JP7594376B2 - Hair cosmetic composition - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a hair cosmetic composition.

Since it is difficult to remove moisture from wet hair (head hair) after shampooing, many people generally consider drying using a towel, hair dryer, etc. to be a tedious and time-consuming task. In recent years, as lifestyles have become more diverse, there has been a growing demand for more leisure and comfort in daily life, and an increasing number of people are looking for a simple way to dry their hair after washing it.
On the other hand, if hair is not dried properly, it can lose its shape and become messy and unkempt.

In response to the above demands regarding hair cosmetic compositions, the following proposals have been made.
Patent Document 1 discloses a composition for drying hair that contains a specified amount of a volatile silicone, a methylphenylpolysiloxane, and ethanol, and that can accelerate drying by applying to hair that has been wetted after washing or the like.
Patent Document 2 discloses that a hair treatment composition comprising an oil-in-water emulsion composition of a specific amino-modified dimethylpolysiloxane can improve the drying time of hair.
Patent Documents 3 and 4 disclose that a hair cosmetic composition that contains a specific ammonium salt and a specific amount of dimethylpolysiloxane having a specific weight-average molecular weight and satisfies certain requirements allows moisture remaining between hair strands to drain naturally by gravity, thereby shortening the drying time of hair.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 1-168608 Special Publication No. 2011-511830 International Publication No. 2019/031143 International Publication No. 2019/031176

The disclosures of Patent Documents 1 and 2 both relate to so-called out-bath hair drying or hair treatment compositions that are applied to hair wet with water and used without rinsing, and are different from technologies that simplify the process from washing to drying hair.
The disclosures of Patent Documents 3 and 4 relate to so-called in-bath hair cosmetics that are applied to hair and then rinsed off, and in the examples, an emulsion-type hair cosmetic obtained by emulsifying dimethylpolysiloxane in water is described. However, the storage stability of these hair cosmetics leaves room for improvement.

The objective of the present invention is to provide a hair cosmetic composition that, when applied to washed hair, allows residual moisture between the hair strands to drain naturally (fall) as much as possible by gravity, shortening the drying time of the hair and also having excellent storage stability.

The present inventors have found that the above-mentioned problems can be solved by a hair cosmetic composition that contains a dimethylpolysiloxane having a specific weight-average molecular weight, a specific quaternary ammonium salt, a specific mixed fatty acid, and a specific polyoxyalkylene alkyl ether, in which the mass ratio of the dimethylpolysiloxane to the quaternary ammonium salt is within a specific range.
That is, the present invention relates to the following [1] and [2].
[1] The following components (A) to (D):
(A) a dimethylpolysiloxane having a weight average molecular weight of 300 to 3,000; (B) a quaternary ammonium salt represented by the following general formula (1):

(In the formula, R ¹ represents a linear or branched alkyl or alkenyl group having 12 to 26 carbon atoms, or a group represented by R ⁵ CONH(CH ₂ ) _p -, R ⁵ COO(CH ₂ ) _p -, or R ⁶ -O-(CH ₂ ) _p - (R ⁵ represents a linear or branched alkyl or alkenyl group having 11 to 25 carbon atoms, R ⁶ represents a linear or branched alkyl or alkenyl group having 12 to 26 carbon atoms, and p represents a number of 1 to 4). R ² , R ^3, and R ⁴ each independently represent an alkyl group having 1 to 3 carbon atoms. X ^- represents an anion.)
(C) (c1) a mixed fatty acid composed of a linear saturated fatty acid having 16 to 24 carbon atoms and (c2) a branched saturated fatty acid having 16 to 24 carbon atoms. (D) a polyoxyalkylene alkyl ether represented by the following general formula (2): R ¹¹ O-(PO) _n -(EO) _m -R ¹² (2)
(In the formula, R ¹¹ represents an alkyl group having 6 to 18 carbon atoms, R ¹² represents a hydrogen atom or a methyl group, PO represents propylene oxide, EO represents ethylene oxide, n and m represent the average number of moles added, n is 1.5 to 10.0, and m is 0 to 8.0.)
and a mass ratio [(A)/(B)] of 4.0 or more and 12.0 or less.
[2] A method for treating hair, comprising the steps of applying the hair cosmetic composition according to [1] to hair and then rinsing the hair cosmetic composition with water.

According to the present invention, a hair cosmetic composition can be provided that is applied to washed hair and then rinsed, allowing the moisture remaining between the hair strands to drain (fall) naturally (by gravity) as much as possible before the start of the hair drying process, thereby shortening the hair drying time and also having excellent storage stability. By treating hair with this hair cosmetic composition, the moisture content of the hair can be significantly reduced at the stage before the usual drying process of wiping wet hair after washing with a towel and drying with a hair dryer begins, thereby reducing the burden of the hair drying process.

[Hair cosmetic composition]
The hair cosmetic composition of the present invention comprises the following components (A) to (D):
(A) a dimethylpolysiloxane having a weight average molecular weight of 300 to 3,000; (B) a quaternary ammonium salt represented by the following general formula (1):

(In the formula, R ¹ represents a linear or branched alkyl or alkenyl group having 12 to 26 carbon atoms, or a group represented by R ⁵ CONH(CH ₂ ) _p -, R ⁵ COO(CH ₂ ) _p -, or R ⁶ -O-(CH ₂ ) _p - (R ⁵ represents a linear or branched alkyl or alkenyl group having 11 to 25 carbon atoms, R ⁶ represents a linear or branched alkyl or alkenyl group having 12 to 26 carbon atoms, and p represents a number of 1 to 4). R ² , R ^3, and R ⁴ each independently represent an alkyl group having 1 to 3 carbon atoms. X ^- represents an anion.)
(C) (c1) a mixed fatty acid composed of a linear saturated fatty acid having 16 to 24 carbon atoms and (c2) a branched saturated fatty acid having 16 to 24 carbon atoms. (D) a polyoxyalkylene alkyl ether represented by the following general formula (2): R ¹¹ O-(PO) _n -(EO) _m -R ¹² (2)
(In the formula, R ¹¹ represents an alkyl group having 6 to 18 carbon atoms, R ¹² represents a hydrogen atom or a methyl group, PO represents propylene oxide, EO represents ethylene oxide, n and m represent the average number of moles added, n is 1.5 to 10.0, and m is 0 to 8.0.)
and the mass ratio [(A)/(B)] is 4.0 or more and 12.0 or less.

From the viewpoint of the effectiveness of the present invention, the hair cosmetic composition of the present invention preferably further contains water, and more preferably is in the form of an oil-in-water emulsion composition.
Even when the hair cosmetic composition of the present invention is in the form of an oil-in-water emulsion composition, the dimethylpolysiloxane (A) (hereinafter also referred to as "component (A)") having a weight-average molecular weight of 300 or more and 3,000 or less can be stably dispersed in water, and the hair cosmetic composition has excellent storage stability.

