08.03.18
US Patent No. 9,974,725 B1; L’Oréal has patented a method for treating chemically-relaxed hair. It entails applying a chemical relaxer to the hair and relaxing the hair; rinsing the chemical relaxer from the hair; applying a neutralizing composition and allowing it to remain on the hair for 8 to 12 min.; followed by, without rinsing the neutralizing composition from the hair, applying a neutralizing conditioner to the hair for 8 to 12 min.; rinsing the neutralizing conditioner and the neutralizing composition from the hair; applying a shampoo to the hair within 15 min. from rinsing the neutralizing conditioner and the neutralizing composition from the hair; and rinsing the shampoo. The neutralizing composition is comprised of maleic acid and/or a salt thereof, monoethanolamine and water. The neutralizing conditioner is comprised of maleic acid, monoethanolamine, cationic surfactants, fatty compounds, water-soluble solvents and water.