Popular music and film stars had a major influence on 1950s hairstyles and fashion. Elvis Presley and James Dean had a great influence on the high quiff-
While they didn't literally use automotive grease, they commonly used pomades, gel, and other hair products that contained oils and waxes to achieve that slicked-back look. The term ``greaser'' itself was derived from their association with grease and the rebellious, working-class image of the time.
Most women would set their hair in curlers and sleep with them in overnight, either using foam, pin, or rag rollers. Some would even cover their hair with a cap to protect the locks while they slept. Others still would simply try to sleep as still as they possibly could.
A lot of other people have mentioned pomade but another product that is similar and was definitely popular at the time is Brylcreem. It's mineral oil and beeswax, so definitely no motor oil in their hair if they used Brylcreem. You can still get it at Walmart and such too!
Hair gels, such as Dippity-do, came in a variety of forms such as spray or jelly, and were referred to as "setting gels".
Slicked-Back Quiff
Nowadays the most popular men's hairstyles are probably the ones with less shine. The slicked-back quiff is also sometimes called The Pomp.
Celebrity culture was on the rise and with leading ladies such as Marilyn Monroe and Jayne Mansfield at the forefront, 1950s women were desperate to try out this trademark look. In the 1950s there were many different types of hairstyles, but the most popular ones were ponytails with a short fringe and a scarf bouffant.
The 50s Silhouette
There are two main silhouettes in 50s fashion – the wasp waist with full skirt and the slim fitting pencil skirt. Both are iconic 50s looks that prevailed until 1956 and can be portrayed as super sexy or fun and flirty – depending on how you wear them.
Did you know that black women used to grease their scalps with petroleum jelly to avoid getting fleas and ticks? Most people tend to think that they used this special greasy product to grow their hair!
He would use both Jojoba oil and Vitamin E to help style it. He also often changed hair spray brands to ensure that he didn't get a build up of product in his hair.
During World War II, members of the RAF were known as Brylcreem Boys thanks to their tidily done dos. The 1950s saw an even further increase with Brylcreem becoming the most dominant product in men's hairstyling. Brylcreem must have been thanking their lucky stars that the super-styled Teddy Boy look was so popular.
The History of the Slick Back look
This style has its origins in the Edwardian era haircuts of the working classes (1901-1910). One of the first examples of the undercut, this style was favoured by barbers who often lacked the skills to blend the back and sides into the longer hair on top.
The duck's tail was a haircut style popular during the 1950's, stereotypical of rebels, nonconformists & badboys. It was also called the duck's ass, the ducktail, or simply the D.A. We remember Elvis at times, Fonzie in the Happy Days TV show & bad boy Danny(John Travolta) in the movie Grease sporting D.A.'s.
🚨 Use Vaseline Jelly Stick to slick back flyaways for a sleek and clean look. Even @gracie. kramer's beam routine couldn't mess with the Jelly Stick's strong hold 🤸♀️
Use a fine-toothed comb to brush back your hair from your forehead and temples to the back of your head. Finger-comb your hair to add volume and achieve the look you want. The more “slicking” you do with the comb, the neater the look will be.
Fashion. The most notable physical characteristic of greasers was the greased-back hairstyles they fashioned for themselves through use of hair products such as pomade or petroleum jelly, which necessitated frequent combing and reshaping to maintain.
Finish with a Serum or Spray: Once your hair is straightened, apply a lightweight serum or spray to add shine and tame any remaining flyaways. GK Hair's Argan Oil Serum can provide that sleek, glossy finish without weighing your hair down.