The formulation of the hair treatment composition of the present invention is not particularly limited and may be in any formulation form, such as liquid, foam, paste, cream, etc.; however, it is preferably in liquid, paste or cream form, and more preferably in liquid form.
Preferred examples of the product form of the hair cosmetic composition of the present invention include products that are used in the bathroom after washing the hair, i.e., products that are applied to the hair and then rinsed off, such as hair rinse, hair treatment, hair conditioner, hair pack, etc. Of these, hair rinse, hair treatment, or hair conditioner is more preferred from the viewpoint of exerting the effects of the present invention.

When the hair cosmetic composition of the present invention is applied to washed hair, it allows the moisture remaining between the hair strands to drain naturally as much as possible by gravity, thereby shortening the drying time of the hair and also exhibiting excellent storage stability. The reason for this is unclear, but is thought to be as follows.
The component (A) used in the present invention has a low molecular weight and low viscosity, so it spreads easily over the hair surface when applied to the hair, and has a low surface tension, so it has a strong ability to repel water. Therefore, it is believed to have the effect of forming a hydrophobic film in water and allowing the water contained on the hair surface and between the hair strands to drain naturally by gravity.
The quaternary ammonium salt (B) represented by the general formula (1) (hereinafter also referred to as "component (B)") is believed to enhance the action and effect of the above-mentioned component (A). Therefore, by applying the hair cosmetic composition of the present invention to hair and then rinsing it off, the moisture remaining on the surface of the hair and between the hair strands after washing can be quickly dropped and drained by gravity, making the hair easier to separate without bundling, and shortening the drying time.
In addition, since component (A) has a low molecular weight, droplets of component (A) tend to be easily combined when emulsified and dispersed in water, and thus tend to have poor storage stability. On the other hand, the specific mixed fatty acid (C) (hereinafter also referred to as "component (C)") and the polyoxyalkylene alkyl ether (D) (hereinafter also referred to as "component (D)") represented by the general formula (2) are both highly effective in surrounding and stably emulsifying and dispersing droplets of component (A) in the hair cosmetic composition, and it is believed that a hair cosmetic composition with excellent storage stability can be obtained by using them in combination. Component (C) is highly effective in emulsifying and dispersing component (A), but contains both a linear saturated fatty acid, which has a high melting point and is therefore poor in the effect of stably maintaining the emulsified state, and a branched saturated fatty acid, which has a relatively low melting point, and is adjusted to a moderate melting point, and is believed to be able to exhibit the effect of emulsifying and dispersing droplets of component (A) and the effect of containing the droplets and stably maintaining the emulsified state.
Furthermore, component (B), which is a mono-long-chain quaternary ammonium salt, is also highly effective in stably dispersing droplets of component (A) in water. It is believed that the storage stability can be further improved by setting the mass ratio of component (A) to component (B) [(A)/(B)] in the hair cosmetic composition to a specific range.

<Component (A): Dimethylpolysiloxane>
Component (A) used in the present invention is a low molecular weight dimethylpolysiloxane having a weight average molecular weight of from 300 to 3,000. Component (A) has the effect of improving the natural drainage of moisture remaining on the hair surface and between hair fibers due to the above-mentioned mechanism of action.
The weight average molecular weight in the present invention is a polystyrene-equivalent molecular weight measured by the method described in the Examples.

The weight average molecular weight of component (A) is preferably 320 or more, more preferably 350 or more, from the viewpoint of improving the natural drainage properties of hair, the ease with which hair can be unraveled after towel drying, and shortening the drying time of hair, and is preferably 2,800 or less, more preferably 2,500 or less, even more preferably 2,000 or less, still more preferably 1,500 or less, still more preferably 1,200 or less, still more preferably 1,000 or less, and still more preferably 800 or less. The weight average molecular weight of component (A) is 300 or more and 3,000 or less, preferably 300 or more and 2,800 or less, more preferably 300 or more and 2,500 or less, even more preferably 300 or more and 2,000 or less, even more preferably 320 or more and 1,500 or less, even more preferably 350 or more and 1,500 or less, even more preferably 350 or more and 1,200 or less, even more preferably 350 or more and 1,000 or less, even more preferably 350 or more and 800 or less.

Two or more dimethylpolysiloxanes having different weight average molecular weights may be used as component (A). In this case, the weight average molecular weight of component (A) means the weighted average of the weight average molecular weights of the individual dimethylpolysiloxanes. Therefore, for example, even if the weight average molecular weight of a dimethylpolysiloxane is less than 300 or more than 3,000, it can be used in the present invention as long as the weighted average of the weight average molecular weight is in the range of 300 to 3,000.
However, it is preferable not to use dimethylpolysiloxanes having a weight-average molecular weight of 50,000 or more, since they are difficult to spread over the surface of the hair when applied to the hair, making it difficult to form a uniform hydrophobic film in water and possibly interfering with the natural drainage effect of the hair.

The dimethylpolysiloxane used in component (A) may be one or more selected from the group consisting of linear dimethylpolysiloxane and cyclic dimethylpolysiloxane. Among these, linear dimethylpolysiloxane is more preferred from the viewpoints of improving the natural drainage of hair, the ease of hair loosening after towel drying, and shortening the drying time of hair.
The kinetic viscosity at 25°C of the linear or cyclic dimethylpolysiloxane used in component (A) is preferably at least 0.5 ^mm2 /s, more preferably at least 1 mm2/s, and is preferably at most 25 ^mm2 /s, more preferably at most 20 ^mm2 /s, and even more preferably at most ^{10 mm2} /s, from the viewpoints of improving the natural drainage properties of hair, the ease with which hair can be unraveled after towel drying, and shortening the drying time of hair. When two or more types of linear or cyclic dimethylpolysiloxanes are used, it is preferable that the kinetic viscosity at 25°C of the dimethylpolysiloxane after mixing is in the above range.
The kinematic viscosity can be measured by the method described in the Examples.

Commercially available examples of linear dimethylpolysiloxanes include the KF-96 series manufactured by Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd., the DOWSIL SH200C Fluid series and 2-1184 Fluid manufactured by Dow-Toray Co., Ltd., and Silsoft DML, Element14 PDMS 5-JC, Element14 PDMS 10-JC, and Element14 PDMS 20-JC manufactured by Momentive Performance Materials, Inc.
Examples of cyclic dimethylpolysiloxanes include cyclopentasiloxane, cyclohexasiloxane, etc. Commercially available examples of cyclic dimethylpolysiloxanes include KF-995 manufactured by Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd., DOWSIL SH 245 Fluid, DC345 Fluid, and DOWSIL DC246 Fluid manufactured by Dow-Toray Co., Ltd., and TSF405, SF1258, and Silsoft 1217 manufactured by Momentive Performance Materials, Inc.

