and/or hair.

A derivative of a parent compound is a compound that possesses the same core as the parent compound, but differs from the parent compound in bond order, the absence or presence of one or more atoms and/or groups of atoms, or a combination thereof. The derivative can differ from the parent compound, for example, in one or more substituents present on the core, which may include one or more atoms, functional groups, or substructures. In general, a derivative can be formed, at least theoretically, from the parent compound via chemical and/or physical processes.

A carboxylic acid is the group -COOH. Unless specified otherwise the term carboxylic acid embraces both the free acid and carboxylate salt.

An alkyl is the radical of saturated or unsaturated aliphatic groups, including straight-chain alkyl, alkenyl, or alkynyl groups, branched-chain alkyl, alkenyl, or alkynyl groups, cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, or cycloalkynyl (alicyclic) groups, alkyl substituted cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, or cycloalkynyl groups, and cycloalkyl substituted alkyl, alkenyl, or alkynyl groups. Unless otherwise indicated, a straight chain or branched chain alkyl has 30 or fewer carbon atoms in its backbone (e.g., C1-C30 for straight chain, C3-C30 for branched chain), more preferably 20 or fewer carbon atoms, more preferably 12 or fewer carbon atoms, and most preferably 8 or fewer carbon atoms. In some embodiments, the chain has 1-6 carbons. Likewise, preferred cycloalkyls have from 3-10 carbon atoms in their ring structure, and more preferably have 5, 6 or 7 carbons in the ring structure. The ranges provided above are inclusive of all values between the minimum value and the maximum value.

The term "alkyl" includes both "unsubstituted alkyls" and

"substituted alkyls", the latter of which refers to alkyl moieties having one or more substituents replacing hydrogen on one or more carbons of the hydrocarbon backbone. Such substituents include, but are not limited to, halogen, hydroxyl, carbonyl (such as a carboxyl, alkoxycarbonyl, formyl, or an acyl), thiocarbonyl (such as a thioester, a thioacetate, or a thioformate), alkoxyl, phosphoryl, phosphate, phosphonate, a phosphinate, amino, amido, amidine, imine, cyano, nitro, azido, sulfhydryl, alkylthio, sulfate, sulfonate, sulfamoyl, sulfonamide, sulfonyl, heterocyclyl, aralkyl, or an aromatic or heteroaromatic moiety.

Unless the number of carbons is otherwise specified, "lower alkyl" refers to an alkyl group having from one to ten carbons, more preferably from one to six carbon atoms, in its backbone structure. Likewise, "lower alkenyl" and "lower alkynyl" have similar chain lengths. Preferred alkyl groups are lower alkyls.

The alkyl groups may also contain one or more heteroatoms within the carbon backbone. Examples include oxygen, nitrogen, sulfur, and combinations thereof. In certain embodiments, the alkyl group contains between one and four heteroatoms.

Alkenyl and alkynyl refer to unsaturated aliphatic groups containing one or more double or triple bonds analogous in length (e.g., C2-C30) and possible substitution to the alkyl groups described above.

Aryl refers to 5-, 6- and 7-membered aromatic rings. The ring may be a carbocyclic, heterocyclic, fused carbocyclic, fused heterocyclic, bicarbocyclic, or biheterocyclic ring system, optionally substituted as described above for alkyl. Broadly defined, "Ar", as used herein, includes 5-, 6- and 7-membered single-ring aromatic groups that may include from zero to four heteroatoms. Examples include, but are not limited to, benzene, pyrrole, furan, thiophene, imidazole, oxazole, thiazole, triazole, pyrazole, pyridine, pyrazine, pyridazine, and pyrimidine. Those aryl groups having heteroatoms in the ring structure may also be referred to as "heteroaryl", "aryl heterocycles", or "heteroaromatics". The aromatic ring can be substituted at one or more ring positions with such substituents as described above, for example, halogen, azide, alkyl, aralkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, cycloalkyl, hydroxyl, alkoxyl, amino, nitro, sulfhydryl, imino, amido, phosphonate, phosphinate, carbonyl, carboxyl, silyl, ether, alkylthio, sulfonyl, sulfonamide, ketone, aldehyde, ester, heterocyclyl, aromatic or heteroaromatic moieties, ~CF ₃ , and -CN. The term "Ar" also includes polycyclic ring systems having two or more cyclic rings in which two or more carbons are common to two adjoining rings (the rings are "fused rings") wherein at least one of the rings is aromatic, e.g., the other cyclic rings can be cycloalkyls, cycloalkenyls, cycloalkynyls, aryls and/or heterocycles, or both rings are aromatic.

Alkylaryl refers to an alkyl group substituted with an aryl group (e.g., an aromatic or hetero aromatic group).

Heterocycle or heterocyclic refers to a cyclic radical attached via a ring carbon or nitrogen of a monocyclic or bicyclic ring containing 3-10 ring atoms, and preferably from 5-6 ring atoms, containing carbon and one to four heteroatoms each selected from non-peroxide oxygen, sulfur, and N(Y) wherein Y is absent or is H, O, (C1-4) alkyl, phenyl or benzyl, and optionally containing one or more double or triple bonds, and optionally substituted with one or more substituents. The term "heterocycle" also encompasses substituted and unsubstituted heteroaryl rings. Examples of heterocyclic ring include, but are not limited to, benzimidazolyl, benzofuranyl,

benzothiofuranyl, benzothiophenyl, benzoxazolyl, benzoxazolinyl, benzthiazolyl, benztriazolyl, benztetrazolyl, benzisoxazolyl,

benzisothiazolyl, benzimidazolinyl, carbazolyl, 4aH-carbazolyl, carbolinyl, chromanyl, chromenyl, cinnolinyl, decahydroquinolinyl, 2H,6H-1,5,2- dithiazinyl, dihydrofuro[2,3-£>]tetrahydrofuran, furanyl, furazanyl, imidazolidinyl, imidazolinyl, imidazolyl, lH-indazolyl, indolenyl, indolinyl, indolizinyl, indolyl, 3H-indolyl, isatinoyl, isobenzofuranyl, isochromanyl, isoindazolyl, isoindolinyl, isoindolyl, isoquinolinyl, isothiazolyl, isoxazolyl, methylenedioxyphenyl, morpholinyl, naphthyridinyl,

octahydroisoquinolinyl, oxadiazolyl, 1,2,3-oxadiazolyl, 1,2,4-oxadiazolyl, 1,2,5-oxadiazolyl, 1,3,4-oxadiazolyl, oxazolidinyl, oxazolyl, oxindolyl, pyrimidinyl, phenanthridinyl, phenanthrolinyl, phenazinyl, phenothiazinyl, phenoxathinyl, phenoxazinyl, phthalazinyl, piperazinyl, piperidinyl, piperidonyl, 4-piperidonyl, piperonyl, pteridinyl, purinyl, pyranyl, pyrazinyl, pyrazolidinyl, pyrazolinyl, pyrazolyl, pyridazinyl, pyridooxazole, pyridoimidazole, pyridothiazole, pyridinyl, pyridyl, pyrimidinyl, pyrrolidinyl, pyrrolinyl, 2H-pyrrolyl, pyrrolyl, quinazolinyl, quinolinyl, 4H- quinolizinyl, quinoxalinyl, quinuclidinyl, tetrahydrofuranyl,

tetrahydroisoquinolinyl, tetrahydroquinolinyl, tetrazolyl, 6H-1 ,2,5- thiadiazinyl, 1,2,3-thiadiazolyl, 1,2,4-thiadiazolyl, 1,2,5-thiadiazolyl, 1,3,4- thiadiazolyl, thianthrenyl, thiazolyl, thienyl, thienothiazolyl, thienooxazolyl, thienoimidazolyl, thiophenyl and xanthenyl.

Heteroaryl refers to a monocyclic aromatic ring containing five or six ring atoms containing carbon and 1, 2, 3, or 4 heteroatoms each selected from non-peroxide oxygen, sulfur, and N(Y) where Y is absent or is H, O, (Ci-Cs) alkyl, phenyl, or benzyl. Non-limiting examples of heteroaryl groups include furyl, imidazolyl, triazolyl, triazinyl, oxazoyl, isoxazoyl, thiazolyl, isothiazoyl, pyrazolyl, pyrrolyl, pyrazinyl, tetrazolyl, pyridyl, (or its INT- oxide), thienyl, pyrimidinyl (or its N-oxide), indolyl, isoquinolyl (or its N- oxide), quinolyl (or its N-oxide) and the like. The term "heteroaryl" can include radicals of an ortho-fused bicyclic heterocycle of about eight to ten ring atoms derived therefrom, particularly a benz-derivative or one derived by fusing a propylene, trimethylene, or tetramethylene diradical thereto. Examples of heteroaryl include, but are not limited to, furyl, imidazolyl, triazolyl, triazinyl, oxazoyl, isoxazoyl, thiazolyl, isothiazoyl, pyraxolyl, pyrrolyl, pyrazinyl, tetrazolyl, pyridyl (or its N-oxide), thientyl, pyrimidinyl (or its N-oxide), indolyl, isoquinolyl (or its N-oxide), quinolyl (or its N- oxide), and the like.

