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Henkel Brings Innovation to Stylist Education

Empowering stylists with the latest tools and technology

Digitalization Consumer Brands 17 Dec 2019
Kenra Professional® brand artist and celebrity hairstylist David Lopez joined the Ulta Beauty Pro team earlier this year

Kenra Professional® brand artist and celebrity hairstylist David Lopez joined the Ulta Beauty Pro team earlier this year


The newest Henkel Beauty Care Hair Professional brand, SPARKS® provides optimal products with innovative digital capabilities

The newest Henkel Beauty Care Hair Professional brand, SPARKS® provides optimal products with innovative digital capabilities

“Beyond hairbrushes and curling irons, the toolkit of today’s hair stylists includes technology. Henkel recognizes that the next generation of haircare professionals need next generation learning tools.

The stylists we serve are passionate about what they do, and we are passionate about empowering them with the information they need to succeed,” say Stefan Mund, Regional Head, Henkel Beauty Care Hair Professional. “We are harnessing the latest technology to put the latest tips, tools and trends at the fingertips of stylists across North America.”

Sparking Innovation

With the recent launch of the SPARKS® hair color line, Henkel delivers exclusive technology that works on all hair types and equally innovative digital capabilities to empower and inspire stylists. Along with a supportive online color community, the SPARKS® brand offers an interactive app featuring exciting new technologies like the “Try Me” augmented reality (AR) experience that allows clients to visualize themselves in any SPARKS® brand shade. SPARKS® brand digital portfolio also includes a virtual swatch book and an industry-first AR-powered color formulator tailored to individual client needs. “SPARKS’s evolved digital-first approach engages users with immediate access to community, education, and inspiration,” said Michelle Chandler, General Manager, PRAVANA®. “The support of Henkel and our global colleagues has been pivotal in our ability to launch an all-new brand, that will ignite and inspire current and future generations of stylists.”

The Kenra Color Skill, available now on the Amazon Alexa Skills Store, provides hands-free education for stylists to better serve their customers.

The Kenra Color Skill, available now on the Amazon Alexa Skills Store, provides hands-free education for stylists to better serve their customers

Getting Smart

Riding the smart assistant revolution, in June 2019 the Kenra Professional® brand launched an industry first: a voice-activated teaching tool tailored to the needs of professional colorists. Kenra Color Skill for Amazon Alexa offers hands-free help with color conversions, mixing instructions and processing times, allowing stylists to create head-turning results faster and with far less mess.

“We want all of the stylists we serve to have access to world-class training,” says Christoph Kaul, General Manager, Kenra Professional®. “By taking a deeper dive into digitalization, Henkel is making our learning resources even more accessible, affordable and inclusive to hairstylists across North America, whether they live in big cities or rural communities.”

Artists Supporting Artists

Another way the Kenra Professional® brand is elevating the beauty game is by joining the elite Ulta Beauty Pro Team. Featuring some of the industry’s best artists and educators — including Kenra Professional® brand Artist and top celebrity hairstylist David Lopez — the team helps nearly 7,000 Ulta Beauty stylists build skills and stay on top of trends.

Says Mund: “Innovation and education have always been cornerstones of Henkel’s professional hair care brands. And now, more than ever, we’re finding innovative ways to provide best-in-class teaching to meet evolving customer interests and needs.”