<Component (B): Quaternary ammonium salt represented by general formula (1)>
Component (B) used in the present invention is a quaternary ammonium salt represented by the following general formula (1): Component (B) acts as a treatment component, and also effectively enhances the effect of component (A) by the above-mentioned mechanism of action, and can improve the storage stability of the hair cosmetic composition.

(In the formula, R ¹ represents a linear or branched alkyl or alkenyl group having 12 to 26 carbon atoms, or a group represented by R ⁵ CONH(CH ₂ ) _p -, R ⁵ COO(CH ₂ ) _p -, or R ⁶ -O-(CH ₂ ) _p - (R ⁵ represents a linear or branched alkyl or alkenyl group having 11 to 25 carbon atoms, R ⁶ represents a linear or branched alkyl or alkenyl group having 12 to 26 carbon atoms, and p represents a number of 1 to 4). R ² , R ³ , and R ⁴ each independently represent an alkyl group having 1 to 3 carbon atoms. X ^- represents an anion.)

In the general formula (1), the number of carbon atoms of the linear or branched alkyl or alkenyl group in R ¹ and R ⁶ is 12 to 26, preferably 12 to 22, more preferably 14 to 20, and even more preferably 14 to 18, from the viewpoint of enhancing the effect of component (A) and improving storage stability. Specific examples thereof include various dodecyl groups, various tetradecyl groups, various pentadecyl groups, various hexadecyl groups, various heptadecyl groups, various octadecyl groups, various icosyl groups, various docosyl groups, various dodecenyl groups, various tridecenyl groups, various tetradecenyl groups, various pentadecenyl groups, various hexadecenyl groups, various heptadecenyl groups, various octadecenyl groups, various icosenyl groups, and various docosenyl groups. In addition, the term "various" here refers to linear and all branched chains.

In general formula (1), from the viewpoint of enhancing the effect of component (A) and improving storage stability, the number of carbon atoms in the linear or branched alkyl or alkenyl group in ^R5 is from 11 to 25, preferably from 11 to 21, more preferably from 13 to 19, and even more preferably from 13 to 17. Specific examples thereof include various undecyl groups, various dodecyl groups, various tetradecyl groups, various pentadecyl groups, various hexadecyl groups, various heptadecyl groups, various octadecyl groups, various icosyl groups, various docosyl groups, various undecenyl groups, various dodecenyl groups, various tridecenyl groups, various tetradecenyl groups, various pentadecenyl groups, various hexadecenyl groups, various heptadecenyl groups, various octadecenyl groups, various icosenyl groups, and various docosenyl groups.
In R ⁵ CONH(CH ₂ ) _p --, R ⁵ COO(CH ₂ ) _p -- or R ⁶ --O--(CH ₂ ) _p --, p is a number of 1 or more and 4 or less, and preferably a number of 2 or more and 4 or less.

From the viewpoint of enhancing the effect of component (A), improving storage stability, and ease of availability, R ¹ in general formula (1) is preferably a linear alkyl group having from 12 to 26 carbon atoms, more preferably a linear alkyl group having from 12 to 22 carbon atoms, even more preferably a linear alkyl group having from 14 to 20 carbon atoms, still more preferably a linear alkyl group having from 14 to 18 carbon atoms, still more preferably one or more selected from the group consisting of an n-tetradecyl (myristyl) group, an n-hexadecyl (cetyl) group, and an n-octadecyl (stearyl) group, and still more preferably an n-hexadecyl (cetyl) group.

In general formula (1), examples of the alkyl group having 1 to 3 carbon atoms represented by ^R2 , ^R3 , and ^R4 include a methyl group, an ethyl group, a propyl group, or an isopropyl group. From the viewpoint of enhancing the effect of component (A), a methyl group or an ethyl group is preferable, and a methyl group is more preferable.

In the general formula (1), the anion ^X- includes organic or inorganic anions. Specific examples of the anion ^X- include a halogen ion, an alkyl sulfate ion having 1 to 3 carbon atoms, an alkyl phosphate ion having 1 to 3 carbon atoms, a fatty acid ion having 12 to 18 carbon atoms, or a benzenesulfonate ion which may be substituted with 1 to 3 alkyl groups having 1 to 3 carbon atoms. Among these, a halogen ion or an alkyl sulfate ion having 1 to 3 carbon atoms is preferred, a chloride ion, a bromide ion, a methyl sulfate ion, or an ethyl sulfate ion is more preferred, a chloride ion or a methyl sulfate ion is even more preferred, and a chloride ion is even more preferred.

Suitable examples of component (B) include chlorides, bromides, methyl sulfates, and ethyl sulfates of lauryl (C12) trimethylammonium, myristyl (C14) trimethylammonium, cetyl (C16) trimethylammonium, stearyl (C18) trimethylammonium, arachidyl (C20) trimethylammonium, behenyl (C22) trimethylammonium, and octadecyloxypropyl trimethylammonium, and one or more of these can be used. Among these, from the viewpoints of enhancing the effect of component (A), improving storage stability, and ease of availability, one or more selected from the group consisting of myristyl (C14) trimethylammonium chloride, cetyl (C16) trimethylammonium chloride, and stearyl (C18) trimethylammonium chloride are more preferred, and cetyl (C16) trimethylammonium chloride is even more preferred.

Examples of commercially available products of component (B) include Kao Corporation's Coatamine 24P (lauryltrimethylammonium chloride), Coatamine 60W (cetyltrimethylammonium chloride), Coatamine 86W (lauryltrimethylammonium chloride), Coatamine 2285E (behenyltrimethylammonium chloride), and Coatamine E-80K (octadecyloxypropyltrimethylammonium chloride).

<Component (C): Mixed fatty acid>
The component (C) used in the present invention is a mixed fatty acid composed of (c1) a linear saturated fatty acid having 16 to 24 carbon atoms and (c2) a branched saturated fatty acid having 16 to 24 carbon atoms. Component (C) acts as a treatment component and also has the effect of stably emulsifying and dispersing droplets of component (A) in the hair cosmetic composition, thereby improving storage stability.

(Component (c1): Straight-chain saturated fatty acid having 16 to 24 carbon atoms)
Component (c1) is a linear saturated fatty acid having 16 to 24 carbon atoms, which acts as a treatment component and is highly effective in emulsifying and dispersing droplets of component (A).
From the viewpoint of enhancing the dispersibility of droplets of component (A), the number of carbon atoms in component (c1) is preferably 16 or more and 22 or less, more preferably 16 or more and 20 or less, even more preferably 16 or more and 18 or less, and still more preferably 18.
Specific examples of component (c1) include palmitic acid (C16), stearic acid (C18), eicosanoic acid (C20), behenic acid (C22), and tetracosanoic acid (C24), and one or more of these can be used. Among these, from the viewpoint of increasing the emulsification and dispersibility of droplets of component (A), preferably one or more selected from the group consisting of palmitic acid, stearic acid, eicosanoic acid, and behenic acid, more preferably one or more selected from the group consisting of palmitic acid, stearic acid, and eicosanoic acid, even more preferably one or more selected from the group consisting of palmitic acid and stearic acid, and even more preferably stearic acid.

