The present invention relates to a composition comprising dendritic

macronnolecules.

Compositions disclosing dendritic macronnolecules are disclosed in EP 1 778 180.

There however remains a need to improve the performance of hair care

compositions, in particular shampoos containing dendritic macronnolecules with regard to product stability.

Accordingly, the present invention provides a shampoo composition comprising: i) a cleaning phase comprising a cleansing anionic surfactant which is a salt and comprises an alkyl group with from 8 to 14 carbons;

ii) an aqueous conditioning gel network having no overall charge or is anionic, the gel network comprising:

(a) fatty material;

(b) a gel network anionic surfactant comprising an alkyl group with from 16 to 30 carbons;

(c) cationic surfactant; and

iii) dendritic macromolecule.

The invention further relates to a method of manufacturing a shampoo

composition comprising the steps of

i) forming a an aqueous conditioning gel network having no overall charge or is anionic, the gel network comprising:

(a) fatty material;

(b) a gel network anionic surfactant comprising an alkyl group with from 16 to 30 carbons;

(c) cationic surfactant; ii) adding the resulting gel network to diluted primary surfactant solution; and iii) adding a dendritic macromolecule to the resulting composition.

Further disclosed is a method of manufacturing a shampoo composition comprising the steps of

i) forming a an aqueous conditioning gel network having no overall charge or is anionic, the gel network comprising:

(a) fatty material;

(b) a gel network anionic surfactant comprising an alkyl group with from 16 to 30 carbons;

(c) cationic surfactant;

(d) a dendritic macromolecule; and

ii) adding the resulting gel network to diluted primary surfactant solution. The Gel Network

Preferably, the number of carbons of the anionic and cationic surfactants in the gel network are within 4, preferably 2 carbons of each other and most preferably have the same number of carbons. More preferably, the surfactants comprise a single alkyl group of within 4 carbons, more preferably within 2 carbons and most preferably are the same length. This assists in maintaining stability of the gel network.

Preferably, the carbons in the gel network cationic surfactant are present in a single alkyl group. More preferably the gel network cationic surfactant has from 16-30 carbons.

Preferably, the cationic surfactants have the formula N ⁺ (R ¹ )(R ² )(R ³ )(R ⁴ ), wherein R ¹ , R ² , R ³ and R ⁴ are independently (Ci6 to C30) alkyl or benzyl. Preferably, one, two or three of R ¹ , R ² , R ³ and R ⁴ are independently (C16 to C30) alkyl and the other R ¹ , R ² , R ³ and R ⁴ group or groups are (C1 -C6) alkyl or benzyl.

Optionally, the alkyl groups may comprise one or more ester (-OCO- or -COO-) and/or ether (-O-) linkages within the alkyl chain. Alkyl groups may optionally be substituted with one or more hydroxyl groups. Alkyl groups may be straight chain or branched and, for alkyl groups having 3 or more carbon atoms, cyclic. The alkyl groups may be saturated or may contain one or more carbon-carbon double bonds (e.g., oleyl). Alkyl groups are optionally ethoxylated on the alkyl chain with one or more ethyleneoxy groups.

Suitable cationic surfactants for use in conditioner compositions according to the invention include cetyltrimethylammonium chloride, behenyltrimethylammonium chloride, cetylpyridinium chloride, tetramethylammonium chloride,

tetraethylammonium chloride, stearyldimethylbenzylammonium chloride,

cocotrimethylammonium chloride, PEG-2-oleammonium chloride and the

corresponding hydroxides thereof. Further suitable cationic surfactants include those materials having the CTFA designations Quaternium-5, Quaternium-31 and

Quaternium-18. Mixtures of any of the foregoing materials may also be suitable. A particularly useful cationic surfactant for use in conditioners according to the invention is cetyltrimethylammonium chloride, available commercially, for example as GENAMIN CTAC, ex Hoechst Celanese. Another particularly useful cationic surfactant for use in conditioners according to the invention is

behenyltrimethylammonium chloride, available commercially, for example as GENAMIN KDMP, ex Clariant.

Another example of a class of suitable cationic surfactants for use in the invention, either alone or in admixture with one or more other cationic conditioning surfactants, is a combination of (i) and (ii) below: (i) an amidoamine corresponding to the general formula (I):

in which R is a hydrocarbyl chain having 10 or more carbon atoms,

R ² and R ³ are independently selected from hydrocarbyl chains of from 1 to

10 carbon atoms, and

m is an integer from 1 to about 10; and

(ii) an acid.

As used herein, the term hydrocarbyl chain means an alkyl or alkenyl chain.

Preferred amidoamine compounds are those corresponding to formula (I) in which R ¹ is a hydrocarbyl residue having from about 1 1 to about 24 carbon atoms, R ² and R ³ are each independently hydrocarbyl residues, preferably alkyl groups, having from 1 to about 4 carbon atoms, and m is an integer from 1 to about 4.

Preferably, R ² and R ³ are methyl or ethyl groups.

