What Kemon does

Kemon SpA is a privately held Italian professional hair care manufacturer founded in 1959 in San Giustino, Umbria, and still controlled by the founding Nocentini family in its third generation. The company operates exclusively in the professional hairstyling channel, developing and selling colour, bleaching, and care products to salons and stylists worldwide. Its core product lines include the Yo Color System (a yogurt-based, ammonia-free colour trilogy of NaYo, Yo Green, and Yo Cond), the Cramer Color System (permanent and tone-on-tone colour with Shield technology and coconut oil), and the Lunex System (a comprehensive bleaching range with eight specialized SKUs), alongside the Colorful direct dye line.

Kemon's technical differentiation rests on two proprietary formulation platforms developed in collaboration with Vivacell Biotechnology (Germany) and the University of Ferrara. The Velian Complex is a patented blend of four organically grown plant extracts (Verbascum densiflorum, Helichrysum italicum, Linum usitatissimum, Anthemis tinctoria) with documented anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and antioxidant properties, cultivated on the company's 20-hectare Kemon Open Lab. The Bond Creator Complex is a patent-protected molecular system (registered in Italy and USA, pending in Europe) that restores disulfide bridges in hair during chemical processing. The company holds ISO 9001, ISO 14001, ISO 22716 GMP, and ISO 45001 certifications, and sources 100% renewable energy from Gruppo Dolomiti Energia.

Kemon's go-to-market is community-led and trade-exclusive: products are sold only through professional salons via direct B2B relationships, with the United States served exclusively through Solve Beauty Brands (Derry, NH). The company supports adoption through owned training academies in San Giustino and Milano, online education portals (kemonnorthamerica.com, kemoneducation.com), certified training programs, and the K-NOW editorial platform. Revenue is generated from product sales to salons and complementary training/education services; pricing is not publicly disclosed. The company maintains nine-language website localization and operates as a public limited company (SpA) under Italian jurisdiction, with no external investors, funding rounds, M&A activity, or IPO.

Name

Kemon

Legal name

Kemon SpA

Website

https://kemon.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1959

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Kemon SpA is a family-owned Italian professional hair care manufacturer founded in 1959, selling exclusive salon-channel colour, bleaching, and care products built on patented botanical complexes (Velian, Bond Creator) and supported by owned training academies.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Professional Hair Care Products

NAICS

Cosmetics, Beauty Supplies, and Perfume Retailers (456120)

SIC

Perfumes, Cosmetics & Other Toilet Preparations (2844)

akta.pro primary industry

Professional Hair Color (CRABALAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

Professional Hair Care (Shampoo, Conditioner, Treatments) (CRABALAB)

Keywords

• Professional hair coloring
• Hair bleaching systems
• Salon professional products
• Botanical hair formulations
• Hair color chemistry

Headquarters

HQ city

San Giustino

HQ country

Italy

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Professional Hair Care Products: Kemon develops and sells professional hair colour, bleach, and care products exclusively to professional hair stylists and salons. Products include Yo Color System, Cramer Color, Lunex System (bleaching), and related care lines. Revenue is generated through direct B2B sales to salons, supplemented by training and education services.
2. Professional Education and Training: Kemon provides certified training programs for hair stylists through its network of owned academies (San Giustino, Milano) and online portals. Training seminars share in-depth specialist knowledge, contributing to the professional growth of stylists while driving product adoption.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Kemon develops, manufactures, and sells professional hair coloring, bleaching, and care products exclusively to hair salons and stylists through direct B2B channels. The portfolio includes the Yo Color System, Cramer Color System, and Lunex bleaching system, formulated with patented proprietary complexes (Velian Complex and Bond Creator Complex). The company supports product adoption through a community-led education ecosystem anchored by owned training academies in San Giustino and Milan, online education portals, and the K-NOW editorial magazine.

Product overview

Kemon is a professional hair care and coloring company offering a comprehensive portfolio organized into distinct product systems. The core offering comprises the Yo Color System (yogurt-based coloring with NaYo, Yo Green, and Yo Cond products), the Cramer Color System (Shield technology-based permanent and tone-on-tone coloring), and the Lunex System (professional bleaching with 9 specialized products including powder bleaches, cream bleaches, lightening treatments, and the Colorful direct dye). The portfolio is unified by proprietary ingredients including Velian Complex (patented botanical blend) and Bond Creator Complex (restorative molecule complex). The company also provides professional training through its Kemon Style Lab academies.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Lunex System: Professional hair bleaching system with safe and advanced formulations for conscious hair lightening.
• Cramer Color
• Yo Color System
• NaYo
• Yo Green
• Yo Cond
• Velian Complex
• Bond Creator Complex