(Component (c2): branched saturated fatty acid having 16 to 24 carbon atoms)
Component (c2) is a branched saturated fatty acid having from 16 to 24 carbon atoms. It acts as a treatment component and has a lower melting point than component (c1), and is therefore highly effective in encapsulating the droplets of component (A) and maintaining the emulsion in a stable state.
From the viewpoints of lowering the melting point of the entire component (C) and encapsulating the droplets of component (A) to maintain a stable emulsified state, component (c2) preferably has 16 or more and 22 or less, more preferably 16 or more and 20 or less, even more preferably 16 or more and 18 or less, and still more preferably 18 carbon atoms.

From the viewpoints of lowering the melting point of component (C) as a whole and encapsulating the droplets of component (A) to maintain a stable emulsified state, component (c2) is preferably composed mainly of a branched saturated fatty acid represented by the following general formula (c2-1): Here, the term "major component" means that it preferably accounts for 50% by mass or more, more preferably 70% by mass or more, and even more preferably 80% by mass or more of component (c2).

(In the formula, a is a number between 0 and 20, b is a number between 1 and 3, c is a number between 0 and 20, and the sum of a, b, and c is a number between 11 and 21.)
In general formula (c2-1), a is a number of 0 or more and 20 or less, b is a number of 1 or more and 3 or less, and c is a number of 0 or more and 20 or less. From the viewpoint of lowering the melting point of component (C) as a whole and containing the droplets of component (A) to maintain a stable emulsified state, a is preferably a number of 0 or more and 10 or less, more preferably a number of 0 or more and 5 or less, even more preferably a number of 0 or more and 2 or less, and still more preferably a number of 0. b is preferably a number of 1 or more and 2 or less, more preferably a number of 1.
In general formula (c2-1), the sum of a, b, and c is 11 or more and 21 or less, and from the viewpoint of lowering the melting point of component (C) as a whole and containing droplets of component (A) to maintain a stable emulsified state, is preferably 13 or more, and is preferably 19 or less, more preferably 17 or less.

Examples of the branched saturated fatty acid represented by the general formula (c2-1) include 14-methylpentadecanoic acid, 15-methylhexadecanoic acid, 16-methylheptadecanoic acid, 17-methyloctadecanoic acid, 18-methylnonadecanoic acid, 19-methyleicosanoic acid, 20-methylheneicosanoic acid, 14-methylhexadecanoic acid, 15-methylheptadecanoic acid, 16-methyloctadecanoic acid, 17-methylnonadecanoic acid, 18-methyleicosanoic acid, and 19-methylheneicosanoic acid.
Among these, from the viewpoint of enhancing the effect of component (A) and improving the stability of the emulsion state, the branched saturated fatty acid represented by general formula (c2-1) is preferably isostearic acid having one methyl branch, in which b is 1 and the total of a, b, and c is 15.
The branched saturated fatty acid described in "Standards for Cosmetic Raw Materials, Second Edition, Commentary I (1984), Yakuji Nipposha," p. 87 (C) for isostearic acid is described as having a methyl group in the side chain, and although the position is not specified, it is described as a C18 side chain fatty acid obtained by hydrogenating unsaturated side chain fatty acid that is a by-product when synthesizing dimer acid from oleic acid.
An example of a commercially available product of isostearic acid is Isostearic Acid EX manufactured by Kokyu Alcohol Kogyo Co., Ltd.

It is preferable that component (c2) mainly contains a branched saturated fatty acid represented by the general formula (c2-1) above, but in addition to the branched saturated fatty acid represented by the general formula (c2-1), it may also contain one or more branched saturated fatty acids with different branched chain lengths and branching positions, such as branched saturated fatty acids with branched chains other than methyl branches.

The mass ratio of component (c1) to component (c2) in the hair cosmetic composition [(c1)/(c2)] is preferably 0.1 or more, more preferably 0.5 or more, and even more preferably 0.8 or more, from the viewpoint of increasing the emulsification dispersibility of droplets of component (A), and is preferably 10.0 or less, more preferably 8.0 or less, even more preferably 5.0 or less, and even more preferably 3.0 or less, from the viewpoint of lowering the melting point of the entire component (C) and containing the droplets of component (A) to keep the emulsion state stable. The mass ratio of component (c1) to component (c2) in the hair cosmetic composition [(c1)/(c2)] is preferably 0.1 or more and 10.0 or less, more preferably 0.1 or more and 8.0 or less, even more preferably 0.5 or more and 5.0 or less, and even more preferably 0.8 or more and 3.0 or less.

<Component (D): Polyoxyalkylene alkyl ether represented by general formula (2)>
The component (D) used in the present invention is a polyoxyalkylene alkyl ether represented by the following general formula (2).
R ¹¹ O-(PO) _n- (EO) _m -R ¹² (2)
(In the formula, R ¹¹ represents an alkyl group having 6 to 18 carbon atoms, R ¹² represents a hydrogen atom or a methyl group, PO represents propylene oxide, EO represents ethylene oxide, n and m represent the average number of moles added, n is 1.5 to 10.0, and m is 0 to 8.0.)
Component (D) stably emulsifies and disperses droplets of component (A) in the hair cosmetic composition, thereby improving storage stability.

In general formula (2), R ¹¹ is an alkyl group having 6 to 18 carbon atoms, and from the viewpoint of stably emulsifying and dispersing the droplets of component (A), it is preferably an alkyl group having 6 to 14 carbon atoms, more preferably 6 to 12 carbon atoms, and even more preferably 6 to 10 carbon atoms. Specific examples thereof include various hexyl groups, various heptyl groups, various octyl groups, various nonyl groups, various decyl groups, various undecyl groups, various dodecyl groups, various tridecyl groups, various tetradecyl groups, various pentadecyl groups, various hexadecyl groups, various heptadecyl groups, various octadecyl groups, and the like, preferably one or more selected from the group consisting of various hexyl groups, various heptyl groups, various octyl groups, various nonyl groups, various decyl groups, various undecyl groups, various dodecyl groups, various tridecyl groups, and various tetradecyl groups, more preferably one or more selected from the group consisting of various hexyl groups, various heptyl groups, various octyl groups, various nonyl groups, various decyl groups, various undecyl groups, and various dodecyl groups, and even more preferably one or more selected from the group consisting of various hexyl groups, various heptyl groups, various octyl groups, various nonyl groups, and various decyl groups. The term "various" as used herein means to include linear and all branched chains.
In formula (2), R ¹² is a hydrogen atom or a methyl group, and is preferably a hydrogen atom.
In the general formula (2), n represents the average number of moles of PO (propylene oxide) added, and is 1.5 to 10.0, preferably 1.5 to 8.0, more preferably 1.5 to 5.0, and even more preferably 2.0 to 4.0. Also, m represents the average number of moles of EO (ethylene oxide) added, and is 0 to 8.0, preferably 0 to 5.0, more preferably 0 to 3.0, even more preferably 0 to 1.5, and even more preferably 0. That is, the component (D) is even more preferably a polyoxypropylene alkyl ether in which R ¹¹ in the general formula (2) is preferably within the above range.
As component (D), two or more kinds of polyoxyalkylene alkyl ethers represented by the above general formula (2) may be used.

