GB2093868A - Hair-dyeing composition containing a powdered unextracted plant, a direct dyestuff of natural origin and a diluent - Google Patents

Abstract

A cosmetic composition for the hair in powder form is disclosed containing; (1) at least one powder obtained from unextracted plants, present in the form of particles of which at least 95% have a diameter of less than 180 microns, (2) at least one direct dyestuff of natural origin and (3) at least one solid diluent which, in the form of a 40% strength solution or dispersion in water, has a viscosity which is less than or equal to 150 cPo at ambient temperature. This composition in powder form is intended for dyeing the hair, after dilution. o

Description

SPECIFICATION Hair-dyeing composition containing a powdered unextracted plant, a direct dyestuff or natural origin and a diluent The present invention relates to a hair-dyeing composition which is in the form of a powder and is intended to be diluted in water before application to the head of hair.

More particularly, the present invention relates to a stable composition which is capable of leading, after dilution, to a dyeing preparation better known as a "colouring poultice", which is of unctuous consistency and is easy to apply to the whole head of hair.

Since the advent of synthetic dyestuffs, hair dyeing has become a completely normal operation and is carried out with the aid of aqueous preparations of dyestuffs which are used as such or which are diluted at the time of use with developers, which are most frequently oxidising agents.

These preparations can be presented in various forms, and more particularly in the form of creams liquids and gels which are of varying viscosity and which contain variable proportions of solvent and water.

At the present time, the colouring substances used in these preparations are most frequently of synthetic origin, which makes it possible, by using them either singly or as a mixture, to impart a wide variety of particularly desirable shades to the hair.

These dyestuffs for hair dyeing can be either oxidation dyestuffs, that is to say dyestuffs of which the tinctorial strength is only developed by the presence of an oxidising agent, or direct dyestuffs, which are capable of dyening the hair by themselves without the addition of any developer.

Amongst the colouring substances, the so-called natural dyestuffs, and in particular those of vegetable origin, should also be mentioned.

This class of dyestuffs, which comprises not only powdered plants or plant extracts, but also the isolated molecules responsible for the colouring power, has the considerable advantage that the majority of the dyestuffs are harmless, which is not the case with certain synthetic dyestuffs responsible for various allergy phenomena.

Powdered henna of yellowish-green colour, obtained from the leaves of henna (Lawsonia inermis), should be mentioned amongst the dyestuffs of vegetable origin which have had a broad application for very many years and are still favoured in many countries.

The active principle of henna is lawsone (2-hydroxy-1 ,4-naphthoquinone), which is present in henna leaves in the form of a glucoside.

Natural dyestuffs of vegetable origin, and more particularly henna, have various disadvantages, in particular a poor storage stability in carriers containing water.

However, it is possible to use powdered henna leaves as such, that is to say without a carrier; this powder is diluted with hot water at the time of use of give a kind of paste which is then applied to the head of hair. However, in this case, certain disadvantages are encountered during the preparation and application of the composition to the hair, because it is not always possible to obtain excellent impregnation, due to the poor consistency of the composition obtained from such coarsely ground powder.

Moreover, it is very difficult to expect perfect reproducibility of the tints obtained, because the proportion of active principle (lawsone in the case of henna) very frequently varies from one batch to the next, depending on the origin of the plant and the time at which it was harvested.

In addition to this disadvantage, the pH conditions are not always optimum for dyeing.

Furthermore, it is frequently difficult subsequently to produce a perm having a good hold, this being associated with the presence, in the dyeing mass, of an excessive proportion of agents covering the hair.

It has been found that these various disadvantages associated with the use of dyestuffs of natural origin, and in particular of vegetable origin, can be avoided by mixing them with various ingredients which are capable of imparting an unctuous consistency to the composition, thus facilitating the application to the whole of the head of hair. This result is obtained, according to the invention, by using the direct natural dyestuffs, and more particularly those of vegetable origin, in association with a powdered unextracted plant of carefully defined particle size and with a diluent.

The expression "powdered unextracted plant", as used herein, means a powder obtained from a vegetable substance from which the active principle or principles have not been removed by an extraction operation.

