WO2006125583A1

WO2006125583A1 - Conditioner compositions

Info

Publication number: WO2006125583A1
Application number: PCT/EP2006/004830
Authority: WO
Inventors: Shimei Fan; Gabriel Lazaro Slavsky; Colleen Katherine Costello; Tracy Joella Sanborn; Jitendra Patel; Liang Bin Chen
Original assignee: Unilever Plc; Unilever Nv; Hindustan Unilever Limited
Priority date: 2005-05-23
Filing date: 2006-05-17
Publication date: 2006-11-30

Abstract

Disclosed are hair conditioner composition comprising: aluminum oxide particles, at least one organosilicone conditioning agent, at least one cationic conditioning agent, at least one fatty alcohol material, and aqueous cosmetically acceptable carrier. Also disclosed are methods for treating hair using such compositions.

Description

CONDITIONER COMPOSITIONS

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to conditioner compositions for treating hair, which compositions comprise particulate aluminum oxide and a silicone additive. The conditioner compositions are particularly suitable for imparting volumizing and conditioning properties to hair.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The use of insoluble particulate materials in hair care compositions is known in the art. Many of these materials function as frictionalizing agents. In hair care products, such as, for example, conditioners and shampoos, frictionalizing agents may increase the perceived "volume" attributes of hair, e.g., fullness, body and bounce. The use of frictionalizing agents may, however, increase the hair's tendency to tangle or snarl, and may otherwise negatively impact other sensory attributes related to the manageability of the hair or its ease of combing.

The incorporation of a conditioning agent, for example, quaternary conditioning agents and organosilicones, may provide added manageability to hair care compositions that contain frictionalizing agent. However, the benefits of such conditioning agents may come at the expense of volume properties, particularly when the hair treatment composition is a leave-on conditioner, that is, a conditioner that is applied and allowed to dry on the hair, rather than being rinsed from the hair within a short period of time (typically less than about 10 minutes) after its application. These conditioning agents may, particularly when used at higher levels, i.e., levels above 1.0 wt.% on an active basis, result in leave-in formulations that impart a coated or "greasy" feel to the hair. Additionally, some insoluble particulates, e.g., silicas, are anionic at the pH typical of many leave-on conditioners (i.e., pH of 4-7). Unless treated with an appropriate surface modifying agent, such particulates may give rise to stability issues when used in conditioners formulated to an acidic or neutral pH. The difficulties in formulating conditioner compositions having a desirable balance of conditioning and volumizing properties, particularly, leave-on conditioner compositions, tend to be exacerbated when the hair being treated is fine, thin hair.

Conditioner compositions that impart desirable volume and conditioning properties to hair, particularly fine, thin hair, are desired.

The use of particulate materials in hair treatment compositions is disclosed in publications that include the following:

US 2003/0091521 to Midha et al. discloses a topical composition that is therein described as improving the appearance of volume in hair, which composition comprises: a) a liquid carrier, and

b) particles having a mean particle size of less than about 300 microns,

wherein hair treated with said composition is said to demonstrate a "friction coefficient" of from about 1 to about 2 and a "hair feeling rating" of at least about 8. The particles are disclosed as having a particle size of 0.1 micron or greater, preferably 0.5 or greater, and further that the particles preferably have a particle size of less than 300 microns, more preferably less than about 80 microns. Still more preferably, the particles are disclosed as ranging from about 1 to about 70 microns, even more preferably from about 2 microns to about 65 microns, and more preferably from about 2 microns to about 60 microns in diameter.

U.S. 2003/0134759 to Geary et al. discloses a personal cleansing composition comprising:

a) from about 4% to about 50% by weight of a surfactant selected from the group consisting of an anionic, cationic, nonionic, amphoteric, and zwitterionic surfactants and mixtures thereof;

b) from about 0.05% to about 10% by weight of a dispersed, water insoluble, solid, temperature stable particle;

c) from about 0.025% to about 5% by weight of an organic, non crosslinked cationic homopolymer or copolymer having a cationic charge density of from about 2 meq/gm to about 10 meq/gm and an average molecular weight of from to about 1,000 to about 5,000,000;

d) from about 0.1% to about 10% by weight of a phase separation initiator as therein more particularly described; and

e) from about 50% to about 95%, by weight, of water.

