Jheri Redding
Encyclopedia
Jheri Redding was an
American hairdresser
, chemist
, hair care
products entrepreneur
and businessman. Redding is best-known for creating the Jheri curl
, which was used by the singer Michael Jackson
.
Redding is credited with being the inventor of modern day hair conditioner
. He was the first to make "pH
balanced" shampoo
s, to put vitamins in hair care products, and to market added minerals. He developed the perm product Jheri curl, as well as numerous other beauty products. He founded the international beauty products business that bore his name, along with three others.
of the 1930s when it appeared to him that hairdressers and makeup artist
s had the best paying jobs. He was one of the first men in the United States
ever to become licensed as a cosmetologist
.
As a young man in Chicago, Redding was teaching chemistry
and working as a hair stylist using beauty products that did not perform to his expectations. He began experimenting with chemicals and other ingredients he found in his kitchen, such as mayonnaise
, vinegar
, et cetera, to make his own shampoo
s, rinses and hairdressing solutions to improve the hair of his clients. From that grew the treatments, styling creams and gels
that became known as Jheri Redding Products.
Redding moved to Los Angeles, California
, shortly after World War II
was over. Having adopted his unusual nickname
along the way, he founded Jheri Redding Products Company in 1956, selling a cream rinse he developed. He later co-founded three other major national hair care companies, Redken
in 1960, Jhirmack in 1968, and, in 1979, Nexxus
, which he said stood for "Nature and Earth United With Science." These companies continue to operate with different owners.
1st- Robert William (Bill) Redding, married to Linda Anne Redding, January 6, 1963, two sons, Robert William Jherimiah Redding, born August 23, 1963, Thomas James Redding, born March 30, 1970.
2nd son, Stephen J. Redding, married Angie Demourkas, had 3 children, Elisa, Stephanie, and Jheri (married with 2 children). All born in Santa Barbara.
3rd son, Sean Redding married to Natalie Moton, three daughters and three sons.
Jheri had a total of 11 grandchildren, to date. July 5, 2008
industry and founded the Hollywood Design Council.
, including one named Itsallgreektome
that placed a close second in the Breeders' Cup
in 1990 and 1991.
Jheri Redding died at age 91 at Cottage Hospital
in Santa Barbara
. He is interred at the Santa Barbara Cemetery, in Sunset Section, Lot 70, Grave 08.
American hairdresser
Hairdresser
Hairdresser is a term referring to anyone whose occupation is to cut or style hair in order to change or maintain a person's image. This is achieved using a combination of hair coloring, haircutting, and hair texturing techniques...
, chemist
Chemist
A chemist is a scientist trained in the study of chemistry. Chemists study the composition of matter and its properties such as density and acidity. Chemists carefully describe the properties they study in terms of quantities, with detail on the level of molecules and their component atoms...
, hair care
Hair care
Hair care is an overall term for parts of hygiene and cosmetology involving the hair on the human head. Hair care will differ according to one's hair type and according to various processes that can be applied to hair...
products entrepreneur
Entrepreneur
An entrepreneur is an owner or manager of a business enterprise who makes money through risk and initiative.The term was originally a loanword from French and was first defined by the Irish-French economist Richard Cantillon. Entrepreneur in English is a term applied to a person who is willing to...
and businessman. Redding is best-known for creating the Jheri curl
Jheri curl
The Jheri curl is a hairstyle that was common and popular in the African American community especially during the 1970s and 1980s . Invented by and named for Jheri Redding, the Jheri curl gave the wearer a glossy, loosely curled look...
, which was used by the singer Michael Jackson
Michael Jackson
Michael Joseph Jackson was an American recording artist, entertainer, and businessman. Referred to as the King of Pop, or by his initials MJ, Jackson is recognized as the most successful entertainer of all time by Guinness World Records...
.
Redding is credited with being the inventor of modern day hair conditioner
Hair conditioner
Hair conditioner is a hair care product that alters the texture and appearance of hair.-History:For centuries, natural oils have been used to condition human hair. These natural products are still used today, including essential oils such as tea tree oil and carrier oils such as jojoba oil...
. He was the first to make "pH
PH
In chemistry, pH is a measure of the acidity or basicity of an aqueous solution. Pure water is said to be neutral, with a pH close to 7.0 at . Solutions with a pH less than 7 are said to be acidic and solutions with a pH greater than 7 are basic or alkaline...
balanced" shampoo
Shampoo
Shampoo is a hair care product used for the removal of oils, dirt, skin particles, dandruff, environmental pollutants and other contaminant particles that gradually build up in hair...
s, to put vitamins in hair care products, and to market added minerals. He developed the perm product Jheri curl, as well as numerous other beauty products. He founded the international beauty products business that bore his name, along with three others.
Personal history
Redding's interest in the beauty industry began during the Great DepressionGreat Depression
The Great Depression was a severe worldwide economic depression in the decade preceding World War II. The timing of the Great Depression varied across nations, but in most countries it started in about 1929 and lasted until the late 1930s or early 1940s...
of the 1930s when it appeared to him that hairdressers and makeup artist
Makeup artist
thumb|[[Michelle Camaclang]], an international-certified professional makeup artistthumb|Special effects makeup techniquesA Make-up artist is an artist whose medium is the human body, applying makeup and prosthetics for theatrical, television, film, fashion, magazines and other similar productions...
s had the best paying jobs. He was one of the first men in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
ever to become licensed as a cosmetologist
Cosmetology
Cosmetology is the study and application of beauty treatment. Branches of specialty including hairstyling, skin care, cosmetics, manicures/pedicures, and electrology....
.