Whilst imparting a good unctuousness to the composition, after dilution, this powdered unextracted plant facilitates the application of the composition and provides the head of hair with both softness and shine.

The diluent makes it possible to offset the variations due to fluctuations between the physical characteristics of several batches of the same substance of natural origin, especially as regards thickening power, without modification of the concentration of dyestuff, this being the only guarantee of good reproducibility of the tinctorial strength.

The present invention provides a cosmetic composition, in the form of a powder, intended for dyeing the hair, after dilution, this composition containing, in a mixture: 1) at least one powder obtained from unextracted plants and present in the form of particles of which at least 95% by weight have a diameter of less than 1 80 microns, preferably of less than 125 microns and more particularly of less than 80 microns, 2) at least one direct dyestuff of natural origin, and 3) at least one solid diluent, the said diluent being one which, in the form of a 40% strength solution or dispersion in water, has a viscosity which is less than or equal to 1 50 cPo at ambient temperature.

The composition according to the invention is particularly stable on storage.

The powdered unextracted plants are present in the compositions according to the invention in an amount which is generally 3 to 95% and preferably 5 to 85% by weight, relative to the total weight. The powder can be obtained by grinding and subsequent sieving of various parts of plants, such as stems, flowers, leaves, roots, fruits and seeds, and preferably flowers of camomile, wild camomile, hibiscus, safflower and French marigold; leaves of walnut, henna, indigo, sumac and elder; roots of rubiaceae (madder, asperula and bedstraw), curcuma, orcanette and rhubarb; wood of red sandalwood, logwood, Brazil wood and Pernambuco wood; barks of alder, arbutus and sumac; seeds of annatto; stigmata of saffron; rhizomes of curcuma and bloodroot; fruits of blackthorn; twigs of broom; and whole plants of weld, lichens and golden-rod.The plants listed above are known to contain colouring active principles and are those preferably used in the compositions according to the invention.

However, it is also possible to use plants which do not contain such colouring principles, such as, whole plants of wheat, rye, barley, liquorice, aniseed, basil, thyme, marjoram and cinnamon; roots of marsh mallow; leaves of cassia obovata, chestnut, rosemary and sage; cobs of maize; barks of cinchona; fruits of horse-chestnut, and seeds of Psyllium.

According to a variant of the invention, the powdered unextracted plants can be used in association with a variable proportion of a powder obtained from plant extraction residues, that is to say residues after extraction of the active principles by various processes such as maceration, digestion, decoction, infusion or leaching.

In this case, the particles of extraction residues must also have a size of less than 1 80 microns, preferably of less than 125 microns and more particularly of less than 80 microns.

Amonst the various species capable of leading to powdered plant extraction residues, there may be mentioned hawthorn, eucalyptus, gentian, cinchona, saponaria, arnica, camomile, horse-chestnut, hamamelis, rhubarb, sarsaparilla, tormentil, valerian and henna, and also plants from which the essential oils of perfumery are extracted, such as iris, jasmine and rose.

The expression "direct dyestuff of natural origin" as used herein means, on the one hand, the colouring extracts of vegetable or animal origin obtained by extraction, and, on the other hand, the colouring principles of these extracts, isolated in the pure state or obtained synthetically.

Amongst the colouring extracts of vegetable origin which can be used, there may be mentioned, in particular, those obtained by the extraction of madder roots, henna leaves, orcanette roots, indigo leaves, nut husks, wild camomile flowers, asperula roots, bedstraw roots, annatto seeds, red sandalwood, Brazil wood, logwood, safflower flowers, French marigold flowers, saffron stigmata, algae, lichens or fungi.

Amongst the colouring extracts of animal origin which can be used, there may be mentioned, in particular, those obtained from kermes, cochineal, or molluscs such as murex.

The colouring extracts can be obtained by conventional extraction methods such as maceration, digestion, decoction, infusion or leaching.

These extracts are in solution and can be used as such by being adsorbed onto the powdered plants, or can be dried by, for example, spraying, lyophilisation or evaporation.