U.S. 2003/0064047 to Barbuzzi et al. discloses aqueous hair care compositions comprising water-insoluble particles having a layered structure comprising oxygen atoms and silicon and/or phosphorous atoms, and further comprising organic functional groups which are covalently bonded to the silicon and/or phosphorus atoms in the layers.

U.S. 2003/0012757 to Barbuzzi et al. discloses aqueous hair treatment compositions comprising coated particles comprising a solid core having a D3,2 average particle size in the range from 10 to 700 nm, and a coating polymer covalently bonded to the solid core. Use of the coated particles in a hair treatment composition to impart body to the hair is described.

U.S. 2003/0095943 to Barbuzzi et al. discloses rinse-off hair conditioner compositions comprising (i) a cationic surfactant, (ii) a fatty alcohol material, and (iii) from 0.01 to 10 wt. % (preferably from 0.01 to 5 wt.%, more preferably form 0.05 to 3, wt . %, more preferably from 0.05 to 2.5 wt. %, and most preferably from 0.1 to 1 wt %) of coated particles comprising (a) a solid core having a D3,2 average particle size in the range from 10 to 700nm (preferably from 10 to 500, more preferably from 20 to 300nm, yet more preferably from 20 to 200nm, and most preferably from 30 to 150nm) and (b) a coating of silicone polymer covalently bonded to the solid core. The patent lists, as examples of materials suitable for use as such sold cores, polymers, which are preferably cross-linked (e.g., polystyrene, silicone elastomer powders, PTFE, rubber) , silicas, alumina, aluminum silicate, clays and colloidal metals. Use of the coated particles in a conditioner composition to impart body to the hair is also disclosed.

U.S. 2004/0186030 to Hofrichter et al. discloses personal cleansing compositions containing a mixture of irregularly shaped particles and spherically shaped particles. The application further discloses that the compositions "are intended to deliver the benefits of irregularly shaped particles, particularly hair volume and fullness, with benefits derived from the spherically shaped particles such as improved conditioning and combing."

U.S. 6,524,563 to Wire et al. discloses a hair treatment composition which comprises 0.01-5 wt% of a particulate substance which is substantially unagglomerated or unaggregated prior to incorporation in the composition, which particulate substance has a modal primary particle size of 7-40nm, and a Youngs modulus of at least 4 Gpa, preferably at least 6 Gpa. In a preferred embodiment, the particulate is unaggregated unagglomerated amorphous silica, with Ludox TM40, Ludox HS-40 , Ludox SM and Ludox LC, from DuPont, being identified as a preferred source of the silica .

U.S. 5,274,128 to Bergmann et al. discloses essentially anhydrous hair conditioning compositions comprising:

(a) one or more microporous materials each of which has an average pore size larger than the critical diameter of a water molecule;

(b) carrier molecules or molecular aggregates that have critical diameters larger than the largest average pores size of the microporous materials; and

(c) conditioner molecules or molecular aggregates that have critical diameters larger than the largest average pore size of the microporous materials.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a leave- on hair conditioner that imparts a combination of good conditioning and volume/body properties to hair, particularly fine, thin hair. It is a further object of this invention to provide a hair treatment composition that imparts body and fullness to the hair, particularly fine, thin hair, while leaving the hair feeling clean and non- greasy. It is a further object of this invention to provide a method of treating hair, particularly fine, thin hair using a leave-on hair conditioner that imparts a combination of good conditioning and volume/body properties. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It has now been found that conditioner compositions, more particularly, leave-on conditioner compositions, comprising: aluminum oxide particles, non-volatile organosilicone conditioning agent; cationic conditioning agent, fatty alcohol material, and an aqueous cosmetically acceptable carrier, can be formulated to impart desirable conditioning and volume/body properties to hair, particularly fine, thin hair.

