Redken

Redken Laboratories, founded in 1960, is a company built from the inspiration of a dynamic, entrepreneurial American actress named Paula Kent.

Frequent chemical services and style changes were routine for any aspiring actress of her day, but Paula was extra sensitive to many of the products used by the hairdressers and make-up artists. She felt continually frustrated that no one could explain why the products were irritating. Necessity is the mother of invention, and Paula realized that working with professional hairdressers, she could help millions of other people also wanting high performance products that were gentle.

Paula Kent and her hairdresser, Jheri Redding (thus the name "REDKEN") began with three products and an intensive education program for hairdressers about the chemistry of hair and skin.

The formulas were developed based on three principles:

• Protein technology (since hair is composed primarily of protein)
• An acidic pH of 4.5-5.5, complementing the natural pH of the hair and skin
• Products recommended exclusively by licensed cosmetologists in professional salons