Is Kenra Cruelty-Free And Vegan?

Kenra Professional is a haircare brand known for its high-quality products and commitment to innovation. Kenra, Kenra Platinum, and Kenra Color are the brand’s three product lines that are popular among professional stylists and their clients.

But what about their commitment to animal welfare? Kenra Professional is a company that claims to be cruelty-free, but do they follow through with their actions? Is Kenra cruelty-free? And are they vegan?

Kenra is a cruelty-free brand, but they are not vegan. Kenra products are never tested on animals or sold in countries where animal testing is required by law. However, they use several animal-derived ingredients in their products, so they can’t be considered a vegan brand.

Continue reading to learn more about Kenra’s animal testing practices and their stance on using animal-derived ingredients. We’ll also discuss any cruelty-free certifications Kenra holds. 

Is Kenra Cruelty-Free?

Unlike so many companies who claim to be cruelty-free but still test their products on animals, Kenra actually meets the cruelty-free standard. They are committed to only using humane testing methods for their products, even when it means a potential drop in sales. 

Kenra doesn’t test their products on animals or pay others to do so. They also don’t purchase ingredients from suppliers who practice animal testing. And finally, they don’t sell their products in countries like mainland China, where cosmetics are legally required to be tested on animals.

Is Kenra Owned By A Parent Company That Tests On Animals?

While Kenra doesn’t test their products on animals or sell them anywhere they’re legally required to do so, they are owned by a parent company that tests on animals. In 2014, Kenra was acquired by Henkel Corp, a corporation that owns several beauty companies. 

Henkel Corp claims to practice humane testing methods on their products, but they also state on their website that their products must be tested on animals in some countries where it is required by law (such as China). Therefore, they abandon their non-animal testing beliefs when they sell their products in Chinese markets. 

Even though Kenra is now owned by a parent company that tests on animals, they have held true to their cruelty-free values and still don’t ever test their products on animals.

Is Kenra Certified Cruelty-Free?

Because there are no federal regulations controlling what companies can use the term “cruelty-free” in the United States, several third-party organizations have started certifying companies that meet an agreed-upon cruelty-free definition.

Two of the most well-known organizations offering cruelty-free certifications are PETA and Leaping Bunny. 

Kenra is certified by PETA as being cruelty-free. However, they are not certified by the Leaping Bunny organization.

P​ETA has the most relaxed policies regarding cruelty-free certifications. Here are the guidelines companies must meet before they can be PETA certified:

• T​he company must not test their products on animals.
• T​he company must not pay third-party companies to test their products or ingredients on animals.
• T​he company must pledge not to begin animal testing at any point in the future.

Companies can also be certified by the Leaping Bunny organization, which has much stricter requirements. A company must provide proof of adherence to the following requirements before they can use the Leaping Bunny logo:

• T​he company must not test any of their products or ingredients on animals.
• T​he company must not pay any third parties to conduct animal testing on their behalf.
• T​he company may not purchase any products or ingredients from suppliers who test their products on animals.
• T​he company must monitor their suppliers to make sure they aren’t testing on animals at any time.
• T​he company cannot sell their products where animal testing is legally required. 
• T​he company must recommit to these standards each year.

Is Kenra Vegan? 

Unfortunately, Kenra is not a vegan brand. Many Kenra hair products contain ingredients derived from animals. For example, their Brightening Shampoo contains both keratin and glycerin 

Keratin is derived from animals, typically from animal hooves or horns.  Glycerin can be derived from animal or plant sources.

Another example of a non-vegan Kenra product is their Whipped Taffy 20. This product contains both glycerin and beeswax. Of course, while glycerin can be derived from non-animal sources, beeswax is extracted from honeybee colonies. 

Do Kenra Products Contain Animal-Derived Ingredients?

Some of Kenra’s hair care products do contain animal-derived ingredients. Examples of animal-derived ingredients in their products include keratin, hydrolyzed silk, bee propolis, beeswax, and glycerin.

They may also offer products that don’t include animal-derived ingredients, so it’s necessary to read the entire ingredient label on each product to find out if it’s vegan-friendly. 

Is Kenra Sold In China?

Kenra does not sell any of their products in China. This is wonderful news for those looking to support ethical, cruelty-free brands. 

Currently, cosmetics imported into mainland China are required to be tested on animals. Because it’s a law, companies who don’t test their products on animals (or pay for the Chinese government to test the products on animals) may face legal consequences. 

I​n 2021, China began to relax its laws on animal testing. However, this doesn’t mean that all cosmetics can be imported into China without first being tested on animals.

Only some cosmetics meet the criteria set forth by the Chinese government, meaning that many cosmetics are still tested on animals before being offered in stores. 

Kenra’s refusal to sell their products in China clearly shows their ethics regarding animal testing. Instead of chasing a profit no matter the ethical cost, they would rather stand up for what they believe is right.

Because animal testing is legally required there, they simply don’t sell their products in China.

Final Thoughts: Is Kenra Cruelty-Free And Vegan?

Kenra is a cruelty-free hair care brand. But if you’re looking to support a 100% vegan hair care brand, Kenra Professional isn’t the ideal choice. Because they formulate products using animal-derived ingredients, they aren’t a 100% vegan company.

Perhaps in the future, they’ll switch to using plant-derived ingredients so that customers looking for vegan products can purchase Kenra hair care products.