JP7833285B2 - Scalp and hair washing method - Google Patents

Description

This invention relates to a method for washing the scalp and hair using alkaline ionized water.

It has long been known that washing with alkaline ionized water is effective in removing sebum and other dirt. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a cosmetic material containing electrolyzed alkaline ionized water and electrolyzed acidic ionized water, in which the electrolyzed alkaline ionized water is applied to the skin or hair, and then the electrolyzed acidic ionized water is applied to the same skin or hair. This technique uses a cosmetic material containing a first gel containing electrolyzed alkaline ionized water and a second gel containing electrolyzed acidic ionized water, in which the first gel is applied to the skin or hair, and then the second gel is applied to the same skin or hair. This is said to provide smooth and moisturized skin, silky hair, and also results in smoother, plumper, and more refined skin texture.

Furthermore, Patent Document 2 discloses a hair treatment agent comprising a permanent wave first agent containing at least a reducing agent and a permanent wave second agent containing at least an oxidizing agent, wherein the reducing agent is one that causes a conformational change of the -SS- bonds present in the hair. This technology involves treating hair under water vapor at a relative humidity of 80-100% and a temperature of 20-60°C. In this technology, from the viewpoint of cleaving ionic bonds present in the hair and more effectively promoting the penetration of active ingredients such as egg white hydrolysate, a strong alkaline ionized water is used, specifically electrolyzed water with a hydrogen ion concentration of pH 11 or higher, an oxidation-reduction potential of 0 mV or less, and an osmotic pressure of 100 (mOsM) or less. Additionally, S-100 (product name, manufactured by A.I. System Products Co., Ltd.) is mentioned as an example of super-reduced water.

Japanese Patent Publication No. 2004-107304 Japanese Patent Publication No. 2015-078143

Alkaline ionized water is effective in removing sebum and other impurities, but to enhance its cleansing effect on the scalp and hair, a higher degree of alkalinity, or "pH," is desirable. However, conventionally, highly alkaline ionized water with a pH of 12.5 had low stability, making it difficult to maintain its strong alkaline properties. Furthermore, for the human body, pH levels above 12.0 are difficult to touch with bare hands, meaning that the safety of alkaline ionized water with a pH of 12.5 could not be guaranteed.

This invention was made in view of these circumstances, and aims to provide a method for washing the scalp and hair using alkaline ionized water that maintains a stable, strongly alkaline state and ensures human safety.

(1) In order to achieve the above objective, the present invention has taken the following measures. Specifically, the scalp and hair washing method of the present invention is a scalp and hair washing method using alkaline ionized water, comprising at least the steps of washing the scalp and hair using alkaline ionized water consisting of potassium hydroxide and pure water, having a pH of 12.5 to 13.1 , and being non-irritating and non-allergenic to the human body, and shampooing and conditioning the scalp and hair after washing.

(2) Furthermore, the method for washing the scalp and hair of the present invention is characterized by further comprising the step of washing the skin using the alkaline ionized water.

(3) Furthermore, in the method for washing the scalp and hair of the present invention, the alkaline ionized water is further characterized in that it is non- irritating to the eyes and non-phototoxic to the human body.

According to this invention, dirt and grime can be effectively removed from the scalp and hair, making it possible to maintain the scalp and hair in good condition.

This is a flow chart of the scalp and hair washing method according to the present embodiment of the present invention. This is an explanatory diagram of an electrolytic ionized water generator according to the first embodiment. This is an explanatory diagram of an electrolytic ionized water generator according to the second embodiment. This is an explanatory diagram of an electrolytic ionized water generator according to the third embodiment. This is an explanatory diagram of an electrolytic ionized water generator according to the fourth embodiment. This is a diagram showing the body parts being tested on the human body. This figure shows the results of the non-allergenic test. This figure shows the results of the non-allergenic test. This diagram shows the placement of the additive in the 96-well plate. This figure shows the individual data from the stinging test. This figure shows the results of mutagenicity tests using microorganisms.

The inventors of this invention focused on the need to use alkaline ionized water with a high pH to enhance the cleansing effect on the scalp and hair. They discovered that by cleansing the scalp and hair with alkaline ionized water that maintains a stable, strongly alkaline state and ensures human safety, dirt can be effectively removed, leading to the present invention.

In other words, the present invention provides a method for washing the scalp and hair using alkaline ionized water, characterized by comprising at least the steps of: washing the scalp and hair using alkaline ionized water containing potassium hydroxide and having a pH of 12.5 to 13.1; and shampooing and rinsing the scalp and hair after washing.

This enables the inventor to effectively remove dirt from the scalp and hair, and to maintain the scalp and hair in good condition. The embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below.

[Methods for washing the scalp and hair]
Figure 1 is a flowchart illustrating the flow of the scalp and hair washing method according to this embodiment. First, alkaline ionized water containing potassium hydroxide and having a pH of 12.5 to 13.1 is produced using an alkaline ionized water production device described later (Step S1). Next, the scalp, hair, or skin is washed using this alkaline ionized water (Step S2). In the case of the scalp and hair, shampoo and conditioner are applied last (Step S3).

[Regarding alkaline ionized water production equipment]
For the production of alkaline ionized water, the apparatus disclosed in Japanese Patent No. 6448043 can be used. That is, this electrolytic ionized water generator will be described in the following first to fourth embodiments.

