What started the American obsession with the use of hair care products?

star_gazer

The truth is in the 1960s and before no such obsession existed (many girls at colleges in the 1960's washed their hair in beer). Today, however, all major drug stores have rows and rows of thousands of hair care products all claiming to be "the best" and all very expensive. Shampoo has only been used with fervor since the 1970s. Before then, either regular soap was used a few times a month or, just after the early 20th century, shampoo was used only a few times a year. It was in the 1970s that shampoo use became prevalent. Ads featuring Farrah Fawcett and Christie Brinkley asserted that it was unhealthy not to shampoo several times a week. This mindset is reinforced by the greasy feeling of the scalp after a day or two of not shampooing. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shampoo#Theory Jul 28 11, 8:07 AM

Barbiegurl676

Hair care products go back much farther that the 1960's - there is proof of hair care setting gel being used in 500 BC. In the 100's AD warriors on the battlefield used hair dye and gel. In the 1700 and 1800's, extra firm "gel" was needed to keep the pompadours up. Beauty parlors opened in the US in the 1870's and promised beautiful curls and centennial chignons. L'Oreal products can be traced back to 1907 and although during the depression women became more frugal and crafty with household items, by the second world war, hair care products were very popular. The aerosol hair spray can was invented in the 50's, as well. http://www.hairstyles-and-hair.com/hairstyles_and_hair/hair_articles/complete_hair/history_of_hair3.htm Aug 02 11, 4:30 PM