Amongst the direct colouring principles isolated in the pure state or obtained synthetically, and capable of being used in the compositions according to the invention, there may be mentioned, in particular: maclurin (2,3',4,4',6-pentahydroxybenzophenone), brazilin (7,11 b-dihydrobenz[1 ,2-d]indeno[1 ,2-d]pyran-3,6a,9,1 0(6H)-tetrol or C.l. Natural Red 24), hematoxylin (7,1 1 b-dihydrobenz-[b] indeno[ 1 ,2-d]pyran-3,4,6a,9,1 0(6H)-pentol, alizarin (1 ,2-dihydroxyanthraquinone or C.I. Mordant Red 11), purpurin (1 ,2,4-trihydroxyanthraquinone or C.I.Natural Red 8), kermesic acid (1,2,4,7tetrahydroxy-5-methylanthraquinone-6-carboxylic acid), juglone (5-hydroxy-1 ,4-naphthoquinone), lawsone (2-hydroxy-1 ,4-naphthoquinone), benzaldehyde derivatives, and more particularly 2,4dihydroxybenzaldehyde, 2,4,5-trihydroxybenzaldehyde, 3-hydroxy-4-methoxybenzaldehyde, 4-hydroxy 3-methoxybenzaldehyde, 4-hydroxy-3,5-dimethoxybenzaldehyde and protocatechualdehyde (3,4dihydroxybenzaldehyde), indigo ([h22-biindoline]-3,3'-dione), pseudopurpurin (1 ,2,4-trihydroxyanthraquinone-3-carboxylic acid), aloe emodin (1 ,8-dihydroxy-3-hydroxymethylanthraquinone), chrysophanol (1 ,8-dihydroxy-3-methylanthraquinone), rhein (1 ,8-dihydroxyanthraquinone-3-carboxylic acid), purpurogallin (2,3,4,6-tetrahydroxy-5H-benzocyclohepta-6,8-dien-5-one), curcumin (1 ,7-bis [4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl]-hepta-1,6-diene-3,5-dione), pyocyanin (internal salt on the hydroxyl of 1 -hydroxy-5-methylphenazine), carminic acid (C.I. Natural Red 4), 1,4-naphthoquinone, 1 -hydroxyanthraquinone and 2-hydroxyanthraquinone.

According to the invention, it is of course quite possible to use powdered unextracted plants containing colouring active principles, the powder having been activated by its active principle(s). Thus, powdered unextracted henna leaves can be activated by their active principle, lawsone.

If it is in powder form, the direct dyestuff of natural origin should also have a particle size of less than 1 80 microns, preferably of less than 125 microns and more particularly of less than 80 microns.

Its concentration in the compositions according to the invention can vary, depending on the shades which it is desired to obtain, from, say, 0.05 to 30% and preferably 0.1 to 20%, by weight, relative to the total weight of the composition.

The solid diluent of the compositions according to the invention is generally present in a proportion of 5 to 75% by weight, relative to the total weight of the composition.

Amongst the substances which, in the form of a 40% strength solution or dispersion in water, are capable of giving a viscosity which is less than or equal to 1 50 cPo at ambient temperature, there may be mentioned, in particular: sp-called "instant" edible powders such as powdered cocca or powdered tea and, preferably.

powdered milk, certain soluble sugars and polyols, and preferably glucose, levulose, lactose, sorbitol, mannose, maltose, raffinose, sucrose and soluble starch, and ceratin soluble, non-reducing, inorganic or organic salts compatible with the hair medium, such as sodium carbonate or chloride, potassium chloride, sodium citrate, sodium potassium tartrate and sodium lactate.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the diluent is: instant milk, glucose, levulose, lactose, sorbitol, mannose, maltose, raffinose, sucrose or soluble starch.

In addition to the three main ingredients of the compositions according to the invention, the latter can also contain synthetic dyestuffs of non-natural origin, in a proportion from, say, 0.05 to 15% of the total weight of the powder composition, and, in particular, nitrobenzene dyestuffs, anthraquinone dyestuffs, indoamine dyestuffs, azo dyestuffs or triphenylmethane dyestuffs.