Products and services

• Yo Color System

Quantifiable outcome

• Velian Complex provides remarkable anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and antioxidant properties, with synergistic effects superior to the sum of individual plant extracts
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Fondazione Archeologia ArboreaminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2015Since 2015, Kemon has been a founding member of Fondazione Archeologia Arborea in Città di Castello, an ancient orchard preserving approximately 400 ancient and rare fruit tree species. The foundation supports biodiversity conservation and provides a reservoir of botanical heritage aligned with Kemon's natural ingredient philosophy.
• Vivacell BiotechnologycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVivacell Biotechnology (Denzlingen, Germany) collaborated with Kemon and the University of Ferrara on the scientific research and development of the Velian Complex, a patented phyto-complex with documented anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and antioxidant properties. This partnership represents the core scientific foundation of Kemon's product differentiation.
• University of FerraracoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe University of Ferrara collaborated with Kemon and Vivacell Biotechnology on studies demonstrating the efficacy of the Velian Complex. The research proved synergistic effects of the botanical mixture superior to the sum of individual extracts, validating Kemon's scientific claims.
• Solve Beauty BrandscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSolve Beauty Brands (23A Crystal Ave, Unit 4, Derry, NH 03038, USA) is the exclusive importer and distributor of Kemon products in the United States. Contact: Tel: (603) 624-2322, Toll-Free: (800) 262-4247. They manage US sales, marketing, and distribution of Kemon's professional hair care line.
• Gruppo Dolomiti EnergiaminorOthersGruppo Dolomiti Energia supplies Kemon with 100% clean, renewable multi-utility energy from power plants in the Eastern Alps, supporting Kemon's sustainability commitments and voluntary Kyoto Protocol compliance.
• FAI - Fondo Ambiente ItalianominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerKemon has been a Corporate Golden Donor of FAI (Fondo Ambiente Italiano) since 2014, supporting the preservation of Italian environmental heritage. This partnership reflects Kemon's commitment to sustainability and environmental responsibility.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves1 record

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• Olaplex: US-based professional bond-repair hair care brand (publicly listed) whose core technology focuses on rebuilding disulfide bonds in hair during coloring and bleaching. Overlaps directly with Kemon's patented Bond Creator Complex in mechanism and target use case, representing both an emerging alternative and validation of the bond-repair technology category.

Direct peers

• Framesi: Italian professional hair care company with strong global salon presence, offering color (Framcolor), bleach and care products. Italian origin and professional-only positioning make it a close regional peer to Kemon.
• Redken (L'Oréal): US-originated professional hair care brand now owned by L'Oréal, selling color, care, and styling through salons. Directly competes with Kemon in the US professional channel where Kemon is distributed via Solve Beauty Brands.
• L'Oréal Professionnel: Global leader in professional hair color (Inoa, Majirel, Dia Light) and care distributed through salons; division of L'Oréal Group with massive R&D and marketing scale. Competes head-on with Kemon's Yo Color and Cramer Color systems in the same professional channel.
• Davines: Italian professional hair care company headquartered in Parma, founded 1983, selling sustainable, naturally-derived color, care and styling products through salons globally. Highly comparable to Kemon in Italian heritage, professional channel focus, sustainability positioning, and B2B salon sales motion.
• Schwarzkopf Professional (Henkel): Major global professional hair color (Igora Royal) and care brand owned by Henkel, sold exclusively through salons. Directly competitive with Kemon in professional hair color and bleach across markets worldwide.
• Alfaparf Group (incl. Yellow, Prorelax, Becky's): Italian-based professional hair care manufacturer headquartered near Milan with global distribution to salons. Competes directly with Kemon in professional hair color, bleach, and care; comparable in being Italy-rooted and serving the same stylist-led professional channel.
• Wella (Professional division): One of the world's largest professional hair color and care brands (Wella Koleston, Blondor, Illumina, Sebastian), now owned by KKR via Wella Company. Directly competes with Kemon across professional hair color, bleach, and care lines in salons globally.
• Keune Hair Cosmetics: Dutch family-owned professional hair care manufacturer (founded 1922), selling semi-permanent and permanent color, bleach, and care products through salons worldwide. Closely comparable to Kemon in being family-owned, multi-generational, and professional-channel-only.
• Goldwell (Kao): German professional hair color (Topchic, Elumen) and care brand owned by Kao Corporation, distributed through salons. Highly comparable professional-focused hair color competitor with strong education-led GTM.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/kemon.italia
• Instagraminstagram.com/kemonofficial
• Xx.com/KemonSpain

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Kemon