Methods, compositions and uses relating thereto

A method of treating a material, the method comprising contacting the material with a composition comprising an amine salt of a carboxylic acid wherein the carboxylic acid has 4 to 10 carbon atoms. In a preferred embodiment the treated material is human hair and the composition is a shampoo, conditioner, styling product or waving or straightening product. The most preferred carboxylic acid salts are the triethanolamine or diethanolamine salts of octanoic or hexanoic acid. In some embodiments the composition may also include an alpha-substituted aldehyde, a chelating agent derived from a polycarboxylic acid or a succinimidyl ester.