Vintage Men's Hair Care

[poetman]

I have two questions regarding vintage men's hair style:

1) How did they keep their hair shiny? I've heard it's a special type of brush, other times I heard it was the product they used.

2) I slick my hair back but not with a comb, with my fingers. I usually use a waxy pomeade of sorts. I'm looking for something that is not as thick, so when my hair gets a bit longer, I can give it a wet look, lift and hold it up, and keep it back with my fingers.

Any tips?

Thanks!

 

[Dinerman]

Use a military hair brush. Or two?
royal crown isn't very thick, and gives a good shine.

 

[poetman]

Use a military hair brush. Or two?
royal crown isn't very thick, and gives a good shine.

Thanks for the links. Can I get a military hair brush in stores? Do the bristles have to be made from a special material? Also, does Royal Crown help keep your hair up. I need something that will keep my hair up just a little, but give it a shine and allow me to slick it back.

 

[Dinerman]

Thanks for the links. Can I get a military hair brush in stores? Do the bristles have to be made from a special material? Also, does Royal Crown help keep your hair up. I need something that will keep my hair up just a little, but give it a shine and allow me to slick it back.

You probably can find them in stores. I've never had to, so I'm not 100% sure. Look for boar bristles.

Royal crown'll keep your hair up, not as much as heavier waxes, and it depends on how much you use as to what it does. It makes slicking it back easy, and gives a nice shine. A little goes a long way. They stock it at grocery stores back home in Maryland, but not here in Halifax. I don't know about where you live.

 

[Bugsy]

Brilliantine is what we always used when we wanted our hair to shine on stage. It's still available and has been around, I think, since the early '20's.

 

[Mike in Seattle]

There was another post here on the military hairbrushes...and I think there was a magazine article (Classic Style? GQ?) saying there was something unique with boars bristle that was perfect for the hair that you didn't get with other bristles or plastic bristles.

There's also good old Brylcreem which I've been using lately. Depending how much you use, it gives a little...sparkle without looking like there's anything on your hair, all the way to slicked down if you really load it on.

 

[Cody Pendant]

Smooth 'n Shine hair polisher

Smooth 'n Shine hair polisher will give your hair a super shine! It's made by Schwarzkopf & Henkel. It's probably not a period product but works for me. I use a small amount after I have my hair slicked and set and then polish it for the finish. I use a mixture of hair gel, groom and clean and a dash of Vitalis and then a small amount of the above, just rubbed in my hands and then just lightly smoothed on the top of my hair. It's a clear, very thick viscous liquid. Military style brushes are available at most stores that carry hair products and brushes, look in the ethnic section. (that’s where I found the smooth ‘n shine) Their usually a boar bristle and the difference is just that they have no handle, like a dog brush. They were used to work a waxed flat top. Hope that helps.

 

[poetman]

What kind of product can I use to give my hair some body without weighing it down? Now, I'm using a very waxy pomeade.

 

[Geesie]

A couple related questions:
I've never worn pomade and haven't used gel since some time in high school. How do these vintage pomades feel in the hair? Are they as sticky and waxy as they look?

How does one clean a hairbrush that has been used with these hair products - does it accumulate in the bristles?

 

[Cody Pendant]

The Fonz is in!

(Long post)
I wear hats a lot so I may not use the same products that others here may. I have tried the classic heavy pomades and while they work great to give the look, I don’t like a heavy greasy waxy residue or what that does to my hats. It’s also somewhat problematic during the summer here as the wax melts. That’s why I wound up with the mix I did. It provides control and lift with out being too oily, waxy or greasy. Another product I use /mix in is Wildroot. Most of what I use has been around a while, at least since the 50’s and 60’s. I find by mixing them and using small amounts, (a little dab ’ll do ya!) I get a reasonable compromise that is not too oily or stiff. Groom & Clean is a grease-less hair control product (says so on the label) LOL . I use the Pinaud Clubman brand styling gel in the mix for the hold, body or what ever you want to call it. The other products keep it from being too stiff like when used alone. Latter in the day when it starts to dry out, a little touch up with a wet comb (or fingers) will put it back in place.

As for Geesies questions, my answers are:

They feel just like the ingredients list will indicate; oily, waxy and sticky, to varying degrees depending on the mix. (Most have similar list of ingredients just different ratios) Not a bad feeling in moderation, but different from the dry style feel your sporting now.
Next: Yes and yes. Having said that; I highly recommend that you just dive in and try some! They are not that expensive and each is different. Think of it like trying shave creams. Try a couple out, just start with small amounts and work your way up to what ever level you get comfortable with and the look your goin’ for. A pompadour will require more hold and wax than just slick look. You may just find you really enjoy the experience and the new look. I don’t sport the same thing everyday. Sometimes wet some days dry. I mostly work the ‘do for going out. Remember, the more wax that a pomade has the harder it is to wash out.
You wash the brushes and combs. I have to wash the “film” out of out my brushes on a regular basis. Not really a big deal. Most people’s quest seems to be a Holy Grail search for a product(s) that gives the results with out the drawbacks.

p.s. the ref to the "Fonz", look it up under Happy Days!