As a young man in Chicago, Redding was teaching chemistry
Chemistry
Chemistry is the science of matter, especially its chemical reactions, but also its composition, structure and properties. Chemistry is concerned with atoms and their interactions with other atoms, and particularly with the properties of chemical bonds....
and working as a hair stylist using beauty products that did not perform to his expectations. He began experimenting with chemicals and other ingredients he found in his kitchen, such as mayonnaise
Mayonnaise
Mayonnaise, , often abbreviated as mayo, is a sauce. It is a stable emulsion of oil, egg yolk and either vinegar or lemon juice, with many options for embellishment with other herbs and spices. Lecithin in the egg yolk is the emulsifier. Mayonnaise varies in color but is often white, cream, or pale...
, vinegar
Vinegar
Vinegar is a liquid substance consisting mainly of acetic acid and water, the acetic acid being produced through the fermentation of ethanol by acetic acid bacteria. Commercial vinegar is produced either by fast or slow fermentation processes. Slow methods generally are used with traditional...
, et cetera, to make his own shampoo
Shampoo
Shampoo is a hair care product used for the removal of oils, dirt, skin particles, dandruff, environmental pollutants and other contaminant particles that gradually build up in hair...
s, rinses and hairdressing solutions to improve the hair of his clients. From that grew the treatments, styling creams and gels
Hair gel
Hair gel is a hairstyling product that is used to stiffen hair into a particular hairstyle. The results it produces are usually similar to, but stronger than, those of hair spray and hair wax, and weaker than those of hair glue.-Types:...
that became known as Jheri Redding Products.
Redding moved to Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
, shortly after World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
was over. Having adopted his unusual nickname
Nickname
A nickname is "a usually familiar or humorous but sometimes pointed or cruel name given to a person or place, as a supposedly appropriate replacement for or addition to the proper name.", or a name similar in origin and pronunciation from the original name....
along the way, he founded Jheri Redding Products Company in 1956, selling a cream rinse he developed. He later co-founded three other major national hair care companies, Redken
Redken
Redken is an American hair care brand owned by L'Oréal Group under the Professional Products division.The company was founded in 1960 by hairdresser/chemist Jheri Redding and actress/model Paula Kent, thus the name, "Red-ken."...
in 1960, Jhirmack in 1968, and, in 1979, Nexxus
Nexxus
NeXXus is an American salon hair care company dually founded in 1979 by American haircare entrepreneur Jheri Redding, founder of three other companies, and son Stephen. The company's name derived from the word "nexus" which means "bond" or "connecting"....
, which he said stood for "Nature and Earth United With Science." These companies continue to operate with different owners.
Marriages and children
He had four wives, 1st wife, Marjorie Silverman Miller, 2nd Selma, 3rd, Irene J. Divorced March 16, 1979., 4th Cheryl Shirleen Lugo, divorced. Jheri had 3 biological children,1st- Robert William (Bill) Redding, married to Linda Anne Redding, January 6, 1963, two sons, Robert William Jherimiah Redding, born August 23, 1963, Thomas James Redding, born March 30, 1970.
2nd son, Stephen J. Redding, married Angie Demourkas, had 3 children, Elisa, Stephanie, and Jheri (married with 2 children). All born in Santa Barbara.
3rd son, Sean Redding married to Natalie Moton, three daughters and three sons.
Jheri had a total of 11 grandchildren, to date. July 5, 2008
Printed works
As he succeeded, the recognized authority on hair color put his ideas into print when he wrote The Anatomy of a Permanent Wave. Redding also assumed a leadership position in the cosmeticsCosmetics
Cosmetics are substances used to enhance the appearance or odor of the human body. Cosmetics include skin-care creams, lotions, powders, perfumes, lipsticks, fingernail and toe nail polish, eye and facial makeup, towelettes, permanent waves, colored contact lenses, hair colors, hair sprays and...
industry and founded the Hollywood Design Council.
Awards and honors
In 1990, Redding was inducted into the National Cosmetology Foundation's Hall of Fame. He was also inducted into the North American Hairstyling Award's Hall of Leaders in 1997.Later life
Redding retired from active involvement with his Nexxus company in 1991. His wealth allowed him to own a variety of race horsesHorse racing
Horse racing is an equestrian sport that has a long history. Archaeological records indicate that horse racing occurred in ancient Babylon, Syria, and Egypt. Both chariot and mounted horse racing were events in the ancient Greek Olympics by 648 BC...
, including one named Itsallgreektome
Itsallgreektome
Itsallgreektome was an American Thoroughbred Champion racehorse. Sired by Sovereign Dancer, who also sired Preakness Stakes winners Gate Dancer and Louis Quatorze, he was out of the mare Sans Supplement, a daughter of Grey Dawn, who was a multiple stakes winner in France.The winner of top stakes...
that placed a close second in the Breeders' Cup
Breeders' Cup
The Breeders' Cup World Championships is an annual series of Thoroughbred horse races, most but not all Grade I, operated by Breeders' Cup Limited, a company formed in 1982. From its inception in 1984 through 2006, it was a single-day event; starting in 2007, it expanded to two days. The location...
in 1990 and 1991.
Jheri Redding died at age 91 at Cottage Hospital
Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital
Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital is a hospital in the city of Santa Barbara, California. It is owned and operated by Cottage Health System.It is the only Level II trauma center between Los Angeles and the Bay Area on coastal California...
in Santa Barbara
Santa Barbara, California
Santa Barbara is the county seat of Santa Barbara County, California, United States. Situated on an east-west trending section of coastline, the longest such section on the West Coast of the United States, the city lies between the steeply-rising Santa Ynez Mountains and the Pacific Ocean...
. He is interred at the Santa Barbara Cemetery, in Sunset Section, Lot 70, Grave 08.