About Schwarzkopf
Schwarzkopf stands as one of the world's most respected haircare brands, bringing over 120 years of German innovation to hair colour, styling, and care. From inventing the first powdered shampoo in 1904 to leading today's home hair colour market, Schwarzkopf has consistently pioneered products that transform how people care for and style their hair. The brand's combination of scientific expertise and accessible pricing has made it a trusted name in UK bathrooms and salons alike. The Schwarzkopf story begins in 1898 when Hans Schwarzkopf, a young German chemist, opened a "paint, drug and perfume shop" on Passauer Strasse in Berlin-Charlottenburg. A pivotal moment came when a customer asked him to order a powdered shampoo she'd seen in the UK. After initially declining, Schwarzkopf decided to develop his own formula. Several years of experimentation produced the revolutionary powdered shampoo in 1904 - a product that cost 20 pfennigs per treatment and proved vastly superior to existing hair-washing soaps. The "shampoo with the black head" (Schwarzkopf means "black head" in German) became Germany's first branded hair cosmetic product. Schwarzkopf established itself as an industry pioneer through continuous innovation. The brand created the first dry shampoo, the first liquid shampoo, the first hairspray (Taft), the first cold perm, and the first home colour product. When Schwarzkopf launched shampoo tubes known as 'Schauma Creme-Schaumpon' in Germany, it was so successful that 'Schauma' became shorthand for 'shampoo' in the country. Similarly, Taft hairspray spawned the German verb 'taften' meaning 'to spray with hairspray' - testament to the brand's cultural impact. Hans Schwarzkopf died in 1921, but his wife Martha took over company management, running it until 1935 when she passed control to their three sons. Open to innovation, Martha founded the Schwarzkopf Hair Research Center in 1927. In 1930, the company began distributing products to hair salons, establishing the professional salon business that continues today. The dual focus on consumer retail and professional salon products distinguishes Schwarzkopf from many competitors. In 1995, German chemical and consumer goods giant Henkel acquired Hans Schwarzkopf GmbH. This acquisition doubled Henkel's Beauty Care business unit sales and provided resources to expand Schwarzkopf globally. Today, Schwarzkopf operates as Henkel's flagship hair cosmetics brand, benefiting from significant research and development investment whilst maintaining its identity as an innovative specialist. The Schwarzkopf UK product portfolio spans three core categories: hair colour, hair styling, and hair care. Within these categories, several distinct sub-brands target different consumer needs and preferences. LIVE represents Schwarzkopf's vibrant colour range, offering "Colour Like No Other" from natural tones to bright and bold shades. The LIVE Intense Colour range delivers permanent hair dye with intense, long-lasting results. The LIVE Colour & Care bonding colour mask provides vibrant colour with conditioning benefits in a single step. LIVE Ultra Brights brings electric, temporary shades for those seeking bold self-expression. Oleo Intense targets consumers seeking permanent colour with comprehensive grey coverage. Formulated with oil-based technology, Oleo Intense delivers up to 100% grey coverage whilst caring for hair. The HaptIQ technology reduces hair breakage by up to 90% during the colouring process. Rich, natural-looking results appeal to mature consumers maintaining their colour. got2b brings creative styling and colour products for younger, trend-focused consumers. The iconic got2b Glued range provides extreme hold for edges, brows, and dramatic styles. got2b Color products include Color Remix, a semi-permanent kit lasting up to 15 washes with adjustable intensity via the included pastelizer. The Metallics collection offers trendy metallic shades with multi-dimensional radiance. got2b Bleach It enables lightening up to 8 levels with an easy-application gel formula. All got2b Color products are vegan-friendly and include application accessories. Taft hairspray continues the legacy of Schwarzkopf's original 1955 innovation - the world's first hairspray. Modern Taft products offer various hold levels from flexible to extreme, maintaining the brand's reputation for weather-resistant styling protection. The professional division, Schwarzkopf Professional, serves salons with advanced formulations and educational programmes. Products like IGORA Royal and BlondMe command premium positioning in the professional colour market. Strong relationships with celebrity stylists drive innovation that eventually reaches consumer products. Schwarzkopf products are widely available across UK retailers. Boots stocks comprehensive ranges across all sub-brands. Supermarkets including Tesco, Sainsbury's, Asda, and Morrisons carry popular colour and styling products. Superdrug and independent chemists offer selections with competitive pricing. Salon-quality professional products are available through specialist beauty suppliers. When comparing Schwarzkopf to competitors like L'Oreal Paris, Garnier, and Clairol, Schwarzkopf's German engineering heritage distinguishes it. The LIVE range competes with bold-colour brands on vibrancy, whilst Oleo Intense targets the premium home colour segment. got2b addresses trend-driven younger consumers that mainstream brands may overlook. The professional pedigree adds credibility that purely consumer brands cannot match. For UK consumers seeking hair colour and styling products backed by over 120 years of German innovation, Schwarzkopf delivers salon expertise at high-street prices. Whether you're covering greys, experimenting with bold colours, or styling for maximum impact, Schwarzkopf offers proven formulations for every need. Using Grocefully to compare Schwarzkopf prices across UK retailers ensures you find the best deals on these trusted haircare products.