Commercially available examples of component (D) include Kao Sofucare GP-1 (PPG-3 caprylyl ether) manufactured by Kao Corporation.

(Content of each component in the hair cosmetic composition)
The contents of each component in the hair cosmetic composition are as follows, from the viewpoint of providing a hair cosmetic composition that, when applied to washed hair, can shorten the drying time of the hair by allowing residual moisture between the hair strands to drain naturally as much as possible by gravity, and also has excellent storage stability.

The content of component (A) in the hair cosmetic composition is not particularly limited as long as the mass ratio [(A)/(B)] is 4.0 or more and 12.0 or less, but from the viewpoint of improving the natural drainage of hair, from the viewpoint of the ease of hair becoming unruly after towel drying, and from the viewpoint of shortening the drying time of hair, it is preferably 1.5 mass% or more, more preferably 2.0 mass% or more, and even more preferably 2.5 mass% or more, and from the viewpoint of improving storage stability, it is preferably 10.0 mass% or less, more preferably 8.0 mass% or less, and even more preferably 7.0 mass% or less. The content of component (A) in the hair cosmetic composition is preferably 1.5 mass% or more and 10.0 mass% or less, more preferably 2.0 mass% or more and 8.0 mass% or less, and even more preferably 2.5 mass% or more and 7.0 mass% or less.

The content of component (B) in the hair cosmetic composition is not particularly limited as long as the mass ratio [(A)/(B)] is 4.0 or more and 12.0 or less, but from the viewpoint of imparting a treatment effect, from the viewpoint of enhancing the action effect of component (A), and from the viewpoint of improving storage stability, it is preferably 0.15 mass% or more, more preferably 0.20 mass% or more, and even more preferably 0.25 mass% or more, and from the viewpoint of enhancing the action effect of component (A) and from the viewpoint of improving storage stability, it is preferably 2.5 mass% or less, more preferably 2.0 mass% or less, more preferably 1.5 mass% or less, and even more preferably 1.0 mass% or less. The content of component (B) in the hair cosmetic composition is preferably 0.15 mass% or more and 2.5 mass% or less, more preferably 0.15 mass% or more and 2.0 mass% or less, even more preferably 0.20 mass% or more and 1.5 mass% or less, and even more preferably 0.25 mass% or more and 1.0 mass% or less.

The mass ratio of component (A) to component (B) in the hair cosmetic composition [(A)/(B)] is 4.0 or more, preferably 5.0 or more, more preferably 6.0 or more, even more preferably 7.0 or more, and even more preferably 8.0 or more, from the viewpoint of improving the natural drainage of hair, the ease of hair becoming unruly after towel drying, and the viewpoint of shortening the drying time of hair, and from the viewpoint of imparting a treatment effect, the viewpoint of strengthening the action effect of component (A), and the viewpoint of improving storage stability, it is 12.0 or less, preferably 11.5 or less, more preferably 11.0 or less, and even more preferably 10.5 or less. And the mass ratio of component (A) to component (B) in the hair cosmetic composition [(A)/(B)] is 4.0 or more and 12.0 or less, preferably 5.0 or more and 12.0 or less, more preferably 6.0 or more and 11.5 or less, even more preferably 7.0 or more and 11.0 or less, and even more preferably 8.0 or more and 10.5 or less.

The content of component (C) in the hair cosmetic composition is preferably 0.02% by mass or more, more preferably 0.05% by mass or more, and even more preferably 0.10% by mass or more, from the viewpoint of imparting a treatment effect, stably emulsifying and dispersing droplets of component (A) and improving storage stability, and is preferably 5.0% by mass or less, more preferably 3.0% by mass or less, more preferably 1.0% by mass or less, and even more preferably 0.50% by mass or less, from the viewpoint of strengthening the action effect of component (A) and improving storage stability. The content of component (C) in the hair cosmetic composition is preferably 0.02% by mass or more and 5.0% by mass or less, more preferably 0.05% by mass or more and 3.0% by mass or less, even more preferably 0.10% by mass or more and 1.0% by mass or less, and even more preferably 0.10% by mass or more and 0.50% by mass or less.

The content of component (D) in the hair cosmetic composition is preferably 0.01% by mass or more, more preferably 0.02% by mass or more, and even more preferably 0.04% by mass or more from the viewpoint of improving storage stability, and is preferably 2.0% by mass or less, more preferably 1.0% by mass or less, more preferably 0.50% by mass or less, and even more preferably 0.20% by mass or less from the viewpoint of enhancing the action effect of component (A) and improving storage stability. The content of component (D) in the hair cosmetic composition is preferably 0.01% by mass or more and 2.0% by mass or less, more preferably 0.02% by mass or more and 1.0% by mass or less, even more preferably 0.04% by mass or more and 0.50% by mass or less, and even more preferably 0.04% by mass or more and 0.20% by mass or less.

The total content of components (A) to (D) in the hair cosmetic composition is preferably 3.0% by mass or more, more preferably 3.2% by mass or more, and even more preferably 3.4% by mass or more, from the viewpoint of enhancing the effect of component (A) and improving storage stability, and is preferably 20.0% by mass or less, more preferably 15.0% by mass or less, and even more preferably 10.0% by mass or less, from the viewpoint of forming an oil-in-water emulsion composition. The total content of components (A) to (D) in the hair cosmetic composition is preferably 3.0% by mass or more and 20.0% by mass or less, more preferably 3.2% by mass or more and 15.0% by mass or less, and even more preferably 3.4% by mass or more and 10.0% by mass or less.

When the hair cosmetic composition contains water, the content of water in the composition is preferably 30% by mass or more, more preferably 40% by mass or more, even more preferably 50% by mass or more, and even more preferably 60% by mass or more, from the viewpoint of forming an oil-in-water emulsion composition, and is preferably 97.0% by mass or less, more preferably 96.5% by mass or less, from the viewpoint of exerting the action and effect of the hair cosmetic composition.