Accordingly, in one embodiment of this invention there is provided a leave-on hair conditioner composition comprising:

a) from 0.1 to 5 weight percent of aluminum oxide particles,

b) from 0.1 to 5 weight percent of at least one non- volatile organosilicone conditioning agent,

c) from 0.1 to 10 weight percent of at least one cationic conditioning agent,

d) from 0.1 to 10 weight percent of at least one fatty alcohol material, and

e) aqueous cosmetically acceptable carrier, wherein the ratio, by weight, of aluminum oxide particles to non-volatile organosilicone conditioning agent is, on an actives basis, from 1:5 to 1:1.5. In a further embodiment of this invention there is provided a leave-on hair conditioner comprising:

a) from 0.1 to 5 weight percent of aluminum oxide particles having a charge density of at least 0.05 meq/g,

b) from 0.1 to 5 weight percent of at least one nonvolatile organosilicone conditioning agent,

c) from 0.1 to 10 weight percent of at least one cationic conditioning agent,

d) from 0.1 to 10 weight percent of at least one fatty alcohol material, and

e) aqueous cosmetically acceptable carrier.

In yet another embodiment of this invention there is provided a leave-on hair conditioner composition comprising:

a) from 0.1 to 5 weight percent of aluminum oxide particles which have an average particle size of from 0.1 tol micron, as added,

c) from 0.1 to 10 weight percent of at least one cationic conditioning agent, d) from 0.1 to 10 weight percent of at least one fatty alcohol material, and

e) aqueous cosmetically acceptable carrier.

The compositions of this invention have particular application to the treatment and conditioning of fine, thin hair, but may also be used to add volume and body to all types of hair.

In further embodiments, the present invention relates to methods of treating hair using the hair treatment compositions of this invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

As used herein % or wt. % refers to the percent by weight of an ingredient as compared to the total weight of the composition or component that is being discussed. Except in the operating and comparative examples, or where otherwise explicitly indicated, all numbers in this description indicating amounts of materials or conditions of reaction, physical properties of materials and/or use are to be understood as modified by the word "about". All amounts are by weight of the final composition, unless otherwise specified. It should be noted that in specifying any range of concentration, any particular upper concentration can be associated with any particular lower concentration. Aluminum Oxide

The aluminum oxide used in the production of the subject compositions desirably has an average particle size, i.e., diameter, of from 0.01 to 1 micron, more particularly, from 0.05 to 0.5 micron and, in at least one embodiment of particular interest, from 0.1 to 0.3 micron. In one embodiment of this invention, the aluminum oxide has a particle size distribution such that at least 50 wt. %, preferably at least 90 wt. %, of the particles have a particle size within the particle size range of 0.01 to 1 micron, more particularly, 0.05 to 0.5 micron, that is to say, in at least one embodiment of this invention, it is desirable that the particles have a relatively uniform particle size.

The foregoing particle sizes refer to the sizes of the particles in the "as added" state, for example, as a raw material prior to its incorporation into the conditioner compositions of this invention. In at least one embodiment, it is desirable that the aluminum oxide be in an aggregated state. Aggregation may take place as part of raw material synthesis, for example, the production of a fumed oxide. Aggregation may also take place upon addition of the aluminum oxide to the conditioner composition. The extent to which the aluminum oxide particles aggregate upon addition to the conditioner composition depends, in part, on the ionic strength of the conditioner composition which, in turn, depends on the relative amount of ionizable material present, as well as the composition pH. Preferably, such aggregation results in not more than 10%, preferably not more than 5% of the aluminum oxide having a diameter of less than 0.1 micron in the conditioner composition. To promote aggregation of the aluminum oxide particles, it is desirable that the compositions of this invention further comprise at least one ionizable salt.

The aluminum oxide particles generally have a regular, typically spherical, shape. Desirably, the aluminum oxide is a synthetic material. Fumed oxides and nanoparticles are representative, but not exhaustive of the aluminum oxides suitable for use herein. The aluminum oxides may, but need not, be treated with one or more surface modifying agents. In at least one embodiment of interest, the aluminum oxide is untreated, i.e., uncoated. The aluminum oxide is preferably incorporated into the subject compositions as dispersions, for example, as aqueous colloidal dispersions.

Aluminum oxides are commercially available from numerous suppliers, including, for example, Degussa and Cabot.

The aluminum oxide is present in the compositions of this invention in an amount of from 0.1 to 5 wt.%, preferably from 0.3 to 2 wt. %, and in an embodiment of particular interest from 0.1 to 1 wt . %. The wt.% of the aluminum oxide refers to the amount of aluminum oxide present in the compositions of this invention exclusive of any carrier in which it is added (i.e., aluminum oxide on an active basis).

