Frosted, Sprayed and Feathered: 20 Hair Product Ads from the 1970s

It’s amazing what a difference a few years made for hairstyles in the 1970s.  The decade began with the straight hippie longhair look and ended with the blow-dried, feathered and saturated with hairspray look.  Here are twenty hair product advertisements taken from various magazines from the 70s.  Enjoy.

MDS01641

I’m not sure how I feel about an “instant shampoo”… let alone one called “Psssssst”

True Story magazine - February 1971

True Story magazine – February 1971

This is actually pretty hilarious considering that, a few years later, hairspray would become the prime suspect in pollution – specifically, causing the famous “hole in the ozone layer”.

MDS01645

Which lady do you choose – the shy, chic, soft… or downright adventurous?  (Don’t answer.  That’s a rhetorical question.)

Ingenue Oct 1970 (4)

Ingenue magazine – October 1970

 

Modern Screen April 1977 (5)

Modern Screen Magazine – April 1977

I love the “greasies”/”no greasies” before and after pictures.  The greasies girl looks profoundly depressed.

Ms Magazine Vol 5 No 2 Aug 1976 {PDF}-2

Ms. Magazine – August 1976

This lady finally found happiness.  Who knew it would be in a can of foam?

Ms Magazine Vol 5 No 3 Sep 1976 {PDF} (2)-25

Ms. Magazine – September 1976

Reading this woman’s thoughts on buying a frosting kit is like peering into the mind of a psychopath.  She’s in touch with her inner feelings, I’ll giver her that: “In my own quiet way, I want to be noticed”, but her relentless pursuit of a hair froster is a bit unhinged.

Ms Magazine Vol 5 No 2 Aug 1976 {PDF}-9

Ms. Magazine – August 1976

Charlie’s Angels started in 1976.  I’m guessing this advertisement is right before Farrah landed that gig.  Perhaps it was this very Wella Balsam ad which gave her the hairstyle that would become her trademark look.

Photoplay Feb 1970 (1)

Photoplay magazine – February 1970

“When you go blonde go all the way”…. I’ll refrain from comment.

Photoplay Magazine - March 1974

Photoplay Magazine – March 1974

Ingenue magazine - July 1970

Ingenue magazine – July 1970

 

1974

1974

 

Ingenue magazine - July 1970

Ingenue magazine – July 1970

Redbook magazine 1975

Redbook magazine 1975

 

True Story magazine - February 1971

True Story magazine – February 1971

Vogue Sep 1972 (17)

Vogue magazine – September 1972

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There was a whole series of “she conked out but her hair held up” advertisements in the 70s.  “You may be dead on your feet, but boy! will your hair look fantastic.”

Featuring  Glynnis O’Connor, the actress who was in Jeremy (1973) and Ode to Billy Joe (1976), and the John Travolta masterpiece, The Boy in the Plastic Bubble.  This advert is taken from Vintage Hair Adverts: 1960s-70s Products, Styles and Tragic Cuts  – for more vintage hair advertisements.

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Reader's Digest - May 1979

Reader’s Digest – May 1979

Nothing remotely phallic about this ad.  Nothing at all.

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