Preferably, m is 2 or 3, i.e. an ethylene or propylene group.

Preferred amidoamines useful herein include stearamido-propyldimethylamine, stearamidopropyldiethylamine, stearamidoethyldiethylamine,

stearamidoethyldimethylamine, palmitamidopropyldimethylamine,

palmitamidopropyldiethylamine, palmitamidoethyldiethylamine,

palmitamidoethyldimethylamine, behenamidopropyldimethylamine, behenamidopropyldiethylmine, behenamidoethyldiethylamine,

behenamidoethyldimethylamine, arachidamidopropyldimethylannine,

arachidamidopropyldiethylamine, arachid-amidoethyldiethylamine,

arachidamidoethyldimethylannine, and mixtures thereof.

Particularly preferred amidoamines useful herein are

stearamidopropyldimethylamine, stearamidoethyldiethylamine, and mixtures thereof. Commercially available amidoamines useful herein include:

stearamidopropyldimethylamine with tradenames LEXAMINE S-13 available from Inolex (Philadelphia Pennsylvania, USA) and AMIDOAMINE MSP available from Nikko (Tokyo, Japan), stearamidoethyldiethylamine with a tradename

AMIDOAMINE S available from Nikko, behenamidopropyldimethylamine with a tradename INCROMINE BB available from Croda (North Humberside, England), and various amidoamines with tradenames SCHERCODINE series available from Scher (Clifton New Jersey, USA).

Acid (ii) may be any organic or mineral acid which is capable of protonating the amidoamine in the hair treatment composition. Suitable acids useful herein include hydrochloric acid, acetic acid, tartaric acid, fumaric acid, lactic acid, malic acid, succinic acid, and mixtures thereof. Preferably, the acid is selected from the group consisting of acetic acid, tartaric acid, hydrochloric acid, fumaric acid, and mixtures thereof.

The primary role of the acid is to protonate the amidoamine in the hair treatment composition thus forming a tertiary amine salt (TAS) in situ in the hair treatment composition. The TAS in effect is a non-permanent quaternary ammonium or pseudo-quaternary ammonium cationic surfactant. Suitably, the acid is included in a sufficient amount to protonate all the

amidoamine present, i.e. at a level which is at least equimolar to the amount of amidoamine present in the composition. The level of cationic surfactant will generally range from 0.01 to 10%, more preferably 0.02 to 7.5%, most preferably 0.05 to 5% by total weight of cationic surfactant based on the total weight of the composition.

The anionic surfactant comprises an alkyl chain with from 16-30 carbons, preferably from 16-22 carbons.

Preferably, the carbons in the gel network anionic surfactant are present in a single alkyl group. The gel network comprises an anionic surfactant for achieving an overall anionic charge to the gel network or no overall charge to the gel network.

The gel network anionic surfactant is present at from 0.1 to 5 % by weight of the composition and more preferably from 0.5 to 2.0% wt.

The gel network comprises a fatty material.

Preferably, the fatty material is selected from fatty amides, fatty alcohols, fatty esters and mixtures thereof. Preferably, the fatty material is a fatty alcohol.

Preferably, the fatty material comprises a fatty group having from 14 to 30 carbon atoms, more preferably 16 to 22. Examples of suitable fatty alcohols include cetyl alcohol, stearyl alcohol and mixtures thereof. An example of a suitable fatty ester is glyceryl monostearate. The level of fatty material in compositions of the invention is conveniently from 0.01 to 10%, preferably from 0.1 to 5% by weight of the composition.

Preferably the ratio between (a) and (b) is from 0.1 :1 to 100:1 , preferably from 1 .2:1 to 50:1 , more preferably from 1 .5:1 to 10:1 and most preferably around 2:1 .

Preferably, the anionic and fatty materials of the gel network contain alkyl groups within 4, preferably 2 carbons and most preferably the same number of carbons. More preferably, they comprise a single alkyl group of within 4, more preferably within 2 and most preferably are the same length. This assists in maintaining stability of the gel network.

The Dendritic Macromolecule Compositions of the invention comprise a dendritic macromolecule.

Dendritic macronnolecules are macronnolecules with densely branched structures having a large number of end groups. A dendritic polymer includes several layers or generations of repeating units which all contain one or more branch points. Dendritic polymers, including dendrimers and hyperbranched polymers, are prepared by condensation reactions of monomeric units having at least two different types of reactive groups. Dendrimers are highly symmetric, whereas macronnolecules designated as hyperbranched may to a certain degree hold an asymmetry, yet maintaining the highly branched treelike structure.

Dendritic macronnolecules normally consist of an initiator or nucleus having one or more reactive sites and a number of branching layers and optionally a layer of chain terminating molecules. Continued replication of branching layers normally yields increased branch multiplicity and, where applicable or desired, increased number of terminal groups. The layers are usually called generations and the branches dendrons.

Preferred hydrophobically functionalised dendritic macronnolecules are built up from polyester units or polyether units, preferably not polyester units. Suitable macronnolecules of this type are disclosed in US 5 418 301 and can be sold under the tradename Perstop.

