IMPROVED HAIR CONDITIONING COMPOSITION

A single phase hair conditioning composition having improved hair conditioning properties is described which contains, by weight, about 0.8% to 1.4% of a water-soluble nonionic cellulose polymer thickener, about 0.5% to 2.0% of a dipolar solvent such as propylene glycol, about 0.2% to 3.0% of a mono-C12-C22 alkyl, monomethyl ethoxy substituted quaternary ammonium salt conditioning agent, about 0.2% to 2.5% of a C10-C18 alkyl ethoxy methyl carboxylic acid conditioning agent having 1 to 23 ethoxy groups in the molecule and an aqueous medium, said composition being free of water-insoluble alkanol conditioners and of conditioning amounts of silicone conditioners. The mixture of ethoxy substituted quaternary ammonium salt conditioner and ethoxy methyl carboxylic acid conditioner provides enhanced hair conditioning results. Preferred compositions include one of more of the following: a mono C8-C18 alkyl tri-C1-C3 alkyl quaternary ammonium salt conditioner, a water-soluble cationic polymer conditioner, an alkanol ethoxylate nonionic conditioner and a dimethicone copolyol. Also within the scope of the invention is the method of conditioning the hair which employs the foregoing single phase composition.