(First embodiment of an electrolytic ionized water generator)
An electrolytic ionized water generator according to the first embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. The electrolytic ionized water generator of this embodiment is a so-called fluidized bed generator. In Figure 2, 1 is a generation tank for storing raw water supplied from a raw water source A, 2 is an electrolyte tank for storing an electrolyte (electrolyte aqueous solution) in which an ionic substance is dissolved in a solvent, 3 is a stirring means for stirring the electrolyte in the electrolyte tank 2, 4 is an electrolytic cell for generating electrolytic ionized water by electrolysis, 5 is a cathode chamber through which raw water passes, 6 is an anode chamber through which the electrolyte passes, 7 is an ion exchange membrane that allows cations generated in the anode chamber 6 by electrolysis to pass to the cathode chamber 5, and 8 is a DC power supply. In this application, "stirring" means dispersing potassium carbonate in the electrolyte (solvent) to eliminate variations in the concentration of the electrolyte, regardless of the means.

As an example, the generation tank 1 shown in Figure 2 is a cylindrical container with a bottom. A raw water supply port 1a is provided on the peripheral wall of the generation tank 1 to draw raw water supplied from the raw water supply source A into the generation tank 1. The other end of a raw water supply channel R1, one end of which is connected to the raw water supply source A, is connected to the raw water supply port 1a, so that the raw water supplied from the raw water supply source A is drawn into the generation tank 1 through the raw water supply channel R1. Pure water, tap water, groundwater, etc., can be used as the raw water.

The bottom of the generation tank 1 is provided with an outlet 1b for discharging the raw water from the tank to the outside. The other end of a raw water channel R2, one end of which is connected to the inlet 5a of the cathode chamber 5, is connected to the outlet 1b. A raw water circulation pump P1 is connected to the raw water channel R2, and the raw water from the generation tank 1 is supplied to the cathode chamber 5 by the power of the raw water circulation pump P1.

An intake port 1c is provided on the peripheral wall of the generation tank 1 for taking in electrolyzed ionized water that has passed through the cathode chamber 5 into the generation tank 1. A return channel R3, which is connected to the outlet 5b of the cathode chamber 5, is connected to the intake port 1c. The electrolyzed ionized water that has passed through the cathode chamber 5 is taken into the generation tank 1 through the return channel R3. In this embodiment, the raw water circulation means is configured by the raw water channel R2, the raw water circulation pump P1, and the return channel R3.

The generation tank 1 is equipped with a raw water volume control means 9 for controlling the amount of raw water. In this embodiment, the raw water volume control means 9 uses two float switches (a lower float switch 9a and an upper float switch 9b) spaced apart vertically. The water levels of both float switches 9a and 9b can be appropriately set according to the amount of raw water required to produce electrolyzed ionized water with a desired pH value. As an example, in this embodiment, the lower float switch 9a is set to the water level required for the amount of raw water needed to produce electrolyzed ionized water with a pH of 13.1, and the upper float switch 9b is set to the water level required for the amount of raw water needed to produce electrolyzed ionized water with a pH of 12.5.

In this embodiment, when generating electrolyzed ionized water with a pH of 12.5, only the upper float switch 9b operates, while the lower float switch 9a remains inactive. When the raw water in the generation tank 1 reaches the upper float switch 9b, the supply of raw water to the generation tank 1 automatically stops. On the other hand, when generating electrolyzed ionized water with a pH of 13.1, the lower float switch 9a operates. When the raw water in the generation tank 1 reaches the lower float switch 9a, the supply of raw water to the generation tank 1 automatically stops.

As an example, the electrolyte tank 2 shown in Figure 2 is a bottomed cylindrical container with a smaller diameter than the generation tank 1, and is located inside the generation tank 1, arranged concentrically with the generation tank 1. The bottom surface of the electrolyte tank 2 is provided with an electrolyte outlet 2a for discharging the aqueous solution from the electrolytic chamber inside the electrolyte tank 2 to the outside. An electrolyte flow path Q1, connected to the inlet 6a of the anode chamber 6 of the electrolytic cell 4, is connected to the electrolyte outlet 2a. An electrolyte circulation pump P2 is connected to the electrolyte flow path Q1, and the electrolyte in the electrolyte tank 2 is supplied to the anode chamber 6 of the electrolytic cell 4 by the power of the electrolyte circulation pump P2.

The peripheral wall of the electrolyte tank 2 is provided with an electrolyte return port 2b for returning the electrolyte that has passed through the anode chamber 6 back to the electrolyte tank 2. The other end of an electrolyte return channel Q2, one end of which is connected to the outlet 6b of the anode chamber 6, is connected to the electrolyte return port 2b. The electrolyte that has passed through the anode chamber 6 is returned to the electrolyte tank 2 through the electrolyte return channel Q2. In this embodiment, the electrolyte circulation means is composed of the electrolyte channel Q1, the electrolyte circulation pump P2, and the electrolyte return channel Q2.

As an example, the stirring mechanism 3 shown in Figure 2 comprises an air pump 3a and an air supply pipe 3b. One end of the air supply pipe 3b is connected to the air pump 3a, and the other end is introduced into the electrolyte tank 2. The tip (outlet) of the air supply pipe 3b is positioned near the bottom of the electrolyte tank 2. Positioning the tip (outlet) of the air supply pipe 3b near the bottom of the electrolyte tank 2 facilitates stirring of the electrolyte by the rising air, thus preventing the precipitation of potassium carbonate.

As an example, the electrolytic cell 4 shown in Figure 2 comprises a cathode chamber 5 and an anode chamber 6 separated by an ion exchange membrane 7. The ion exchange membrane 7 is an exchange membrane (cation exchange membrane) that does not allow raw water or electrolyte to pass through, but only cations. Existing ion exchange membranes such as "Celemion" (registered trademark) manufactured by Asahi Glass Co., Ltd. and exchange membranes manufactured by DuPont, as well as novel ones, can be used for the ion exchange membrane 7. Mesh-like spacers 10 made of insulating material are placed on both outer sides of the ion exchange membrane 7, and a cathode plate 5x and an anode plate 6x are provided outside of these spacers. For example, a 5mm square nylon net can be used for the spacers 10.

