Cosmetic agent in the form of a gel
A cosmetic preparation in gel form is described which contains undissolved, water-swollen polymer particles and at the interface with gaseous substances forms reversibly a grainy, uneven, light-scattering surface and at the interface with solids forms reversibly a smooth, level, non-light-scattering surface. Preferred gel formers are superabsorbing polymers. A preferred use is the hair-end protection in permanent wave treatment.
1. A method of protecting hair ends during a permanent wave treatment of hair, said method comprising the steps of:
a) providing a gel comprising undissolved water-swollen particles of at least one superabsorbing polymer;
b) applying the gel of step a) to the hair ends to be protected; and
c) after the applying of the gel in step b), performing the permanent wave treatment.
2. The method as defined in claim 1 , wherein the undissolved water-swollen particles of the at least one superabsorbing polymer have average diameters of not greater than 2000 μm.
3. The method as defined in claim 2 , wherein said average diameters are from 40 to 1400 μm.
4. The method as defined in claim 1 , wherein the at least one superabsorbing polymer is selected from the group consisting of at least partially neutralized cross-linked superabsorbing polyacrylic acids, at least partially neutralized cross-linked superabsorbing polymethacrylic acids and superabsorbing graft copolymers of starch and acrylic acid.
5. The method as defined in claim 1 , wherein, before water absorption, the at least one superabsorbing polymer has an average particle size from 100 to 850 μm.
6. The method as defined in claim 5 , wherein said average particle size is less than 200 μm.
7. The method as defined in claim 1 , wherein said at least one superabsorbing polymer has a water absorption capacity for demineralized water of at least 20 g/g.
8. The method as defined in claim 1 , containing from 0.1 to 5 percent by weight of said at least one superabsorbing polymer.
9. A method for permanent shaping of hair, said method comprising the steps of:
a) providing a gel comprising undissolved water-swollen particles of at least one superabsorbing polymer;
b) putting the hair in a desired shape;
c) at least one of before and after putting the hair in the desired shape, applying a shaping agent to the hair;
d) before the hair is treated with the shaping agent in step c), treating the hair with the gel provided in step a);
e) rinsing the hair with water after the applying of the shaping agent to the hair;
f) oxidatively post-treating the hair after the applying of the shaping agent to the hair;
g) again rinsing the hair and optionally arranging the hair in a water wave; and
h) then drying the hair.
10. The method as defined in claim 9 , wherein the undissolved water-swollen particles of the at least one superabsorbing polymer have average diameters of not greater than 2000 μn.
11. The method as defined in claim 10 , wherein said average diameters are from 40 to 1400 μm.
12. The method as defined in claim 9 , wherein the at least one superabsorbing polymer is selected from the group consisting of at least partially neutralized cross-linked superabsorbing polyacrylic acids, at least partially neutralized cross-linked superabsorbing polymethacrylic acids and superabsorbing graft copolymers of starch and acrylic acid.
13. The method as defined in claim 9 , wherein, before water absorption, the at least one superabsorbing polymer has an average particle size from 100 to 850 μm.
14. The method as defined in claim 13 , wherein said average particle size is less than 200 μm.
15. The method as defined in claim 9 , wherein said at least one superabsorbing polymer has a water absorption capacity for demineralized water of at least 20 g/g.
16. The method as defined in claim 9 , containing from 0.1 to 5 percent by weight of said at least one superabsorbing polymer.