(Other components in the hair cosmetic composition and their contents)
[0043] From the viewpoint of imparting a desired effect, the hair cosmetic composition of the present invention may further contain an oil, an aliphatic higher alcohol, a polyhydric alcohol, a silicone other than component (A), various polymers excluding silicone and protein, and the like. Furthermore, optional components such as a solubilizer, a surfactant other than component (B) and component (D), a diluent, a feel improver, a hair repair agent, a chelating agent, an antioxidant, a moisturizing agent, an ultraviolet absorbing agent, a pH adjuster, a preservative, a colorant, and a fragrance may be appropriately added.

The oil agent is preferably liquid at room temperature, and specific examples thereof include hydrocarbon oils such as α-olefin oligomer, liquid isoparaffin, liquid paraffin, and squalane; triglycerides such as glyceryl trioctanoate, avocado oil, olive oil, sesame oil, rice bran oil, safflower oil, soybean oil, corn oil, rapeseed oil, castor oil, cottonseed oil, mink oil, tri-2-ethylhexanoate, and tri(caprylic/capric acid)glyceryl; fatty acids such as oleic acid and isostearic acid; isopropyl myristate, butyl myristate, isopropyl palmitate, ethyl oleate, ethyl linoleate, isopropyl linoleate, and the like. Examples of ester oils include propyl, cetyl caprylate, hexyl laurate, decyl myristate, decyl oleate, oleyl oleate, isostearyl laurate, isotridecyl myristate, isocetyl myristate, isostearyl myristate, octyldodecyl myristate, octyl palmitate, isocetyl palmitate, isostearyl palmitate, propylene glycol dioleate, isodecyl oleate, isopropyl isostearate, cetyl 2-ethylhexanoate, stearyl 2-ethylhexanoate, propylene glycol dicaprate, and propylene glycol dioleate.
However, since the above-mentioned oily agent may weaken the effect of component (A) and reduce the natural drainage properties of the hair, its content in the hair cosmetic composition is preferably 1 mass % or less, more preferably 0.5 mass % or less, and even more preferably 0.1 mass % or less, and it is preferable that no oily agent is included.

Examples of the aliphatic higher alcohol include alcohols having a straight-chain or branched alkyl or alkenyl group, preferably having 8 to 26 carbon atoms, more preferably having 12 to 22 carbon atoms, and even more preferably having 16 to 20 carbon atoms. Specific examples include myristyl alcohol, cetyl alcohol, stearyl alcohol, arachyl alcohol, behenyl alcohol, isostearyl alcohol, 2-octyldodecanol, oleyl alcohol, and mixtures thereof.
However, since the above-mentioned aliphatic higher alcohol may weaken the effect of component (A) and reduce the natural drainage properties of the hair, its content in the hair cosmetic composition is preferably 10 mass % or less, more preferably 5 mass % or less, even more preferably 3 mass % or less, and even more preferably 1 mass % or less, and it is preferable that no aliphatic higher alcohol is contained.

Examples of polyhydric alcohols include ethylene glycol, diethylene glycol, polyethylene glycol (number average molecular weight less than 1000), propylene glycol, dipropylene glycol, polypropylene glycol (number average molecular weight less than 1000), glycerin, diglycerin, polyglycerin, isoprene glycol, and 1,3-butylene glycol.
However, since the above-mentioned polyhydric alcohol weakens the effect of component (A) and may reduce the natural drainage properties of the hair, its content in the hair cosmetic composition is preferably 5 mass % or less, more preferably 3 mass % or less, and even more preferably 1 mass % or less, and it is preferable that it is not contained.

Examples of silicones other than component (A) include linear polysiloxanes such as dimethylpolysiloxane, methylphenylpolysiloxane, methylhydrogenpolysiloxane, and dimethiconol, each having a weight average molecular weight of more than 3,000; modified silicones such as polyether-modified (polyoxyethylene (POE)-modified, polyoxypropylene (POP)-modified, etc.), polyamino-modified, alcohol-modified (glycerin-modified, etc.), fatty acid-modified, and fluorine-modified silicones, and silicone resins.
However, the content of silicones other than component (A) in the hair cosmetic composition is preferably 1 mass % or less, more preferably 0.5 mass % or less, and even more preferably 0.1 mass % or less, and it is preferable that they are not contained.

The various polymers other than silicone and protein include natural polymers and low molecular weight polymers obtained by hydrolyzing them.Furthermore, there are (i) hydrophobic polymers obtained by adding hydrophobic groups such as fatty acids and alcohols to these polymers, (ii) hydrophilic polymers obtained by adding hydrophilic groups such as cationic groups, anionic groups, and amphoteric groups such as betaine, and (iii) amphiphilic polymers obtained by adding both hydrophobic groups and hydrophilic groups.
Specific examples of the polysaccharides include polysaccharides having a fatty acid having 16 to 18 carbon atoms bonded via an ester bond, polysaccharides having a higher alcohol having 1 to 18 carbon atoms bonded via an ether bond, cationized polysaccharides (cationized cellulose, cationized guar gum, etc.), and alkyl-cationized polysaccharides (alkyl cation-modified cellulose).
As the polymer, in addition to the above-mentioned natural polymers, synthetic polymers can also be used. Examples of synthetic polymers include polymers obtained by reacting and polymerizing functional groups having unsaturated bond groups or cyclic groups, such as polymers obtained by reacting acrylic acid and its derivatives, and oxazoline and its derivatives.
However, since these polymers may weaken the effect of component (A) and reduce the natural drainage properties of the hair, the content of each component in the hair cosmetic composition is preferably 1 mass % or less, more preferably 0.5 mass % or less, even more preferably 0.1 mass % or less, and even more preferably 0.05 mass % or less, and it is preferable that they are not included.

The hair cosmetic composition of the present invention may contain one or more selected from amino acids, peptides, proteins, enzymes, gallic acid and its derivatives, sterol and its derivatives, plant extracts, and dextrin fatty acid esters from the viewpoint of reducing damage to hair. However, since these components may weaken the effect of component (A) and reduce the natural drainage properties of hair, the content of each component in the hair cosmetic composition is preferably 1% by mass or less, more preferably 0.5% by mass or less, even more preferably 0.1% by mass or less, and even more preferably 0.05% by mass or less, and it is preferable that they are not included.

The hair cosmetic composition of the present invention may further contain surfactants other than components (B) and (D) from the viewpoint of increasing the solubility and dispersibility of various blended components such as oils, polymers, and plant extracts. Specifically, it may contain (i) an anionic surfactant, (ii) an amphoteric surfactant, (iii) a nonionic surfactant other than component (D), and (iv) a cationic surfactant other than component (B). However, since these components may weaken the effect of component (A) and reduce storage stability depending on the relationship with other components, the content of each component in the hair cosmetic composition is preferably 1% by mass or less, more preferably 0.5% by mass or less, even more preferably 0.1% by mass or less, and even more preferably 0.05% by mass or less, and it is preferable that they are not included.