In one embodiment of interest, the charge density of the aluminum oxide component is at least 0.05 meq/g, preferably at least 0.08 meq/g. Charge densities may be calculated by anionic potentiometric titration testing, a description of which is provided in the Examples that follow. The charge density of the aluminum oxide refers to the charge density of the component as added, inclusive of any carrier in which the particles are supplied.

Organosilicone Conditioning Agent

Exemplary of the non-volatile organosilicone conditioning agents suitable for use herein are silicon-containing conditioners such as for example, polyorganosiloxanes, in particular polydimethylsiloxanes that have the CTFA designation dimethicone, as well as polydimethyl siloxanes having hydroxyl end groups, which have the CTFA designation dimethiconol . Also suitable for use in compositions of the invention are silicone gums having a slight degree of cross- linking, as are described for example in WO 96/31188. The polyorganosiloxane is commonly available as an emulsion in a cosmetically acceptable vehicle. Emulsified silicones for use in the compositions of the invention will typically have an average silicone droplet size in the composition of less than 30μm, preferably less than 20μm, more preferably less than 10 μm, and in at least one embodiment of interest, from 0.01 to 1 μm. Silicone emulsions having an average silicone droplet size of < 0.15 μm are generally termed microemulsions .

Examples of suitable pre-formed emulsions include emulsions DC2-1766, DC-1784, DC-1785, DC-1786, DC2-1310BB and microeraulsions DC2-1865 and DC2-1870, all available from Dow Corning. These are all emulsions/microemulsions of dimethiconol. Additionally, ultra-high molecular weight linear silicones, such as Dow Corning HMW-2220 nonionic emulsion are suitable for use herein. Cross-linked silicone gums are also available in a pre-emulsified form, which is advantageous for ease of formulation. A preferred example is the material available from Dow Corning as DC-1787HS, which is an emulsion of cross-linked dimethiconol gum. A further preferred example is the material available from Dow Corning as DC2-1391, which is a microemulsion of cross- linked dimethiconol gum.

A further preferred class of organosilicones for inclusion in the conditioners of the invention are amino functional silicones. By "amino functional silicone" is meant a silicone containing at least one primary, secondary or tertiary amine group, or a quaternary ammonium group. Examples of suitable amino functional silicones include: polysiloxanes having the CTFA designation

"aminodimethicone" . Specific examples of amino functional silicones suitable for use in the invention are the aminosilicone oils DC2-8220, DC2-8166, and DC2-8466 (all ex Dow Corning) .

Also suitable for use herein are emulsions of amino functional silicone oils with non-ionic and/or cationic surfactant. Pre-formed emulsions of amino functional silicone are available from suppliers of silicone oils such as Dow Corning and General Electric. Specific examples include DC929 Cationic Emulsion, DC939 Cationic Emulsion, and the non-ionic emulsions DC2-7224, DC2-8177 and DC2-8154 (all ex Dow Corning) . Emulsions of amino functional silicones with silicone gums are also suitable for use herein.

Organosilicone conditioning agents of particular interest in the practice of this invention are polydialkysiloxanes, preferably, dimethicone, dimethiconol and/or aminodimethicone .

The organosilicone conditioning agents are generally present in the subject compositions in an amount of from 0.1 to 5 wt. %, preferably from 0.5 to 3wt . % and, in an embodiment of particular interest, from 0.8 to 2 wt . %. The wt.% of the organosilicone refers to the amount of organosilicone present in the compositions of this invention exclusive of any carrier in which it is added (i.e., organosilicone on an active basis) .

Desirably, the relative amounts of aluminum oxide and nonvolatile organosilicone are selected to provide a good balance of conditioning and body/volume properties. In one embodiment of this invention, the ratio, by weight, of aluminum oxide particles to non-volatile organosilicone conditioning agent is from 1:5 to 1:1.5, more particularly, from 1:5 to 1:1. In another embodiment of interest, the ratio, by weight, of aluminum oxide to non-volatile organosilicone conditioning agent is from 1:4 to 0.8 to 1, more particularly, from 1:3 to 0.8:1. Such ratios are on an actives basis. Cationic Conditioning Agent

The cationic conditioning agents suitable for use herein are cationic surfactants that contain amino or quaternary ammonium hydrophilic moieties, which are positively charged when dissolved in the aqueous composition of the present invention.

