is redken cruelty free

Is Redken Cruelty-Free?

Does Redken test on animals or sell in China?

Redken is a well-known hair care company that can be found all over the world. But is Redken cruelty-free?

For a company to be considered cruelty-free they have to meet all of the following criteria:

  • Do not test any of their products or ingredients on animals
  • Don’t allow others to test on their behalf 
  • Do not sell in a country where animal testing is required. 

After doing a bit of research, I found that Redken doesn’t meet the above cruelty-free requirements and is not considered to be a cruelty-free haircare brand. 

Let’s look into what all of that really means and what you can do about it.

Is Redken Certified Cruelty-Free?

When researching a brand’s cruelty-free status my first stop is the certified cruelty-free list. There are three organizations that give official certifications to brands around the world: Leaping Bunny, Peta, and Choose Cruelty-Free.

Redken is not found on any of these organizations’ cruelty-free lists. However, they are found on Peta’s list of brands to avoid. 

redken peta

Does Redken Test on Animals?

The next step in my research is going directly to the company’s animal testing policy to see where they stand. Redken’s policy can be found in the ‘FAQ’ section of their website. Here is what it states:

“L’Oréal, the parent company of Redken, no longer tests any of its products or any of its ingredients on animals, anywhere in the world nor does L’Oréal delegate this task to others. An exception could only be made if regulatory authorities demanded it for safety or regulatory purposes. For complete information on this subject, please visit here.”

redken animal testing policy

Redken’s animal testing policy contradicts itself. It states that they do not test on animals. However, they choose to sell in China where animal testing is required for imported cosmetics. Therefore, Redken does allow animal testing on their products.

Is Redken Sold in China?

Yes, Redken does sell in China. After doing a quick Google search I was able to locate information of their presence in China

What About China’s New Animal Testing Laws?

China has announced that as of May 1, 2021, general cosmetics such as shampoo, body wash, lipstick, lotion, and makeup can be sold without being tested on animals. However, a company is required to jump through various hoops for this to happen. As of now, Redken has not been exempt and their products can still be tested on animals by the Chinese health authority. Even if an exemption happens it is still possible that the products can be subjected to post-market testing.

Is Redken Owned By a Parent Company?

Yes, Redken is owned by L’Oreal, a company that tests on animals. You can view a full list of brands that they own to see which other companies you should avoid. 

Is Redken Vegan?

Redken is not considered to be vegan because they test their products or ingredients on animals or allow others to do so on their behalf. So, until this changes, we choose not to look into whether they may or may not have products that don’t contain animal ingredients.

What are Cruelty-Free Alternatives to Redken?

There are several cruelty-free haircare alternatives to Redken. Check out the list below:

Wrap Up: Is Redken Cruelty-Free?

No, Redken is not a cruelty-free haircare brand. Even though they claim to not test on animals, they choose to sell in a country that requires imported cosmetics to be tested on animals.

Therefore, Redken is not considered to be cruelty-free. They will be added to my list of brands that test on animals

Now I’d like to hear from you…What are your thoughts about Redken? Please leave your comments below!

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