 

[John in Covina]

Brush

Here is an in-expensive military brush:

http://www.duluthtrading.com/search/searchresults/61012.aspx?feature=&kw=brush

 

[Guttersnipe]

I have two questions regarding vintage men's hair style:

1) How did they keep their hair shiny? I've heard it's a special type of brush, other times I heard it was the product they used.

2) I slick my hair back but not with a comb, with my fingers. I usually use a waxy pomeade of sorts. I'm looking for something that is not as thick, so when my hair gets a bit longer, I can give it a wet look, lift and hold it up, and keep it back with my fingers.

Any tips?

Thanks!

1).They used oil-based "pomades." What "weight" you need depends on style and hair type. Just experiment with different types and brands.

2). For lift you WANT a heavy weight waxy pomade like Murray's or Dax Wax* - but you're going to have to use a comb. If you want a high shine, apply a small amount of light weight AFTER styling your hair.

Also, a trick that works really well is to apply pomade to you hair, take a shower, and then style your hair while it's still wet.

*someone mentioned Brylcreem; Don't bother with this product. I've never found any use for it. "A dab does not do ya," and to much just make your hair a greasy sloppy mess.

 

[Guttersnipe]

PS -
I'm one off those hep-cat rockabilly greaser types, so I should know better then most...

 

[Daoud]

Probably if you want lift you're going to have to use a non-vintage product such as mousse. It could be that any height folks achieved with their hair in the past was due to layers of hair gunk of various sorts. Unsavoury as it seems, folks did not bathe as frequently as they do today (in these parts anyway- the Saturday night bath was NOT just folklore) and certainly did not wash out all the pomade or brilliantine or whatever every night. As an old-school barber of my acquaintance once told me, "Back then you could sure tell where you'd laid your head at night."

One good thing about modern hair products such as spray or gel or mousse is that they won't mess up the insides of your hat. Personally I find that Brylcreem seems pretty harmless- while Groom 'n' Clean is not. But all of these old-style hair products have grease or oil of some sort as the base, and they're bound to have deleterious effects on a hat's lining after a while. I'm not a hat historian, but it seems probable to me that the reason for having a lined hat was so that when the lining was gunked-up you could just sashay down to your local shop and have a new lining put in- not quite such an undertaking as it is for many of us these days!

 

[Solid Citizen]

Brylcream VS. Groom 'n' Clean

Daod,

you raise some interesting points

1. Now use Brylcream notice even if
used daily don't get oily buildup on hair.

2. Use to use Groom 'n' Clean got oily
buildup feel quickly + product smells!

3. Bought some Murray's Pomade, will
try out molten wax "look"!

Solid Citizen

 

[Daoud]

That's right- Brylcreem has a pleasant and low-key aroma, while to me, Groom & Clean has what I would describe as an overpowering reek. Of course that's purely subjective. What's not subjective is that the one time I used it I got some nasty oily stains on the inside of one of my Akubras. Never again!

 

[brylcreem boy]

1).They used oil-based "pomades." What "weight" you need depends on style and hair type. Just experiment with different types and brands.

2). For lift you WANT a heavy weight waxy pomade like Murray's or Dax Wax* - but you're going to have to use a comb. If you want a high shine, apply a small amount of light weight AFTER styling your hair.

Also, a trick that works really well is to apply pomade to you hair, take a shower, and then style your hair while it's still wet.

Excellent advice Guttersnipe!- I did not discover the trick of applying pomade and then showering for quite awhile... it softens the pomade a bit/and makes it much easier to get your comb thru and you pull out less hairs- I'm currently using Dax for the lift and I use a small amount of Royal Crown or Tres Flores to give shine where I want it. Another trick a fellow fedora lounger taught me- if you don't have time to shower-apply the pomade and then put a damp hot wash towel over your head for a few minutes and then style

 

[univibe88]

Here is an in-expensive military brush:

http://www.duluthtrading.com/search/searchresults/61012.aspx?feature=&kw=brush

I have one of these. It's a great source for an inexpensive military brush.

 

[brylcreem boy]

I ordered one of the brushes from Duluth- I had trouble getting it to go thru my hair even with a lighter pomade like Royal Crown, and I have straight hair. the bristles seemed to soft. I know there's a post somewhere on here about the Ebay deals on Kent Military brushes and I have heard the bristles on these are much firmer and do a better job of stimulating the natural oils from your scalp.

 

[univibe88]

I use the deluth brush after a shower and towel drying my hair, then use a plastic comb to work the pomade through.