Examples of suitable cationic surfactants are those corresponding to the general formula:

[N(R₁) (R₂) (R₃) (R₄) ]⁺ (X)-

in which Ri, R₂, R₃, and R₄ are independently selected from (a) an aliphatic group of from 1 to 22 carbon atoms, or (b) an aromatic, alkoxy, polyoxyalkylene, alkylamido, hydroxyalkyl, aryl or alkaryl group having up to 22 carbon atoms; and X is a salt-forming anion such as those selected from halogen, (e.g. chloride, or bromide), acetate, citrate, lactate, glycolate, phosphate, nitrate, sulfate, and alkylsulfate radicals .

The aliphatic groups can contain, in addition to carbon and hydrogen atoms, ether linkages, and other groups such as amino groups. The longer chain aliphatic groups, e.g., those of about 12 carbons, or higher, can be saturated or unsaturated.

Included among the suitable cationic conditioning surfactants are mono- and dialkyl quats. Monoalkyl quats are cationic surfactants having the general formula described above wherein Ri, R₂ and R₃, which may be the same or different, are C1-C4 alkyl groups and R₄ is a C8 or greater, preferably C14 to C22, hydrocarbyl group, preferably alkyl. Of particular interest in at least one embodiment are monoalkyl quats wherein R₄ is C16 to C22 alkyl. The monoalkyl quats may but need not, be in the form of mixtures.

Dialkyl quats suitable for use herein include cationic conditioning surfactants having the general formula described above wherein Ri and R₂, which may be the same or different, are C1-C4 alkyl group, and R₃ and R₄, which may be the same or different, are C8 or greater, preferably C14 to C22, hydrocarbyl groups, preferably alkyl. The dialkyl quats may, but need not, be in the form of mixtures.

Examples of suitable cationic surfactants include quaternary ammonium compounds, particularly trimethyl quaternary compounds .

Preferred cationic conditioning agents include cetyltrimethylammonium chloride, pyridinium chloride, docosyl trimethyl ammonium chloride (behentrimonium chloride) , tetramethylammonium chloride, tetraethylammonium chloride, octyltrimethylammonium chloride, dodecyltrimethylammonium chloride, hexadecyltrimethylammonium chloride, octyldimethylbenzylammonium chloride, decyldimethylbenzylammonium chloride, stearyldimethylbenzylammonium chloride, didodecyldimethylammonium chloride, dioctadecyldimethylammonium chloride, tallowtrimethylammonium chloride, cocotrimethylaitimonium chloride, PEG-2 oleylammonium chloride and salts of these where the chloride is replaced by halogen (e.g. , bromide), acetate, citrate, lactate, glycolate, phosphate, nitrate, sulfate, or alkylsulfate. Further suitable cationic conditioning agents 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 conditioning agent for use in hair conditioners of the invention is cetyltrimethylammonium chloride, available commercially, for example as GENAMIN CTAC, ex Hoechst Celanese.

Desirably, the cationic conditioning agent is present in the compositions of this invention in an amount of from 0.1 to 10 wt. %, preferably from 0.5 to 5 wt. % and, in an embodiment of particular interest, from 0.5 to 3 wt % .

In one embodiment, the total amount of conditioner present in the compositions of this invention, (i.e., organosilicone, cationic conditioning agent, and any additional conditioning agent present) is an amount of at least 1 wt. %, more particularly from 1 to 10 wt.%, preferably from 1 to 5 wt.%.

Fatty Alcohol Materials

The compositions of the invention additionally comprise at least one fatty alcohol material. As used herein the term "fatty alcohol material" encompasses both alkoxylated and non-alkoxylated fatty alcohols, as well as their corresponding fatty acids. Preferably, the alkyl chain of the fatty alcohol is fully saturated.

Representative fatty alcohols comprise from 8 to 22 carbon atoms, more preferably 16 to 22 carbon atoms. Non-limiting examples of suitable fatty alcohols include cetyl alcohol, stearyl alcohol and mixtures thereof.

Alkoxylated, (e.g. ethoxylated or propoxylated) fatty alcohols having from about 12 to about 18 carbon atoms in the alkyl chain can be used in place of, or in addition to, the fatty alcohols themselves. Suitable examples include ethylene glycol cetyl ether, polyoxyethylene (2) stearyl ether, polyoxyethylene (4) cetyl ether, and mixtures thereof.