Other preferred dendritic macronnolecules are built up from polyamide units.

Suitable macronnolecules of this type are disclosed in Macronnolecules 2001 , 34, 3559-3566 and are sold under the tradename Hybrane. Preferably the groups are selected from succinic anhydride units, dodecyl succinic anhydride units, hexahydrophthalic anhydride units and phthalic anhydride units or mixtures thereof.

Suitable materials are described in SE 468 771 , which discloses a

macromolecule which is composed of an initiator, having at least one hydroxyl group, to which initiator is added at least one branching generation comprising at least one chain extender, having at least one carboxyl group and at least two hydroxyl groups.

Further suitable materials are described in SE 503 342, in which the

macromolecule is substantially composed of a nucleus, having at least one epoxide group, to which nucleus is added at least one branching generation comprising at least one chain extender, having at least three reactive functions of which at least one is a carboxyl or epoxide group and at least one is a hydroxyl group. In a preferred embodiment the dendritic macromolecule is a hydroxyl- functionalised dendritic macromolecule and more preferably one which comprises polyester units. Suitable dendritic macromolecules are also referred to as polyhydric polyester alcohols or hyperbranched polyols. Preferably these materials have at least eight, more preferably at least sixteen, most preferably at least thirty-two terminal hydroxyl groupings per macromolecule. These materials are available commercially from Perstorp AB, SE-284 80

Perstorp, Sweden under the trademark of BOLTORN. Examples of such materials are BOLTORN H10, BOLTORN H20, BOLTORN H30, BOLTORN H2004 and BOLTORN H40, of which BOLTORN H30, BOLTORN H40 and BOLTORN H2004 are preferred.

In some instances it is preferred if the dendritic macromolecule is fully or partially hydrophobically functionalised at the periphery and/or the terminal groups of the dendritic macromolecule. (In the context of the present invention the term periphery means the outer layer or edge of the dendritic macromolecule.)

Where the dendritic macromolecule is hydrophobically functionalised at the periphery preferably 5 to 95% of the terminal groups are hydrophobically functionalised, more preferably from 10 to 85%, most preferably from 20 to 60%. In a further embodiment the number of hydrophobic groups can be expressed as a percentage of the potential sites on the dendritic macromolecule available for hydrophobic modification both on the periphery of the molecule and internally within the molecule. Preferably 10 to 90 % of these available sites are

hydrophobically modified, more preferably 20 to 70% are hydrophobically modified. ln a preferred embodiment the compositions of the invention comprise a hydrophobically functional ised dendritic macromolecule. Preferred hydrophobic groups are carbon based. C ₄ -C2 ₄ alkyl or alkenyl groups are preferred hydrophobic groups, more preferred are C6-C22 alkyl or alkenyl groups, especially preferred are Cs-Ci6 alkyl or alkenyl groups, most preferred are dendritic macromolecule having C10-C14 alkyl or alkenyl groups. The hydrophobic groups may include linear and branched hydrophobes as well as arylalkyl groups, however it is preferred if the alkyl hydrophobic groups are linear. The hydrophobic groups may be unsaturated groups but are preferably saturated. The hydrophobic groups are sometimes linked to the dendritic macromolecule through linking groups, suitable linking groups include ester or amide groups.

Particularly, preferred are dendrimers in which the hydrophobically funcationalised groups of the dendritic macromolecule comprise a C6-C20 carboxyl group.

It is preferred if the generation number of the polymer is 2 or greater. The maximum generation number is preferably 9 or less, more preferably 7 or less.

Preferably the number average molecular weight of the polymers are from 500 to 50,000, more preferably the number average molecular weight to from 500 to 10,000; most preferably the number average molecular weight is from 750 to 5,000.

Preferably, the degree of substitution of the alkyl group is from 20 to 90% of the terminal groups of the dendritic polymer.

Alternatively their molecular weight can be expressed preferably as at least 800, more preferably at least 1600, most preferably at least 2500 g/mole. The level of dendritic macromolecule is preferably from 0.0001 to 30 wt% of the total composition, more preferably the level is from 0.05 to 8 wt%, most preferably from 0.1 to 5 wt%. In one embodiment, the dendritic macromolecule is emulsified prior to

incorporation into the composition.

Suitable emulsifiers include sodium lauryl ether sulphate, most preferably SLES 1 EO or SLES 3EO; linear sulphonic acid and triethanolamine (Biosoft AS100). Most preferably, the emulsified dendritic macromolecule comprises inulin lauryl carbamate.

The total amount of dendritic macromolecule in hair care compositions of the invention generally ranges from 0.01 to 5%, preferably from 0.05 to 2%, more preferably from 0.1 to 1 .5% by total weight alkyl modified silicone based on the total weight of the composition.

Cleansing Phase The cleaning phase comprises a cleansing surfactant. The cleansing phase anionic surfactant is a salt and has from 8 to 14 carbons, more preferably from 10 to 12 and most preferably 12 carbons. More preferably, these carbons are present in a single alkyl group. Preferably, the salt is a sulphate, sulphonate, sarcosinate or isethionate.