The cathode plate 5x is provided with a cathode terminal 5y, and the anode plate 6x is provided with an anode terminal 6y. The negative side of the DC power supply 8 is connected to the cathode terminal 5y, and the positive side of the DC power supply 8 is connected to the anode terminal 6y, allowing a DC voltage to be applied from the DC power supply 8.

In this embodiment, the electrolytic cell 4 is positioned so that air can easily escape, or in other words, so that bubbles can rise (vertically), preventing air pockets from forming on the surfaces of the cathode plate 5x and anode plate 6x, which constitute a part of the cell. When the electrolytic cell 4 is positioned in this way, the hydrogen and carbon dioxide generated during electrolysis rise upwards, preventing the formation of an air layer on the surfaces of the cathode plate 5x and anode plate 6x. As a result, the problems caused by the formation of an air layer on the surfaces of the cathode plate 5x and anode plate 6x, specifically the problem of electrolysis being inhibited due to lack of electrical flow, do not occur. On the other hand, if the cathode plate 5x and anode plate 6x are oriented vertically (upright), potassium carbonate tends to precipitate on the lower side of the anode plate 6x, and electrolysis is less efficient above the potassium carbonate precipitate. However, in this application, this problem is prevented by stirring the electrolyte in the electrolyte tank 2 with the stirring means 3.

In this embodiment of the electrolytic ionized water generator, the raw water in the generation tank 1 circulates through the path of raw water channel R2 - cathode chamber 5 - return channel R3 - generation tank 1, and the electrolyte in the electrolyte tank 2 circulates through the path of electrolyte channel Q1 - anode chamber 6 - electrolyte return channel Q2 - electrolyte tank 2. When a DC voltage is applied between the two electrode plates (cathode plate 5x and anode plate 6x) during the circulation of the raw water and electrolyte, the electrolyte is electrolyzed. The cations generated in the electrolyte tank 2 by this electrolysis permeate the ion exchange membrane 7 and are reduced to the raw water in the generation tank 1, thereby producing electrolytic ionized water. In this embodiment of the electrolytic ionized water generator, the electrolyte in the electrolyte tank 2 is stirred by the stirring means 3, and the electrolyte with reduced concentration circulates. Therefore, electrolysis is performed across the entire surface of the electrode plates (cathode plate 5x and anode plate 6x), enabling efficient and stable production of electrolytic ionized water.

(Second embodiment of the electrolytic ionized water generator)
The electrolytic ionized water generator according to the second embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. Similar to the first embodiment, the electrolytic ionized water generator of this embodiment is also a fluidized bed generator. The basic configuration of this embodiment is the same as that of the first embodiment. The differences are that the generation tank 1 and the electrolyte tank 2 are provided separately, and the raw water volume control means 9 supplied to the generation tank 1 is provided between the raw water supply source A and the generation tank 1. In the following, matters common to the first embodiment will be omitted as appropriate, and the description will focus on other matters.

In this embodiment, the generation tank 1 is provided with an outlet 1b for discharging raw water to the outside, an inlet 1c for taking electrolyzed ionized water into the generation tank 1, and an outlet 1d for taking out the generated electrolyzed ionized water with the desired pH to the outside. An outlet channel R4 for sending the electrolyzed ionized water with the desired pH to the outside is connected to the outlet 1d. In this embodiment, a partition plate 11 is provided inside the generation tank 1. The lower end of the partition plate 11 is designed so as not to reach the bottom surface of the generation tank 1.

The raw water volume control means 9 of this embodiment includes a first main channel 9v connected to a raw water supply source A, a first branch channel 9w and a second branch channel 9x connected to the first main channel 9v, a first solenoid valve 9y provided in the first branch channel 9w and a second solenoid valve 9z provided in the second branch channel 9x, and a raw water supply channel R1 where the first branch channel 9w and the second branch channel 9x merge. The per-hour supply amounts of the first branch channel 9w and the second branch channel 9x are set to different amounts. For example, the first branch channel 9w can supply 5 L of raw water per hour (the amount required to produce electrolyzed ionized water with a pH of 13.1), and the second branch channel 9x can supply 20 L of raw water per hour (the amount required to produce electrolyzed ionized water with a pH of 12.5). The first branch channel 9w is electrically opened and closed by the first solenoid valve 9y, and the second branch channel 9x is electrically opened and closed by the second solenoid valve 9z.

(Third embodiment of the electrolytic ionized water generator)
The electrolytic ionized water generator according to the third embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. Similar to the first and second embodiments, the electrolytic ionized water generator of this embodiment is a fluid-type generator. The basic configuration of this embodiment is the same as that of the second embodiment. The difference is that the electrolytic cell 4 is connected to the lower opening of the electrolyte tank 2 and is unitized. In the following, explanations of matters common to the first and second embodiments will be omitted as appropriate, and the focus will be on other matters.

The electrolyte tank 2 in this embodiment is a cylindrical container with openings at the top and bottom. An electrolytic cell 4 is connected to the lower opening of the electrolyte tank 2, forming a unit. The electrolyte in the electrolyte tank 2 flows into the anode chamber 6. The electrolyte tank 2 in this embodiment does not have the electrolyte circulation means found in the first and second embodiments.

