Did only Women use Shampoo?

[Retro Spectator]

Looking at vintage shampoo ads, it appears that shampoo was intended for use by women, rather than men.

It would seem that men did not use shampoo, since vintage advertisements for light products, such as Brylcreem, show men with neat hair. If one was to shampoo daily, and use a light hair product, then the product would not have much hold, and their hair would puff up. But not using shampoo, the hair product would build up, making it stronger, and shiner.

 

[HudsonHawk]

Men shampooed, but not daily. It was usually once a week or every other week. The concept of showering and shampooing every day is a "modern" one.

 

[johnnycanuck]

I know for a fact my grandfather never used shampoo. Thought it was a girl thing and soap was good enough. Was old enough to serve in WW2 but was a farmer. I think he was born around 1913.
Johnny

 

[HudsonHawk]

A couple of men's shampoo ads:

 

[Seb Lucas]

Men shampooed, but not daily. It was usually once a week or every other week. The concept of showering and shampooing every day is a "modern" one.

Yep. My grandpa told me that a bar of Palmolive soap (the most common brand in his world) was used by most men to wash hair until the 60's. He was born in 1908. He died 20 years ago. Once a week is right. Comedian Billy Connolly had a good routine about the use of soap before shampoo marketing won.

 

[HudsonHawk]

Yep. My grandpa told me that a bar of Palmolive soap (the most common brand in his world) was used by most men to wash hair until the 60's. He was born in 1908. He died 20 years ago. Once a week is right. Comedian Billy Connolly had a good routine about the use of soap before shampoo marketing won.

I know lots of men who still use soap to wash their hair. Though when I mentioned "shampooing" once a week or two, I simply mean "wash your hair", whether that be with body soap or special shampoo. People simply did not bathe/shower nearly as often "back in the day" as they do now. If you were a clean freak, you took a bath every Saturday, whether you needed it or not. A wealthy man may have gotten a "shampoo" at the barber on occassion, but most regular guys did not.

 

[Papperskatt]

I haven't used shampoo since 2011. Only water, or "WO" (water only) as it's called in "No-Poo"-circles.

 

[Fading Fast]

Having been raised in the '60s / '70s by very Golden Era parents, it never even crossed my radar to use anything else than soap (Ivory 99.44/100%) to wash my hair, face, body. Thinking back, I'm sure my mother used shampoo or something as she had a bunch of jars and bottles as most (not all) women do, but I don't really remember, but I do remember using soap on my hair until the '80s when a girlfriend was horrified that I was washing my hair with soap.

She got me to use shampoo and conditioner - I was thinking strategically and - tactically - using shampoo and conditioner to make her happy made sense. To be honest, though, it was nicer as your hair felt less like straw. To this day, I still use shampoo and conditioner, but if my upbringing was any window, I think a lot of men used soap on their hair in the Golden Era.

My dad also used Stephens (sp?) hair tonic sometimes to slick it down - that I did not do. Other than some grammar school Brylcreem applied by my mother for school pictures and family events, I never put anything in my hair after showering.

 

[Stanley Doble]

I know of one old timer who used nothing but yellow laundry soap on his hair. He would rub the bar over his wet hair before combing it, and when it was time to wash his hair, just washed out the soap.

 

[dudewuttheheck]

I try not to shampoo too often, but I need to to get the pomade out of my hair at least every 4-5 days. I don't think my grandfather used to use shampoo either. I should ask him.

 

[IXL]

Born in the early 60's, I grew up with my parents giving me PRELL shampoo to use.

 

[Benny Holiday]

My Dad (born 1925) always washed his hair with soap, twice a week. I did too when I was a kid. Last time I tried that stunt it made my scalp all flaky so it was back to shampoo for me.

 

[DonnaP]

I think it was more about marketing. Men were perceived as using whatever shampoo was available. Women were the one doing the marketing (well, in a married/family household) so they were the ones the ads reached out. They were the ones who would care if their hair was lustrous, growing faster, whatever. Men would wash their hair with what was available (by advertising standards)

 

[-30-]

Ivory Soap on the hair; Ivory Soap on the body, with the light assistance of a white 3M pad every 3 - 4 days to exfoliate;
Ivory Soap on the beard, when shaving; rinse well.

Cheap & cheerful.


Regards,
J T