In 2009, Schwarzkopf celebrated 111 years of business! 111 years ago, chemist Hans Schwarzkopf ran a small drugstore in Berlin called "The Dye, Drug and Perfumery Store" and laid the foundations for one of the world's foremost hair cosmetics businesses. Today Schwarzkopf - one of the strongest umbrella brands of Henkel - covers all products in the categories of hair colouring, care and styling. Thanks to its extraordinary growth over the years, Schwarzkopf ranks among the market leaders. Alongside its retail brands such as Taft, Schauma, Gliss and Brillance (Schwarzkopf Retail), the Schwarzkopf brand portfolio also includes professional products (Schwarzkopf Professional). Henkel is dedicated to the development of innovative product technologies and currently holds over 7,600 patents. Schwarzkopf, always in tune with the spirit of the times, has repeatedly revolutionized the market with technical breakthroughs and innovations. The founding chemist Hans Schwarzkopf's first formula in 1903, was an instant hit with his female customers. The water-soluble powder shampoo, "The Shampoo with the Black Head," (the distinctive Schwarzkopf logo that has evolved over the years) offered an easy-to-use and value-for-money alternative to the expensive oils and harsh soaps of the time. Not only were all Berlin's drugstores supplied with "The Shampoo with the Black Head," but growing demand led to international marketing contacts in the Netherlands and in Russia. The changing head of the Schwarzkopf logo - 1906, 1908, 1936 and 1937 A boon to the "modern woman," Hans Schwarzkopf launched his latest innovation on the market in 1927: the world's first liquid shampoo. Only one year later Schwarzkopf was granted a patent for a hair conditioner, Schwarzkopf Haarglanz (hair gloss). This was followed in 1933 by Onalkali, the world's first alkali-free shampoo, which became the prototype for all modern shampoos. Medium-long, naturally flowing hairstyles were particularly favoured after the end of World War II. Unfortunately, the permanent waves of the time could hardly be described as "hair-friendly." The market was once more revolutionized in 1947 with the advent of Onaltherma, the first ever cold perm from Schwarzkopf. This allowed a permanent wave without needing to heat the hair to 100 degrees Celsius. At the beginning of the 1920s, film stars from the booming movie industry started wearing short hairstyles as a mark of their emancipation. The pageboy look became synonymous with the fashion of the Twenties, and hair care became even more important. Hans Schwarzkopf's original small drugstore in Berlin called "The Dye, Drug and Perfumery Store"7 In 1949 Schwarzkopf introduced the first ever cream shampoo in a tube - a revolutionary product innovation that paved the way for the mass marketing of shampoos in Germany. The name Schauma Creme-Schaumpon became the synonym for the term shampoo, and the Schauma brand became a household name. Left: In 1947 Schwarzkopf introduced the first cold perm Onaltherma - freeing women from the tortuous treatments of the past! Along with swing, rock 'n' roll and petticoats, the 1950s ushered in new attitudes and lifestyles - and new hairstyles, too. No woman would think of leaving the house without elaborately and immaculately styled hair. A new name emerged: Taft, "The liquid hairnet" became one of the best-known articles of the German economic boom years, and the expression "Tafting" entered the language as a synonym for "spraying with hairspray." The hippie movement marked the 1960s, and the miniskirt became the fashion item of the decade. In 1960, Schwarzkopf Professional launched the premium hair colourant Igora Royal, which became one of the most significant brands worldwide in the professional hairdressing sector. Bell-bottoms and platform shoes characterized the 1970s. Manes of curls a? la Farrah Fawcett were paraded in the discos, and the perm was the "in" look. Fully in keeping with the times, Schwarzkopf introduced the "Schwarzkopf method," the first ever integrated approach to permanent waving, comprising consulting, technology and training. With the introduction of the colour mousse Igora Toning to European salons in 1975, the colouring and toning of hair became even simpler. Already an issue in the 1970s, environmental protection remained one of the most important social topics during the 1980s. Far ahead of its time, Schwarzkopf was the first international cosmetics manufacturer to react, adapting Taft in 1987 and using only CFC-free propellants. Now blow-dried styles, mullets and Mohicans could be styled without harm to the environment. The 1990s brought a yearning for natural products. Schwarzkopf responded to this demand as early as 1991, introducing plant-based colourants with Igora Botanic. This semi-permanent colourant was free of pesticides, herbicides and fungicides, achieving its effect through the industry's first ever biodegradable organic formula. In 1995, Schwarzkopf was acquired by Henkel and evolved