(Fourth embodiment of the electrolytic ionized water generator)
The electrolytic ionized water generator according to the fourth embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. The electrolytic ionized water generator of this embodiment is a so-called storage-type generator. The basic configuration of this embodiment is the same as that of the third embodiment. The difference is that the unitized electrolyte tank 2 and electrolytic cell 4 are provided inside the generation tank 1. In the following, matters common to the third embodiment will be omitted as appropriate, and the description will focus on other matters.

In this embodiment, a unitized electrolyte tank 2 and electrolytic cell 4 are arranged within the production tank 1. The electrolyte tank 2 and electrolytic cell 4 are configured such that the entire electrolytic cell 4 is immersed in the raw water of the production tank 1. At this time, the upper side of the electrolyte tank 2 is positioned above the liquid level of the raw water in the production tank 1. The electrolyte in the electrolyte tank 2 is positioned so that its liquid level is higher than the liquid level of the raw water in the production tank 1.

The electrolytic ionized water generator in this embodiment is of the storage type, and does not have the raw water circulation means or electrolyte circulation means found in the first and second embodiments.

(Other embodiments of electrolytic ionized water generators)
In the first to fourth embodiments described above, an example is the use of an air pump 3a and an air supply pipe 3b as the stirring means 3. However, in addition to stirring the electrolyte with air, various other types of stirring means 3 can be used, such as stirring the electrolyte with the rotational force of stirring blades or stirring the electrolyte with the suction and discharge force of a pump.

In the first to fourth embodiments described above, although not explained in detail, a filtration device to remove calcium, magnesium, and other elements contained in tap water can be installed upstream of the raw water supply channel R1. For example, a 5 μm mesh filter, an activated carbon filter (AC filter), or a reverse osmosis (RO) membrane filter (RO filter) can be used as the filtration device.

By the method described above, it is possible to produce alkaline ionized water with a pH of 12.5 to 13.1.

[Non-irritation test of alkaline ionized water to the human body according to this embodiment]
The inventors conducted a "24-hour occlusive patch test" of the alkaline ionized water according to this embodiment at a testing facility (Kirei Test Lab Co., Ltd.).

[Test Objectives]
The primary skin irritation of the test product, which has a pH of 12.5 (potassium hydroxide content of 0.17%), to human skin will be evaluated.

[Exam Overview]
Cell damage is induced when an exogenous substance (irritant) comes into contact with epidermal cells. This is considered to be the cause of primary irritant contact dermatitis. Therefore, a patch test was conducted using skin symptoms such as erythema, edema, and papules caused by contact between the test product and the skin as indicators to evaluate the primary skin irritation of the test product. In this study, the test product was left in contact with the skin for 24 hours, and the skin condition was visually assessed at 1 hour and 24 hours to evaluate the primary skin irritation of the test product. Furthermore, this study was conducted under the supervision of a dermatologist, and the primary skin irritation of the test product was determined in accordance with Japanese standards.

More specifically, as shown in Figure 6, the test site on the human body was the back, avoiding the spine. The test product and the negative control were applied to a skin test tape (Patch Tester "Torii", Japanese Standard Commodity Classification Number/8699, Torii Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.) and the skin test tape was left on the test site for 24 hours. After 24 hours, the skin test tape was removed, and the skin reaction was visually assessed by a physician one hour and 24 hours after removal, and scored according to the evaluation criteria (Table 1). Based on the score, the skin irritation index of the test product was calculated, and the irritation classification (Table 2) was performed.

The skin irritation index is calculated as follows: "(sum of the stronger reaction scores 1 hour or 24 hours after removal of the test product) / (number of subjects) × 100". In Table 2, "5.0 to 15.0" means "5.0 < ≤ 15.0", and "15.0 to 30.0" means "15.0 < ≤ 30.0".

[Test Results]
No adverse events were observed throughout the test period. The gender and age distribution of the subjects is shown in Table 3, the skin irritation index of the test product and its classification based on Table 2 are shown in Table 4, the summary of the results is shown in Table 5, and the individual data is shown in Table 6. The alkaline ionized water according to this embodiment showed a skin irritation index of "0.0" in this test and was classified as a "safe product".

[Eye irritation test of alkaline ionized water according to this embodiment]
The inventors conducted an "eye irritation test" on the alkaline ionized water according to this embodiment at a testing facility (Kirei Test Lab Co., Ltd.).

[Test Objectives]
To evaluate the eye irritant effect of the test product with a pH of 12.5 (potassium hydroxide content of 0.17%), an alternative eye irritation test method was performed using a reconstructed human corneal epithelium model test method with human three-dimensional cultured corneal epithelium.

[Exam Overview]
When a foreign object enters the eye, irritation begins with cytotoxicity to the outermost corneal epithelial cells. Therefore, in this study, eye irritation was evaluated using the "LabCyte CORNEA-MODEL (Cat No. 411324, J-TEC, Japan)" based on the "in vitro reconstructed human corneal epithelial model test method," which evaluates eye irritation using cytotoxicity to corneal epithelial cells as an indicator. After exposing the test product to the RhCE model for a certain period of time, cell viability was measured by the MTT reduction method based on the amount of WST-8 (CAS No. 193149-74-5, Dojin, Japan) uptake, and the eye irritation of the test product was evaluated. To confirm the irritant reactivity of human three-dimensional cultured corneal epithelium under the conditions of this study, ethanol (99%, CAS No. 64-17-5, Japan Alcohol, Japan), which is known to cause eye irritation, was used as a positive control substance. Human three-dimensional cultured corneal epithelium (LabCyte CORNEA-MODEL, Cat No. 401351, J-TEC, Japan) was cultured in a _CO2 incubator (CO2 concentration 5%, 37°C) using assay medium (Cat No. 401351, J-TEC, Japan). The average value of n=3 was used for calculating cell viability for each treatment group. Each test included one negative control, one positive control, and one test substance group. Unless otherwise specified, all procedures related to the tests were performed at room temperature.

