What was the Most Popular Hair Product in the Era?

[Retro Spectator]

I was wondering, what was the most commonly used hair products in the era? Were heavy pomades the most popular, or light products, such as Brylcreem more popular? Or were products in between the most popular?

 

[Stanley Doble]

It is hard to say. From the early 1800s through to the early 1950s an oily or greasy shine was a sign of good grooming. Look at the actors in old movies, their hair was usually brushed or combed with a part like a ruler and not a hair out of place.

In the twenties the fashion was for a very greasy slicked down look like Valentino. Buster Keaton made a joke of this in one of his silent comedies, by plastering his hair down with handfuls of axle grease.

Older men and the less fashion conscious might wear their hair longer or shorter, with little or no slickum.

There were many products, hair oil, hair tonics, pomade, etc. on the market. Brylcream and Vitalis were two of the most popular and long lived products. If you can find some old magazines you will see ads for hundreds of others.

In the fifties a more natural look came along. The Brooks Brothers suit with natural shoulders (little or no padding) narrow lapels, narrow ties, and less slicked down hair.

 

[Stanley Doble]

One product that was so common it became a generic name was Macassar oil. This was in the mid 1800s. Fastidious housewives made special doilies called Antimacassars to pin on their upholstered chairs where their gentlemen guests heads would hit, to prevent the upholstery from getting stained.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Macassar_oil

Fashions change and you don't hear about macassar oil after about 1900.

 

[Stanley Doble]

Ulysses Everett was a Dapper Dan man

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X4r4U-y5WJs