Kenra's hair care empire has made a mark in the industry over the last 100 years. But did this beloved brand keep up with the times? Here's what you need to know about its cruelty-free and vegan policies.
Kenra is cruelty-free. It doesn't conduct animal testing on its products, nor does it distribute its cosmetics where animal testing is required by law. Kenra does offer a range of vegan cosmetics, but it is not considered a vegan brand.
Although Kenra had a very humble beginning – starting with a single product back in 1929 called "No Tweeze" wax – things changed when a man named Henry J. Meyers bought it in 1959.
Meyers was a Dutch immigrant who came with America to pursue a better life after WWII. Through years of hard work, Meyers was not only able to buy Kenra – but he also shaped it into the professional haircare brand you love today.
You can say his entrepreneurial venture was successful when Henkel bought the brand in 2014 for $370 million US.
We like to believe this cruelty-free brand is rooted in the possibility of freedom and the American dream.
Before deciding on what to buy, here's what you need to know about Kenra's current animal testing policies, vegan ranges, formulation, and sustainability.
Is Kenra Cruelty-Free and Vegan?
Kenra is 100% Cruelty-Free
It does not:
Kenra is PETA certified. It does not test its products on any animals and does not commission any third parties to do so on its behalf. The brand has committed to never deviating from this policy.
The brand is also owned by Henkel, a German consumer goods company that isn't considered cruelty-free.
This brings us to our next point.
Kenra is Not Vegan
Unfortunately, Kenra is not suitable for vegans. Although it may have some vegan products, the brand doesn't actually have a list of vegan-friendly products.
If you've recently gone vegan and want to know if you can still use your favorite Kenra product – we recommend sending their customer care a message. They will be able to answer your questions on specific products.
The three most common animal-derived ingredients that Kenra uses include:If you want to explore vegan alternatives to Kenra, look at our Recommended Vegan Alternatives listed below.
Animal Testing Policy and History
Although we can't say for sure if Kenra was cruelty-free in 1929, it has been cruelty-free for as far back as we can trace – long before Henkel acquired it in 2014. The company is also PETA certified.
Cruelty-Free Status in 2021
Here is a screenshot of Kenra's official statement regarding its cruelty-free policies and vegan products, taken from its website:
Certification
It would be nice to see more certification from Kenra since it's a proudly cruelty-free brand.
Currently, it's PETA-approved which is not a bad start.
While you might know PETA very well – it surprisingly doesn't hold the strictest cruelty-free regulations out there. It seems only to require a brand's written consent that abides by the PETA code of conduct.
Certification from Leaping Bunny is ideal because it holds rigorous standards and does regular audits to ensure they are upheld.
Leaping Bunny certification proves that:
If you see a little PETA bunny stamp at the back of your product bottle – that's a really good sign. But don't be fooled by the image itself. A lot of brands are using fake logos to fool consumers.
Do your homework and see which products are genuinely cruelty-free first. This article will help you: Which Cruelty-Free Logos Can You Trust?
Is Kenra Sold Where Animal Testing is Required By Law?
Kenra does not distribute any of its products to China or any country that requires animal testing on any cosmetics by law.
China has a shocking track record. It is the country with the most amount of animal testing globally, with over 20 million animals used per year.
However, if you live in China or are concerned about its cruel beauty policies, there are a couple of loopholes to be aware of. Here's how to find cruelty-free cosmetics in China: Are Cosmetics Made in China Cruelty-Free?
Vegan Alternatives to Kenra
While Kenra may have some vegan products – it does not actively market them, nor does it make it easy for consumers to find out.
The only way to find out if something is vegan is by contacting the brand directly and making a product-specific query. They should be able to advise you if the product is vegan or not then.
This is not an ideal setup for ethical shoppers, and it's understandable if you're reluctant to support them.
Luckily, there are many certified cruelty-free and vegan alternatives from which you can choose.
Here are some nature-inspired haircare brands within a similar price range that are 100% vegan and cruelty-free.
Is Kenra Natural and Organic?
Kenra is not natural or organic and doesn't claim to be. However, they do claim to use high-quality, clean ingredients.