Halogen refers to fluorine, chlorine, bromine, or iodine.

The term "substituted" refers to all permissible substituents of the compounds described herein. In the broadest sense, the permissible substituents include acyclic and cyclic, branched and unbranched, carbocyclic and heterocyclic, aromatic and nonaromatic substituents of organic compounds. Illustrative substituents include, but are not limited to, halogens, hydroxyl groups, or any other organic groupings containing any number of carbon atoms, preferably 1-14 carbon atoms, and optionally include one or more heteroatoms such as oxygen, sulfur, or nitrogen grouping in linear, branched, or cyclic structural formats. Representative substituents include alkyl, substituted alkyl, alkenyl, substituted alkenyl, alkynyl, substituted alkynyl, phenyl, substituted phenyl, aryl, substituted aryl, heteroaryl, substituted heteroaryl, halo, hydroxyl, alkoxy, substituted alkoxy, phenoxy, substituted phenoxy, aroxy, substituted aroxy, alkylthio, substituted alkylthio, phenylthio, substituted phenylthio, arylthio, substituted arylthio, cyano, isocyano, substituted isocyano, carbonyl, substituted carbonyl, carboxyl, substituted carboxyl, amino, substituted amino, amido, substituted amido, sulfonyl, substituted sulfonyl, sulfonic acid, phosphoryl, substituted phosphoryl, phosphonyl, substituted phosphonyl, polyaryl, substituted polyaryl, C3-C20 cyclic, substituted C3-C20 cyclic, heterocyclic, substituted heterocyclic, aminoacid, peptide, and polypeptide groups.

Heteroatoms, such as nitrogen, may have hydrogen substituents and/or any permissible substituents of organic compounds described herein that satisfy the valences of the heteroatoms. "Substitution" or "substituted" includes the implicit proviso that such substitution is in accordance with permitted valence of the substituted atom and the substituent, and that the substitution results in a stable compound, i.e. a compound that does not spontaneously undergo transformation such as by rearrangement, cyclization, elimination, etc.

A polymer is a molecule containing more than 10 monomer repeat units. Numerical ranges disclosed herein disclose individually each possible number in such range, as well as any sub-ranges and combinations of subranges encompassed therein. For example, a carbon range (i.e., C1-C10) is intended to disclose individually every possible carbon value and/or subrange encompassed within. For example, a carbon length range of C1-C10 discloses Ci, C ₂ , C3, C ₄ , C5, Ce, C ₇ , C ₈ , C9, and C10, as well as discloses subranges encompassed within, such as C2-C9, C3-C8, C1-C5, etc. Similarly, an integer value range of 1-10 discloses the individual values of 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 10, as well as sub-ranges encompassed within. Further, a concentration range or weight percent range, such as from 1% to 2% by weight of the formulation, discloses the individual values and fractions thereof, such as 1%, 1.1%, 1.2%, 1.32%, 1.48% etc. , as well as sub-ranges encompassed within.

II. Containers for Bleaching Hair

The hair bleach containers disclosed herein can be used in methods for bleaching of hair. Additionally, the containers and kits optionally include another composition or formulation that can prevent or repair damage which may occur to hair during or following a bleaching process.

The containers generally dissolve and/or degrade within minutes, such as within about 10 minutes, 9 minutes, 8 minutes, 7 minutes, 6 minutes, 5 minutes, 4 minutes, 3 minutes, 2 minutes, or 1 minute following mixing with a developer at room temperature and do not require a pre-treatment step prior to contacting the developer. A pre-treatment step includes wetting, heating, and/or irradiating the containers prior to contacting the containers with a developer

A. Containers

The containers include at least one compartment having suitable dimensions to encapsulate one or more powdered bleaching agents therein. The containers and/or any compartment therein may be formed from material(s) and/or film(s) formed from polymer(s), blends thereof, and/or blends with soluble and/or degradable polymers, which upon contact with water or an aqueous liquid or cream containing hydrogen peroxide result in dissolution and/or degradation of the material(s) and/or film(s), completely or partially. The dissolution and/or degradation of the material(s) and/or film(s), whether completely or partially, preferably results in formation of a mixture of the bleaching agents and the liquid or cream containing hydrogen peroxide. The resulting mixture may be homogeneous. In some instances, the containers and/or any compartment therein are formed from material(s) and/or film(s) formed from polymer(s) or blends thereof which further include water soluble and/or polar organic solvent soluble small molecule additives including, but not limited to, sugars (such as glucose, lactose, etc.), plasticizers, carboxylic acids, ureas, and amides, or small molecules containing one or more carboxylic acid groups, urea groups, amine groups, amide groups, or a combination thereof. Water soluble additives may be any small molecule(s) that promote dissolution and/or degradation and solubilization of the polymers or components formed thereof, which form the containers. Small molecules include at least one suitable hydrophilic solubilizing group thereon. Exemplary solubilizing groups include, but are not limited to, -S0 ₃ ² M ⁺ , -C0 ₃ ² M ⁺ , -S0 ₄ ² M ⁺ , -N ⁺ (R) ₄ X ^" , where R is a Ci-C ₄ alkyl chain, M is a cation (such as an alkali metal ion or an ammonium ion), and X is an anion (such as a halide, hydroxide, or acetate ion).

The containers can be in any suitable form, such as a pod, a pouch, a sachet, or a capsule. The containers can have any shape that be substantially rectangular, substantially square, substantially circular, elliptical, or have any other desired shape that is practical to manufacture or for purposes of end use. Sized and dimensioned as such, the containers can fit conveniently in a hand or a container, such as for mixing. The containers can be sized and dimensioned, for example, to fit in the hand of a user, such as a colorist/ stylist.

The compartment can hold a volume of at least 0.5 mL and typically the maximum volume of the compartment is less than about 50 mL, 40 mL, 30 mL, or 25 mL.

The containers can have a total weight of about 1 to 50 grams, 1 to 25 grams, 1 to 10 grams, or 1 to 5 grams. In some instances, the containers can hold a volume of about 0.1 to about 5 ounces, 0.25 to about 4 ounces, 0.1 to about 3 ounces, 0.25 to about 2.5 ounces, or 0.1 to about 2 ounces. The containers can hold a volume of about 0.5, 0.75, 1, 1.25, 1.5, or 2 ounces.

Each compartment is typically surrounded by one or more peripheral edges having uniform or non-uniform thicknesses in the range of between about 5 microns to 500 microns, 10 microns to 250 microns, 10 microns to 100 microns, 20 to 80 microns, 20 to 60 microns, 40 microns to 250 microns, 100 microns to 300 microns, or 50 microns to 250 microns. The edges can have any suitable length, such as a length of from about 10 mm to about 70 mm, about 20 mm to about 60 mm, about 25 mm to about 50 mm. The overall area of the containers can be less than about 10,000 mm ² , 9,000 mm ² , 8,000 mm ² , 7,000 mm ² , 6,000 mm ² , 5,000 mm ² , 4,000 mm ² , 3,000 mm ² , 2,000 mm ² , or 1000 mm ² .

a. Forming the Containers

The containers may be formed by any suitable method. For example, a soluble and/or degradable film or web can be converted into individual containers which encapsulate bleaching agent(s) and optionally other agent(s) which are preferably encapsulated in one or more separate compartments. The compartments are formed/defined from the soluble and/or degradable film or web forming the containers. Each of the compartments contains a seal separating it from the other compartments so that each compartment retains its contents and does not leak or release its contents until the time of use. If only one compartment is present in the container, then typically the compartment is sealed, such as by the edges that surround the compartment, so that the compartment retains its contents and does not leak or release its contents until the time of use.

An exemplary manufacturing process typically involves forming, blowing, or casting soluble and/or degradable film or webs. In some instances, a thermoforming process may be used. In a typical forming process a first sheet of the film or web is subjected to a molding process to form recesses in the film or web. A forming process is often referred to as a thermoforming process, if it involves heating to soften the film or web. The forming process can involve heating of the film or web, such as in thermoforming, to soften it and also the application of vacuum to hold the film in molds, as needed. The recesses are then filled with bleaching or other agent(s). The filled recesses are sealed to form the individual compartments by overlaying a second film or web over the filled recess/compartment and sealing it to the first sheet of film or web around the edges of the recesses to form a flat seal area. Sealing may include the application of heat, via a heating element/instrument, up to about 200 °C, 175 °C, 150 °C, 125 °C, or 100 °C. The containers can be cut apart to leave part of the flat seal area as a peripheral edge around each container when it is removed from the mold, which can be used by an individual to hold the container. Multi-compartment containers allow for components to be stored separately, which need to be mixed at the time of use and/or which have reduced stability when stored in contact/together.