<Production of Hair Cosmetic Composition>
The hair cosmetic composition of the present invention can be produced by a conventional method. For example, purified water such as ion-exchanged water is heated to preferably 50° C. or higher, more preferably 55° C. or higher, and preferably 95° C. or lower, more preferably 75° C. or lower, and component (A) and component (B) are mixed and homogenized, and then, if necessary, optional components are further added, homogenized, and allowed to cool. In some cases, an acid or base is added to adjust the pH to obtain the hair cosmetic composition of the present invention.

[Hair treatment method]
The hair treatment method of the present invention comprises the steps of applying the hair cosmetic composition of the present invention to hair and then rinsing the hair cosmetic composition with water. Specific examples of the treatment method include the following methods.
First, the hair cosmetic composition of the present invention is applied to wet hair, preferably after washing, by coating, casting, spraying, or the like, and spread over the entire hair. In this case, the hair cosmetic composition may be applied to the hair by hand or by using a tool such as a brush. After application of the hair cosmetic composition, a time may be left to allow the composition to penetrate into the inside of the hair. The time is preferably within 10 minutes, and more preferably from 30 seconds to 5 minutes.
Next, the hair cosmetic composition is washed off with water. The temperature of the water may be any temperature that does not cause stress to the body, and is preferably from 15° C. to 50° C., more preferably from 25° C. to 45° C. The washing time is not particularly limited, but is preferably from 5 seconds to 3 minutes.
By carrying out the above-mentioned treatment, the moisture remaining on the surface and between the hair strands is quickly and naturally drained by gravity before the usual drying action of wiping the wet hair after washing with a towel and drying with a hair dryer is started, and the moisture content of the hair can be significantly reduced. Therefore, the subsequent wiping of the hair with a towel and drying with a hair dryer time can be shortened, and the drying action can be reduced.

(1) Measurement of Weight Average Molecular Weight (Mw) of Dimethylpolysiloxane The weight average molecular weight (Mw) of dimethylpolysiloxane was measured by gel permeation chromatography (GPC).
The column used was a combination of two mixed gel columns (Shodex K-804L, manufactured by Showa Denko K.K.), chloroform (for high performance liquid chromatography, manufactured by Kanto Chemical Co., Ltd.) was used as the mobile phase and diluent solvent, a refractive index (RI) detector was used as the detector, and Mw was calculated using monodisperse polystyrene with a known molecular weight as the standard substance.

(2) Measurement of kinetic viscosity of dimethylpolysiloxane The kinetic viscosity of dimethylpolysiloxane was measured at 25° C. using an Ubbelohde viscometer based on Japanese Industrial Standard JIS Z8803:2011 “Method for measuring viscosity of liquids”.

(3) Hair natural drainage rate (%)
A hair bundle of straight Asian hair with no history of chemical treatment (hair length about 20 cm, dry weight 9 g) was washed with warm tap water using a plain shampoo with the following formulation, and thoroughly rinsed. After shampooing, 3 g of the hair cosmetic composition (hair conditioner) of each example was applied to the wet hair bundle, thoroughly blended into the entire hair bundle, and then rinsed with warm tap water for 5 seconds. The hair bundle was then squeezed with fingers until no water droplets were dripping, and the water was removed. The treated hair bundle was then placed on a top-plate balance, and tap water was impregnated into the hair bundle so that the water content was 9 g (total 18 g) equal to the dry weight of the hair bundle (9 g).
Thereafter, the hair bundle was suspended on the vertical line of an upper-plate balance until the tip of the hair was approximately 5 cm above the upper plate, and the weight of the dripping water (amount of water discharged) was measured over time.
The amount of water discharged after 3 minutes of suspension was weighed, and the natural water discharge rate (%) of the hair was calculated according to the following formula.
Natural drainage rate of hair (%) = [amount of drainage (g) after 3 minutes of hanging / water content of hair bundle before hanging (g)] x 100
(Moisture content of hair bundle before hanging (g) = Dry weight of hair (g))
If the natural drainage rate (%) is 50% or more, a reduction in drying time can be recognized, and the higher the value, the better the result.

[Plain shampoo formulation (pH 7.0)]
25% Polyoxyethylene (2.5) Lauryl Ether Sulfate Sodium Salt
62.0% by mass
Lauric acid diethanolamide 2.3% by mass
Disodium edetate 0.15% by mass
Sodium benzoate 0.5% by mass
Sodium chloride 0.8% by mass
75% phosphoric acid, appropriate amount, fragrance, methylparaben, trace amount
Distilled water remaining
Total 100% by mass

(4) Hair looseness after towel drying A hair bundle of straight Asian hair with no history of chemical treatment (hair length about 20 cm, dry weight 9 g) was washed with warm tap water using the above-mentioned plain shampoo, and then thoroughly rinsed. 3 g of the hair cosmetic composition (hair conditioner) of each example was applied to the wet hair bundle after shampooing, and after thoroughly blending it into the entire hair bundle, it was rinsed with warm tap water for 5 seconds, and then the hair bundle was squeezed with fingers until no water droplets were dripping, and the water was removed. Next, the treated hair bundle was placed on a top-plate balance, and tap water was impregnated into the hair bundle so that the water content was 9 g (total 18 g) equal to the dry weight of the hair bundle (9 g).
The water-soaked hair bundle was laid on a folded 40 cm x 16 cm paper towel (manufactured by Daio Paper Co., Ltd., product name: Elleair (R) Pro Wipe Soft Towel White, dry weight approximately 10 g) placed on a 32 cm x 16 cm acrylic plate (thickness 4 mm, weight 293 g) so as not to bend the hair bundle, and the same 40 cm x 16 cm paper towel was placed on top of it, and the resulting mixture was sandwiched between 32 cm x 16 cm acrylic plates (thickness 4 mm, weight 293 g), and a metal weight (850 g) was placed on top and towel pressed for 2 minutes.
The hair bundle was then held at the base and shook three times with an amplitude of approximately 30°, after which the fineness of the hair bundle (ease of coming apart) was assessed by sensory evaluation by three expert panelists, who scored it on the following three-point scale, with the total score by the three panelists being a total of 9 points (maximum score: 9 points).
Score 3: Every part of the hair strand is quite finely scattered.
Score 2: There are some fine bundles, but some thick bundles remain.
Score 1: Almost no fine bundles, with most remaining thick bundles.
If the total score is 8 or more, a significant difference in "ease of hair becoming unruly" can be sufficiently recognized.

