A cosmetically acceptable composition comprising from about 0.1 to about 10 weight percent, based on polymer solids, of a water-soluble ampholyte polymer comprising: from at least 1 to as much as 95 weight percent of the nonionic monomer acrylamide from at least 5 to as much as 80 weight percent of the cationic monomer dimethyldiallylammonium chloride from at least 1 to as much as 75 weight percent of the anionic monomer acrylic acid, is disclosed. The application of these polymers to a keratinous substance is also disclosed. In addition, a method of treating a keratinous substance comprising applying a cosmetically acceptable composition comprising from about 0.1 to about 10 weight percent, based on polymer solids, of an ampholyte polymer produced by the following process: (1) preparing a monomer solution containing: from at least 1 to as much as 95 weight percent of the nonionic monomer acrylamide from at least 5 to as much as 80 weight percent of the cationic monomer dimethyldiallylammonium chloride from at least 1 to as much as 75 weight percent of the anionic monomer acrylic acid (2) providing a reactor and water to said reactor (3) optionally charging said reactor with a sequestering agent, a chain transfer agent or a combination thereof (3) purging said reactor to remove oxygen from said reactor (4) heating the contents of said reactor and (5) feeding said monomer solution and initiator solution into said reactor, is disclosed.
