Who Owns epres?
epres is owned by Epres LLC, a private company founded and controlled by Dr. Eric Pressly, the materials scientist who co-invented Olaplex's bond-building chemistry. Headquartered in Santa Barbara, California, epres launched in 2022 with a patented acid-free bond repair treatment for salon and home use. The brand is independent, founder-owned, and has taken no institutional funding.
Who Owns epres?
- Parent Company: Epres LLC
- Ownership Type: Wholly owned
- Company Type: Privately Held
| Brand | Parent Company | Ownership Type |
|---|---|---|
| epres | Epres LLC | Wholly owned |
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History of epres
- Founded: 2022
- Founders: Dr. Eric Pressly
Eric Pressly's route to epres ran through the brand that made bond repair famous. A materials scientist with a PhD and a background in pharmaceutical development, Pressly co-invented the active technology behind Olaplex, which created the bond-building hair care category in 2014.
After Olaplex grew into a public company, Pressly went back to the chemistry, working at his Santa Barbara home on a simpler system that removed the acid and the multi-step routine of first-generation bond builders. He incorporated Epres LLC in mid-2022 and launched the Bond Repair Treatment, a one-step, water-based product powered by what he patented as Biodiffusion technology, which keeps moving into the hair and repairing after it dries.
The goop retailer partnership in September 2023 gave the brand its first national retail placement, and goop accepted it as its only bond builder. The line has since grown to a repair shampoo, conditioner, and styling spray. Industry coverage in 2026 ranked epres alongside K18 as the most credible challenger to Olaplex, remarkable for a brand with no outside capital and a fraction of its competitors' distribution.
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About Epres LLC
Who owns epres? Epres is privately owned by its founder, Dr. Eric Pressly, through Epres LLC. It is independent and not part of any larger beauty group.
Did Eric Pressly invent Olaplex? Pressly co-invented the bond-building chemistry used in Olaplex before founding epres in 2022. He now leads the newer company, which competes directly with the category he helped create.
Where is epres made? Epres is headquartered in Santa Barbara, California. The company describes its products as professionally formulated in the United States.
Is epres vegan and cruelty-free? The company describes its products as vegan and cruelty-free, though these are self-declared claims rather than third-party certifications.
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- Founded: 2022
- Headquarters: Santa Barbara, California, United States
- Company Type: Privately Held
Where Is epres Made / Based?
- Headquarters: Santa Barbara, California, USA
- Manufacturing / Operations: United States
epres Categories & Tags
epres Sustainability & Ethics
epres markets vegan, cruelty-free, and acid-free formulations, with reduced packaging and a concentrate format that lowers shipping weight. These claims are self-declared rather than certified by third parties such as Leaping Bunny.
epres Ownership: Pros & Cons
Advantages
- +Founder invented the bond repair category, an unmatched credibility asset
- +Independent, unfunded structure keeps product decisions fast
- +Clean formulation and one-step system differentiate from multi-step rivals
Considerations
- -Minimal team and no outside capital limit growth and marketing reach
- -Every major rival is backed by Henkel, Unilever, or L'Oreal
- -Single-product-category concentration
Sources & Further Reading
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Competitors to epres
These competing brands operate in the same categories and provide similar products or services. Compare key attributes to understand market positioning and competitive landscape.
| Brand | Parent Company | Country | Founded | Market Position | Primary Market | Gender Target |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unilever | USA | 2020 | Mass market | Global | All Genders | |
| Unilever | USA | 2005 | Mass market | Global | All Genders | |
| Henkel | USA | 2014 | Premium | Global | Unisex | |
| Loreal | USA | 1960 | Premium | Global | All Genders | |
| Virtue Labs | USA | 2014 | Mass market | United states | All Genders |
Learn More About Competitors
Beauty Personal CareK18
Owned by Unilever plc
Biotech hair care brand known for the K18Peptide molecular repair mask, majority-owned by Unilever since February 2024.
hair-carebond-repairprestige-beauty
Beauty Personal CareLiving Proof
Owned by Unilever plc
Science-led hair care brand founded by MIT-linked researchers, part of Unilever Prestige since December 2016.
hair-careprestige-beautyscience-based
Beauty Personal CareOlaplex
Owned by Henkel AG & Co. KGaA
Prestige hair care brand specializing in bond-building treatments, acquired by Henkel AG in July 2026 for $1.4 billion.
hair-carebond-buildingprestige-beauty
Beauty Personal CareRedken
Owned by L'Oréal S.A.
Professional salon hair care brand founded by Paula Kent and Jheri Redding, owned by L'Oreal since 1993.
hair-careprofessional-hairsalon
Beauty Personal CareVirtue
Owned by Virtue Labs, LLC
Prestige hair care brand built on Alpha Keratin 60ku human protein technology, sold through Sephora and salons.
hair-careprestige-beautykeratin
Competitive Analysis
Market Positioning: epres competes with 5 brands in the same categories, ranging from mass market to luxury positioning.
Geographic Distribution: Competitors are headquartered across multiple regions, indicating global competition in this market segment.
Brand Heritage: Competitor brands range from established heritage brands to newer market entrants, with founding years spanning several decades.
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Independent Alternatives to epres
Looking for brands with different ownership structures? These similar brands are not owned by Epres LLC, giving you alternative choices that support different corporate structures.
Beauty Personal CareK18
Owned by Unilever plc
Biotech hair care brand known for the K18Peptide molecular repair mask, majority-owned by Unilever since February 2024.
hair-carebond-repairprestige-beauty
Publicly Traded
K18 is owned by Unilever plc, a public company, a different structure than epres's parent.
Beauty Personal CareVirtue
Owned by Virtue Labs, LLC
Prestige hair care brand built on Alpha Keratin 60ku human protein technology, sold through Sephora and salons.
hair-careprestige-beautykeratin
Privately Owned
Virtue operates independently without a large parent corporation.
Beauty Personal CareLiving Proof
Owned by Unilever plc
Science-led hair care brand founded by MIT-linked researchers, part of Unilever Prestige since December 2016.
hair-careprestige-beautyscience-based
Publicly Traded
Living Proof is owned by Unilever plc, a public company, a different structure than epres's parent.
Beauty Personal CareOlaplex
Owned by Henkel AG & Co. KGaA
Prestige hair care brand specializing in bond-building treatments, acquired by Henkel AG in July 2026 for $1.4 billion.
hair-carebond-buildingprestige-beauty
Publicly Traded
Olaplex is owned by Henkel AG & Co. KGaA, a public company, a different structure than epres's parent.
Beauty Personal CareRedken
Owned by L'Oréal S.A.
Professional salon hair care brand founded by Paula Kent and Jheri Redding, owned by L'Oreal since 1993.
hair-careprofessional-hairsalon
Publicly Traded
Redken is owned by L'Oréal S.A., a public company, a different structure than epres's parent.
Beauty Personal CareSpace NK
Owned by Ulta Beauty, Inc.
British prestige beauty retailer founded by Nicky Kinnaird in 1991, acquired by Ulta Beauty in July 2025 and operating more than 80 stores in the UK and Ireland.
beauty-retailprestige-beautyuk-retail
Publicly Traded
Space NK is owned by Ulta Beauty, Inc., a public company, a different structure than epres's parent.
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