The amount of fatty alcohol material in the conditioners of this invention is suitably from 0.1 to 10 wt . %, preferably from 0.1 to 5 wt. %,and, in at least one embodiment of particular interest, from 1 to 3 wt%. The weight ratio of the cationic conditioning agent to fatty alcohol is preferably from 10:1 to 1:10, more particularly from 3:1 to 1:6, and, in one embodiment of particular interest, from 1:1 to 1:6. The use of these materials is also advantageous in that they contribute to the overall conditioning properties of compositions of the invention. Carrier

The carrier for the subject compositions comprises water and, optionally, one or more additional cosmetically acceptable solvents and/or diluents. Desirably, the carrier consists essentially of water. The conditioner compositions of this invention preferably comprise carrier in an amount of from 80 to 98 wt. % and, in one embodiment of interest, from 85 to 96 wt . % .

Desirably, the compositions of the invention are formulated to a pH of 4 to 7, preferably 4.5 to 5.5.

OTHER OPTIONAL INGREDIENTS

One or more additional ingredients as are conventionally incorporated into leave-in conditioners may be included in compositions of the invention. Such additional ingredients include, for example, fragrances, perfumes, dyes, coloring agents, buffering or pH adjusting agents, suspending aids, additional conditioning agents, surfactants, viscosity modifiers, thickening agents, suspending agents, opacifiers, pearlizers, sunscreens, antioxidants, preservatives, antibacterial agents, proteins, amino acids, moisturizing agents, herb or other plant extracts and other natural ingredients .

The hair treatment of this invention may be prepared by conventional techniques. The conditioner compositions may be formulated into any number of product forms, including, for example, creams, lotions, gels, mousses, mists, foams, and sprays. In use, the conditioners of this invention are applied to dry or, preferably wet or moistened hair. The hair may be styled while the conditioner is wet or dry, with styling preferably taking place during blow-drying.

The invention is further illustrated by way of the following non-limiting examples. Unless otherwise indicated, all parts and percentages are by weight.

EXAMPLES

Leave-on conditioners were formulated by preparing compositions having the formulations described in Table 1 were prepared.

Charge densities of the silica and aluminum oxide components were measured by means of the following procedure, referred to here and elsewhere in this document as "anionic potentiometric titration testing."

In this procedure an approximately 0.1 g sample of the material, the charge density of which is to be measured, is accurately weighed into a 25OmL titration beaker and the weight of the sample is recorded. 100 mL of deionized water, followed by 2ml of a 1% aqueous solution of Titron X- 100 electrode cleaning solution are added to the beaker. A surfactant sensitive electrode, Orion Model 93-42 or equivalent, is preconditioned in a 0.0001N aqueous solution of sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) and rinsed clean with deionized water, immersed in the titration beaker and allowed to stabilize before performing the titration. The sample is then titrated with a standardized 0.02N SLS solution and the volume of titrant added to reach the potentiometric endpoint is recorded.

Charge density is calculated by means of the following formula :

Charge density (meq/g) = (V) (N_SLs) (1000) /W

N_SLS = the standardized concentration of the SLS solution used in the titration (eq/L)

W = the sample weight (mg)

V= the volume of the SLS titrant (itiL)

The SLS solution is standardized by using it to titrate a solution of 0.075 ± 0.005g of benethionium chloride in 75 ml of deionized water, using a surfactant sensitive electrode as described above. The normality of the SLS solution (eq/L) is determined by means of the following equation:

N= (W_Bc) (PurityBc)/ (V_SLS) (448. lg/eq) where:

W_BC = the weight of the benethionium chloride sample (g) Purity_Bc = the percent purity of the benethionium chloride sample/100

V_SLS = the volume of the SLS titrant (L)

448.1g/eq= the equivalent weight of the benethionium chloride

N_SLS is the average normality of the SLS solution determined on triplicate analyses, where an accuracy of ± 0.0005N is obtained between replicates.

In measurements used to obtain the charge densities reported above, the benethionium chloride used in the standardization of the SLS solution was Hyamine 1622 (99% purity) .

