Kao Corporation

Osamu Morita

Masahiko Ogawa

Toru Yoshihara

Akira Kiyomine

Hidetoshi Tagami

Tadashi Tamura

Michio Tanaka

A dye composition for keratinous fibers which contains a coupler and a developer are disclosed. The present coupler component is a novel 2-alkoxy-3,5-diaminopyridine derivatives of the formula (1): ##STR1## wherein R1 and R2 are the same or different from each other and independently represent a hydrogen atom, a lower alkanoyl group or a lower alkyl group which may be substituted by at least one hydroxyl group, and R3 is a lower alkyl group which may be substituted by at least one hydroxyl group, or a salt thereof; provided that R1 and R2 are not both a hydrogen atom or an acetyl group at the same time. The present 2-alkoxy-3,5-diaminopyridine derivatives are useful as couplers in dye compositions, and are capable of dyeing keratinous fibers such as hair in a bright blue color with excellent dyeability. Dye compositions containing the present compounds as a coupler show excellent resistance to discoloration, excellent resistance to shampooing and excellent resistance to friction.

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Kaminokawa, Japan

Osamu Morita