Moreover, the compositions according to the invention can also contain conventional adjuvants such as: alkalising or acidifying agents such as alkali metal carbonates or solid organic acids, thickeners such as cellulose derivatives, gums, pectins, alginates or carrageenates, treating agents or hair conditioners, wetting agents and bactericides and perfumes.

At the time of use, the composition according to the invention is mixed with milk or water, which is preferably lukewarm and which contains, if desired, a solvent such as a lower alcohol or a glycol, in a weight ratio milk or water/powder of 1 to 10 and preferably 1 to 5.

The viscosities of the compositions thus obtained are generally 3 to 45 poises, and preferably 5 to 35 poises. The pH of the compositions obtained is generally 2.5 to 12 and preferably 3 to 1 0.5, depending on the presence of an alkalising agent or an acidifying agent.

The present invention also provides a hair-dyeing process which consists in applying a composition of this invention to part or all of the head of hair, after dilution, and in leaving it to act for, say, 3 minutes to 2 hours and preferably 5 minutes to 45 minutes, and then in rinsing the hair copiously with water.

This rinsing can be followed, if desired, by shampooing, in order to remove the dyeing composition more thoroughly.

By virtue of the excellent unctuousness of the dyeing composition, a good distribution over the head (or part) of hair to which it is applied and consequently a uniform coloration can be obtained by this process.

The following Examples further illustrate the present invention.

EXAMPLE 1 Powdered walnut leaves of particle size < 90y 10 9 Powdered maize cobs of particle size < 20y 45 g Powdered saponaria extraction residues of particle size < 90Xu 30 g Juglone 1.5g Anhydrous sodium carbonate 3.25 g Powdered trioxymethylene 0.25 g Perfume 0.05 g Lactose 100 9 This composition in powder form is treated, at the time of use, with 3 times its own weight of water at 360C. This gives an unctuous brown mixture with a pH of 9.3 and a viscosity of 25 poises.

When applied to a natural deep blond head of hair for 30 minutes, this composition imparts to the hair, after rinsing, shampooing and drying, a very attractive golden beige sheen; the hair is shiny.

EXAMPLE 2 Powdered chesnut leaves of particle size 4100y 00 40 g Powdered henna leaves of particle size < 70 15g Polysaccharides originating from carob seed, sold by UNIPECTINE under the name VIDOGUM L 175 3 g Lawsone 1g Citric acid 4g Low-fat instant powdered milk q.s.p. 100 g This powder is mixed, at the time of use, with 3.5 times its own weight of water at 40 C.

This gives a herbal-smelling unctuous mixture of yellowish-green colour, with a pH of 4 and a viscosity of 27 poises.

After an application time of 30 minutes on a light chestnut head of hair, and after rinsing, shampooing and drying, the hair has an intense coppery golden sheen and the whole of the head of hair has body and bulk.

EXAMPLE 3 Powdered wheat (flour) of particle size < 50y 25 g Powdered horse-chestnut extraction residues of particle size < 120Xu 1 5 g Powdered hawthorn extraction residues of particle size < 110 6 g Protocatechualdehyde 2 g Lawsone 0.2 g Perfume 0.02 g Soluble starch q.s.p. 100 g At the time of application to the head of hair, the above powder is dispersed in 1.5 times its weight of water at 440 C.

This gives an orange-brown unctuous composition having a viscosity of 13 poises and a pH of 5.1.

After application of this composition for 25 minutes, and after rinsing and drying the head of hair, a very becoming golden sheen is obtained on deep blond hair.

The head of hair is furthermore soft to the touch and shiny.

EXAMPLE 4 Powdered maize cobs of particle size < 20,u 30 g Powdered madder roots of particle size < 120 15g Powdered saponaria extraction residues of particle size # 90y 20 g Purpurin 4 g Alizarin 0.5 g Anhydrous sodium carbonate 10 9 Powdered trioxymethylene 0.5 g Low-fat instant powdered milk q.s.p. 100 g This composition is in the form of a powder which, at the time of use, is diluted with 2.5 times its weight of water at 41 CC. This gives an unctuous mixture of red-violet colour, with a pH of 9.8 and a viscosity of 22 poises.

