CA1185186A - Depilatory composition and method of use - Google Patents

Abstract

ABSTRACT
This invention consists of a depilatory composition and to its unique method o? preparation and application.
The essential ingredients comprising the composition are sugar and lime juice. Water and salt may also he added to the composition.

Description

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This invention consists of a depilatory c~mposition and -to i-ts unique rnethod of applicationO
Removing unwan-ted hair is an impor~tant eoncern -to most women Several me-~hods are a~ t~lelr disposa], including shaving~ ohemical lotions, hot waxes, and cold waxes. shaving al-though it is fast and simple, does not uproo-t -the hair;
as a resul-t, i-t encourages a rough and stubly gro~th which reappears only af-ter two or three days. Chemical lo-tions perform by dissolving the hair growth, but like shaving, these do not uproot -the hair and besides having a nausea-ting odour, -they have the added disadvan-tage of possibly causing aller~ic reactions. ~o-t waxes, on -the other hand, -~unction by uprooting the hair, but their method of use is a compli~-cated one which is better le~t -to the proffessionals as they can be dangerous in unskilled hands. Cold waxes also uproo-t -the hair, but -to date this method of removing excess hair has not been wi-thout i-ts inconveniences.
Several brands of cold wax are presently available on the market. These are basically found under -two aspects:
the first variety is sold in a jar with an accompanying kit composed of a spatula and strips of fabric, -the second is spread in thin layers on individual s-trips of plas-tic. Bo-th of these basically embody -the same characteris-tic~ and i-t is only the presentation which changes in el-ther case.
The method of using the varie-ty of cold wax which comes in a jar consists of spreading -the depilatory compound with the spatula on-to a section of the skin, covering it with a strip of cloth and pulling the strip of -fabrlc o~f 7 remOV;,rlg with i-t the cornpound and the adhering hair.
In order to be spreadable, -these composi-tions mus-t remain somewhat liquid. However, in -the l;quid sta-te, -the depilatory composition lacks -the neccessary strength -to grasp the hair tightly and to trap it even as it is being pulled off the skin. As a result o~ this weakness, -the application must be repea-ted several times -to a given area of -the skin 5~

until all the hair is successf`ully re~oved, and -thls happens rnore often -than no-t. The variety of cold wax which comes already spread on shee-ts of plastic also presents -this problem, their only advantage is that they simplify the -treatment by eliminating a step in -the procedure.
The depila-tory composi-tion being submit-ted in -this patent appl.ication functions by uprooting -the ~air, and while so doing removes dead skin cel.ls from the sur:~ace of -the sk.in leaving i-t smoo-th and silky. ~Jnlike the other cold waxes this depilatory composition is not liquid or pas-ty bu-t con~
sis-ts of a fi.rm, malleable, plast.icine-like mass. ~I~his product is more effective than -those presen-tly available because o:f its consis-tency which has two ma,jor advantages:
:firs-t, it gives the composition a si~ni-ficantly greater capac:i-ty -to -tr~p the hair and -to re-tain it even as i.-t is being pulled off -the skin, second~ i-t can be handled com-fortably without it stieking to the fingers 7 thereby allowing for greater ease and control as well as eliminating the need for a kit whieh prolongs and eompliea-tes -the proceclureO
The eold waxes presently available are made by mixing certain amounts of sugar, ci-tric acid and water, or sugar7 ei-trus fruit juiee (orange, ~rapefruit, lemon) and sal-t.
This eold wa~ eomposit.ion is made exclusively wi-th llme juiee (fresh or recons-tituted) combined wi-th the o-ther in gredients ln the following proportions by volume:
sugar .250 rnl.
wa-ter 15 ml.
lime juice 7.5 ml.
Lime juice is -the par-ticular citrus .frui-t juice which gives the eomposition its properties of elas-ticity and mal-leablli-ty, permi-tting the user -to ha.ndle i-t comfor-tably withou-t i-t sticking -to -the fingers whi.Le retaining its capaclty to adhere -to the hair and -to success~ully uproo-t i-t 7 usually a-t the firs-t application.
It is believed that the addition of sal-t to the above 3~5~

