"Brylcreem" was first created in Birmingham, England. Consisting of an emulsion of water and mineral oil mixed with beeswax, it took off as a male grooming product just before World War II. You rubbed it into your scalp and your hair became easier to manage. With sufficient "Brylcreem" upon it, it tended stay put in a gale.
My father Philip applied it to his head every morning and at the age of eleven , when I started secondary school, I also joined the "Brylcreem" club. Unless I played sports during the school day, my parted hair remained unchanged till I got home. I left the "Brylcreem" fraternity at the age of fourteen. By 1967, I was keen to have longer hair like The Beatles and The Rolling Stones but my school's rules must have been developed in Edwardian times. Having anything other than a "short back and sides" was considered to be a heinous crime but with several other rebellious boys I kept pushing the boundaries.
In the 1950's "Brylcreem" was very popular in this country. Heralding a future trend in advertising, a great cricketer, Dennis Compton, was employed to promote the product:-
"Brylcreem" became popular in other countries too - including the USA, Canada and Australia. It featured in early TV ads where the slogan"A little dab will do ya!" was adopted. There are two ads contained within this video clip:-
The heyday of "Brylcreem" may be long gone but the cream is still produced. When I worked in Thailand I saw it for sale in my local pharmacy. There are still many men with unruly hair who could benefit from daily dabs of the product. I created the meme shown below to demonstrate that very point...
Thing 45 will need an entire tube to keep that dead muskrat on his head under control!!!
ReplyDeletePersonally, I think he would look a lot better if he shaved the whole damned thing off.
DeleteI seem to remember it having a distinctive smell but I could be mistaken. I just looked like greasy hair to me but I was a child of the 60s where locks flowed.
ReplyDeleteIt did have a distinctive smell. Pure testosterone.
DeleteI remember brylcreem. It helped to control several rooster tails in my hair.
ReplyDeleteHa-ha! I have never before heard that term for stray locks.
DeleteI grew up with the term "rooster tails" too. Also: "cowlicks"
DeleteI was trying to remember the slogan before you mentioned it. Your former PM could have done with a little dab too.
ReplyDeleteHe could have done with a big dab slapped on by Tyson Fury before their prize fight.
Delete"They love to get their fingers in your hair" - seriously?! Maybe a good way to save on hand cream. I would definitely NOT want to get my fingers in hair covered in grease.
ReplyDeleteWhy not try it with OK?
DeleteYucky stuff.
ReplyDeleteI don't think that brand name would have worked.
DeleteI can vaguely remember ads for it in old magazines. Apparently my father used it until my mother complained about the greasy mess it left on pillowslips. The mere thought of even touching the slick hair makes me shudder! I was glad to be of a later "vintage" when it was no longer fashionable with the younger generation.
ReplyDeleteAnother example of how men get bullied by their womenfolk. Your dad was only trying to look good!
DeleteMy dad did not use it thankfully but here in the U.K. some older people had antimacassars/chair back covers on their sofas and chairs to prevent transfer of greasy hair products.
DeleteThe Brylcreem Boys is a 1998 film set in Ireland starring Jean Butler. Anyone still using Brylcreem can have a 'Dad' hair day.
ReplyDeleteWith the wind rushing in from the wild Atlantic, you and your sons should all use "Brylcreem".
DeleteThat ad annoyed the socks off me! Why would a woman expect immaculate hair on a man working under his car?
ReplyDeleteMy dad was a Brylcreem fan, I was a fan of the shine, I do like shiny hair. Dad never used very much, just wiped a little dab between his hands and applied it to the surface of his combed hair.
Proving that a little dab did him! I am happy to have stirred such a memory River.
DeleteIn my youth, the flattop was the rage and while I never had a flattop cut, I did get my hair cut short. I liked it so much not having to ever comb it or take more than a few seconds to clean it now and then, that I have kept it that way ever since. So I've never had a need for Brylcreem, not even a small dab.
ReplyDeleteWhat! My mental image of you has nosedived. I pictured you with flowing locks and a thin headband made from beads by a First Nation craftswoman.
DeleteI remember my dad plastering his hair with it back in the 1950s. It took me a long time to persuade him to stop using it in the 1970s. He looked so much better without. In the ad you chose, I preferred the guy's hair before Brillcream. I'd hate running my fingers through the grease after he used it!
ReplyDeleteWhy would you want to run your fingers through your father's hair? Sounds a bit weird to me.
DeleteThe guy in the advert, not my Dad !!!
DeleteHa-ha! You took the bait like a pike fish ADDY!
DeleteHe Who Must Not Be Named, needs more than that, vanishing cream would be a good start.
ReplyDeleteFrom this ostensibly cruel remark, I deduce that you are not a Trumpian so I have transferred you to my good book. Congratulations!
DeleteLol, was thinking much the same Travel!
DeleteI don't know that I've ever seen Brylcreem in person, either in a jar or on a human head. It always seemed like it would be awfully greasy.
ReplyDeleteI am sure it would help to keep your blowaway hair under control Steve!
DeleteOh god. I am old. I remember that song so well. Who in the world thought that greasing your hair down brought life to it? Ugh.
ReplyDeleteIt is a bit of a jump to make that connection!
DeleteI enjoyed reading about the "little dab will do ya" as I remember that product.
ReplyDeletePlease don't ruin future posts by giving airtime to our former president. I think it would be a better world if we just stop paying attention to him. He thrives on it and I do NOT want him to thrive, Neil.
Sorry to have upset you with that picture of a monster.
DeleteOh, my goodness! Just the word, Brylcreem, brings such memories flooding back to me of my father! Wow! He used it always and wore a hat most of the time when he was outdoors. I remember the lining around the inside rim of the hat was darkened because of the Brylcreem. I can see him now putting on his hat and patting my head before he headed out. Thanks for being the conduit for the smile on my face today.
ReplyDeleteHe must have been a really cool dude - just like my father! Genuine Brylcreem Boys!
DeleteYou say, 'I left the "Brylcreem" fraternity at the age of fourteen'. Was that when you switched to "Sivikrin"?
ReplyDeleteI thought that "Silvikrin" was a shampoo brand.
DeletePossibly now, but I remember it distinctly as an alternative to Brylcreem. In fact, I had some.
DeleteI can remember my father using this too, but he only used a little. Like they said, a dab :)
ReplyDelete