Clean vs. Natural Ingredients
The term "natural" is not regulated for cosmetics and skincare. In other words, it doesn't hold one specific meaning.
Usually, it means a product is free of certain more toxic synthetic ingredients, including parabens, phthalates, sulfates, and more. But people also interpret "natural" to mean ingredients of immediate plant origin.
Here's the thing – "natural" is not necessarily a good thing. Just because an ingredient is natural doesn't mean you should rub it on your skin. Poison ivy is natural – but we wouldn't recommend rolling in a field of that stuff!
Most products use a certain amount of synthetic ingredients in their formulas, and Kenra is no exception – but it can choose to use better or clean synthetics.
If a synthetic ingredient is "clean," it means it is safe and non-toxic for us. Its purpose is to preserve the stability of a beauty formulation.
Does Kenra Use Safe Ingredients?
According to Skin Safe, Kenra has a 73-91% allergen-free ranking for each product; however, some can drop as low as 64%.
While this isn't the worst ranking – it's also not the best.
Some of Kenra's products are free of allergens such as gluten, coconut, nickel, common preservatives, lanolin, MCI/MI, soy, irritants/acid, oil, and dye.
However, the brand is not completely free of these ingredients, and it still uses parabens, SLS (sodium laurel sulfate), and propylene glycol. This doesn't mean you can't find paraben-free shampoo from Kenra – you just need to look for it carefully.
Kenra is also not 100% hypoallergenic, and they do not claim to be, so reading the ingredient list is crucial because
Certain products are specifically for these concerns, so make sure you buy what your hair needs.
It's also important to note that not all common allergens are bad ingredients overall.
A common example is lanolin, which has many benefits to your skin too. Find out more here: Can Lanolin Be Cruelty-Free?
The EU/UK Have Stricter Ingredient Regulations
As a conscientious shopper, you must read up on any brand's ingredient list before you make a purchase – especially if you live within the United States.
This is because the FDA has only banned or restricted 11 harmful chemicals from cosmetics within the country. Europe and the UK, on the other hand, has banned 1,328!
Kenra is a US-based brand with relatively strict ingredient policies – but this doesn't mean you shouldn't check what's written at the back of the bottle.
For good measure, here are some of the ingredients you really want to avoid with hair care:
Are Cruelty-Free Ingredients Safe?
If you're worried about how safe it is to use cosmetics that are not tested on animals – please relax and take a sigh of relief.
There is no reason why cruelty-free products shouldn't be just as safe, if not safer, than anything tested on an animal.
Not only is it easy to test ingredients without using animals altogether, but there are so many pre-approved ingredients you can use to make cosmetics that there really is no need.
Here's more on the subject if you're interested: Are Cruelty-Free Cosmetics Safe?
Is Kenra Sustainable and Ethical?
Taken from @kenraprofessional
Kenra does not have a strong sustainability stance and doesn't see eco-friendly beauty as a key focus.
However, the brand has a page that encourages consumers and stylists to focus on sustainability when using their products.
It's no secret that the world has a huge waste problem, and cosmetic brands are only making it worse by using unsustainable packaging and harmful ingredients.
One of the main ways Kenra has tried to be an upstanding brand is by collaborating with OceanBound Plastic.
This organization takes materials and plastics at risk of ending up in the ocean and recycling them to be used again.
Kenra's Sugar Beach collection is made up entirely of OceanBound plastic.
Some of the ways Kenra is asking its consumers to take accountability for this issue is by:
While all this brand encouragement is great – it would be far more commendable to see Kenra apply more sustainable and ethical practices to its own business too.
Final Thoughts
Kenra is a great brand if your primary concern is using cruelty-free products. It has an inspiring back story and produces high-quality products.
However, the brand:
We would like to see Kenra commit to the gold standard of cruelty-free certification and upgrade to Leaping Bunny.
We also feel that introducing recyclable packaging is an important starting point for reducing its environmental impact.
If you love their brand but feel strongly about using vegan products – contact them and let them know.
Change has to start somewhere, and in our view, it always begins with the people who care most.