In some cases, the film or web is filled with bleaching or other agent(s) and the edges of the same film or web overlap in such a manner as to permit the overlapping edges to be sealed to form individual

compartments. Sealing may include the application of heat, via a heating element/instrument, up to about 200 °C, 175 °C, 150 °C, 125 °C, or 100 °C.

Soluble and/or degradable films or webs used to form the containers, and the one or more compartments therein, may be in the form of sheets of or materials, such as polyvinyl alcohols, polyvinyl pyrrolidone, polyalkylene oxides, acrylamide, acrylic acid, cellulose, cellulose ethers, cellulose esters, cellulose amides, polyvinyl acetates, polycarboxylic acids and salts, polyaminoacids or peptides, polyamides, polyacrylamide, copolymers of maleic/acrylic acids, or polysaccharides including starch and gelatin, natural gums, such as xanthum and carragum, or blends thereof. Suitable polymers for forming the soluble and/or degradable films or webs may be formed from polyacrylates and water soluble acrylate copolymers, methylcellulose, carboxymethylcellulose sodium, dextrin, ethylcellulose, hydroxyethyl cellulose, hydroxypropyl methylcellulose, maltodextrin, or

polymethacrylates, or blends thereof.

Soluble and/or degradable films or webs formed of polyvinyl alcohol may optionally be 60-98% hydrolyzed, preferably 80% to 90% hydrolyzed, to improve the dissolution and/or degradation properties of the material. The soluble and/or degradable films or webs may also be formed of polyvinyl alcohol copolymers, hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose (HPMC), or blends thereof. Polymer blend compositions, for example, can contain a blend of hydrolytically degradable and water soluble polymers. For example, the blend can be of a polylactide and a polyvinyl alcohol, typically comprising 1-35% by weight polylactide and approximately from 65% to 99% by weight polyvinyl alcohol. The polymers described above can have any suitable weight average molecular weight, such as from about 1,000 to about 250,000 Da, about 10,000 to about 200,000 Da, 1,000 to about 100,000 Da, about 1,000 to about 50,000 Da, about 1,000 to about 25,000 Da, about 1,000 to about 20,000 Da, about 1,000 to about 10,000 Da.

Typically, the soluble and/or degradable films or webs used to form the containers have a basis weight from about 25 g/m ² to about 150 g/m ² , preferably from about 50 g/m ² to about 100 g/m ² . The soluble and/or degradable films or webs can have a caliper determined thickness from about 0.01 mm to about 0.2 mm, about 0.05 mm to about 0.175 mm, about 0.05 mm to about 0.150 mm, about 0.05 mm to about 0.125 mm, about 0.05 mm to about 0.1 mm, about 0.05 mm to about 0.075 mm, or about 0.025 mm to about 0.175 mm. The rate of solubilization and/or degradation of the containers can be a function of the thickness, such that the desired solubilization and/or degradation time in water or in an aqueous liquid or cream can be achieved while still maintaining the desired strength of the soluble and/or degradable films or webs.

The soluble and/or degradable films or webs used to form the containers may also contain one or more additives. For example, it may be beneficial to add plasticizers, for example glycerol, ethylene glycol, diethyleneglycol, propylene glycol, or sorbitol, or a mixture thereof. Other useful additives include disintegrants.

The containers can be manufactured to include more than one separate compartment, where at least one compartment encapsulates hair bleaching agent(s) and another compartment encapsulates another composition or formulation, such as an active agent.

Figure 1 shows an exemplary single compartment container 100 containing a compartment 110, which contains a bleaching agent(s) encapsulated therein. The compartment is formed from a soluble and/or degradable material 120, such as a film or web. Optionally, the container has a peripheral edge 130 formed from a soluble and/or degradable material, which surrounds the perimeter of the compartment 110. The compartment and the peripheral edge can be formed from the same or different soluble and/or degradable materials.

Figure 2 shows an exemplary two-compartment container 200 containing a first compartment 210, which contains a bleaching agent(s) encapsulated therein, and a second compartment 220, which contains another agent or formulation (i.e., an active agent). Each compartment is formed from a soluble and/or degradable material 230, such as a film or web.

Although the compartments are shown directly adjacent to each other in Figure 2, the compartments could be configured differently. For example, a first compartment could be on a first side of the container and the second compartment could be on the opposite side of the container with the peripheral edge located between the compartments. Alternatively, the first compartment could be separated from the second compartment with a spacer or internal edge between the two compartments. Optionally, the container has a peripheral edge 240 formed from a soluble and/or degradable material, which surrounds the perimeter of the compartments 210 and 220. Each compartment and the peripheral edge can be formed from the same or different soluble and/or degradable materials.

The contents encapsulated in each compartment should remain separate from the contents encapsulated in the other compartments of the containers another until time of use.

The containers can be manufactured such that at least one peripheral edge on the container is present. The peripheral edge generally extends beyond the outer surface of the compartment and can be used to hold the container by an end-user, such as a hair stylist, during use.

One or more of the outer surfaces the containers may include writing or images which are imprinted, silkscreened, and/or impressed thereon. Such images or writing can include a logo, instructional information, and/or warnings associated with use of the containers.

The films or webs used to form the containers may be colored as needed. If more than one separate compartment is present, these may be formed from differently colored films or webs, as desired. The containers may be stable for a period of at least 1 day, 2 days, 3 days, 4 days, 5 days, 1 week, 2 weeks, 3 weeks, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10, 11, or 12 months or longer at a temperature of about 25-30°C, preferably about 25 °C, and optionally in the absence of light. "Stable" with respect to shelf- life generally means that at least 40, 45, 50, 55, 60, 65, 70, 75, 80, 85, 90, or 95% of the activity, such as bleaching capability, of the container remains unchanged or undiminished over the specified period of time.

The containers are water and/or polar solvent soluble and/or degradable and dissolve and/or degrade when contacted with water or an aqueous liquid or cream containing hydrogen peroxide at a temperature of about 20 - 50 °C, 20 - 40 °C, 20 - 30 °C, 20 - 25 °C, or at room temperature. The containers dissolve and/or degrade following contact with the water within about 10 minutes, 9 minutes, 8 minutes, 7 minutes, 6 minutes, 5 minutes, 4 minutes, 3 minutes, 2 minutes, or 1 minute. The containers can dissolve and/or degrade upon contact with an aqueous peroxide liquid or cream( where the peroxide liquid or cream has a percentage of peroxide of about 1 to 40%, 1 to 35%, 1 to 30%, 1 to 25%, 1 to 15%, 1 to 10%, or 5 to 10% w/w). The containers generally dissolve and/or degrade following contact with water or an aqueous hydrogen peroxide-containing liquid or cream without the need to first wet, pre-soak, and/or rinse the containers in water, and/or being subjected to any pre-treatment steps, such as wetting, heating, irradiating steps, or a combination thereof, prior to use in forming a bleaching formulation. The containers, for example, can dissolve and/or degrade in water at room temperature within 10 minutes, when the container is dry prior to contact with the water.

b. Hair Bleaching Agent(s)

Hair bleaching agent(s) in the hair bleach powder compositions may be peroxygenated salts, such as soluble salts of persulfates, percarbonates, perborates, metasilicates (such as of sodium), silicates (such as of sodium), and combinations thereof. In particular, the bleaching agents are preferably selected from potassium persulfate, sodium persulfate, ammonium persulfate, or combination thereof. The hair bleach powder optionally includes one or more additional excipients or components such as water, ethylhexyl pelargonate, sodium stearate, hydrolyzed silica, alcohols (such as cetearyl alcohol), cetearath-33, polymers or copolymers (such as acrylates/beheneth-25 methacrylate copolymer), silica, sugar alcohols (such as, sorbitol), salicylic acid and salts thereof (such as sodium salicylate), acids (such as phosphoric acid), tetrasodium etidronate, tetrasodium

pyrophosphate, hydrolyzed keratin, celluloses (such as, hydroxypropyl methylcellulose, hydroxyl ethylcellulose), magnesium carbonate hydroxide, cyamopsis, tetragonolobus gum/guar gum, paraffinum liquidum, mineral oil, panthenol, aluminum distearate, surfactants (such as, sodium lauryl sulfate), non-hair colorants or pigments (such as CI 77077/ultramarines, Ext Violet 2 (CI 60730)), ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid or salts thereof (such as, disodium ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid), or combinations thereof.

The amount of bleaching agent(s) in the hair bleach powder compositions encapsulated in the containers can range from about 0.01 wt% to about 50 wt%, about from about 1 wt% to about 25 wt%, about 1 wt% to about 15 wt%, about 1 wt% to about 10 wt%, of the total weight of the container.

