DESCRIPTION
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Henna consists of the dried powdered leaves of the plants Lawsonia Inemis. The leaves are
picked from the henna shrub, which is found in profusion in India and other tropical
countries. Phytochemical studies on the chemistry of polyphenols constituents, isolation
'and identification have revealed that henna leaves contain condensed tannin (11.12%).
leucocyandin, epicatechin, catechin and quercitrin were the other active components.
Main colouring substance of henna was identified as 2-hydroxy-l,4-naphthoquinone.
The coupling of dye in heena with hair or skin substrate is based on Michael addition
reaction. The Michael addition reaction is a versatile synthetic methodology for the efficient
coupling of electron poor olefins (skin, hair , genetic material etc ) with a vast array of
nucleophiles.
The use of henna powder to color and condition the hair has been known for at least 2,000
years. The first recorded user of henna as a hair dye was Arabian Peninsula, South Asia, Carthage
and other parts of North Africa.
In present scenario, henna is now very popular in combination with sophisticated hair
colouring active ingredients preparations which impart softer, more natural hair color and the
.general acceptance of hair colouring. Due to its natural originate , henna-based hair dyeing
and conditioning compositions are enjoying heightened popularity.
Henna may be applied to the hair in various forms. Henna may be extracted or mixed with
boiling water and poured several times over freshly washed hair; it may be mixed with
shampoo, or mixed with hot water, acidified to a pH of about 5.5 and applied to the hair.
However, modern commercial preparations are generally powders which are mixed with
water, applied to the hair as slurry, covered with a cap for about 1 hour and then rinsed from
the hair. While the currently available henna preparations impart various shades of red to the
treated hair and, in addition add body and luster to the treated hair, they have a number of
disadvantages. The presently available henna powder preparations have a remarked tendency
to coalesce into small balls, forming a lumpy mixture which is difficult to apply uniformly to
the hair. Furthermore, the henna slurry is difficult to rinse from the hair.'
'The major disadvantage of heena slurry is the very less coupling of dye onto the hair or
uneven colour distribution of dye and the difficulty of wet combing henna-treated hair.
Need lot of time for coler transfer on substrate. ,
The main reason of these deficiencies on hair dye is due to electron poorness of Hair, Skin
and other anionic charged cells.
A need still exists for improved henna-based hair treating compositions which can be
employed for coloring the hair, conditioning the hair or both for personal care, wherein
the composition should have good coupling of dye stuff with electron poor olefins of
Hair, Skin and other Anionic charged cells, no discernible amine odor and should
have good electrostatic force. Further modified henna-based hair treating polymer
should have the unique ability to bind tightly to negatively charged cells, tissues and
other proteins substrates of the human skin and hair.
The present invention provides such modified henna-based hair treating polymer which
overcomes all of the above problems encountered with the use of presently available
commercial products and thus fulfills the need for improved natural hair dying and
•conditioning compositions.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The modified henna-based hair treating polymer composition of this invention comprises
fro'm about 5 to about 95 weight percent of henna powder, from about 1.5 to about 5 weight
percent of a non-ionic surface active agent, from about 2.5 to about 15 weight percent of a
water soluble polymer and from about 0.5 to about 5 weight percent of a quaternary salt.
Improved methods of treating hair'with henna-based preparations are also provided by the
present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
•The henna-based hair coloring and/or hair conditioning compositions of this invention
comprise from about positively charged .75 to about .95 weight percent of Lawsone,
C10H6O3 molecule from henna powder, from about 1.5 to about 5 weight percent of a
non-ionic surface active agent, from about 2.5 to about 15 weight percent of 4 water
soluble polysaccharides.
n
The following examples further illustrate the compositions and methods of this invention.
Extraction of Lawsone from Heena
The leaves of Henna (1kg) in 2.5 L of 1.5 M calcium hydroxide solution (pH 10), were
•chopped to fine slurry in an electric blender, stirred for about five hours at room temperature
using a magnetic stirrer and a plastic coated magnetic rod to avoid the oxidation in presence
of metal. The mixture was transferred to a round bottom jar with diameter 12mm and opening
at the top (Henna jar).The liquid was heated to 60°C for 15 min. using an immersion heater
that helped the solid particles to float on top of the liquid. The clear solution containing the
natural dyes was collected through the tap at the bottom leaving the suspended solids behind.
The small particles of insoluble solids, present in the liquid were further removed by
centrifugation at lOOOg for 10 min., and filtered under vacuum through Whatman filter paper
No.l. The extract was concentrated to double RFE, Alternatively the mixture was
concentrated using rotary vacuum evaporator at 37°C to avoid the undesirable decomposition
of the extract. The concentrated mixtures were extracted separately thrice with chloroform in
a separating funnel, filtered and dried on a rotary evaporator.
Ionization of modified henna-based hair treating polymer
•The inodafied henna-based hair treating powder used in the compositions of this invention
can be either the color-imparting henna powder or, if only conditioning is desired, the noncolor
imparting henna powder.
The .modified henna-based hair treating powder was charged by physical catanization
process ira which , ions were separate at interfaces by contact electrification of ionic
elect rets.
An ion is an atom or a molecule in which the total number of electrons is not equal to the
total number of protons, giving the atom or molecule a net positive or negative electrical
charge. We have created ions by physical means, via ionization.