Preferably, the cleansing anionic surfactant is selected from ammonium lauryl sulphate, ammonium laureth sulphate, trimethylamine lauryl sulphate,

trimethylamine laureth sulphate, triethanolamine lauryl sulphate,

trimethylethanolamine laureth sulphate, monoethanolamine lauryl sulphate, monoethanolamine laureth sulphate, diethanolamine lauryl sulphate,

diethanolamine laureth sulphate, lauric monoglyceride sodium sulphate, sodium lauryl sulphate, sodium laureth sulphate, potassium lauryl sulphate, potassium laureth sulphate, sodium lauryl sarcosinate, sodium lauroyl sarcosinate, lauryl sarcosine, ammonium cocoyl sulphate, ammonium lauroyl sulphate, sodium cocoyl sulphate, sodium lauryl sulphate, potassium cocoyl sulphate, potassium lauryl sulphate, monoethanolamine cocoyl sulphate, monoethanolamine lauryl sulphate, sodium tridecyl benzene sulphonate, sodium dodecyl benzene sulphonate, sodium cocoyl isethionate and mixtures thereof.

Preferred anionic cleansing surfactants include alkali metal alkyl sulphates, more preferably the alkyl ether sulphates. Particularly preferred anionic cleansing surfactants include sodium lauryl ether sulphate. The cleansing phase comprises from 0.5 to 70% by weight cleansing surfactant, preferably from 5 to 60% and more preferably from 7 to 56% by weight of the composition.

The preferred cleansing anionic surfactants provide a surfactant benefit no matter the pH of the composition since they are pH insensitive.

The invention encompasses both regular shampoo compositions comprising typical levels of cleansing surfactant as well as concentrated shampoos. In a regular shampoo the level of cleansing surfactant is from 5 to 26% by weight of the composition while for concentrated shampoos the level of cleansing surfactant is from 27 to 70% by weight.

Preferably, the composition comprises less than 0.2 wt% of the composition of fatty acid more preferably no fatty acid. Preferably the composition comprises no fatty acid having from 10 to 20 carbon atoms in an alkyl chain. Fatty acids are not desirable since they provide a poor quality conditioning benefit to the hair.

Deposition Polymer

In a preferred embodiment the composition according to the invention comprises a cationic deposition polymer.

Suitable cationic deposition aid polymers may be homopolymers which are cationically substituted or may be formed from two or more types of monomers. The weight average (M _w ) molecular weight of the polymers will generally be between 100 000 and 2 million daltons. The polymers will have cationic nitrogen containing groups such as quaternary ammonium or protonated amino groups, or a mixture thereof. If the molecular weight of the polymer is too low, then the conditioning effect is poor. If too high, then there may be problems of high extensional viscosity leading to stringiness of the composition when it is poured.

The cationic nitrogen-containing group will generally be present as a substituent on a fraction of the total monomer units of the cationic polymer. Thus when the polymer is not a homopolymer it can contain spacer non-cationic monomer units. Such polymers are described in the CTFA Cosmetic Ingredient Directory, 3rd edition. The ratio of the cationic to non-cationic monomer units is selected to give polymers having a cationic charge density in the required range, which is generally from 0.2 to 3.0 meq/gm. The cationic charge density of the polymer is suitably determined via the Kjeldahl method as described in the US Pharmacopoeia under chemical tests for nitrogen determination.

Suitable cationic polymers include, for example, copolymers of vinyl monomers having cationic amine or quaternary ammonium functionalities with water soluble spacer monomers such as (meth)acrylamide, alkyl and dialkyl (meth)acrylamides, alkyi (meth)acrylate, vinyl caprolactone and vinyl pyrrolidine. The alkyi and dialkyi substituted monomers preferably have C1 -C7 alkyi groups, more preferably C1 -3 alkyi groups. Other suitable spacers include vinyl esters, vinyl alcohol, maleic anhydride, propylene glycol and ethylene glycol.

The cationic amines can be primary, secondary or tertiary amines, depending upon the particular species and the pH of the composition. In general secondary and tertiary amines, especially tertiary, are preferred. Amine substituted vinyl monomers and amines can be polymerised in the amine form and then converted to ammonium by quaternization.

The cationic polymers can comprise mixtures of monomer units derived from amine- and/or quaternary ammonium-substituted monomer and/or compatible spacer monomers.