Human three-dimensional cultured corneal epithelium was transferred to a 24-well plate (Cat No. 353047, Corning, USA) containing 500 μL/well assay medium. Additionally, six wells of human three-dimensional cultured corneal epithelium were used per plate and cultured in _{a CO2} incubator for 15–30 hours. 50 μL of the test substance, positive control, and negative control were applied to the epidermal surface of the human three-dimensional cultured corneal epithelium, and the samples were exposed for 60 seconds. Phosphatide buffer saline (PBS (-), Lot. 198601, Nissui, Japan) was used as the negative control. The human three-dimensional cultured corneal epithelium was washed more than 10 times with PBS (-) in a washing bottle. 500 μL/well of culture medium was added to a 24-well plate, and the washed human three-dimensional cultured corneal epithelium was transferred to the wells containing the culture medium and incubated in a _CO2 incubator for 24 hours. The culture medium adhering to the culture cup was washed with PBS (-), and the PBS (-) around the culture cup was wiped off with a paper towel. 300 L/well of WST-8 reaction solution was added to a 24-well plate, and the human three-dimensional cultured corneal epithelium was transferred and incubated in a _CO2 incubator for 4 hours. The WST-8 reaction solution was prepared by diluting Cell Counting kit-8 (Cat No. CK04, Dojin, Japan) 10-fold with EBSS (Earle balanced salt solution (Cat No. E3024, Sigma-Aldrich, USA)). After stirring the reaction solution, 200 μL was added to a 96-well plate (Cat No. 9107, Corning, USA). Absorbance at 450 nm (OD450) and 650 nm (OD650) was measured using a microplate reader (SPARK® 10M, TECAN, Switzerland). 200 μL of WST-8 reaction solution was used as a blank.

[Calculation of cell viability]
The OD ₆₅₀ value for each well was subtracted from the OD ₄₅₀ value. Furthermore, the blank value was subtracted from the calculated absorbance (OD ₄₅₀ - OD ₆₅₀ ) for the test substance group, positive control group, and negative control group. Using these values, the cell viability of the test substance group and positive control group relative to the negative control group was determined and used to determine eye irritation in this study. The formulas for calculating the absorbance and cell viability for each treatment group are shown below.

Measured value = (A - B) - (C - D)
A: Absorbance at 450 nm for the test substance group, positive control group, and negative control group. B: Absorbance at 650 nm for the test substance group, positive control group, and negative control group. C: Absorbance at 450 nm for the blank. D: Absorbance at 650 nm for the blank. Cell viability (%) = (Measured value of the test substance group / Average measured value of the negative control group) × 100

[judgement]
The eye irritation of the test product was determined according to the criteria of OECD Test Guideline 492 shown in Table 7. If the cell viability under the test product exposure conditions exceeded 40%, it was classified as "Not Classified" rather than "Classified 1" or "Classified 2," which indicate irreversible or reversible eye damage/irritation over a certain period. If the average cell viability was 40% or less, it was classified as "Classified 1 or Classified 2."

[Test Results]
Table 8 shows the _OD450 and _OD650 values for the test substance group related to the test product, Table 9 shows the cell viability, and Table 10 shows the eye irritation GHS classification of the test product. The cell viability of the test substance group compared to the negative control group was 122.4 ± 7.4%, which exceeded 40%. Therefore, according to the criteria in accordance with OECD Test Guideline 492, it was classified as "unclassified" in the UN GHS hazard classification, meaning it is not classified as a substance that causes irreversible or reversible eye damage/irritation over a certain period of time, and is not classified as a substance that causes eye damage/irritation.

[Non-allergenic test of alkaline ionized water according to this embodiment]
The inventors conducted a "non-allergenicity test" on the alkaline ionized water according to this embodiment at a testing laboratory (BioScreen).

[Test Objectives]
For the test substance with a pH of 12.5 (potassium hydroxide content of 0.17%), the test substance will be repeatedly applied to the skin of human subjects, and its irritancy and sensitization (contact allergy) properties will be evaluated.

[Exam Overview]
The test substance was placed in an 8mm aluminum Finn Chamber® (Epitest Ltd. Oy, Tuusula, Finland) attached with Scanpor® Tape (Norgesplaster A/S, Kristiansand, Norway), or in an 8mm filter paper supported by aluminum Finn Chamber® AQUA attached to a thin, flexible rectangular transparent polyurethane film coated on one side with pharmaceutical-grade acrylic adhesive used in the latest hypoallergenic surgical tapes, or in a 7mm IQ-ULTRA® closed-cell system (equipped with 10 chambers each in a 52mm wide, 118mm long hypoallergenic non-fibrous adhesive tape) made of adhesive-free polyethylene resin incorporating filter paper, or in other equivalent materials, and tested in a closed environment.

The test substance tested in a semi-occluded environment was applied to a rayon/polypropylene pad or to 7.5 mm filter paper secured with hypoallergenic tape (Johnson & Johnson 1-inch First Aid Cloth Tape). The test substance tested in an open environment was applied directly to the subject's back.

Approximately 0.02–0.05 mL (for liquids) or approximately 0.02–0.05 g (for solids) of the test substance was used in the test. The liquid test substance was impregnated into 7.5 mm filter paper suitable for Finn Chamber and used in the test.

