Our Promise of an Honest Partnership
We aim to help companies thrive, by delivering natural, high quality products that raise the standards in the beauty and wellness industry.
Vege Labs is your partner in the formulation, product development and manufacturing of beauty and wellness products. From the research and development of new or existing concepts, to compounding, filling and packaging, Vege Labs is your "easy button" for creativity, productivity and on-time success.
We are a distinctive team comprised of friendly experts within our field, welcoming start-up entrepreneurs, as well as well-established brands, with an easy going, nurturing culture. We pride ourselves on our honest customer care and focus on timeliness, quality and competitively priced solutions.
We will go the extra mile to ensure your success.
Original retail box of the Vege-Kurl Home Permanent Wave System
Our Heritage
A. Conrad Huffman, a pioneer in naturally and organically-based health, beauty and personal care formulations, founded Vege-Kurl Inc. in 1959. The "Vege-Kurl Home Permanent Wave System" was Conrad's first successful consumer product brought to market in 1960. The Vege name has remained through the decades as a proud reminder of our founder's philosophy that nature and science could exist in harmony, thus creating synergies that would benefit consumers with high-quality, truly beneficial cosmetic and personal care products. With this in mind, we have been helping our customers develop and package their products for well over 60 years!
A Little History
The following are selected images of A. Conrad Huffman's development of the Vege-Kurl Permanent Wave, ads from that era and the first of three retail Beauty Salons beginning in 1954 on historic Brand Boulevard in Glendale, California.
Giving back to nature.
This photograph of Conrad & Helen Huffman was taken with their friend, Dr. James A. Duke, on October 4th, 1996 at the ACEER Foundation in Washington D.C. The ACEER Foundation (Amazon Center for Environmental Education and Research) is an international non-profit organization dedicated to the conservation of the magnificent biodiversity and rich cultural heritage of the Amazon Rainforest. Conrad supported their environmental programs and research and his commitment has stayed with us over the years.
If you would like to visit their website to learn how to become more involved with saving the Amazonian Rainforest, please click here.
The ACEER Foundation designs and implements transformative, experiential learning that develops local and global environmental leaders who work to conserve and restore functioning landscapes in the Amazon Basin and beyond.
A Brief Timeline
1949
Conrad and Helen Huffman open “A. Conrad Salon”, the first of three retail beauty salons located in Glendale, Montrose and La Canada, California.
1959
Vege-Kurl is founded by Conrad and Helen Huffman. The Vege-Kurl Organic Odorless Permanent Wave product is developed. It contains no harsh reactive chemicals and is “fortified with organic vegetable nutrients”.
1973
Vege-Kurl begins contract manufacturing with Jheri Redding to produce the Vege-Kurl perm formula under the Jhirmack brand. In subsequent years, more products are developed for Jhirmack and the company focuses on growing the contract manufacturing business.
1978
Conrad Huffman is invited to present a range of product concepts for Jheri Redding’s new company, Nexxus: shampoos, conditioners, sprays, etc. These become a part of Nexxus’ original product lineup, helping Vege-Kurl expand its manufacturing quarters at the current business location.
1988
The Vege Tech Company division is introduced to develop, manufacture and market botanical extracts and natural ingredients for the beauty market.
2007
Vege-Kurl purchases the equipment assets of JOAR Labs Inc. (a local competing personal care contract manufacturer). The corporate marriage brings together JOAR’s formula development expertise with Vege-Kurl’s operational expertise and capacity.
2012
Vege-Kurl purchases all remaining assets of JOAR Labs (including the book of business, good will and customer formulas). This entitles Vege-Kurl to use the JOAR brand name and gives them full access to their client list.
2021
In February 2021, Vege Kurl undergoes a change in ownership, with investments from institutional capital. The company is renamed Vege Labs.