Suitable cationic polymers include, for example: cationic diallyl quaternary ammonium-containing polymers including, for example, dimethyldiallylammonium chloride homopolymer and copolymers of acrylamide and dimethyldiallylammonium chloride, referred to in the industry (CTFA) as Polyquaternium 6 and Polyquaternium 7, respectively; mineral acid salts of amino-alkyl esters of homo-and co-polymers of unsaturated carboxylic acids having from 3 to 5 carbon atoms, (as described in U.S. Patent 4,009,256); cationic polyacrylamides(as described in WO95/2231 1 ). Other cationic polymers that can be used include cationic polysaccharide polymers, such as cationic cellulose derivatives, cationic starch derivatives, and cationic guar gum derivatives. Cationic polysaccharide polymers suitable for use in compositions of the invention include monomers of the formula:

A-O-[R-N ⁺ (R ¹ )(R ² )(R ³ )X ^" ], wherein: A is an anhydroglucose residual group, such as a starch or cellulose anhydroglucose residual. R is an alkylene, oxyalkylene, polyoxyalkylene, or hydroxyalkylene group, or combination thereof. R ¹ , R ² and R ³ independently represent alkyl, aryl, alkylaryl, arylalkyl, alkoxyalkyl, or alkoxyaryl groups, each group containing up to about 18 carbon atoms. The total number of carbon atoms for each cationic moiety (i.e., the sum of carbon atoms in R ¹ , R ² and R ³ ) is preferably about 20 or less, and X is an anionic counterion.

Another type of cationic cellulose includes the polymeric quaternary ammonium salts of hydroxyethyl cellulose reacted with lauryl dimethyl ammonium-substituted epoxide, referred to in the industry (CTFA) as Polyquaternium 24. These

materials are available from the Amerchol Corporation, for instance under the tradename Polymer LM-200.

Other suitable cationic polysaccharide polymers include quaternary nitrogen- containing cellulose ethers (e.g. as described in U.S. Patent 3,962,418), and copolymers of etherified cellulose and starch (e.g. as described in

U.S. Patent 3,958,581 ).

A particularly suitable type of cationic polysaccharide polymer that can be used is a cationic guar gum derivative, such as guar hydroxypropyltrimethylammonium chloride (commercially available from Rhodia in their JAGUAR trademark series). Examples of such materials are JAGUAR C13S, JAGUAR C14, JAGUAR C15 and JAGUAR C17.

Mixtures of any of the above cationic polymers may be used.

Cationic polymer will generally be present in a shampoo composition of the invention at levels of from 0.01 to 5%, preferably from 0.05 to 2%, more preferably from 0.07 to 1 .2% by total weight of cationic polymer based on the total weight of the composition.

Solvent

Preferably, the hair care compositions of the invention are aqueous, i.e. they have water or an aqueous solution or a lyotropic liquid crystalline phase as their major component. Suitably, the composition will comprise from 10 to 98%, preferably from 30 to 95% water by weight based on the total weight of the composition.

Silicone The composition according to the invention preferably comprises a silicone.

Particularly preferred silicone conditioning agents are silicone emulsions such as those formed from silicones such as polydiorganosiloxanes, in particular polydimethylsiloxanes which have the CTFA designation dimethicone,

polydimethyl siloxanes having hydroxyl end groups which have the CTFA designation dimethiconol, and amino-functional polydimethyl siloxanes which have the CTFA designation amodimethicone. The emulsion droplets may typically have a Sauter mean droplet diameter (D _{3 2} ) in the composition of the invention ranging from 0.01 to 20 micrometer, more preferably from 0.2 to 10 micrometer. A suitable method for measuring the Sauter mean droplet diameter (D ₃₂ ) is by laser light scattering using an instrument such as a Malvern Mastersizer.

Suitable silicone emulsions for use in compositions of the invention are available from suppliers of silicones such as Dow Corning and GE Silicones. The use of such pre-formed silicone emulsions is preferred for ease of processing and control of silicone particle size. Such pre-formed silicone emulsions will typically additionally comprise a suitable emulsifier such as an anionic or nonionic emulsifier, or mixture thereof, and may be prepared by a chemical emulsification process such as emulsion polymerisation, or by mechanical emulsification using a high shear mixer. Pre-formed silicone emulsions having a Sauter mean droplet diameter (D _{3 2} ) of less than 0.15 micrometers are generally termed

microemulsions.

Examples of suitable pre-formed silicone emulsions include emulsions DC2-1766, DC2-1784, DC-1785, DC-1786, DC-1788 and microemulsions DC2-1865 and

DC2-1870, all available from Dow Corning. DC7051 is a preferred silicone. These are all emulsions/microemulsions of dimethiconol. Also suitable are amodimethicone emulsions such as DC2-8177 and DC939 (from Dow Corning) and SME253 (from GE Silicones).

Also suitable are silicone emulsions in which certain types of surface active block copolymers of a high molecular weight have been blended with the silicone emulsion droplets, as described for example in WO03/094874. In such materials, the silicone emulsion droplets are preferably formed from polydiorganosiloxanes such as those described above. One preferred form of the surface active block copolymer is according to the following formula:

HO(CH2CH2O)x(CH(CH3)CH2O) _y (CH2CH ₂ O)x H wherein the mean value of x is 4 or more and the mean value of y is 25 or more.

Another preferred form of the surface active block copolymer is according to the following formula:

(HO(CH2CH2O)a(CH(CH3)CH2O)b)2-N-CH2-CH2-N((OCH2CH(CH3))b( OCH ₂ CH2)a OH) ₂ wherein the mean value of a is 2 or more and the mean value of b is 6 or more.

