Who Founded Revlon?

Charles Revson and his brother Joseph, together with chemist Charles Lachman (whose marriage into the Dresden Chemical Company family gave him nail-polish manufacturing expertise), formed the Revlon Nail Enamel Corporation on March 1, 1932, with a combined investment of just $300. The company took its name partly from Lachman -- the 'L' in Revlon -- and began manufacturing out of a $25-a-month room on Manhattan's West Side. Their key innovation was an opaque, pigmented nail enamel, a significant improvement over the sheer, dye-based polishes then on the market, which also allowed a far wider range of colors; by 1938 the line had grown to 21 shades. Charles Revson served as president and drove the company's expansion from a single nail-polish product into drug and department stores nationwide.

Charles Revson was born in 1906 in Somerville. Education: Manchester High School West.

Joseph Revson co-founded Revlon in March 1932 with his brother Charles and chemist Charles Lachman. While Charles led sales and marketing, Joseph helped run the young company's operations during the Great Depression. Public detail on his later role is limited. (Exact birth year remains publicly undisclosed).

Charles Lachman co-founded Revlon in 1932 with Charles and Joseph Revson and contributed the 'L' in the company name. His expertise helped produce Revlon's opaque, pigment-based nail enamel, the product that launched the company. (Exact birth year remains publicly undisclosed).