The hair bleach powder compositions may also contain excipient(s). The excipients can be pH adjusters, which can render the compositions basic in pH, or they may have a pH ranging from about pH 7 to about pH 14, from about pH 8 to pH 13, from about pH 8 to pH 12, from about pH 8 to pH 11, or from about pH 8 to pH 10.

The hair bleach powder compositions encapsulated in the containers may further contain cosmetically acceptable excipient(s) or additives. The cosmetically acceptable excipient(s) can be present in an amount ranging from about 10 wt% to about 99.99 wt% of the compositions, about 40 wt% to about 99 wt%, about 80 wt% to about to about 99 wt%. Such excipient(s) or additives can include fillers, emollients, enzymes, cosmetically used polymers, colorants, perfumes, surfactants, fatty acids and/or esters and/or metal salts thereof (such as ethylhexyl pelargonate, sodium stearate, aluminum stearate), silica, hydrated silica, chelating agents (such as ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid), sugar alcohols (such as sorbitol), colorants, perfumes, and combinations thereof.

The hair bleach powder compositions are optionally free of or substantially free of detergents (commonly used for laundry or dishwashing applications or as soaps). Substantially free refers to less than about 10%, 9%, 8%, 7%, 6%, 5%, 4%, 3%, 2%, 1 %, 0.9%, 0.8%, 0.7%, 0.6%, 0.5%, 0.4%, 0.3%, 0.2%, or 0.1% of detergent(s) by weight in the bleaching powder composition. In some instances, the hair bleach powder

compositions do not contain more than about 5%, 6%, 7%, 8%, 9%, or 10% of detergent(s) (commonly used for laundry or dishwashing applications or as soaps) by weight. Common detergents, such as used laundry detergent or dishwashing soaps, include, but are not limited to, perchlorates, anionic detergents (such as carboxylate, sulfate, sulfonate, and phosphate ester- containing alkyl and/or aryl groups), cationic detergents (such as positively charged amine-containing alkyl and/or aryl groups), non- ionic detergents (such as long-chain alcohols and/or fatty alcohols), and zwitterionic detergents (such as cocamidopropyl hydroxysultaine).

Exemplary emollients and surfactants are described below,

i. Emollients

An emollient is a material that generally protects against wetness or irritation, softens, soothes, coats, lubricates, moisturizes, protects, and/or cleanses. Suitable emollients for use in the bleach powder compositions include, but are not limited to, a silicone compound (e.g. , dimethicone, cyclomethicone, dimethicone copolyol or a mixture of cyclopentasiloxane and dimethicone/vinyldimethicone cross polymer, cyclopentasiloxane polysilicone), polyols such as sorbitol, glycerin, propylene glycol, ethylene glycol, polyethylene glycol, caprylyl glycol, polypropylene glycol, 1,3- butane diol, hexylene glycol, isoprene glycol, xylitol; ethylhexyl palmitate; a triglyceride such as caprylic/capric triglyceride and fatty acid ester such as cetearyl isononanoate or cetyl palmitate. In a specific embodiment, the emollient is dimethicone, amidodimethicone, dimethiconol,

cyclopentasiloxane, potassium dimethicone PEG-7 panthenyl phosphate, or combinations thereof. More than one emollient may be included in the bleach powder composition.

The emollient is optionally included in an amount ranging from about 0.5% to about 15% by weight of the composition, preferably from about 1% to about 10% by weight of the composition.

ii. Surfactants

More than one surfactant may be included in the bleach powder composition. The total concentration of surfactants in the bleach powder composition may be in an amount ranging from about 0.1% to about 15% by weight of the composition, preferably about 1% to about 10% by weight of the composition.

The hair bleach powder compositions typically contain less than about 10%, 9%, 8%, 7%, 6%, 5%, 4%, 3%, 2%, 1%, 0.9%, 0.8%, 0.7%, 0.6%, 0.5%, 0.4%, 0.3%, 0.2%, or 0.1% of surfactant(s) by weight. In some instances, the hair bleach powder compositions do not contain more than about 5%, 6%, 7%, 8%, 9%, or 10% of surfactant(s) by weight.

The surfactant may be amphoteric, anionic, or cationic. Suitable surfactants that may be used in the formulation include, but are not limited to, 3-aminopropane sulfonic acid, almond amide, almond amidopropyl betaine, almond amidopropylamine oxide, aluminum hydrogenated tallow glutamate, aluminum lanolate, aminoethyl sulfate, aminopropyl lauryl glutamine, ammonium C12-15 alkyl sulfate, ammonium C12-15 pareth sulfate, ammonium C12-16 alkyl sulfate, ammonium C9-10 perfluoroalkylsulfonate, ammonium capryleth sulfate, ammonium capryleth-3 sulfate, ammonium monoglyceride sulfate, ammonium sulfate, ammonium isothionate, ammonium cocoyl sarcosinate, ammonium cumene sulfonate, ammonium dimethicone copolyol sulfate, ammonium dodecylbenzenesulfonate, ammonium isostearate, ammonium laureth sulfate, ammonium laureth-12 sulfate, ammonium laureth-5 sulfate, ammonium laureth-6 carboxylate, ammonium laureth-7 sulfate, ammonium laureth-8 carboxylate, ammonium laureth-9 sulfate, ammonium lauroyl sarcosinate, ammonium lauryl sulfate, ammonium lauryl sulfosuccinate, ammonium myreth sulfate, ammonium myristyl sulfate, ammonium nonoxynol-30 sulfate, ammonium nonoxynol-4 sulfate, ammonium oleate, ammonium palm kernel sulfate, ammonium polyacrylate, ammonium stearate, ammonium tallate, ammonium xylene sulfonate, ammonium xylene sulfonate, amp-isostearoyl gelatin/keratin amino acids/lysine hydroxypropyltrimonium chloride, amp-isostearoyl hydrolyzed collagen, apricot kernel oil PEG-6 esters, apricot amide, apricot amidopropyl betaine, arachideth-20, avocadamide, avocadamidopropyl betaine, babassuamide, babassuamidopropyl betaine,

babassuamidopropylamine oxide, behenalkonium chloride, behenamide, behenamide, behenamidopropyl betaine, behenamine oxide, sodium laureth sulfate, sodium lauryl sulfate, a polyoxyether of lauryl alcohol or ceteareth- 20, or combinations thereof.

Suitable anionic surfactants include, but are not limited to, those containing carboxylate, sulfonate and sulfate ions. Examples of anionic surfactants include sodium, potassium, ammonium of long chain alkyl sulfonates and alkyl aryl sulfonates such as sodium dodecylbenzene sulfonate; dialkyl sodium sulfosuccinates, such as sodium dodecylbenzene sulfonate; dialkyl sodium sulfosuccinates, such as sodium bis-(2- ethylthioxyl)-sulfosuccinate; and alkyl sulfates such as sodium lauryl sulfate. Cationic surfactants include, but are not limited to, quaternary ammonium compounds such as benzalkonium chloride, benzethonium chloride, cetrimonium bromide, stearyl dimethylbenzyl ammonium chloride, polyoxyethylene and coconut amine. Examples of nonionic surfactants include ethylene glycol monostearate, propylene glycol myristate, glyceryl monostearate, glyceryl stearate, polyglyceryl-4-oleate, sorbitan acylate, sucrose acylate, PEG- 150 laurate, PEG-400 monolaurate, polyoxyethylene monolaurate, polysorbates, polyoxyethylene octylphenylether, PEG- 1000 cetyl ether, polyoxyethylene tridecyl ether, polypropylene glycol butyl ether, Poloxamer ^® 401, stearoyl monoisopropanolamide, and polyoxyethylene hydrogenated tallow amide. Examples of amphoteric surfactants include sodium N-dodecyl- β -alanine, sodium N-lauryl- -iminodipropionate, myristoamphoacetate, lauryl betaine, and lauryl sulfobetaine. c. Active Agent(s)

The containers can include at least two separate compartments where one compartment may hold a bleach powder composition including bleaching agent(s) and the other compartment may hold an active agent(s). An exemplary container containing two compartments is shown in Figure 2.

The active agents below may be provided in the form of an aqueous composition or solution, or in the form of a solid powder.

The active agent may be provided separately from the container, and can be added to the bleach powder during a method of preparing a bleaching formulation.

The active agent is or contains a Michael acceptor. Michael acceptors include agents which comprise an α,β-unsaturated carbonyl-containing group or moiety, or pi-bonds (such as double or triple bonds) which are conjugated to other pi-bond containing electron withdrawing groups (such as nitro groups, nitrile groups, and carboxylic acid groups).