By applying this mixture to natural chestnut hair for 40 minutes, a shiny head of hair with a beautiful mahogany sheen is obtained after rinsing, shampooing and drying.

EXAMPLE 5 Powdered liquorice roots of particle size < 110 30 g Powdered curcuma rhizomes of particle size < 90ju 25 g Gum tragacanth 1g Red pectin 3 G sold by UNIPECTINE 1g Maclurin 5g 1 -Amino-2-nitro-4-hydroxybenzene 0.2 g Powdered trioxymethylene 0.5 g Trisodium citrate q.s.p. 100 g Before application to the head of hair, this powder is diluted with 1.5 times its weight of water at 380C. This gives a very scented, unctuous mixture with a pH of 7.3 and a viscosity of 14 poises.

After an application time of 20 minutes on light chestnut hair, and after rinsing and drying, the hair has a luminous golden sheen and a slight spicy scent.

EXAMPLE 6 Powdered chestnut leaves of particle size < 100 10 9 Powdered maize cobs of particle size < 20y 10 9 Powdered hawthorn extraction residues of particle size # 110 30 g Brazilin 5g Hematoxylin 0.5 g Anhydrous sodium carbonate 89 Tetradecyltrimethylammonium bromide 4 g Perfume 0.2 g Lactose q.s.p. 100 g The above powder is mixed, at the time of use, with 2.25 times its weight of water at 390C. This gives an unctuous composition with a pH of 9.7 and a viscosity of 14 poises.

After application for 25 minutes on light blond hair, and after rinsing, shampooing and drying the head of hair, the latter has a pearlescent sheen. The hair also has shine and body.

EXAMPLE 7 Powdered chestnut leaves of particle size < 100 40 g Powdered henna leaves of particle size < 70 15g Polysaccharides originating from carob seed, sold by UNIPECTINE under the name VIDOGUM L 175 3 g Citric acid 4g Colouring extract of henna 1.5 9 Low-fat instant powdered milk q.s. 100 g This composition in powder form is mixed, at the time of use, with 3.5 times its weight of water at 400 C. The unctuous mixture obtained has a pH of 4 and a viscosity of about 27 poises.

By application to a light chestnut head of hair, rinsing, shampooing and drying, the hair has a coppery golden sheen, the intensity of which is slightly less than that in Example 2. The hair has body and bulk.

EXAMPLE 8 Powdered curcuma roots of particle size < 90,u 20 g Powdered walnut leaves of particle size #90 15 g Powdered wild camomile of particle size < 110,u 3g Powdered maize cobs of particle size < 20y 25 g Sodium carbonate 7 g Hematoxylin 3.5 g Trisodium citrate q.s.p. 100g Before application to the head of hair, this powder is diluted with 2.25 times its weight of warm water at 370C.

This gives an unctuous mixture with a pH of 9.5 and a viscosity of 23 poises.

When applied to an unpermed blond head of hair for 30 minutes, this mixture imparts to the hair, after rinsing and shampooing, a golden ashen sheen.

EXAMPLE 9 Powdered orcanette roots of particle size < 1 50,u 25 g Powdered bedstraw of particle size 1 40 40 g Polysaccharides originating from carob seed, sold by UNIPECTINE under the name VIDOGUM L 175 4g Kermesic acid 3 g Purpurogallin 5g Levulose q.s.p. 100 g This powder is mixed, at the time of use, with 3 times its weight of water at 390C. This gives an unctuous mixture of purplish-blue colour, with a pH of 3.3 and a viscosity of 20 poises.

This mixture is applied to a deep blond head of hair for thirty minutes. After rinsing and drying, the hair is soft to the touch and has a pearlescent coppery sheen.

EXAMPLE 10 Powdered asperula of particle size # 110 30 g Powdered safflower flowers of particle size # 120 35 g Anhydrous sodium carbonate lOg Madder solids 5g Alizarin 1.5 9 Aloe emodin 1.2 9 Sorbitol q.s.p. 100g This composition in powder form is treated, at the time of use, with 2.75 times its weight of water at 400C.

