Kao Corporation

Our Salon Team UK & Ireland is proud to welcome Mark Leeson, one of the most revered multi-award-winning names in the industry, back to Kao Salon Division as a Goldwell ambassador. Together with Co-Director Richard Darby and their salon team as Guest Artists, Mark is reigniting a long-standing, celebrated partnership, which also coincides with him celebrating 40 years in hairdressing. Commenting on his return, Mark said: “Goldwell is a name that is and has always been very close to my heart. Coming ‘home’ to Kao and Goldwell this year, as I mark four decades, feels like a very poignant move. The business has been there through some of my greatest triumphs, and I look forward to collaborating with the Kao and Goldwell family again as I embark on my next chapter.” Julie Winchester, General Manager Kao Salon Division UKI, said: “Mark's unwavering passion, creativity, and commitment to excellence have made him a true icon, not just in the UK, but globally. Our partnership over the years has been one of mutual respect and shared vision. Here’s to many more years of inspiring artistry and continued success together!” #SalonBusiness #HairdressingIndustry #BrandAmbassador 

At Kao, we believe that prioritising mental health and wellbeing is key to maintaining an open dialogue, removing stigma and creating a safe environment where people can be themselves. Across Kao regions, we provide a range of dedicated resources for mental health and wellbeing, from the Calm app and flexible work arrangements to Employee Assistance programs and training for Mental Health First Aiders to provide initial support and assistance to employees experiencing mental health challenges.  Today, meet Chelsea Geary, who shares why this work is so important to her.

At Kao, we believe that prioritising mental health and wellbeing is key to maintaining an open dialogue, removing stigma and creating a safe environment where people can be themselves. Across Kao regions, we provide a range of dedicated resources for mental health and wellbeing, from the Calm app and flexible work arrangements to Employee Assistance programs and training for Mental Health First Aiders to provide initial support and assistance to employees experiencing mental health challenges.  Today, meet Barbara Zyszczyk, who shares why this work is so important to her.

At Kao, we believe that prioritising mental health and wellbeing is key to maintaining an open dialogue, removing stigma and creating a safe environment where people can be themselves. Across Kao regions, we provide a range of dedicated resources for mental health and wellbeing, from the Calm app and flexible work arrangements to Employee Assistance programs and training for Mental Health First Aiders to provide initial support and assistance to employees experiencing mental health challenges.  Today, meet Chloe Hogan, who shares why this work is so important to her.

At Kao, we believe that prioritising mental health and wellbeing is key to maintaining an open dialogue, removing stigma and creating a safe environment where people can be themselves. Across Kao regions, we provide a range of dedicated resources for mental health and wellbeing, from the Calm app and flexible work arrangements to Employee Assistance programs and training for Mental Health First Aiders to provide initial support and assistance to employees experiencing mental health challenges.  Today, meet Helen Boshier, who shares why this work is so important to her.

On today’s World Homeless Day, we are proud to share that our John Frieda UK team has partnered for a third year with Crisis, the national charity for people experiencing homelessness in Great Britain. John Frieda UK is supporting the organisation by providing free haircuts to people supported by Crisis and raising vital funds via a limited edition of their Volume Lift Conditioner.    For every limited edition John Frieda Volume Lift Conditioner purchased at Boots, Superdrug, Amazon, or Sainsbury’s, either online or in store, John Frieda will donate 50p directly to Crisis, with a minimum donation of £32,000 guaranteed. With this commitment, John Frieda will have donated over £100,000 to Crisis over the last three years, helping many people build their lives beyond homelessness.

At Kao, we believe that prioritising mental health and wellbeing is key to maintaining an open dialogue, removing stigma and creating a safe environment where people can be themselves. Across Kao regions, we provide a range of dedicated resources for mental health and wellbeing, from the Calm app and flexible work arrangements to Employee Assistance programs and training for Mental Health First Aiders to provide initial support and assistance to employees experiencing mental health challenges.  Today, meet Heike Scheuch, who shares why this work is so important to her.

At Kao, we have a special word that describes our mission as a company and our approach to everything we do: ‘kirei’. Kirei describes something that is clean, well-ordered and beautiful, all at the same time. But it is so much more than just a word – to us, it’s a philosophy and an attitude, to create beauty for oneself, other people and the world around us. Ever since the day of our founder more than 135 years ago, the vision of enabling people to live more beautiful lives has been our core value and has shaped who we are today. Kirei is at the heart of our business and our ESG Strategy, the Kirei Lifestyle Plan. As part of this, we aim to make life more beautiful and sustainable for people and the planet. Can you relate to the concept of ‘kirei’? Where do you experience something that is kirei in your life? Let us know! #Kirei #JapaneseHeritage #Sustainability

Hair care evolution: meet the updated range of our professional salon brand KMS Hair, further driving its commitment to highly effective and sustainable formulations. Kicking off the brand’s evolution, including a new creative identity, are the latest additions to their MoistRepair and ColorVitality portfolio: the MoistRepair Intense Restore Treatment and ColorVitality Intense Gloss Treatment. The MoistRepair and ColorVitality ranges have been completely renewed, including updated formulations with carefully sourced and upcycled natural ingredients and updated packaging for an even more sustainable hair care offering. “With KMS Hair, we want to enable people to wear their hair the way they want,” says Kristof Stengele, Director Omnichannel Brands & E-commerce, Kao Salon Division. “Helping them to achieve whatever look they desire by offering high-performing, versatile products while at the same time strengthening our focus on sustainability and transparency was at the heart of the work for our next chapter of KMS Hair.” KMS Hair looks back on almost 50 years of researching and manufacturing high-performing hair care and styling products. With the founders’ vision to fuse innovative technologies with upcycled natural ingredients, KMS Hair has created high-performing products for every hair type and personality, loved and trusted by both consumers and over 30,000 stylists around the globe. #HairCare #BrandNews 

Happy Birthday to our London office! Two years ago, our new UK office opened its doors to welcome our colleagues and it’s fair to say it has become a true home away from home. Led by our Kao project team and UK office interior design specialist Morgan Lovell, our office space was turned into a sustainable workplace that energises and excites our people from the moment they walk in through the door. We can also proudly say that our office is a design winner that scooped the prestigious Workplace Fit Out Project of the year award by the Society of British & International Interior Design last year. With environmental aspects, collaboration and productivity in mind, our office was designed as an innovative blend of biophilia, natural light and flexibility. It puts a focus on the use of natural materials and a neutral colour palette to create a calming environment and perfectly ties in with our guiding principle of “Kirei”, which describes something that is clean, well-ordered and beautiful at the same time. #Workplace #Office #OfficeDesign #Anniversary