An exemplary active agent can have the following formula:

Formula I

wherein

A, B, C, and D are reactive moieties containing one or more charges,

R is a linker that contains two or more charges, wherein the charges are opposite to the charges on the reactive moieties, wherein n = 1- 100, preferably n =1-10, more preferably n=l; and each occurrence of p, q, r, and s is independently an integer from 0 to 25, preferably from 0 to 10, more preferably from 0 to 2. The sum of p + q + r + s is equal to or greater than 2.

The reactive moieties may be present on any atom of the linker. In some embodiments, the reactive moieties are the same. In some

embodiments, one or more of the reactive moieties is different. In some embodiments, the reactive moieties are negatively charged and the linker has positively charged moieties. In other embodiments, the reactive moieties are positively charged and the linker has negatively charged moieties. Generally, the sum of the charges on the active agent of Formula I is zero, although stoichiometric imbalances may exist.

The reactive moieties on the active agents of Formula I are preferably linked via a linker R. The linker R, as used herein, refers to one or more polyfunctional, e.g. bifunctional molecules, Afunctional molecules, tetrafunctional molecules, etc., which can be used to ionically bind the two or more reactive moieties and which do not interfere with the reactive properties of the active agents. The reactive moieties may be attached to any part of linker R.

1. Linker R

In a preferred embodiment, in Formula I, n=l and the linker R is not a polymer. The linker R can be a single atom, such as a heteroatom (e.g., O or S), a group of atoms, such as a functional group (e.g., amine, -C(=0)-, - CH2-), or multiple groups of atoms, such as an alkylene chain. Suitable linkers include but are not limited to oxygen, sulfur, carbon, boron, nitrogen, alkoxy, alkyl, alkenyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, aryl, heterocycloalkyl, heteroaryl, ether, amine, and an oligomer.

The linker R is optionally independently substituted with one or more substituents including hydrogen, halogen, cyano, alkoxy, alkyl, alkenyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, aryl, heterocycloalkyl, heteroaryl, amine, hydroxy, formyl, acyl, carboxylic acid (-COOH), -C(0)R ¹ , -C(0)OR ¹ , carboxylate (- COO ^" ), primary amide (e.g. , -CONH2), secondary amide, -C(0)NR ¹ R ² , - NR ^! R ² , -NR ¹ S(0) ₂ R ² , -NR ¹ C(0)R ² , -S(0) ₂ R ² , -SR ¹ , and -S(0) ₂ NR ¹ R ² , sulfinyl group (e.g. , -SOR ¹ ), and sulfonyl group (e.g. , -SOOR ¹ ); wherein R ¹ and R ² may each independently be hydrogen, alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, cycloalkyl, aryl, heterocycloalkyl and heteroaryl; wherein each of R ¹ and R ² is optionally independently substituted with one or more substituents selected from the group consisting of halogen, hydroxyl, cyano, nitro, amino, alkylamino, dialkylamino, alkyl optionally substituted with one or more halogen or alkoxy or aryloxy, aryl optionally substituted with one or more halogen or alkoxy or alkyl or trihaloalkyl, heterocycloalkyl optionally substituted with aryl or heteroaryl or =0, or alkyl optionally substituted with hydroxyl, cycloalkyl optionally substituted with hydroxyl, heteroaryl optionally substituted with one or more halogen or alkoxy or alkyl or trihaloalkyl, haloalkyl, hydroxyalkyl, carboxy, alkoxy, aryloxy,

alkoxycarbonyl, aminocarbonyl, alkylaminocarbonyl, and

dialkylaminocarbonyl.

In some embodiments, the linker R may be an alkoxy, ether, alkyl, alkenyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, aryl, heterocycloalkyl, heteroaryl, or amine.

2. Active Agents according to Formula I

The active agent according to Formula I contains at least two reactive moieties that are capable of reacting with a nucleophile, such as a thiol or amine, to form covalent bonds. Nucleophiles or nucleophilic groups or moieties are functional groups or moieties that are electron rich and are capable of reacting with electrophilic groups. For example, the reactive moieties are capable of reacting with a thiol group in the hair to form a stable covalent bond. The reactive moiety is typically an electrophilic moiety capable of forming a salt with the linker. Electrophilic groups or electrophilic moieties typically refer to one or more functional groups or moieties that have an affinity for or attract electrons. Alternately, the reactive moiety can be capable of reacting with a free radical.

The active agent according to Formula I contains at least two reactive moieties. However, the active agent may contain three, four, five, six, or greater than six reactive moieties.

The reaction between the reactive moiety and the thiol groups may be initiated at room temperature and pressure when the reactive moiety contacts a thiol group in the hair. In some embodiments, the reaction may require an initiator, such as heat, catalyst, basic conditions, or a free radical initiator. The rate of reaction between the reactive moiety and the thiol may be increased by changes in temperature, pH, and/or addition of one or more excipients, such as a catalyst; however, this is generally not required.

The two or more reactive moieties on the active agent can be the same. In some embodiments, the two or more reactive moieties are different.

In some embodiments, the reactive moieties are capable of undergoing a conjugate additional reaction. The reactive moieties can independently be or contain a Michael acceptor, a succinimidyl-containing group, a maleimido-containing group, azlactone, a benzoxazinone derivative, vinyl sulfone, vinyl sulfoximine, vinyl sulfonate, vinyl phosphonate, benzoxazinone, isocyanate, epoxide, an electrophilic moiety containing a leaving group, an electrophilic thiol acceptor, acrylic or acrylate group, a methacrylic or methacrylate group, a styrene group, an acryl amide group, a methacryl amide group, a maleate group, a fumarate group, an itaconate group, a vinyl ether group, an allyl ether group, an allyl ester group, a vinyl ester group, a sulfonate group, a phosphonate group, a sulfoxide group, a sulfonamide group, a sulfinimide group, a sulfinamide group, a

sulfonimidate group, or a sulfonimidamide group.

Optionally, each of reactive moieties A, B, C, and/or D when present independently contains a moiety selected from the group consisting of a vinyl sulfone, an acrylate group, a methacrylate group, a styrene group, an acryl amide group, a methacryl amide group, a maleate group, a fumarate group, and an itaconate group. Further, in the preferred embodiments, n=l and the linker R is not a polymer. Optionally, all of the reactive moieties are the same. For example, in some embodiments all of the reactive moieties are maleate groups.

In some embodiments, the active agent according to Formula I has one of

Active agents according to Formula I are further described in U.S. Patent No. 9,095,518, which is incorporated herein by reference with respect to its disclosure of active agents.

Alternatively, the active agent can have the following formula:

(B) Z (A)

m 'n

Formula II

wherein Z is a linker or is absent, m and n are each an integer independently selected from 1-6, provided that m+n is at least 2, B is a functional group capable of forming a covalent bond with a thiol or amine group, and A is an ionizable functional group. Preferably, the linker Z is not a polymer.

Optionally, the active agent is a simple salt of Formula II.

Suitable ionizable functional groups (group A) include, but are not limited to, acidic groups such as carboxylic acids, sulfonic acids, phosphonic acids, and basic groups, such as amines.

Suitable functional groups capable of forming a covalent bond with a nucleophile, such as a thiol or an amine (group B) include, but are not limited to, Michael acceptors, alkyl halides or sulfonate esters. Exemplary active agents according to Formula II may contain thiol reactive functional groups, as group B, for example, such as those shown in the following moieties:

wherein R is independently selected from hydrogen, Ci-6 alkyl, aryl, or an ionizable functional group; Z' is oxygen (O), NH, or is absent; and G is carbon (C) and g is 1, or G is sulfur (S) and g is 2. In preferred embodiments, Z is a linker or is absent, the linker is not a polymer, and group B is a functional group capable of forming a covalent bond with a thiol or amine group and group B is independently selected from the group consisting of:

wherein R, Z' , G, and g are as previously defined.

3. Linker Z of Formula II

The linker Z, when present, can be or can contain an alkyl, alkenyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, aryl, heterocycloalkyl or heteroaryl group. One or more of the carbon atoms in the alkyl, alkenyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, and aryl groups can be substituted with a heteroatom, yielding, for instance, an ether or alkylamine-containing linker.