(5) Storage Stability Evaluation (AFS Cycle; Accelerated Four Seasons Cycle Test)
Each hair cosmetic composition (hair conditioner) was filled in a screw tube (volume: 50 mL) at 30 g, sealed, and subjected to a temperature cycle test. This involves a temperature change of 40°C in 6 hours per cycle. The first cycle starts at 0°C to 40°C, the second cycle at -1°C to 39°C, the third cycle at -2°C to 38°C, and so on, with the temperature changing by 1°C each time. After 168 hours, the lowest temperature reaches -28°C, and from there the lowest temperature rises by 1°C toward 0°C. After 2 weeks (336 hours), the screw tube is removed, and the layer separation state of the composition is visually evaluated and judged according to the following criteria. If it is judged as A or B, it is considered to be passed.
A: There is no separation of the composition, or only a very small amount of separated oil is observed on the surface of the composition.
B: Oil is liberated from the surface of the composition, but is at an acceptable level for practical use.
C: The composition separated, and the amount of the separated upper layer (oil layer) was greater than the amount of the emulsified layer.
D: Poor emulsification was observed before storage.

Examples 1 to 5, Comparative Examples 1 to 9
All of the raw materials (including water) listed in Table 1 were added to a wide-mouthed standard bottle (Tokyo Glass Instruments Co., Ltd., PS-No. 6) to a total weight of 35 g, which was then sealed and mixed in a warm water bath at 65° C. for about 1 hour. Once the raw materials were thoroughly mixed, the bottle was removed from the warm water bath and shaken by hand until the raw materials were visually uniformly emulsified and dispersed, and then left to stand in a 25° C. environment and allowed to cool, yielding a hair conditioner at a temperature of 25° C.
The hair conditioner thus obtained was subjected to various evaluations according to the above-mentioned methods. The results are shown in Table 1.

The details of each component in Table 1 are as follows.
<Component (A)>
*1: KF-96L-2cs (dimethylpolysiloxane, manufactured by Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd., Mw: 392, kinematic viscosity: 2 mm ² /s, 25° C.)
*2: KF-96L-10cs (dimethylpolysiloxane, manufactured by Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd., Mw: 1,290, kinematic viscosity: 10 mm ² /s, 25° C.)
*3: KF-96L-100cs (dimethylpolysiloxane, manufactured by Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd., Mw: 8,870, dynamic viscosity: 100 mm ² /s, 25° C.)
<Component (B)>
*4: Kotamine 60W (cetyltrimethylammonium chloride, manufactured by Kao Corporation, active ingredient 30%)
<Component (B')>
* 5: Kotamine D2345P (dialkyl (12-18) dimethylammonium chloride, manufactured by Kao Corporation, active content 75%)
<Component (C)>
*6: Lunac S-98 (stearic acid, manufactured by Kao Corporation)
* 7: Isostearic acid EX (isostearic acid, manufactured by Kokyu Alcohol Kogyo Co., Ltd.)
<Component (D)>
*8: KAO-SOFCARE GP-1 (PPG-3 Caprylyl Ether, manufactured by Kao Corporation)

From Table 1, it can be seen that the hair treated with the hair cosmetic composition of this example has a high natural drainage rate and is easy to separate even after towel drying, so that the burden of drying the hair can be reduced. It can also be seen that the hair cosmetic composition has little separation over time and has excellent storage stability.
In contrast, the hair cosmetic compositions of Comparative Example 1, in which a di-long-chain alkyl type cationic surfactant was used instead of component (B), Comparative Example 2, in which a dimethylpolysiloxane having a weight-average molecular weight of more than 3,000 was used instead of component (A), Comparative Examples 3 and 4 which did not contain either component (C) or (D), Comparative Examples 5 to 7 in which the mass ratio [(A)/(B)] is outside the range specified by the present invention, and Comparative Examples 8 and 9 which contained only either component (c1) or (c2) as component (C), were unable to achieve both the effect of reducing the burden of drying hair and the effect of improving storage stability.

According to the present invention, a hair cosmetic composition can be provided that is applied to washed hair and then rinsed, allowing the moisture remaining between the hair strands to drain (fall) naturally (by gravity) as much as possible before the start of the hair drying process, thereby shortening the hair drying time and also having excellent storage stability. By treating hair with this hair cosmetic composition, the moisture content of the hair can be significantly reduced at the stage before the usual drying process of wiping wet hair after washing with a towel and drying with a hair dryer begins, thereby reducing the burden of the hair drying process.

Claims (9)

The following components (A) to (D):
(A) a dimethylpolysiloxane having a weight average molecular weight of 300 to 3,000; (B) a quaternary ammonium salt represented by the following general formula (1):

(In the formula, R ¹ represents a linear or branched alkyl or alkenyl group having 12 to 26 carbon atoms, or a group represented by R ⁵ CONH(CH ₂ ) _p -, R ⁵ COO(CH ₂ ) _p -, or R ⁶ -O-(CH ₂ ) _p - (R ⁵ represents a linear or branched alkyl or alkenyl group having 11 to 25 carbon atoms, R ⁶ represents a linear or branched alkyl or alkenyl group having 12 to 26 carbon atoms, and p represents a number of 1 to 4). R ² , R ^3, and R ⁴ each independently represent an alkyl group having 1 to 3 carbon atoms. X ^- represents an anion.)
(C) (c1) a mixed fatty acid composed of a linear saturated fatty acid having 16 to 24 carbon atoms and (c2) a branched saturated fatty acid having 16 to 24 carbon atoms. (D) a polyoxyalkylene alkyl ether represented by the following general formula (2): R ¹¹ O-(PO) _n -(EO) _m -R ¹² (2)
(In the formula, R ¹¹ represents an alkyl group having 6 to 18 carbon atoms, R ¹² represents a hydrogen atom or a methyl group, PO represents propylene oxide, EO represents ethylene oxide, n and m represent the average number of moles added, n is 1.5 to 10.0, and m is 0 to 8.0.)
and a mass ratio [(A)/(B)] of 4.0 or more and 12.0 or less. The hair cosmetic composition according to claim 1, further comprising water. 3. The hair cosmetic composition according to claim 1, wherein the component (c2) is mainly composed of a branched saturated fatty acid represented by the following general formula (c2-1):

(In the formula, a is a number between 0 and 20, b is a number between 1 and 3, c is a number between 0 and 20, and the sum of a, b, and c is a number between 11 and 21.) The hair cosmetic composition according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the mass ratio of component (c1) to component (c2) [(c1)/(c2)] is 0.1 or more and 10.0 or less. The hair cosmetic composition according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the content of component (A) is 1.5% by mass or more and 10.0% by mass or less. The hair cosmetic composition according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the total content of components (A) to (D) is 3.0% by mass or more and 20.0% by mass or less. The hair cosmetic composition according to any one of claims 1 to 6, which is an oil-in-water emulsion composition. The hair cosmetic composition according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the product form of the hair cosmetic composition is a hair rinse, a hair treatment, or a hair conditioner. A method for treating hair, comprising the steps of applying the hair cosmetic composition according to any one of claims 1 to 8 to hair, and then rinsing the hair cosmetic composition with water.