Participants were instructed to bathe or wash as usual before arriving at the testing facility. A patch containing the test substance was applied directly to the skin below either the left or right shoulder blade along the midline of the participant's back and secured. Participants were then instructed not to wet the test site with water or expose it directly to sunlight before returning home. The initial patch was applied for 48 hours. Participants were instructed not to remove the patch before returning to the facility 48 hours later. For subsequent trials, participants were instructed to remove the patch 24 hours after application. The 24-hour patch was repeated three times a week for three consecutive weeks, for a total of nine applications. The test site was evaluated by a trained test specialist immediately before each application.

After a drug-free period of 10 to 14 days, the test product was applied (induced or reapplied) to a skin site other than the previously tested site, and the test site was evaluated by a trained research specialist at 48 and 96 hours. If an adverse reaction occurred, erythema and edema at the site were evaluated. Edema was evaluated in comparison to the surrounding area. Subjects were instructed to report any delayed skin reactions that occurred after the final evaluation. If an adverse reaction occurred, the study sponsor was immediately notified, and appropriate action was determined as necessary.

[Scoring]
The scoring criteria used in Figures 7 and 8, and the definitions of the symbols used below, are based on the International Contact Dermatitis Study Group Criteria (Rietschel, RL, Fowler, JF, Ed., Fisher's Contact Dermatitis, 4th edition, Baltimore, Williams & Wilkins, 1995).
0 No impact was observed.
1. Erythema is observed over more than three-quarters of the patch application area.
2. Erythema or lumps (tissue hardening due to inflammation) are observed over more than three-quarters of the patch application site.
3. Erythema, lumps (tissue hardening due to inflammation), and edema may be observed.
4. Erythema, lumps (tissue hardening due to inflammation), and blisters may be observed.
D. The patch peeled off due to a reaction.
Dc The test was canceled because the subject did not appear on the scheduled date and time.
The Dcl examination was terminated at the discretion of the examiner.

[Test Results]
Under these test conditions, the test substance (pH 12.5 (99.83% pure water , 0.17% potassium hydroxide)) did not show any potential to induce skin irritation or sensitization (contact allergy).

[Phototoxicity test of alkaline ionized water according to this embodiment]
The inventors conducted a "phototoxicity test" of the alkaline ionized water according to this embodiment at a testing facility (Kirei Test Lab Co., Ltd.).

[Test Objectives]
To evaluate the phototoxic effects of the test substance, an ROS assay was performed.

[Exam Overview]
Phototoxicity is a chemical-induced toxic reaction that occurs through sunlight. Substances exhibiting phototoxicity can induce photoirritation, photoallergy, photogenotoxicity, and photocarcinogenicity. Therefore, it is important that products such as cosmetics that may be exposed to sunlight do not contain phototoxic substances. It is known that reactive oxygen species (ROS), such as " ^1O2 " and " _{• O2-} ^" , which are generated by the excitation of substances due to the absorption of sunlight by chemical substances, are the main cause of phototoxicity. Therefore, in this study, the phototoxicity of the test product was evaluated using an ROS assay that measures the amount of " ^1O2 _" and "• _O2- ^" generated under solar simulator irradiation.

Reagents and test samples were weighed using an electronic balance (GF-4000, A&D) or a micro-electronic balance (ML104T/00, Mettler Toledo). Reagents and test samples were stored at room temperature in the chemical storage room of the Analytical Laboratory, Test Center, Kirei Test Lab Co., Ltd.

The test sample was prepared immediately before use by diluting the test substance (liquid, transparent) to 2.5 mg/mL (sample with unknown molecular weight) using dimethyl sulfoxide (CAS No. 67-68-5, Lot. DLN2070, room temperature, Wako Pure Chemical Industries, Ltd.) and then using it for the test.

The negative control sample was prepared by diluting sulisobenzone (CAS No. 4065-45-6, Lot. 0000008288, room temperature, Sigma-Aldrich) to 10 mM with dimethyl sulfoxide and using it as a negative control for the test.

The positive control sample was prepared by dihydrate quinine hydrochloride (CAS No. 6119-47-7, Lot. CAN5766, room temperature, Wako Pure Chemical Industries) at 10 mM using dimethyl sulfoxide, and used as the positive control in the test.

The "20 mM phosphate buffer" was prepared by dissolving 0.593 g of sodium dihydrogen phosphate dihydrate ( _Na₂HPO₄・_2H₂O , CAS No. _13472-35-0 , Lot. WDQ2895, room temperature, Wako Pure Chemical Industries) and 5.8 g of disodium hydrogen phosphate dodecahydrate ( _Na₂HPO₄・_12H₂O , CAS No. 10039-32-4, Lot. CAG5515, room temperature, Wako Pure Chemical Industries) in 900 mL of purified water, adjusting the pH to 7.4 with hydrochloric acid (CAS No. 7647-01-0, Lot. 008H1011, room temperature, Wako Pure Chemical _Industries ), and then adding purified water to make a total volume of 1000 mL, which was then mixed.

"0.2 mM p-nitrosodimethylaniline" was prepared by dissolving 15 mg of p-nitrosodimethylaniline (CAS No. 138-89-6, Lot. D2191501, room temperature, Alfa Aesar) in 500 mL of 20 mM phosphate buffer and storing it in a light-shielded container until use.

"0.2 mM Imidazole" was prepared by dissolving 27.2 mg of imidazole (CAS No. 288-32-4, Lot. SLBS6105, room temperature, Sigma-Aldrich) in 10 mL of 20 mM phosphate buffer, diluting it 100-fold with 20 mM phosphate buffer, and storing it in a light-shielded container until use.

"0.4 mM Nitroblue Tetrazolium Chloride" was prepared by dissolving 32.7 mg of nitroblue tetrazolium chloride (CAS No. 298-83-9, Lot. SE146, room temperature, Dojin Chemical Laboratories) in 100 mL of 20 mM phosphate buffer and storing it in a light-shielded container until use.