The linker Z may be substituted with one or more substituents, which may be the same or different, including hydrogen, halogen, cyano, alkoxy, alkyl, alkenyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, aryl, heterocycloalkyl, heteroaryl, amine, hydroxy, oxo, formyl, acyl, carboxylic acid (-COOH), -C(0)R ¹ , - C(0)OR ¹ , carboxylate (-COO-), primary amide (e.g. , -CONH2), secondary amide, -C(0)NR ¹ R ² , -NR*R ² , -NR ¹ S(0) ₂ R ² , -NR ¹ C(0)R ² , -S(0) ₂ R ² , -SR ¹ , and -S(0)2NR ¹ R ² , sulfinyl group (e.g. , -SOR ¹ ), and sulfonyl group (e.g. , - SOOR ¹ ); wherein R ¹ and R ² may each independently be hydrogen, alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, cycloalkyl, aryl, heterocycloalkyl and heteroaryl; wherein each of R ¹ and R ² is optionally independently substituted with one or more substituents selected from the group consisting of halogen, hydroxyl, oxo, cyano, nitro, amino, alkylamino, dialkylamino, alkyl optionally substituted with one or more halogen or alkoxy or aryloxy, aryl optionally substituted with one or more halogen or alkoxy or alkyl or trihaloalkyl, heterocycloalkyl optionally substituted with aryl or heteroaryl or oxo, or alkyl optionally substituted with hydroxyl, cycloalkyl optionally substituted with hydroxyl, heteroaryl optionally substituted with one or more halogen or alkoxy or alkyl or trihaloalkyl, haloalkyl, hydroxyalkyl, carboxy, alkoxy, aryloxy, alkoxycarbonyl, aminocarbonyl, alkylaminocarbonyl, and

dialkylaminocarbonyl.

In certain preferred embodiments, the linker Z is a Ci-io alkyl group which may be unsubstituted or substituted one or more times by oxo, hydroxyl, carboxyl, amido, or amino. Preferably, the linker Z is a C1-4 alkyl group. The alkyl group may be linear or branched. The alkyl group may also be interrupted one or more times by a heteroatom selected from oxygen, sulfur and nitrogen. An example of such a di-carboxylic acids having a heteroatom interruption is thiodipropionic acid. In other embodiments, the alkyl group may contain one or more double or triple bonds.

In some embodiments, the active agent according to Formula II has one of the following structures: or is a simple salt of any of these structures. The active agent according to Formula II can be maleic acid, acrylic acid, methacrylic acid, or sulfonic acid, or a simple salt of any of these acids.

The agents of Formula II described above may also be in the form of a simple salt. Simple salts of the structures of Formula II are formed from the ionized form of an agent of Formula II with a counterion group having a charge opposite to the charge of the ionizable functional group A. In preferred embodiments, a simple salt includes only one active agent and one counterion group. The counterion group can be a suitable ionized metal or an optionally substituted Ci-Cio, Ci-C ₈ , or Ci-C ₆ alkyl, C2-C10, C2-C8 , or C2-C ₆ alkenyl, or C2-C10, C2-C8 , or C2-C6 alkynyl counterion group covalently bound to an ionic moiety. For example, if the ionizable functional group A has a negative charge (e.g., -C(O)O ), then the counterion group has a positive charge (e.g. aminium group). The C1-C10, Ci-C ₈ , or Ci-C ₆ alkyl, C ₂ - Cio, C2-C8 , or C2-C6 alkenyl, or C2-C10, C2-C8 , or C2-C6 alkynyl counterion groups may be substituted one or more times by substituents as defined above with respect to linker Z. Optionally substituted C3-C10, C3-C8 , or C3- Ce alkyl counterion groups may be linear, branched, or cyclic. The C1-C10, Ci-C ₈ , or Ci-C ₆ alkyl, C2-C10, C2-C8 , or C2-C6 alkenyl, or C2-C10, C2-C8 , or C2-C6 alkynyl counterion groups may also be interrupted one or more times along the backbone by a heteroatom selected from oxygen, sulfur, and/or nitrogen. The counterion groups optionally do not contain a carbon-carbon double bond. The counterion groups optionally have a molecular weight of less than about 200 g/mol, 150 g/mol, 125 g/mol, 100 g/mol, 100 g/mol, 90 g/mol, 80 g/mol, 70 g/mol, 60 g/mol, 50 g/mol, 40 g/mol, 30 g/mol, or 20 g/mol. Exemplary counterion groups include, but are not limited to, sodium ion, potassium ion, ethanolammonium, and allylammonium. Another exemplary active agent can have the following formula:

(B ) Z (A)— - (C)

in n o

Formula III

wherein Z is a linker or is absent, m and n are each an integer independently selected from 1-6, provided that m+n is at least 2, B is a functional group capable of forming a covalent bond with a nucleophile, such as a thiol or amine group, A is an ionizable functional group as defined above, and C is an ionic group which is also capable of forming a covalent bond with a thiol and which has a charge opposite to that of ionizable group A. Group C is ionically bonded (denoted by dashed line) to group A. For ionic group C, o is an integer value independently selected from 1-6, such that the sum of charges of group C and ionizable group A is zero. Preferably, linker Z is not a polymer.

In active agents of Formula III, group C is an ionic group which is ionically bonded to ionizable group A and is also capable of forming a covalent bond with a thiol. Group C may be a Michael acceptor, a succinimidyl-containing group, a maleimido-containing group, azlactone, a benzoxazinone derivative, vinyl sulfone, vinyl sulfoximine, vinyl sulfonate, vinyl phosphonate, benzoxazinone, isocyanate, epoxide, an electrophilic moiety containing a leaving group, an electrophilic thiol acceptor, acrylic or acrylate group, a methacrylic or methacrylate group, a styrene group, an acryl amide group, a methacryl amide group, a maleate group, a fumarate group, an itaconate group, a vinyl ether group, an allyl ether group, an allyl ester group, a vinyl ester group, a sulfonate group, a phosphonate group, a sulfoxide group, a sulfonamide group, a sulfinimide group, a sulfinamide group, a sulfonimidate group, or a sulfonimidamide group. By way of example, group C can be an allylammonium or 2-(methacrylolyoxy)ethan-l- ammonium. The active agents according to Formula III may contain functional groups that react with a nucleophile, such as a thiol, as group B. Examplary thiol reactive functional groups include, but are not limited, to those shown in the follo

wherein R is independently selected from hydrogen, Ci-6 alkyl, aryl, or an ionizable functional group; Z' is oxygen (O), NH, or is absent; and G is carbon (C) and g is 1, or G is sulfur (S) and g is 2. In preferred embodiments, Z is a linker or is absent, the linker is not a polymer, and group B is a functional group capable of forming a covalent bond with a thiol or amine group and group B is independently selected from the group consisting of: wherein R, Z' , G, and g are as previously defined.

4. Linker Z of Formula III

The linker Z, when present, can be or can contain an alkyl, alkenyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, aryl, heterocycloalkyl, or heteroaryl group. One or more of the carbon atoms in the alkyl, alkenyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, and aryl groups can be substituted with a heteroatom, yielding, for instance, an ether or alkylamine-containing linker.

The linker Z may optionally be substituted with one or more substituents, which may be the same or different, including hydrogen, halogen, cyano, alkoxy, alkyl, alkenyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, aryl, heterocycloalkyl, heteroaryl, amine, hydroxy, oxo, formyl, acyl, carboxylic acid (-COOH), -C(0)R ¹ , -C(0)OR ¹ , carboxylate (-COO-), primary amide (e.g. , -CONH2), secondary amide, -C(0)NR ¹ R ² , -N^R ² , -NR ¹ S(0) ₂ R ² , - NR ¹ C(0)R ² , -S(0) ₂ R ² , -SR ¹ , and -S(0) ₂ NR ¹ R ² , sulfinyl group (e.g. , -SOR ¹ ), and sulfonyl group (e.g. , -SOOR ¹ ); wherein R ¹ and R ² may each

independently be hydrogen, alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, cycloalkyl, aryl, heterocycloalkyl and heteroaryl; wherein each of R ¹ and R ² is optionally independently substituted with one or more substituents selected from the group consisting of halogen, hydroxyl, oxo, cyano, nitro, amino, alkylamino, dialkylamino, alkyl optionally substituted with one or more halogen or alkoxy or aryloxy, aryl optionally substituted with one or more halogen or alkoxy or alkyl or trihaloalkyl, heterocycloalkyl optionally substituted with aryl or heteroaryl or oxo or alkyl optionally substituted with hydroxyl, cycloalkyl optionally substituted with hydroxyl, heteroaryl optionally substituted with one or more halogen or alkoxy or alkyl or trihaloalkyl, haloalkyl, hydroxyalkyl, carboxy, alkoxy, aryloxy, alkoxycarbonyl, aminocarbonyl, alkylaminocarbonyl, and dialkylaminocarbonyl.

In certain preferred embodiments, the linker Z is a Ci-10 alkyl group which may be unsubstituted or substituted one or more times by oxo, hydroxyl, carboxyl, amido or amino. Preferably, the linker Z is a C1-4 alkyl group. The alkyl group may be linear or branched. The alkyl group may also be interrupted one or more times by a heteroatom selected from oxygen, sulfur and nitrogen. An example of such a di-carboxylic acids having a heteroatom interruption is thiodipropionic acid. In other embodiments, the alkyl group may contain one or more double or triple bonds.

