Novel copolymeric ammonium salts which are soluble or form microemulsions in aqueous surfactant systems and which can be obtained by water-in-oil emulsion polymerization or solution polymerization of a quaternary ammonium salt of the acrylic acid series and at least one other acrylic comonomer and reaction with an anionic optionally zwitterionic surfactand, ion exchange taking place, and has a molecular weight distribution of 10.sup.4 to 10.sup.9, the molecular weight of at least 5 percent by weight of the copolymer being 10.sup.7 to 10.sup.9, can be used as cosmetics, in particular as hair cosmetics, hair treated according to the invention having excellent ease of dry combing and, in particular, ease of wet combing.