And implant the ion pairs on our substrate that was created by ion acelaters where electric
potential was applied between a longitudinally-oriented needle electrode and a planar or
curved transversely-oriented net electrode disposed within the housing downstream of the
.needle electrode, thereby forming a longitudinally asymmetric electric field .that ionizes and
accelerates air molecules toward the net electrode, carrying the air molecules past the net
electrode and tiirough the air outlet. The ionized substrate was then collects through tubular
duct from outlet side of the net electrode.
•Examples
Example :-] '
First, the use of essentially direct currents, that is, constancy of direction of the forcfc in the
electric field. The terms essentially direct, and, essentially constant polarity are, herein,
throughout, to be understood as including, if necessary, conditions involving particles of
solids or liquid compared with, the time necessary for the deposition of'the individual pended
matter.
Example :-2
Second, the charring of modified henna-based hair treating powder fairly uniform and
moderately intense.
Exampie:-:3
Third, the attraction and collection of the charged particles of modified henna-based hair
treating powder, by electrode surfaces of opposite polarity.
Example :-4
Fourth, the passage of modified the henna-based hair treating.powder particle through the
electric field produced by these electrodes, in such way as to secure the most thorough and
uniform treatment of the whole substrate .
Example -5
f
When particles of modified henna-based hair treating powder material are brought into
contact with some other opposite charge substrate, ions can transfer between them. So now
the anions and cations have different propensities to transfer, the unequal transfer of these
ions can result in a net transfer of charge between the two substrates.
Example -6 '
A modified henna-based hair treating composition for normal hair is prepared having the
95 %modified henna-based hair treating composition formulation
as major Ingredient polyvinylpyrrolidone K-90 5Pluronic F-77 3Lauryl pyridinium chloride
2Fragrarice q.s
The fragrance is incorporated into the powder, formulation by preparing a 10% slurry of the
pel fume in henna powder, adding the appropriate amount to the bulk of the formulation and
blending thoroughly.
Example :-7
A modified henna-based hair treating composition for oily hair is prepared having the
85 %modified henna-based hair treating composition in formulation with
>
Polyvinylpyrrolidone K-90 5Pluronic F-77 3Lauryl pyridinium chloride 2Titanium dioxide
•5Fragrance q.s.
Example -8
A modified henna-based hair treating composition for normal hair is prepared having^he
91 %modified henna-based hair treating composition in formulation with
Polyvinylpyrrolidone K-90 5Polymer JR 125 2Cetyl pyridinium chloride 2Fragrance q.s.
Example.:-9.
A modified henna-based hair treating composition for fine hair is prepared having the
85 %modified henna-based hair treating composition in formulation Polyvinylpyrrolidone
K-90 I OPluronic F-77 SLauryl pyridinium chloride 2Fragranceas
Example :-10
•«
A acid rinse composition for hair is prepared having the
Citric acid 2.0 ,Formalin 0.1 Water q.s. to lOOFragrance q.s..
Hair treated with the compositions of this invention has more body and luster than untreated
hair and holds a set longer than normal-henna treated hair.
It will be apparent to one skilled in the art that only 2-hydroxy-l,4-naphthoquinone
•containing powder which is capable of imparting color to the hair can be used in the
practice of this invention. It will also be apparent to one skilled in the art that any neutral or
natural henna powder preparation which does not impart color to the hair can be used for
conditioning.
While the preferred surface active agents, water soluble polymers have been set forth in the
above description of the preferred embodiments, no other equivalent agents can be used, even
though they are in similar form.
While the invention has been described with respect to particular embodiments, it will be
understood by those skilled in the art that modifications and variations may be employed
without departing from the scope of the invention.

We claim:
1. An improved henna composition comprising from about .75 to about .95 weight
percent of Lawsone, C10H6O3 in henna powder, from about 1.5 to about 5 weight
percent of a non-ionic surface active agent, from about 2.5 to about 15 weight
percent of a water soluble polymer and from about 0.5 to about 5 weight percent
of a Hydoxy propyal Triammonium Chloride polygalactomannan . ,
2. The composition of claim 1 wherein said henna powder comprises from about 85 to
about 92 v/eight percent of 2-hydroxy-l,4-naphthoquinone in said composition.
3. The composition of claim 1 wherein said henna powder is a color-imparting henna
powder derived from a plant of the genus Lawsonia.
4. The composition of claim 1 wherein said henna powder is a non-color-imparting
henna powder derived from the Lawsonia and amla tree.
5. The composition of claim 1 additionally comprising from about 2.5 to about 8
weight percent of vanidinum oxide.
6. A henna, based hair coloring composition comprising from about 75 to 95 weight
percent of a color-imparting henna powder, from about 1.5 to about 5 weight
percent of a non-ionic surface active agent, from about 2.5 to about 15 weight
percent of a water soluble polymer and from about 0.5 to about 5 weight percent
of a cms-ternary salt.
7. A method of coloring and conditioning hair comprised from an aqueous slurry of
the composition of claim 7, applying said slurry to the hair,maintaining said slurry
.. i on the hair for a time period sufficient to impart color thereto, and thereafter
rinsing said slurry from the hair.
8. The method of claim 8 comprising the additional step of rinsing the henna-treated
hair with an acid rinse.
9. The method, of claim 10 wherein said acid rinse is a 2 percent aqueous mahc and
tartric acid solution.
10. A method of improving the condition of hair comprising applying an aqueous
slimy of the composition of claim 7 to said hair maintaining the slurry on the hair
for a sufficient period of time to impart conditioning thereto, and thereafter rinsing
said slurry from the' hair.