In some embodiments, the active agent of Formula III has one of the

In certain embodiments the agents and salts of Formulae I, II, or III may be in solid/powdered forms when encapsulted with a compartment of a container.

The active agents of Formulae I, II, and III may be included in any suitable amount in a compartment of the containers, which is separate from the compartment containing the bleaching agent. The amount of active agent(s) can range from about 1% (by wt) to about 50% (by wt), 5% (by wt) to about 50% (by wt), 5% (by wt) to about 25% (by wt) of the active agent(s) to the total weight of the container.

III. Methods of Use

A. Bleaching Applications

The containers described herein are used in a process for bleaching an individual's hair and can be mixed with a developer to form a bleaching formulation. Optionally, a hair coloring process may follow a hair bleaching process. The containers for bleaching are typically free of or substantially free of any detergents (commonly used for laundry or dishwashing applications or as soaps), where substantially free refers to less than 5%, 4%, 3%, 2%, 1%, 0.9%, 0.8%, 0.7%, 0.6%, 0.5%, 0.4%, 0.3%, 0.2%, or 0.1% of detergent by weight in the container.

i. air Bleaching

Typical hair bleaching treatments or processes involve applying a bleaching formulation to lighten the hair's natural pigment and/or any artificial pigments present in the hair. Bleaching formulations are typically formed by mixing a bleach powder and a developer (an aqueous hydrogen peroxide-containing liquid or cream).

In some cases, a bleaching formulation is applied to the all or substantially all of the hair to lighten the color of the hair, whereas in some other cases the bleaching formulation is applied to sections of the hair in order to produce a highlighting effect.

After applying the bleaching formulation, the following treatments may be applied to the hair: a shampoo and conditioning treatment, a neutralizing rinse or an acid balanced shampoo containing in addition to cationic or amphoteric surfactants, cation-active emollients and quarternary polymers.

After applying the bleaching formulation, the active agent formulation(s) are applied to the hair, and subsequently, the hair may be rinsed, shampooed and/or conditioned. In certain instances, following rinsing, shampooing, and/or conditioning of the hair, the hair may subsequently be treated with Olaplex® No. 2 Bond Perfector (active ingredient: bis-aminopropyl diglycol dimaleate) and/or Olaplex® No. 3 Hair Perfector (active ingredient: bis-aminopropyl diglycol dimaleate).

ii. Hair Coloring following Hair Bleaching

Hair bleaching may also form a part of a hair coloring process.

Optionally, following a bleaching process, a coloring process may be applied to the hair wherein the dye precursors diffuse into the hair, followed by coupling reactions that result in the formation of chromophores within the hair shaft. The chromophores are too large to diffuse out of the hair. The dye precursors may contain several ingredients with different functions. More complex colors may contain several precursors and many couplers, and may involve multiple reactions.

One ingredient in a typical hair coloring process is an alkalizing agent (usually ammonia and/or an ammonia substitute, such as

monoethanolamine [MEA]). The alkalizing agent serves a number of roles in the hair coloring process including swelling the hair fiber to aid in diffusion of the dye precursors. The dye precursors generally include p- diamines and p-aminophenols. Precursors are oxidized to active

intermediates when they penetrate the hair shaft. Intermediates then react with color couplers to create wash resistant dyes. More specifically, the intermediates, in the presence of an oxidant, couple with another oxidation dye intermediate molecule to form a large fused ring color compound within the hair shaft. The precursor intermediate should penetrate the hair shaft prior to the coupling reaction since the fused ring product is too large to penetrate the hair shaft. Couplers modify the color produced by the oxidation of precursor compounds. A difference between demi-permanent and permanent products is the alkalizing agent and the concentration of peroxide. The cuticle does not swell as greatly with demi-permanent dyes, making dye penetration less efficient compared to permanent coloring products.

Several types of coloring formulations contain a reducing agent, such as sodium bisulfate, to break disulfide bonds in the hair, allowing deeper penetration of the hair coloring dyes into the hair. Specifically, some of the disulfide linkages of the cystine in the hair shafts are reduced to produce thiol groups while breaking hydrogen bonds. The reducing process changes the chemical and cosmetic characteristics of the hair, which are undesirable.

A hair coloring process may be followed by a shampoo and conditioning treatment, a neutralizing rinse or an acid balanced shampoo containing in addition to cationic or amphoteric surfactants, cation-active emollients and quarternary polymers.

Another hair coloring process can include a highlighting process, followed by applying color to sections of hair that have been

bleached/lightened. In such instances, sections of hair may be highlighted by a bleaching formulation followed by the application of a hair coloring formulation to one or more sections of hair that have been

bleached/lightened. In some instances, the bleaching and coloring may occur at the same time, such as by applying a bleaching formulation which contains hair coloring agents as well.

A hair coloring process may be followed by rinsing, shampooing, and/or conditioning the processed hair. In certain instances, following rinsing, shampooing, and/or conditioning of the hair, the hair may subsequently be treated with Olaplex® No. 2 Bond Perfector (active ingredient: bis-aminopropyl diglycol dimaleate) and/or Olaplex® No. 3 Hair Perfector (active ingredient: bis-aminopropyl diglycol dimaleate).

B. Prepare bleaching formulations

The containers are used in a method of preparing a hair bleaching formulation. For example, the containers containing bleaching agent(s) are contacted with water or an aqueous liquid or cream comprising hydrogen peroxide to form a mixture which is a bleaching formulation.

1. Liquid or Cream Developers

Aqueous liquids or creams containing hydrogen peroxide are typically called developers and are either commercially available or can be readily prepared to a suitable peroxide concentration by those of skill in the art.

Upon contact of the container with water or the aqueous hydrogen peroxide-containing liquid or cream, the material which encapsulates the content(s) in the compartment(s) fully, or at least partially, dissolves and/or degrades Preferably, the material of the container fully dissolves and/or degrades when contacted with water or a hydrogen peroxide-containing liquid or cream, preferably within 10 minutes, most preferably within 5 minutes. The container dissolves and/or degrades when the container is contacted with water or a hydrogen peroxide-containing liquid or cream in between about a volume 1:1 and about a 1:2 ratio of container to water or hydrogen peroxide-containing liquid or cream (by weight). Preferably, the contacting step occurs at room temperature, but it can occur at elevated temperatures, such as up to 50 °C.

The hydrogen peroxide concentration of the liquid or cream as a percentage of peroxide is typically within the range of from about 1 to 40%, 1 to 35%, 1 to 30%, 1 to 25%, 1 to 15%, 1 to 10%, 5 to 10%, 3 to 10%, or 3 to 15%.w/w. In some instances the aqueous hydrogen peroxide liquid or cream has a hydrogen peroxide concentration of 3% or 6% w/w.

Liquids or creams containing hydrogen peroxide, which are commonly referred to as developers. The liquids may be emulsions, suspensions, or solutions. The liquid or creams are aqueous and include water (also referred to as aqua) and hydrogen peroxide. These liquids or creams may also include one or more excipients such as, but not limited to alcohols (such as cetyl alcohol, cetaryl alcohol), ceteareth-20,

pentamethylene diethylenetriamine, acids (such as phosphoric acid), paraffinum liquidum, aloe barbadenis leaf juice, polymers or copolymers (such as acrylamide/sodium acrylate copolymer), thickening agents, emulsifiers, and /or trideceth-6.

The liquids containing hydrogen peroxide typically have a viscosity of which is less than the viscosity of a cosmetic cream (i.e., typically less than about 8,000 cP, less than about 5,000 cP). Creams containing hydrogen peroxide can have viscosities which are greater than about 5,000 cP, more preferably about 8,000 cP.

Suitable viscosities for liquids containing hydrogen peroxide are in the range of about 1 to 8,000 cP, 1 to 7,000 cP, 1 to 6,000 cP, 1 to 5,000 cP, 1 to 4,000 cP, 1 to 3,000 cP, 1 to 2,000 cP, 1 to 1,000 cP.

Suitable viscosities for creams containing hydrogen peroxide are in the range of about 8,000 cP to 10,000 cP, 8,000 cP to 15,000 cP, 8,000 cP to 20,000 cP, 8,000 cP to 25,000 cP.

Viscosity of liquids or creams containing hydrogen peroxide (denoted as developers herein) can be determined according to known methods for measuring viscosity. In one non-limiting exemplary method, a Ford viscosity cup viscometer can be used to determine the viscosity of Newtonian fluids according to testing methods provided under ASTM D 1200-94. A Ford viscosity cup viscometer can also be used to determine the viscosity of non- Newtonian fluids according to testing methods provided under ASTM D 2196. Classical Newtonian fluids demonstrate a viscosity, which is essentially independent of shear rate. Non-Newtonian fluids, however, demonstrate a viscosity which either decreases or increases with increasing shear rate, e.g., the fluids are "shear thinning" or "shear thickening", respectively. These and other methods of measuring viscosity are described in Viswanath, et al. Viscosity of Liquids: Theory, Estimation, Experiment, and Data, Dordrecht: Springer, 2007, Print. Exemplary viscosities of fluids measured by a viscosity cup method (at 20 °C) in units of centipoise include water (1 cP), hand cream (8,000 cP), liquid soap (85 cP), and shampoo (3,000-5,000 cP). 2. Addition of Active Agent(s)

As described above, optionally, the container includes at least a second compartment, which encapsulates one or more active agents. The active agent may be in the form of a solution or composition or in the form of solid powder which is encapsulated in the second compartment. Suitable active agents are described above.