into one of the Europe's leading hair cosmetic manufacturers. In 1998, the year of Schwarzkopf's centenary, yet another groundbreaking innovation was launched - Re-Nature, the first self-pigmenting product for greying hair. Its revolutionary formula reacts with the oxygen in the air and restores greying hair to its original colour. Sexy, trendy, and inspired by top stylists in the new millennium, the hip styling series OSiS from Schwarzkopf Professional set new standards in styling techniques. In 2002, Schwarzkopf Professional brought out a professional hair care program, BC Hair Therapy, especially designed to meet the needs of individual hair types. The styling products from the Silhouette range were also re-developed at this time in collaboration with styling experts. 2003 saw the opening of the Flagship Academy Schwarzkopf (ASK) in Tokyo and the celebrated premiere of the German Hairdressing Award, the largest independent photo competition for the German hairdressing industry. The advent of the premium hair care range SEAH Hairspa from Schwarzkopf Professional transforms daily hair care into a moment of pure luxury and pleasure. With the opening of the London ASK Academy in 2004, Schwarzkopf Professional expanded its international training and seminar opportunities for hairdressers, thus strengthening Schwarzkopf's standing in the international market. In the same year, inspired by the latest trends from L.A. and New York, the streetstyle series göt2b from Schwarzkopf created a splash with attention-grabbing names such as "Lockmittel" (Bait) and "Groößenwahn" (Delusions of Grandeur). Since 2005, a systematic innovations process has enabled Schwarzkopf to bring new developments to the market more rapidly than ever before. The Schwarzkopf "Retoucher" allows the toning of hair roots between salon visits. Natural & Easy offers colours that never appear monotonous, thanks to exclusive Multi-Accentuation Technology. Taft launched the Silk-touch line, and göt2b conquered the European market as the styling series for trendsetters. In 2006, the hair care specialist Gliss augmented its product range with the innovative Total Repair 19 Formula, and Taft introduced its Senso-Touch Effect to its products. Brillance Luminance, the fashion-oriented colouring range especially for dark hair also made its debut on the market at this time. Schwarzkopf Professional relaunched Igora Royal as the first hair colourant to be designed in cooperation with professional stylists. In 2007, Schwarzkopf professional achieved yet another breakthrough in hair care for him and her with Active Dr. Hoting. This innovative patent-pending active-ingredients formula containing carnitine tartrate has proven its effectiveness against non-illness-related hair loss. Men Perfect, the care and toning gel for men, allows the modern man to fashionably intensify his hair colour. Schwarzkopf Professional developed BlondMe, a 360-degree hair colouring concept, comprising forty individual blonde shades, professional hairdresser training, and care and styling products for home use. A further breakthrough in professional hair cosmetics arrived on the scene with BC Time Restore - the first ever hair care system with the active ingredient Q10 reactivates the hair's natural production of keratins. Top model Heidi Klum accepts the role of ambassador for Schwarzkopf's Taft brand, the two making a perfect team for beauty and professional competence. 2008 A new consumer group - the "LOHAS" - turns the conscious lifestyle awareness of 2008 into one of the biggest social trends of our time, and Schwarzkopf delivers the products that these consumers demand. With Essensity, Schwarzkopf Professional offers an entire range of colouring, care and styling products containing pure natural essences - and completely free of artificial fragrances, silicones, paraffin and mineral oils, and parabens. 2009 saw yet more convincing innovations from Schwarzkopf. A colourant that set new standards, Essential Color is Schwarzkopf's most natural colourant without ammonia and with naturally-derived ingredients for intensive and radiant hair colouring with an added care effect. For women who have thinning hair that needs care comes Schauma's Schauma Q10 Replenishing range. This rich formula helps to stimulate the hair's own keratin production. The hair is strengthened from root to tip, gaining in volume and suppleness. For men with thinning hair, Schauma Hair Activator offers an effective care program. This powerful formula containing caffeine stimulates hair growth factors and reactivates the hair roots. Asia Straight, the new line from Gliss with its unique cell repair technology, smoothes rebellious hair intensively without the need for straightening irons. The Asia straightening formula with bamboo and orchid essences repairs the structure of the hair. Taft Ultra with Silk Touch combines seemingly irreconcilable opposites: ultra strong hold and a silky hair feel. Click here to see more Schwarzkopf Styles