[Test Procedure]
To detect the amount of singlet oxygen " ^1O2 " produced, reaction solutions for " _1O2 " measurement were prepared according to Table 11: 20 mM phosphate buffer, 0.2 mM imidazole, 0.2 mM p-nitrosodimethylaniline, a solution of the test sample prepared to ^2.5 mg/ _mL with dimethyl sulfoxide, a negative control (10 mM sulisobenzone solution), and a positive control (10 mM quinine hydrochloride dihydrate solution). The same amount of dimethyl sulfoxide as the test sample and control substances was used as the operating control. 200 μL of each group of the prepared " ^1O2 _" reaction solution was added to three wells of a 96-well plate.

To detect the amount of superoxide anion "• _O₂⁻ " generated, reaction solutions for "• ^O₂⁻ " measurement were prepared according to Table ₁₂ , using 20 mM phosphate buffer, 0.4 mM nitroblue tetrazolium chloride, a solution of the test sample prepared to 2.5 mg/ ^mL with dimethyl sulfoxide, a negative control (10 mM sulisobenzone solution), and a positive control (10 mM quinine hydrochloride dihydrate solution). The operating control used was the same amount of dimethyl sulfoxide as the test sample and the control substance. 200 μL of each group of the prepared "• _O₂⁻ ^" reaction solution was added to three wells of a 96-well plate.

The addition of test sample 1-1, operating control (B), positive control (P), and negative control (N) was carried out according to Figure 9. After adding each substance, changes in color or hue were visually confirmed, and the solubility of the reaction solution was confirmed under a microscope. In addition, " ^1O2 _" and "• _O2- ^" were measured on the same plate. The test substance was added to the well corresponding to test sample 1 in Figure 9.

Before irradiation, absorbances at 440 nm (A ₄₄₀ ) and 560 nm (A ₅₆₀ ) were measured using a microplate reader (SPARK® 10M, TECAN). A 93-well microplate was mounted in a "Quartz reaction container (Ozawa Scientific)" and irradiated for 60 minutes using a solar simulator (Suntest CPS+, Atlas). In addition, the 96-well plate was irradiated for more than 15 minutes beforehand to stabilize the irradiation light and temperature of the solar simulator. The temperature of the solar simulator was set to 25°C. After irradiation, the 96-well plate was shaken at 270 rpm for 1 minute to thoroughly mix the reaction solution, and then the color change and discoloration were checked visually, and the solubility of the reaction solution was checked using a microscope. "A ₄₄₀ " and "A ₅₆₀ " were measured using a microplate reader and these were used as raw data.

The calculation of ROS generation was performed as follows. For the amount of ^1O2 _generated , the amount _{of 1O2} ^generated (arbitrary unit; au) for the test sample, positive control, and negative control was calculated according to the following formula.
Amount of " ¹ O ₂ " produced = [A ₄₄₀ (-) - A ₄₄₀ (+) - (a - b)] × 1000
A ₄₄₀ (-): Absorbance at 440 nm before light irradiation
A ₄₄₀ (+): Absorbance at 440 nm after light irradiation
a: Absorbance (average) of the control sample at 440 nm before light irradiation.
b: Absorbance (average) of the control sample at 440 nm after light irradiation.
Regarding the amount of "• _O2- ^" produced, the amount of • _O2- ^produced (au) for the test sample, positive control, and negative control was calculated according to the following formula.
Amount of "• _O₂- ^" produced = [A ₅₆₀ (+) - A ₅₆₀ (-) - (b - a)] × 1000
A ₅₆₀ (-): Absorbance at 560 nm before light irradiation
A ₅₆₀ (+): Absorbance at 560 nm after light irradiation
a: Absorbance (average) of the control sample at 560 nm before light irradiation.
b: Absorbance (average) of the control sample at 560 nm after light irradiation.

[judgement]
The phototoxicity of the test samples was determined according to the criteria of the "ROS assay protocol (Version 3.2, 28 November 2014)" and is shown in Table 13. A test sample was considered negative if _the " ^1O2 " value was less than 25 and the " ^• _O2- " value was less than 20. A test sample was considered weakly positive if _the " ^1O2 " value was less than 25 and the "• _O2- ^" value was between 20 and 70. Furthermore, a test sample was considered positive if the " ^1O2 _" value was 25 or higher or the "• _O2- ^" value was 7 or higher.

[Test Results]
Tables 14 to ₁₇ show the measured values, mean and standard deviation of ROS production, and the results of the test sample for the negative control, positive control, and test sample. In the presence of the test sample, the mean ± standard deviation of " ^1O2 " production was 1 ± 3, and the mean ± standard deviation of "• _O2- ^" production was -3 ± 1, with " ^1O2 _" production being less than 25 and "• _O2- ^" production being less than 20. Therefore, the test sample was judged to be "negative" for phototoxicity according to the criteria in accordance with OECD Test Guideline 495, etc.

[Stinging test of alkaline ionized water according to this embodiment]
The inventors conducted a "stinging test" of the alkaline ionized water according to this embodiment at a testing facility (Kirei Test Lab Co., Ltd.).

[Test Objectives]
To evaluate the sensory stimulation caused by the application of the test product, a stinging test was performed on lactate stinger.

[Exam Overview]
Stinging refers to sensory irritations such as tingling, burning, itching, and tightness felt when topical skin preparations are applied to the skin. The stinging test evaluates these transient sensory reactions that are not accompanied by inflammatory skin symptoms such as erythema or edema. In this study, the test product was applied to the cheeks of subjects who exhibited sensory irritation to lactic acid. The subjects were asked to evaluate the sensory irritation that occurred 30 seconds, 2 minutes, and 5 minutes later according to the evaluation criteria, and the average value was evaluated as the sensory irritation of the test product.

