My curiosity led me down a rabbit hole of all the different companies I could think of that currently produce professional hair colors. This is by no means the most comprehensive list of all the companies in the world. Also, I am only including the times that the particular brands were created, plus the website where the information came from. Some have a lot more interesting things that I would like to go back and research more.
Schwarzkopf: founded in 1898 as a drugstore by chemist Hans Schwarzkopf
-- www.schwarzkopf.com.au/skau/en/home/schwartzkopf/about_us/history.html
L'oreal: Founded in 1909 by chemist Eugene Schueller
-- www.loreal.com/group/history/1909-1956
Wella: In 1924 Franz Stroher and his sons, Karl and George, filed a patent on the name Wella, meaning wave, at the German patent office
-- www.wella.com/professional/en-US/family-history#/?_k=zevuh0
Kenra: Begins in 1929 in Indianapolis with "no tweeze" wax depilatory. Purchased in 1959 by Henry J. Meyers
-- www.kenraprofessional/our-story/#sm.0000170gs9fh9xcwquccoa6gics7g
Clairol: Purchased in 1931 by Lawrence and Joan Gelb from the Parisian company Le Parfume de Mury and bring to the US
-- www.clairol.com/en-US/inside-clairol
Roux: Developed in 1932 by George Kremer Jr.
-- rouxbeauty.com/about-roux
Goldwell: Hans Erich Dotter establishes the Goldwell Fabrikate in 1948
-- ca.goldwell.com/brand/goldwell-history/
Redken: Createded in 1960 by Jehri Redding and Paula Kent. Redding was developing a low Ph product for Kent
-- www.redken.com/about-redken
Joico: Founded in LA in 1975 by Steve Stefano
-- www.joico.com/about/
Paul Mitchell: In 1980 John Paul Mitchell and John Paul DeJoria found John Paul Mitchell Systems with only $700 of their own money
-- www.paulmitchell.com/company/
Matrix: Founded in 1980 by Arnie and Sydell Miller
-- www.matrix.com/we-are-matrix
Scruples: Began as a family run business in 1983
-- scrupleshaircare.com/about-us/
Rusk: Founded by Irvine and Louise Rusk in 1993
-- http://focusonhair.com/article/irvine-louise-rusk
Pravana: Founded in 2004 by Steve Goddard. Pravana is a Sanskrit phrase: The source of all things
-- www.pravana.com/pravana-our-philosophy