formula rnay aid în prolonging -the shelf life of the produc-t.
According to the invention, the ingredien~ts would -then be used in the followin~ amoun-ts by volume:
sugar 250 ml, wa-ter 15 ml, lime juice 7.5 ml.
sal-t 1 ml, It remains -to be proved -through tes-ts whi.ch will ~e conduc-ted over a prolonged period of time whether the addition o* salt is indeed beneficial, A preferred product is obtained when wa-ter is eliminated from the original formula. The depila-tory co~lposi~tion then comprises the following amounts by volume:
sugar 250 ml.
lime juice 25 ml.
Fresh lime juice may be substituted with reconsti-tu-ted ilne jlliCe (containin~ li.me oil and sodium sulphite) in the th.ree preceding fo~nulas. The results obtained are similar -to the original one~ wi-th sligh-t differences in colour, texture and performance. Fresh :Lime julce is pref~erred over recons-ti-tuted lime ~uice.
The me-thod for manu~acturing -this product consists in combining -the above ingredients, heating them, -then allowing the mix-tllre to cool. When i-t beg;ns to harden -the composition is kneaded for a peri.od of time by repea-tedly s-tre-tching and folding until a smooth, ela,stic consis-tency is ob-tained. I-t is then sprayed with a thin film of lecithin, which serves -the double purpose of keeping -the composi-tion from stickin~r -to i-ts packaging ma-terial and aidin~ in -the preven-tion of i-ts sticking -to one's fingers while performing the depilatory treatmen-t. The final presen-ta-tion of the produc-t rema.ins -to be declded upon.
Also relat.in~;-to -the inven-tion is a method for using -this depilatory composition which is described in -the following s-teps~

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1 Upon removin~r frorn its package, -the depllatory composition is kneaded by stretching and refolding -~or abou-t one to -two minutes. This softens the composi-tion -thus increasing its elas-ticity in order to achieve maximum adherence -to -the hair.

2 A sugges-ted rnethod for spreading -the composition on ~the skin consis-ts of forming the ccmposi-tion ln-to a ball~
applying it -to the area -to be treated, -then placing -the thumbs on it and drawing them downwards in the direc-tion of -the ha.ir grow-th while applying pressure.

3 I~eepin~ the -thumbs in -the same position, the hands ;10 are drawn upwards in a liftlng motion away -from -the skin, in the opposi-te direc tion of the hair growth. This action is done quickly. The composition is now removed from the skin alon~;
with -the hair whlch has become embedded in i-t and dead skin cells f'rom the surface of the epiderrnis. Pulllng the composi--tion off in the opposi-te directiorl of -the hair growth weakens the follicle so that wi-th time it becomes less resis-tan-t.
Because -this method is so direct, each individual is free -to evolve her own technique. The suggested method will serve to familiarize the user with the nature of -the product.
The cold waxes presen-tly available are very clifficult to use in tight spots such as -the face, unerarrns and the biki-ni area because of their sticky and runny consistency. This composition makes these areas easier -to trea-t because it is clean and firm. Small pieces can be broken o-f-f tailored to a specific area -thus allowing for more con-trol and precislon than could be achieved so far. However, cau-tion is advised when treating these areas because -the skin is more delica-te. To avoid any possible bleeding -the skin mus-t be anchored with ones fin~ers before pullin~ the composition of'f.

Claims (6)

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. A depilatory composition comprising:
sugar 250 ml.
lime juice 25 ml.

2. A depilatory composition comprising:
sugar 250 ml.
water 15 ml.
lime juice 7.5 ml.

3. A depilatory composition according to claim 2 in which salt is added, comprising:
sugar 250 ml.
water 15 ml.
lime juice 7.5 ml.
salt 1 ml.

4. A depilatory composition according to claim 1, claim 2, or claim 3, wherein lime juice (fresh) is substituted with reconstituted lime juice.

5. The method of manufacturing the depilatory composition which comprises the steps of:
(a) combining and heating the ingredients defined in claims 1, 2, or 3 (b) cooling the composition, and when it begins to harden, kneading it by repeatedly stretching and folding until an elastic consistency is obtained (c) then coating the composition with a film of lecithin.

6. A method of removing unwanted hair which comprises:
(a) kneading the composition defined in claims 1, 2, or 3 for a couple of minutes by repeatedly stretching and folding (b) spreading the composition on the area o? the skin in need of treatment the fingers, while applying pressure (c) removing the composition and the adhering hair by pulling it off the skin quickly with the fingers.