Max Factor Sr.

Max Factor Sr.
Max Factor Sr.
Born	Maksymilian Faktorowicz; Template:Birth date; Zduńska Wola, Poland
Died	August 30, 1938 (aged 60); Beverly Hills, California, U.S.
Occupation(s)	Businessman, beautician, innovator
Known for	Founder of Max Factor & Company; pioneering film cosmetics

Adapted from the English Wikipedia article Max Factor Sr., available under CC BY-SA 4.0Updated 11 August 2025

Max Factor Sr. (born Maksymilian Faktorowicz; September 15, 1877 – August 30, 1938) was a Polish-American businessman, beautician, and innovator. As the founder of the renowned cosmetics company Max Factor & Company, he significantly influenced the evolution of the American cosmetics sector and helped popularize the term "make-up" as a noun.

He gained fame for designing iconic styles for Hollywood actresses, such as Jean Harlow's platinum blonde hair, Clara Bow's bob hairstyle, Lucille Ball's false eyelashes paired with red curls, and Joan Crawford's distinctive "Hunter's Bow" overdrawn lips.

Early life

Of Polish-Jewish heritage, Factor was born in Zduńska Wola to parents Abraham Faktorowicz and Cecylia Wrocławska. His father, described variously as a grocer, rabbi, or textile worker, was unable to provide formal schooling for his four children.

By the age of eight, Factor was assisting a dentist and pharmacist. At nine years old, he began an apprenticeship with a wig maker and cosmetician in Łódź, gaining skills that later secured him a role at Anton's in Berlin, a prominent hairstylist and cosmetics producer. By fourteen, he was employed by Korpo, a Moscow-based wig maker and cosmetician serving the Imperial Russian Grand Opera. Between eighteen and twenty-two years old, he served in the Hospital Corps of the Imperial Russian Army.

Following his military service, he established a shop in Ryazan offering handmade rouges, creams, fragrances, and wigs. His reputation flourished when a traveling theatrical company utilized his cosmetics during performances for Russian aristocracy. He earned appointments as the official cosmetics specialist for both the royal family and the Imperial Russian Grand Opera. Married to Esther Rosa (Lizzie), they had three children by 1904: Freda, Cecilia, and Davis.

Due to increasing anti-Jewish discrimination in Russia, Factor chose to emigrate to America with his family in 1904. After securing leave from royal duties under the guise of a restorative trip to Karlovy Vary, they traveled steerage aboard the S.S. Moltke III, arriving at Ellis Island on February 25, 1904, with $400. The family settled in St. Louis, Missouri.

Life in the United States

At the 1904 World's Fair, he sold his rouges and creams under the newly anglicized name Max Factor. After his business partner absconded with all inventory and earnings, Factor recuperated with assistance from his brother and uncle by opening a barber shop. In August 1904, Max and his wife welcomed their fourth child, Francis "Frank" Factor. Tragically, on March 17, 1906, his wife died from a brain hemorrhage. To provide maternal care for his children, he remarried Huma "Helen" Sradkowska on August 15, 1906. Although their son Louis was born in 1907, their marriage ended after an extended legal dispute that resulted in Factor obtaining custody of all his children.

Creation of an empire

On January 21, 1908, Factor wed Jennie Cook.

Later that year, recognizing opportunities within the burgeoning film industry, he relocated his family to Los Angeles to supply custom wigs and theatrical make-up. He launched a store on South Central Avenue named "Max Factor's Antiseptic Hair Store." By founding "Max Factor & Company" in 1909, he became the West Coast distributor for Leichner and Minor—leading manufacturers of theatrical make-up at that time. Traditional greasepaint sticks were unsuitable for motion pictures due to their thickness and limited color range.

Factor embarked on developing make-up designed specifically for cinema use. By 1914, he introduced the first cosmetic product created expressly for film: a thinner cream greasepaint packaged in jars featuring twelve precisely graduated shades that resisted cracking or caking.

This breakthrough positioned Max Factor as a preeminent expert in film cosmetics. Actors eagerly adopted his "flexible greasepaint," while producers frequently rented his human hair wigs for Western films—often involving his sons in these productions.

During the 1920s, Factor expanded marketing efforts toward everyday consumers by promoting that any woman could achieve a movie star appearance through Max Factor products.

Initially applying make-up personally to actors and actresses helped him build a reputation for tailoring looks that enhanced their screen presence. His clientele included Ben Turpin, Gloria Swanson, Mary Pickford, Pola Negri, Jean Harlow, Claudette Colbert, Bette Davis, Norma Shearer, Joan Crawford, Lucille Ball, and Judy Garland. The majority of leading actresses regularly visited the Max Factor beauty salon near Hollywood Boulevard. His name appeared frequently in film credits; he also made cameo appearances.

Factor became an American citizen in 1912.

In 1920, prompted by Frank Factor's suggestion, Max Factor officially adopted the term "make-up" for his products—replacing "cosmetics," which until then had been linked primarily to theater or held dubious social connotations rather than acceptance within polite society.

Death

In 1938, during a business trip to Europe accompanied by his son Davis, Factor received a ransom demand in Paris threatening his life. Despite law enforcement's efforts to orchestrate a decoy operation, no kidnapper appeared at the designated exchange location. Disturbed by the incident, Factor heeded medical advice and returned to the United States, where he passed away shortly thereafter on August 30, 1938, at the age of 60 in Beverly Hills, California. Initially laid to rest at Hollywood Cemetery, his remains were subsequently relocated to Hillside Memorial Park Cemetery in Culver City.

Honors and tributes

Max Factor was honored with an honorary Academy Award by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences in 1929 in recognition of his significant impact on the film industry. Additionally, he is commemorated with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame situated at 6922 Hollywood Boulevard. His legacy is also immortalized in the iconic song "Hooray For Hollywood," which references his innovation in creating Clara Bow's distinctive heart-shaped lips.

Family

Max Factor fathered six children: Freda Shore, Cecilia Firestein, Davis Factor, Francis "Frank" Factor (also known as Max Factor Jr.), Louis Factor, and Sidney B. Factor.

In 2003, Andrew Luster—his great-grandson through an adopted granddaughter—was convicted on multiple counts of sexual assault involving the drug GHB.

Max Factor’s half-brother, John Factor, was involved in organized crime during Prohibition and maintained connections with the Chicago Outfit.

Amit L. Kochavi, Max Factor’s great-great-grandson, currently holds the position of chief of staff to Alon Davidi, the Mayor of Sderot.