Hairspray: A History..
Where: Boardview, Illinois. USA
Who: Tanion Chakchay
Hairspray was first used and developed in 1943 during the 2nd world war by Chase Products Company by Lebanese immigrant Tanios Chakchay in Boardview, Illinois.
After the war had ended, the beauty industry realised and recognised the potential and power of the aerosol containers, which were pressurised by fluorocarbon which is a liquefied gas
It was in 1950 that Helene Curtis company became the first to use the term "Hairspray" for the new launched aerosol product, it was called Spray net and by 1955 the company was selling is across the world.
Then the competition started to grown at a very fast Pace, Leonard and Bernice Lavin who had the company Alberto-Culver was selling their haircare products to the movie industry in California and had started to giving Helene Curtis a run for it's money. With both companies in competition with each other they both set out and expanded the range and variety of their hair products. They both found out that aerosols also worked well with antiperspirants and sales sky rocketed in this product line as well.
In the 1970's when chlorofluorocarbon (CFC) aerosols were found out to be damaging to the ozone layer, countries around the world started phasing them out. This did not stop the beauty industry manufacturers, who got to work straight away to find alternative approaches, Then in 1977 Alberto VO5 Hair spray became the first advertised premium label to introduce an aerosol free of (CFC).
1950s and 1960's Hairspray
- 1950s the bouffant hairstyle increased the usage of hairspray.
- By 1964 hairspray was the leading and best seller in beauty product sales.
- Companies began designing and making hairsprays for different hair types.
- Women would spray their hair so heavily and then leave it until it needed to be combed or washed out.
- The lacquer found in the hairspray was so sticky that the floors of hairdressing salons and bathrooms floors become quite tacky.
Late 1960s and 1970s
- The high levels of usage of hairspray ended in the mid to late 60's with changes in women's hair styles, the long, natural look worn often by flower children, hippies and women libbers didn't lend itself to being teased and sprayed.
-Women started using hairspray with a light to medium hold that didn't look or feel stiff.
It was in the 1980's that heavy hairspray made a comeback. With the trend of big hair coming back during this era. Which were popularized by film and music stars and worn in particular amongst teenagers.
These days most women will only use a hard holding hairspray when they don't want their hair to move or become messy, this is usually during a celebration like a prom, ball, formal or wedding. Which unlike the women of the 1950-60 who left their hair style in for 7 days, now days when the celebration is over the hair style and hairspray is washed out at the end of the celebration.
Interesting Fact:
Japanese scientists have recently found strains of bacteria,"Microbacterium hatanonis" that
have evolved to live in hair spray.