Mixtures of any of the above described silicone emulsions may also be used.

The above described silicone emulsions will generally be present in a composition of the invention at levels of from 0.05 to 15%, preferably from 0.5 to 12% by total weight of silicone based on the total weight of the composition.

The silicone is preferably present at from 0.5 to 15% wt., more preferably 1 to 12% by weight. Optionally, a composition of the invention may contain further ingredients as described below to enhance performance and/or consumer acceptability.

The composition can include co-surfactants, to help impart aesthetic, physical or cleansing properties to the composition. An example of a co-surfactant is a nonionic surfactant, which can be included in an amount ranging from 0.5 to 10%, preferably from 0.7 to 6% by weight based on the total weight of the composition. For example, representative nonionic surfactants that can be included in shampoo compositions of the invention include condensation products of aliphatic (Cs - Cis) primary or secondary linear or branched chain alcohols or phenols with alkylene oxides, usually ethylene oxide and generally having from 6 to 30 ethylene oxide groups.

Other representative nonionic surfactants include mono- or di-alkyl alkanolamides. Examples include coco mono- or di-ethanolamide and coco mono- isopropanolamide. A particularly preferred nonionic surfactant is coco mono- ethanolamide.

Further nonionic surfactants which can be included in shampoo compositions of the invention are the alkyl polyglycosides (APGs). Typically, the APG is one which comprises an alkyl group connected (optionally via a bridging group) to a block of one or more glycosyl groups. Preferred APGs are defined by the following formula: wherein R is a branched or straight chain alkyl group which may be saturated or unsaturated and G is a saccharide group.

R may represent a mean alkyl chain length of from about C ₅ to about C20.

Preferably R represents a mean alkyl chain length of from about Cs to about C12. Most preferably the value of R lies between about 9.5 and about 10.5. G may be selected from C ₅ or C6 monosaccharide residues, and is preferably a glucoside. G may be selected from the group comprising glucose, xylose, lactose, fructose, mannose and derivatives thereof. Preferably G is glucose.

The degree of polymerisation, n, may have a value of from about 1 to about 10 or more. Preferably, the value of n lies from about 1 .1 to about 2. Most preferably the value of n lies from about 1 .3 to about 1 .5.

Suitable alkyl polyglycosides for use in the invention are commercially available and include for example those materials identified as: Oramix NS10 ex Seppic; Plantaren 1200 and Plantaren 2000 ex Henkel.

Other sugar-derived nonionic surfactants which can be included in compositions of the invention include the C10-C18 N-alkyl (Ci-Ce) polyhydroxy fatty acid amides, such as the C12-C18 N-methyl glucamides, as described for example in

WO 92 06154 and US 5 194 639, and the N-alkoxy polyhydroxy fatty acid amides, such as C10-C18 N-(3-methoxypropyl) glucamide.

A preferred example of a co-surfactant is an amphoteric or zwitterionic surfactant, which can be included in an amount ranging from 0.5 to about 10%, preferably from 1 to 6% by weight based on the total weight of the composition.

Examples of amphoteric or zwitterionic surfactants include alkyl amine oxides, alkyl betaines, alkyl amidopropyl betaines, alkyl sulphobetaines (sultaines), alkyl glycinates, alkyl carboxyglycinates, alkyl amphoacetates, alkyl amphopropionates, alkylamphoglycinates, alkyl amidopropyl hydroxysultaines, acyl taurates and acyl glutamates, wherein the alkyl and acyl groups have from 8 to 19 carbon atoms. Typical amphoteric and zwitterionic surfactants for use in shampoos of the invention include lauryl amine oxide, cocodimethyl sulphopropyl betaine, lauryl betaine, cocamidopropyl betaine and sodium cocoamphoacetate. A particularly preferred amphoteric or zwitterionic surfactant is cocamidopropyl betaine.

Mixtures of any of the foregoing amphoteric or zwitterionic surfactants may also be suitable. Preferred mixtures are those of cocamidopropyl betaine with further amphoteric or zwitterionic surfactants as described above. A preferred further amphoteric or zwitterionic surfactant is sodium cocoamphoacetate.

The total amount of surfactant (including any co-surfactant, and/or any emulsifier) in a shampoo composition of the invention is generally from 1 to 70%, preferably from 2 to 65%, more preferably from 8 to 60% by total weight surfactant based on the total weight of the composition.

