Created in 1929 and mass marketed as the first man’s hair product, Brylcreem was a greasy hair cream that was run through the hair, slicking each hair into perfect position.
Teenage rebels who slicked their hair into pompadour ducktail hairdos were dubbed ‘Greasers’ after the shiny style, and for their use of copious amounts of the grease. No boy or man’s grooming was complete without a dab of Brylcreem in his hair.
Brylcreem faced its demise once the shaggy-haired Beatles hit the scene in the early 60s. Their long and unkempt fringe cuts hung loosely across their foreheads, rather than the neat and respectable side part swept back with a dab of Brylcreem.
The swinging 60s swept Brylcreem off the shelves, and the goo eventually gave way to Dep gel and hairspray (yes, for boys!).
50s revivalists kept Brylcreem alive during the 70s when John Travolta’s Danny Zuko in the 1978 movie Grease sported a slicked-back pompadour to make Elvis jealous.
The Rockabilly subculture and retro lounge lizard look that resurfaced brought Brylcreem back for a brief moment of modern glory, keeping the spirit of grease alive.
Brylcreem, a little dab’ll do ya – Brylcreem, you’ll look so debonair