Table 1 Leave-On Conditioner

Colloidal dispersion of aluminum oxide having a charge density of 0.09 meq/g (as measured). Colloidal silica dispersion having a charge density of 0.03 meq/g (as measured). Silicone emulsion The performance of the leave-on conditioner was evaluated by a salon test that involved forty panelists identified, through screening, as body/volume seekers. The test protocol (standard salon 1/2 head testing following a 2 out of 3 sample balanced complete block (BCB) design) was as follows:

The hair was shampooed and rinsed thoroughly. A first leave-on conditioner was applied to one side of the head and massaged evenly the hair on that side; a second leave-on conditioner was applied to the other side of the head and massaged evenly into the hair on that side. Leave-on conditioner was applied in an amount of about 1.6g per half-head of hair. The panelists were instructed to blow- dry and style their hair, however, the only additional material that could be used by the panelists was hairspray, which could only be applied after the evaluation of the leave-on conditioner. After the styling was complete, the panelists evaluated wet and dry attributes for each side of their hair. Salon test results are reported in Table 2.

In the salon test, conditioner A, a composition comprising aluminum oxide, organosilicone, cationic conditioning agent, fatty alcohol and water, was perceived as imparting a cleaner feel and less greasiness than both conditioner C (a composition free of hard particles), and conditioner B, an otherwise identical composition containing silica rather than aluminum oxide particles. Table 2 Salon Test Results

Shared letters for a given test result are not statistically different at the 90% (small letter) or 95% (capital letter) confidence level. A lack of statistical difference is also indicated between results that do not report any letters.

Claims

1. A leave-on hair conditioner composition comprising:

a) from 0.1 to 5 weight percent of aluminum oxide particles,

c) from 0.1 to 10 weight percent of at least one cationic conditioning agent,

d) from 0.1 to 10 weight percent of at least one fatty alcohol material, and

e) aqueous cosmetically acceptable carrier,

wherein the ratio, by weight, of aluminum oxide particles to non-volatile organosilicone conditioning agent is, on an actives basis, from 1:5 to 1:1.5.

2. A conditioner composition as described in claim 1 wherein the aluminum oxide particles have an average particle size of from 0.01 to 1 micron, as added.

3. A conditioner composition as described in claim 1 wherein the cationic conditioning agent comprises at least one monoalkyl quat .

4. A conditioner composition as described ion claim 1 wherein the fatty alcohol material comprises at least one fatty alcohol having from 8 to 22 carbon atoms.

5. A conditioner composition as described in claim 1 which further comprises at least one ionizable salt.

6. A conditioner composition as described in claim 1 wherein the ratio of cationic conditioning polymer to fatty alcohol is from 3:1 to 1:6.

7. A conditioner composition as described in claim 1 wherein the ratio, by weight, of aluminum oxide particles to non-volatile organosilicone conditioning agent is, on an actives basis, from 1:4 to 0.8 to 1.

8. A conditioner composition as described in claim 1 wherein the carrier is present in the composition in an amount of 80 to 98 wt%.

9. A conditioner composition as described in claim 1 wherein the aluminum oxide particles are in an aggregated state in the conditioner composition.

10. A conditioner composition as described in claim 1 wherein the organosilicone is selected from the group consisting of dimethicone, dimethiconol and aminodimethicone .

11. A conditioner composition as described in claim 1, having a pH of from 4 to 7.

12. A leave-on hair conditioner composition comprising:

c) from 0.1 to 10 weight percent of at least one cationic conditioning agent,

d) from 0.1 to 10 weight percent of at least one fatty alcohol material, and

e) aqueous cosmetically acceptable carrier.

13. A conditioner composition as described in claim 12, which further comprises at least one ionizable salt.

14. A condition composition as described in claim 12 wherein the aluminum oxide particles have a charge density of at least 0.08 meq/g.

15. A conditioner composition as described in claim 12 in which the aluminum oxide particles are in an aggregated state in the conditioner composition.

16. A leave-on hair conditioner composition comprising: a) from 0.1 to 5 weight percent of aluminum oxide particles which have an average particle size of from 0.1 tol micron, as added,

c) from 0.1 to 10 weight percent of at least one cationic conditioning agent,

d) from 0.1 to 10 weight percent of at least one fatty alcohol material, and

e) aqueous cosmetically acceptable carrier.

17. A method of conditioning hair using the leave-on conditioner of claim 1.

18. A method of conditioning hair using the leave-on conditioner of claim 12.

19. A method of conditioning hair using the leave-on conditioner of claim 16.