Suspending Agent

Preferably an aqueous shampoo composition of the invention further comprises a suspending agent. Suitable suspending agents are selected from polyacrylic acids, cross-linked polymers of acrylic acid, copolymers of acrylic acid with a hydrophobic monomer, copolymers of carboxylic acid-containing monomers and acrylic esters, cross-linked copolymers of acrylic acid and acrylate esters, heteropolysaccharide gums and crystalline long chain acyl derivatives. The long chain acyl derivative is desirably selected from ethylene glycol stearate, alkanolamides of fatty acids having from 16 to 22 carbon atoms and mixtures thereof. Ethylene glycol distearate and polyethylene glycol 3 distearate are preferred long chain acyl derivatives, since these impart pearlescence to the composition. Polyacrylic acid is available commercially as Carbopol 420, Carbopol 488 or Carbopol 493. Polymers of acrylic acid cross-linked with a polyfunctional agent may also be used; they are available commercially as Carbopol 910, Carbopol 934, Carbopol 941 and Carbopol 980. An example of a suitable copolymer of a carboxylic acid containing monomer and acrylic acid esters is Carbopol 1342. All Carbopol (trademark) materials are available from Goodrich.

Suitable cross-linked polymers of acrylic acid and acrylate esters are Pemulen TR1 or Pemulen TR2. A suitable heteropolysaccharide gum is xanthan gum, for example that available as Kelzan mu.

Mixtures of any of the above suspending agents may be used. Preferred is a mixture of cross-linked polymer of acrylic acid and crystalline long chain acyl derivative.

Suspending agent will generally be present in a shampoo composition of the invention at levels of from 0.1 to 10%, preferably from 0.5 to 6%, more preferably from 0.9 to 4% by total weight of suspending agent based on the total weight of the composition.

Preferably, the composition has a viscosity of 2000 to 7000 cPs measures at 30°C, measured on a Brookfield Viscometer using spindle RV5 at 20 rpm. Oil

The composition preferably comprises an oil. The oil may be any oil commonly used in personal care products for example polyolefin oils, ester oils, triglyceride oils, hydrocarbon oils and mixtures thereof. Preferably, the oil is a light oil. Oils, enhance the conditioning benefits found with compositions of the invention.

Preferred oils include those selected from:

• Oils having viscosities from 0.1 to 500 centipoises measures at 30°C. • Oils with viscosity above 500 centipoises (500-500000 cps) which contains up to 20% of a lower viscosity fraction (less than 500cps).

One type of preferred oil is a polyalphaolefin oil.

Suitable polyalphaolefin oils include those derived from 1 -alkalene monomers having from 6 to 16 carbons, preferably from 6 to 12 carbons. Non limiting examples of materials include 1 -hexene, 1 -octene, 1 -decene, 1 -dodecene, 1 -tetradecene, 1 - hexadecene, branched isomers such as 4-methyl-1 -pentene and mixtures thereof.

Preferred polyalphaloefins include polydecenes with tradename Puresyn 6 having a number average molecular weight of about 500, Puresyn 100 having a molecular weight of about 3000 and Puresyn 300 having a molecular weight of about 6000 commercially available from Mobil.

Preferably, the polyalphaolefin oil is present at from 0.05 to 10%, particularly from 0.2 to 5%, and especially from 0.5 to 3% by weight of the composition.

Also suitable are triglyceride oils include fats and oils including natural fats and oils such as jojoba, soybean, sunflower seed oil, rice bran, avocado, almond, olive, sesame, castor, coconut, coconut palm oil, sunflower oil, mink oils; cacao fat; beef tallow, lard; hardened oils obtained by hydrogenating the aforementioned oils; and synthetic mono, di- and triglycerides such as myristic acid glyceride and 2-ethylhexanoic acid glyceride.

Preferably, the triglyceride oil if present is at levels from 0.05 to 10%, particularly from 0.2 to 5%, and especially from 0.5 to 3% by weight of the composition.

Highly suitable oils for use with the present invention are hydrocarbon oils.

Hydrocarbon oils have at least 12 carbon atoms, and include paraffin oil, polyolefin oil, mineral oil, saturated and unsaturated dodecane, saturated and unsaturated tridecane, saturated and unsaturated tetradecane, saturated and unsaturated pentadecane, saturated and unsaturated hexadecane, and mixtures thereof.

Branched-chain isomers of these compounds, as well as of higher chain length hydrocarbons, can also be used. Also suitable are polymeric hydrocarbons of C2-6 alkenyl monomers, such as polyisobutylene.

Preferably, the hydrocarbon oil is present at from 0.05 to 10%, particularly from 0.2 to 5%, and especially from 0.5 to 3% by weight of the composition. Also suitable are ester oils with have at least 10 carbon atoms, and include esters with hydrocarbyl chains derived from fatty acids or alcohols. Typical ester oils are formula R'COOR in which R' and R independently denote alkyl or alkenyl radicals and the sum of carbon atoms in R' and R is at least 10, preferably at least 20. Di- and trialkyl and alkenyl esters of carboxylic acids can also be used.

Preferably, the ester oil is present at from 0.05 to 10%, particularly from 0.2 to 5%, and especially from 0.5 to 3% by weight of the composition.

Preferably, the composition comprises a cleansing anionic surfactant which comprises an alkyl group with from 10 to 14 carbons.

A further component that may be used in compositions of the invention is a hydrocarbon oil or ester oil. Like silicone oils, these materials may enhance the conditioning benefits found with compositions of the invention.