This gives a purplish-blue unctuous mixture with a pH of 9.7 and a viscosity of 24 poises.

The mixture is applied to a blond head of hair for 30 minutes. The hair is rinsed and then dried. The hair is shiny and has a slight iridescent purple-violet sheen.

EXAMPLE 11 Powdered logwood of particle size < 150ju 20 g Powdered curcuma of particle size < 90 37 g Anhydrous sodium carbonate 8g Hematoxylin 2.5 g Curcumin 2g Maltose q.s.p. 100 g The powder thus obtained is mixed, at the time of use, with twice its weight of water at 41 OC.

The unctuous mixture obtained has a pH of 10.1 and a viscosity of 8 poises. After application to a light chestnut head of hair for 30 minutes, the hair is rinsed and then dried; it has a shiny appearance and a golden natural sheen.

EXAMPLE 12 Powdered red sandalwood of particle size < 130 45 g Powdered saponaria extraction residues of particle size Q 90,u 23 g Indigo (colouring extract obtained from leaves of the indigo plant) 10 9 Citric acid 8 g Polysaccharides originating from carob seed, sold by UNIPECTINE under the name VIDOGUM L 175 2.5 g Glucose q.s.p. 100 g This mixture in powder form is treated, at the time of use, with twice its weight of water at 41 OC.

This gives an unctuous mixture with a pH of 2.5 and a viscosity of 22.4 poises. After application for 30 minutes to a head of hair containing a high percentage of white hair tending to turn yellow, the hair is rinsed and dried. The head of hair is shiny and the yellow has been perfectly removed from the white hair.

EXAMPLE 13 Powdered asperula of particle size < 110 50 g Powdered horse-chestnut extraction residues of particle size < 120y 25 g Polysaccharides originating from carob seed, sold by UNIPECTINE under the name VIDOGUM L 175 2g Pseudopurpurin 1.5g Citric acid lOg Sucrose q.s.p. 100 g This powder is mixed, at the time of use, with 3.5 times its weight of water at 420C.

The purple-coloured unctuous mixture obtained has a pH of 3.1 and a viscosity of 25.8 poises.

After application to chestnut hair for 30 minutes, the hair is rinsed and then dried. The head of hair is soft to the touch and the hair is shiny and has a purple-violet mahogany sheen.

EXAMPLE 14 Powdered maize cobs of particle size < 20y 40 g Powdered hawthorn extraction residues of particle size < 110i1z 25 g Pectin red 3G sold by UNIPECTINE 3g Carminic acid 5g Citric acid 89 Mixture of low-fat instant powdered milk and glucose (50/50) q.s.p. 100 g The composition in powder form is mixed, at the time of use, with 2.5 times its weight of water at 400C. The viscosity of the mixture obtained is 8.5 poises and its pH is 2.8.

After application to light blond hair for thirty minutes, the hair is rinsed and then dried. The head of hair is shiny and has a pearlescent sheen.

Claims (23)

1. A powder composition suitable for dyeing the hair which comprises: (1) at least one powder having particles of which at least 95% have a diameter of less than 1 80 microns obtained from unextracted plants, (2) at least one direct dyestuff of natural origin (as hereinbefore defined) and (3) at least one solid diluent, which, as a 40% by weight solution or dispersion in water, has a viscosity not exceeding 1 50 cPo at ambient temperature.

2. A composition according to claim 1 in which at least 95% of the said particles have a diameter of less than 125 microns.

3. A composition according to claim 1 or 2 in which the unextracted plant powder is present in an amount of 3 to 95% by weight, relative to the total weight of the composition.

4. A composition according to claim 3 in which the unextracted plant powder is present in an amount of 5 to 85% by weight.