As a positive control, lactic acid (Musashino Lactic Acid 90F, CAS No. 79-33-4, Musashino Chemical Research Institute) prepared to 5% with purified water was used.

The testing method was as follows: First, subjects with sensitive skin were selected using a stinging test. The stinging test was conducted as follows, based on the method of "Frosch (1997)".
(1) I washed my face with a cleansing agent and soap.
(2) After washing the face, wait for 5 minutes and apply a 5% lactic acid solution prepared with purified water to one cheek.
(3) Participants evaluated the sensations they felt 30 seconds, 2 minutes, and 5 minutes after application of 5% lactic acid, and scored the sensory stimuli (Table 14).
(4) The cumulative sensory stimulation scores were calculated 30 seconds, 2 minutes, and 5 minutes after the application of 5% lactic acid, and subjects with a cumulative score of 6.0 or higher were classified as subjects with sensitive skin.

The test site used was the cheek area of the face (without applying a 5% lactic acid solution). For evaluation, the test product was applied to the subject's cheek, and the sensory stimuli felt at 30 seconds, 2 minutes, and 5 minutes were recorded according to the evaluation criteria (Table 14). After evaluation, the subject washed the application site with warm water.

For stinging, sensory stimuli were scored according to the evaluation criteria (Table 14), and the average of each subject's scores 30 seconds, 2 minutes, and 5 minutes after application of the test product was calculated to determine the individual score. In this study, if the average individual score was less than 2, it was judged as "non-irritating," if it was between 2 and 4, it was judged as "moderately irritating," and if it was 4 or higher, it was judged as "highly irritating."

[Test Results]
No adverse events were observed throughout the study period. The gender and age distribution of the subjects is shown in Table 16. The average score of the test product and the judgment based on Table 15 are shown in Table 17, individual data are shown in Figure 10, the cumulative average score is shown in Table 18, the average individual score is shown in Table 19, and the judgment results are shown in Table 20. The sensory stimulation of the test product was evaluated by a stinging test on subjects (Table 16) who were determined to have sensitive skin by a screening test using 5% lactic acid. Based on the judgment according to the evaluation criteria, the average score of the test product in this study was 1.30, and it was judged to be "non-irritating". In addition, the cumulative average score of 5% lactic acid in the screening test was 8.18. Furthermore, the average difference between the cumulative score of 5% lactic acid and the cumulative score of the test product was 4.27.

[Mutagenicity test of alkaline ionized water according to this embodiment]
The inventors conducted a "mutagenicity test" of the alkaline ionized water according to this embodiment at a testing institution (BML Co., Ltd.).

This study is a mutagenicity study using microorganisms. The bacterial strains used were "Salmonella typhimurium TA100, TA1535, TA98, TAI537, and Escherichia coli WP2 uvrA." "Water for injection" was used for both culture and negative control. The test substance doses were "1/729 dilution, 1/243 dilution, 1/81 dilution, 1/27 dilution, 1/9 dilution, 1/3 dilution, and undiluted solution."

The test results are shown in Figure 11. Regardless of the presence or absence of metabolic activation, no increase in the number of revertant colonies (more than twice that of the negative control group) was observed in any of the bacterial strains. Therefore, they were determined to be negative.

As described above, the alkaline ionized water according to this embodiment is non-irritating, non-allergenic, non-eye irritant, and non-phototoxic to the human body. Furthermore, it can be said to be carcinogenic. According to this embodiment, dirt can be effectively removed from the scalp and hair, and the scalp and hair can be maintained in good condition.

1 Generation Tank 1a Raw Water Supply Port 1b Discharge Port 1c Intake Port 1d Outlet Port 2 Electrolyte Tank 2a Electrolyte Discharge Port 2b Electrolyte Return Port 3 Agitation Means 3a Air Pump 3b Air Supply Pipe 4 Electrolytic Cell 5 Cathode Chamber 5a Inlet (of Cathode Chamber) 5b Outlet (of Cathode Chamber) 5x Cathode Plate 5y Cathode Terminal 6 Anode Chamber 6a Inlet (of Anode Chamber) 6b Outlet (of Anode Chamber) 6x Anode Plate 6y Anode Terminal 7 Ion Exchange Membrane 8 DC Power Supply 9 Raw Water Volume Control Means 9a Lower Float Switch 9b Upper Float Switch 9v First Main Flow Channel 9w First Branch Channel 9x Second Branch Channel 9y First Solenoid Valve 9z Second Solenoid Valve 10 Spacer 11 Partition Plate A Raw Water Supply Source P1 Raw Water Circulation Pump P2 Electrolyte Circulation Pump Q1 Electrolyte Flow Channel Q2 Electrolyte return channel R1, Raw water supply channel R2, Raw water channel R3, Return channel R4, Extraction channel

Claims (3)

A method for washing the scalp and hair using alkaline ionized water,
A process of washing the scalp and hair using alkaline ionized water consisting of potassium hydroxide and pure water, with a pH of 12.5 to 13.1, which is non-irritating and non-allergenic to the human body.
A method for washing the scalp and hair, characterized by comprising at least the step of shampooing and conditioning the scalp and hair after washing. The method for washing the scalp and hair according to claim 1, further comprising the step of washing the skin using the aforementioned alkaline ionized water. The method for washing the scalp and hair according to claim 1, further characterized in that the alkaline ionized water is non- irritating to the eyes and non-phototoxic to the human body.