Suitable hydrocarbon oils have at least 12 carbon atoms, and include paraffin oil, polyolefin oil, mineral oil, saturated and unsaturated dodecane, saturated and unsaturated tridecane, saturated and unsaturated tetradecane, saturated and unsaturated pentadecane, saturated and unsaturated hexadecane, and mixtures thereof. Branched-chain isomers of these compounds, as well as of higher chain length hydrocarbons, can also be used. Also suitable are polymeric hydrocarbons of C2-6 alkenyl monomers, such as polyisobutylene.

Suitable ester oils have at least 10 carbon atoms, and include esters with

hydrocarbyl chains derived from fatty acids or alcohols. Typical ester oils are formula R'COOR in which R' and R independently denote alkyl or alkenyl radicals and the sum of carbon atoms in R' and R is at least 10, preferably at least 20. Di- and trialkyl and alkenyl esters of carboxylic acids can also be used. Mixtures of any of the above described hydrocarbon/ester oils also be used.

The total combined amount of hydrocarbon oil and ester oil in compositions of the invention may suitably range from 0.05 to 10%, particularly from 0.2 to 5%, and especially from 0.5 to 3% by weight of the composition.

Other Ingredients

A composition of the invention may contain other ingredients for enhancing performance and/or consumer acceptability. Such ingredients include fragrance, dyes and pigments, pH adjusting agents, pearlescers or opacifiers, viscosity modifiers, and preservatives or antimicrobials. Each of these ingredients will be present in an amount effective to accomplish its purpose. Generally these optional ingredients are included individually at a level of up to 5% by weight of the total composition.

Mode of Use

The compositions of the invention are primarily intended for topical application to the hair and/or scalp of a human subject in rinse-off compositions. The compositions provided by the invention are preferably shampoo compositions for the treatment of hair (typically after shampooing) and subsequent rinsing.

Alternatively the compositions provided by the invention may be aqueous conditioner compositions, used by massaging them into the hair followed by rinsing with clean water prior to drying the hair.

The invention will be further illustrated by the following, non-limiting Example, in which all percentages quoted are by weight based on total weight unless otherwise stated.

Examples of the invention will be illustrated by a number comparative Examples by a letter. Examples

Component %ad A B C 1 2 3

Sodium Laureth 70 17.14 17.14 17.14 17.14 17.14 17.14 Sulphate

Cocoamidopropyl 30 5.33 5.33 5.33 5.33 5.33 5.33 Betaine

Carbomer 100 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.4

Glycol Distearate 35 4.0 4.0 4.0 4.0 4.0 4.0

Dimethiconol 50 4.0 4.0 4.0 4.0 4.0 4.0

Sodium Cetylstearyl 100 0.6 0.6 0.6 0.6 sulphate

Cetostearyl Alcohol 100 - - 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0

Cetyl 29 0.17

trimethylammonium

chloride

Behenyl Trimethyl 77.5 0.06 0.06 0.06 Ammonium Chloride Dendritic Polymer * 100 0 0.5 0 0.5 0.5 1.0 (Boltorn H2004)

Guar Hydroxypropyl 100 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2 Trimonium Chloride

Parfume 100 0.8 0.8 0.8 0.8 0.8 0.8

DMDM Hydantoin and 50 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2 3-iodo-2propylnylbutyl

carbamate

Sodium chloride 100 Vise. Vise. Vise. Vise. Vise. Vise.

Aqua q.s.to q.s.to q.s.to q.s.to q.s.to q.s.to

100 100 100 100 100 100

Examples A and B are conventional shampoo formulations without the required conditioning gel network phase. Process 1

At least 7% of water was heated to about 80°C in a side pot. To this, was added cationic surfactant (Behenyl Trimethyl Ammonium Chloride), fatty alcohol, modified silicone, and secondary anionic surfactant (Sodium Cetylstearyl sulphate) using high speed stirring. When uniform dispersion obtained, this mixture was cooled down to about 45°C with the same speed stirring. This mixture was then added in the diluted primary surfactant solution (Sodium Laureth

Sulphate) following by remaining components with moderate speed stirring. Process 2

At least 7% of water was heated to about 80°C in a side pot. To this, was added cationic surfactant (Behenyl Trimethyl Ammonium Chloride), fatty alcohol, and secondary anionic surfactant (Sodium Cetylstearyl sulphate) using high speed stirring. When uniform dispersion obtained, this mixture was cooled down to about 45°C with the same speed stirring. This mixture was then added in the diluted primary surfactant solution (Sodium Laureth Sulphate) following by remaining components with moderate speed stirring. Modified silicone was added after adding salt. Results

Compositions made via process 2 and the viscosity measured. The results are shown in table 2. Table 2

The Examples show that a conventional formulation Example A has the required viscosity, but addition of dendritic macromolecule(formulation B)decreased the viscosity. The Example of the invention (formulation 1 ) does not have such a marked decrease in viscosity, over a base formulation omitting dendritic macromolecule(formulation C). The Example of the invention remains stable on storage.