5. A composition according to any one of the preceding claims in which the unextracted plant powder is one obtained by grinding and sieving: flowers of camomile, wild camomile, hibiscus, safflower or French marigold; leaves of walnut, henna, indigo, sumac or elder; roots of rubiaceae (madder, asperula and bedstraw), curcuma or orcanette; wood of red sandalwood, logwood, Brazil wood or Pernambuco wood; barks of alder, arbutus or sumac; seeds of annatto; stigmata of saffron; rhizomes of curcuma or bloodroot; fruits of blackthorn; twigs of broom; or a whole plant of weld, lichens or goldenrod.

6. A composition according to any one of claims 1 to 4 in which the unextracted plant powder is one obtained by grinding and sieving: whole plants of wheat, rye, barley, liquorice, aniseed, basil, thyme marjoram or cinnamon; roots of marsh mallow; leaves of cassia obovata, chestnut, rosemary or sage; cobs of maize; barks of cinchona; fruits of horse-chestnut, or seeds of Psyllium.

7. A composition according to any one of the preceding claims in which the unextracted plant powder is present in association with a powdered plant extraction residue having a particle size of less than 1 80 microns.

8. A composition according to any one of the preceding claims in which the direct dyestuff of natural origin is present in an amount from 0.05 to 30% by weight, relative to the total weight of the composition.

9. A composition according to claim 8 in which the said direct dyestuff is present in an amount from 0.01 to 20% by weight, relative to the total weight of the composition.

10. A composition according to any one of the preceding claims in which the direct dyestuff of natural origin is a colouring extract of vegetable origin obtained by the extraction of madder roots, henna leaves, orcanette roots, indigo leaves, nut husks, wild camomile flowers, asperula roots, bedstraw roots, annatto seeds, red sandalwood, Brazil wood, logwood, safflower flowers, French marigold flowers, saffron stigmata, algae, lichens or fungi.

11. A composition according to any one of claims 1 and 9 in which the direct dyestuff of natural origin is a colouring extract of animal origin obtained by the extraction of kermes, cochineal, or murex.

1 2. A composition according to any one of claims 1 and 9 in which the direct dyestuff of natural origin is maclurin, brazil in, hematoxylin, alizarin, purpurin, kermesic acid, juglone, lawsone, benzaldehyde derivatives, in particular protocatechualdehyde, indigo, pseudo-purpurin, aloe emodin, chrysophanol, rhein, purpurogallin, curcumin, pyocyanin, carminic acid, 1,4-naphthoquinone, 1 -hydroxyanthraquinone or 2-hydroxyanthraquinone.

1 3. A composition according to any one of the preceding claims in which the solid diluent is present in an amount from 5 to 75% by weight, relative to the total weight of the composition.

14. A composition according to any one of the preceding claims in which the diluent is an "instant" edible powder, soluble sugar or polyol or a soluble, non-reducing, inorganic or organic salt.

1 5. A composition according to claim 14 in which the diluent is: instant milk, glucose, levulose, lactose, sorbitol, mannose, maltose, raffinose, sucrose or soluble starch.

1 6. A composition according to any one of the preceding claims, which also contains at least one synthetic dyestuff of non-natural origin, in an amount of 0.05 to 1 5% by weight, relative to the total weight of the composition, said synthetic dyestuff being a nitro benzene dyestuff, an anthraquinone dyestuff, an indoamine dyestuff, an azo dyestuff or a triphenylmethane dyestuff.

17. A composition according to any one of the preceding claims which also contains at least one of an alkalising or acidifying agent, thickener, treating agent or hair conditioner, wetting agent, bactericide or perfume.

1 8. A composition according to claim 1 substantially as described in any one of the Examples.

1 9. A process for dyeing hair which comprises applying thereto a composition as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 18, after dilution in milk or water, and, optionally, a solvent leaving the composition on the hair for 3 minutes to 2 hours, and then rinsing the hair with water.

20. Process according to claim 1 9 in which, after dilution, the composition has a viscosity of 3 to 45 poises.

21. Process according to claim 20 in which, after dilution, the composition has a viscosity of 5 to 35 poises.

22. Process according to any one of claims 19 to 21 in which, after dilution, the composition has a pHof2.5to 12.

23. Process according to claim 22 in which, after dilution, the composition has a pH of 3 to 10.5.