Alternatively, the active agents can be added during or following the contacting step when forming the mixture. In such an instance, the container need not contain any active agent. The active agent may be in the form of a solution or liquid composition or a solid powder when added to during or following the contacting step. Suitable active agents are described above.

3. Apply bleaching formulation to hair

The bleaching formulation mixture can be used in a method of bleaching and/or coloring hair.

Following application, the mixture can be rinsed and/or shampooed from the hair within about 10 to 30 minutes after application. The mixture may be rinsed from the hair within about 30 minutes following application, preferably between about 5 minutes and about 20 minutes, more preferably about 10 minutes after application of the active agent to the hair, depending on hair type and desired level of lightening/bleaching.

Bleaching formulations formed from the containers which contain active agent(s) are capable of preventing or reducing damage caused by bleaching processes and can also improve hair quality, such as appearance (e.g., sheen) and feel, and/or decrease hair breakage compared with the same bleaching or other hair treatment in the absence of the active agents.

Bleaching methods which include the application of one or more of the active agents to the hair are capable of preventing or reducing damage caused by bleaching processes can also improve hair quality, such as appearance (e.g., sheen) and feel, and/or decrease hair breakage compared with the same bleaching method in the absence of the active agents.

Hair breakage is a significant problem encountered during hair coloring and bleaching processes. Hair breakage can decrease by 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, or 50% or higher after treatment with the active agent, as compared to bleached hair from the same individual which was bleached without an active agent.

IV. Kit

Kits for bleaching hair contain one or more containers. The kits also include an aqueous liquid or cream comprising hydrogen peroxide (denoted as a developer). The kit may further include a separate powder of active agent(s) or a solution or formulation thereof.

The kit may further include a mixing bowl, a brush, a bottle, applicator bottle (such as with a squirt tip), gloves, an applicator, shampoo, conditioner, an odor eliminator, Olaplex® No. 2 Bond Perfector (active ingredient: bis-aminopropyl diglycol dimaleate) and/or Olaplex® No. 3 Hair Perfector (active ingredient: bis-aminopropyl diglycol dimaleate), or a combination of any of these items. Instructions for use of the kit are also typically provided.

The aqueous liquid or cream containing hydrogen peroxide is provided in a container that is not water soluble; preferably the container is opaque.

A first component of the kit is a container, which contains bleaching agent(s) encapsulated therein. Preferably, the container includes at least two compartments wherein one compartment includes the bleaching agent(s) and the other compartment includes one or more active agents, as described above.

An optional component of the kit is an aqueous hydrogen peroxide- containing liquid or cream (where the concentration of peroxide in the liquid or cream is in the range of about 1 to 15%, 1 to 10%, or 5 to 10% w/w). The aqueous hydrogen peroxide-containing liquid or cream is in a suitable container, which depends on the form of the formulation. The volume of aqueous hydrogen peroxide-containing liquid or cream can be about 10 mL to 4 L, 10 mL to 3 L, 10 mL to 2, L, 10 mL to 1 L, 10 mL to 500 mL, 10 mL to 250 mL, or 10 mL to 100 mL. Typically the container is opaque. Another optional component of the kit is a powdered form of an active agent of Formulae I, II, and/or III, and/or simple or complex salts thereof (as described above). The active agent may be added to the bleaching formulation as a dry powder or alternatively may be used to form a solution of the agent (e.g. by mixing with water to provide a solution of agent with a concentration by weight of 0.1 to 50% in solution).

Alternatively, the active agent is provided in the kit as a pre-mixed aqueous solution of an agent of Formulae I, II, or III, where the agent is present at a concentration by weight of 0.1 to 50% in solution. The powder or aqueous solution of the agent of Formulae I, II, and/or III, and/or simple or complex salts thereof, is usually present in a suitable container. The volume of a solution of the active agent can be from about 1 to 500 mL, 1 to 250 mL, or 1 to 100 mL.

The active agents may alternatively be provided as a dry powder in a sealed package. A suitable mixing container for the active agent and other cosmetically acceptable excipients may optionally be provided in the kit.

A. Other materials in the kit

The kit optionally contains shampoos and conditioners. Suitable shampoos and conditioners include, but are not limited to LiQWd®

Hydrating Shampoo and LiQWd® Hydrating Conditioner. The kit may also optionally contain Olaplex® No. 2 Bond Perfector (active ingredient: bis- aminopropyl diglycol dimaleate), and/or Olaplex® No. 3 Hair Perfector (active ingredient: bis-aminopropyl diglycol dimaleate).

The kit may further contain an odor eliminator. The odor eliminator can be incorporated into the bleaching formulation. Alternately, the odor eliminator is present in a suitable container for use before or after washing the bleaching formulation from the hair.

Examples

Example 1: Sealed pods from Wash Away 7"x7" PreCut Sheets

Experimental

To a single sheet of Wash Away Water Soluble Embroidery

Stabilizer Topping Film 7"x7" was added 0.5 ounce by weight of Redken Flash lift lightening powder (potassium persulfate, ammonium persulfate) to the center of the sheet and the sheet was folded. The overlapping edges of the folded sheet were then sealed by heat treatment (-150° C for 30 seconds) to form a pod.

A single sealed pod containing lightening powder was added to 0.5 ounces by weight of Color Capture 50 volume creme developer (aqueous hydrogen peroxide) and was stirred by hand at room temperature for 30 seconds.

Other sealed pods of lightening powder were also stored under exposure to ambient atmosphere, in a sealed zip-loc bag and in a screw cap plastic bottle for 2 weeks, 1 month, and 2 months. After the set storage period, each stored pod was added to 0.5 ounces by weight of Color Capture 50 volume creme developer (aqueous hydrogen peroxide), and each mixture was stirred by hand at room temperature for 30 seconds.

Results

During stirring, complete dissolution and/or degradation of the pod that was not stored was observed with no noticeable increase in the viscosity of the resulting mixture perceived during mixing.

No visible changes in appearance and a holding of integrity and flow of the lightening powder were observed.

Addition of the stored pods to Color Capture 50 volume creme developer (aqueous hydrogen peroxide) resulted in similar dissolution and/or degradation and viscosity profiles to those observed with the pod that was not stored.

Example 2: Sealed pods from Sulky 12-Inch by 9-Yard Solvy Water Soluble Stabilizer Roll

Experimental

To 6" x 6" squares of film, cut from a Sulky 12-Inch by 9-Yard Solvy Water Soluble Stabilizer Roll, was added 0.5 ounce by weight of Redken flash lift lightening powder (containing potassium persulfate and ammonium persulfate) to the center of the sheet and the sheet was folded. The overlapping edges of the folded sheet were then sealed by heat treatment (-150° C for 30 seconds) to form a pod.

A single sealed pod containing lightening powder was then added to 0.5 ounces by weight of Color Capture 50 volume creme developer (aqueous hydrogen peroxide) and was stirred by hand at room temperature for 30 seconds.

Other sealed pods of lightening powder were also stored under exposure to ambient atmosphere, in a sealed zip-loc bag and in a screw cap plastic bottle for 2 weeks, 1 month, and 2 months. After the set storage period, each stored pod was added to 0.5 ounces by weight of Color Capture 50 volume creme developer (aqueous hydrogen peroxide), and each mixture was stirred by hand at room temperature for 30 seconds.

Results

During stirring, complete dissolution and/or degradation of the wash away sheet was observed with no noticeable increase in the viscosity of the resulting mixture perceived during mixing.

No visible changes in appearance and a holding of integrity and flow of the lightening powder were observed.

Addition of the stored pods to Color Capture 50 volume creme developer (aqueous hydrogen peroxide) resulted in similar dissolution and/or degradation and viscosity profiles to those observed with the pod that was not stored.

It is understood that the disclosed method and formulations are not limited to the particular methodology, protocols, and reagents described as these may vary.

Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meanings as commonly understood by one of skill in the art to which the disclosed invention belongs. Publications cited herein and the materials for which they are cited are specifically incorporated by reference.

Those skilled in the art will recognize, or be able to ascertain using no more than routine experimentation, many equivalents to the specific embodiments of the invention described herein. Such equivalents are intended to be encompassed by the following claims.