Is Paul Mitchell Still Cruelty-Free? | 2017 Animal Testing Policy + Vegan Products

But is Paul Mitchell cruelty-free? They did not recommit to the Leaping Bunny program in 2017, so we reached out to them to make sure nothing changed in their policy.

They confirmed that they don't test finished products or ingredients on animals. They also stated that their suppliers don't test on animals, and no third parties test on animals on their behalf. They don't test on animals where required by law and their products aren't sold in China. Paul Mitchell remains certified by PETA and does not have a parent company.

Keep reading for the full policy as well as a Q&A. There's also a list of Paul Mitchell vegan products at the end of the post.

At A Glance

• Finished products tested on animals: No
• Ingredients tested on animals: No
• Third party animal testing: No
• Tested on animals where required by law: No
• Sold in mainland China: No
• Certifications: PETA
• Parent company: None
• Parent company status: N/A

PETA Certification

Paul Mitchell is certified by PETA as being cruelty-free. PETA also confirmed that Paul Mitchell does not sell their products in China, where animal testing is required by law for foreign cosmetics.

From the Website

Paul Mitchell's website has a "Behind the Bottle" page dedicated to their animal testing policy, and it reads:

In 1980, we became the first professional beauty company to publicly stand up against animal testing. Now, nearly 35 years later, that pledge to our furry friends remains a driving force in all that we do. Just last year, Paul Mitchell® Co-founder John Paul DeJoria made the decision to stop selling our products in China when animal testing became a mandate, reaffirming our steadfast commitment to being cruelty-free.

In addition, the company furthers their stance on the Paul Mitchell blog. Here is an excerpt from a post they shared in February 2017:

Here at Paul Mitchell, we’re passionate about beauty from the inside out. And that commitment has been at the core of all that we do since we began in 1980. That’s why we were the first professional beauty company to publicly stand up against animal testing—and 37 years later, we’re still rockin’ that pledge to our furry friends.
Testing on animals is cruel and unnecessary, yet a lot of beauty brands still engage in this ugly practice. Not us! We never have, and we never will. Testing on actual humans makes way more sense, and that’s why we’re proud to have our very own Production Innovation Center to perfect our products for you.

And you know what? We didn’t stop there. Because we love our animal friends so much, we’ve committed to carrying only vegan leather shear cases and styling accessories, and all of our brushes are made with synthetic bristles rather than animal hair (Because, surprise! Those animals aren’t “donating” their hair to the beauty cause.). In addition to being cruelty-free, nylon brushes are more hygienic since they’re easier to clean and repel bacteria more effectively than animal hair. That’s a win for you and a win for the animals!

We’re so passionate about this cause that going forward in 2017, we’re featuring a new “No Animal Testing” logo on all of our products to emphasize and highlight our dedication. We want you to know that when you use Paul Mitchell, you’re making the world a more beautiful place … one fabulous hairstyle—and compassionate purchase—at a time.

Q&A With Paul Mitchell

Since the policy on the Paul Mitchell website and blog isn't complete, I reached out to ask them specific questions. Here are their answers, with my questions in bold.

1. Does your company test on animals, either for finished products or ingredients?

No.

2. Do your suppliers test on animals?

No.

3. Does your company hire or allow third parties to test on animals on your behalf?

No.

4. Do you test on animals where required by law?

No. Our products are only available in those locations (referring to salons, Loxa Beauty and Neon Hair).

5. Are your products sold in mainland China?

No.

Paul Mitchell Vegan Product List

In addition to the vegan leather styling accessories and synthetic brushes mentioned in their blog post, many of Paul Mitchell's hair care products are vegan-friendly. Here is the impressively long full list of products which are labeled as vegan on their website:

Bottom Line

Paul Mitchell is a confirmed cruelty-free company, and is included in our cruelty-free list!

Image at the top: Paul Mitchell.

Which Brands Are Cruelty-Free?

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