Paula Kent Meehan (1931-2014)It is with a heavy heart that we announce the passing of PAULA KENT MEEHAN, Founder of Redken Laboratories, Inc. Paula passed away Monday, June 23rd in her Beverly Hills home at the age of 82. Ms. Meehan established the “Scientific Approach to Beauty” based on her dedication to developing products that respect the natural pH of the hair and skin. She also pioneered the concept of teaching chemistry to hairdressers, enabling them to better serve their clients.
“Today, we lost a true legend in the professional haircare industry. The legacy that she has left sustains the brand today,” says Redken US General Manager, Leslie Marino. “Paula created products and education programs that propelled the industry’s transformation. Her pioneering ways will be missed but her spirit will be in our hearts and minds forever.”
In 1960, a young actress and model, Paula Kent, launched her business career, founding with Jheri Redding, a small California based company, Redken Laboratories, Inc. Ms. Kent pioneered the “Scientific Approach to Beauty” based on her dedication to developing products compatible with the natural elements of hair and skin. Her highly sensitive skin and hair reacted adversely to many products on the market. Her quest was to discover why. Redken began with three products and an intensive education program for hairdressers about the chemistry of hair and skin thereby enabling them to better serve their clients and generally elevating a career in hairdressing to that of a profession.
For the last 21 years, Ms Meehan has been headquartered in her Beverly Hills KenQuest building which will serve as a tribute to her memory. Paula created the Global Salon Business Awards through the B.E.S.T. Foundation to honor leading salons in the world for their strategy, globalization, brand and lifestyle marketing, creativity, inspiration and entrepreneurship. Paula Kent Meehan has received countless industry awards including “Hall of Leaders” given by the North American Hairstyling Awards and Intercoiffure’s Lifetime Achievement. In 1992 she was named one of Entrepreneurial Women magazine’s “Eight Most Powerful Woman Business Owners” and was selected as one of the “Top Fifty Women Business Owner” by Working Woman magazine. #1 on Los Angeles Business Journal’s list of women-owned businesses in LA for four consecutive years; also named 2003 “Woman of the Year” for California’s 42nd assembly district.
Paula’s wide-reaching philanthropic work most recently included major donations to the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts and the Beverly Hills 9/11 Memorial Garden. She served as president of a pet rescue and adoption foundation she opened in Beverly Hills called Pets 90210 – The Pet Care Foundation. An avid animal lover, Paula was also a supporter of Woofstock.
It’s been said, “You just cannot out give Paula Kent Meehan.”
One message Paula would leave to us would come from the pen of her favorite poet, Ralph Waldo Emerson, “That which should come to you will come to you through open and winding passages.”
KENT, Paula (Paula Kent Baer)
Born: 8/9/1931, Beverly Hills, California, U.S.A
Died: 6/23/2014, Beverly Hills, California, U.S.A.
Paula Kent’s western – actress:
The Adventures of Wild Bill Hickok (TV) – 1955 (Mary Lake)