Old-School Hair Products From The '80s You Don't Really See Anymore
We may receive a commission on purchases made from links.
Everyone in the 1980s took great pride in their hair. With the predominant styles of the decade abiding by the "bigger is better" philosophy, voluminous, teased-up looks were all the rage. Naturally, in order to achieve the popular aesthetic, many products were required. Among the beauty items women couldn't live without in the '80s were hairspray and volumizing shampoos and conditioners, many of which became cult classics. While there are fun '80s hair trends you can still wear today, imitating the styles one-to-one often requires the exact products that were used during the decade.
Of course, over 40 years later, some of the '80s' most popular hair products have been discontinued, reformulated, and made incredibly hard to track down. Even with popular vintage re-sale websites like eBay, several of these items are no longer available for purchase on the platform, or exist in very limited quantity. Meaning that if you're looking to recapture your '80s hair, it may be more difficult than ever. We're taking a look at some of the decade's best products that are slowly being lost to time.
Gee, Your Hair Smells Terrific was the defining hair fragrance of the decade
"Gee, Your Hair Smells Terrific" fragrance shampoo and conditioner was easily among the most beloved hair products of the 1970s and 1980s. The unique smell makes everyone who once washed their hair with the stuff nostalgic, as there isn't much out there today that captures its combination of floral and spice. You can find remastered versions of the products online; the real stuff is nearly impossible to track down in the United States, but it is still being manufactured in the Philippines.
Clairol Herbal Essence Shampoo dominated the '80s
One of the biggest 1980s hair products was Clairol's Herbal Essence shampoo. Recognizable for its bright green color and "flower power" mascot," the shampoo became a staple in countless homes. On Reddit, former devotees of the product can even recall the exact smell of the shampoo. While some of the original bottles can be tracked down on eBay, you can still purchase the rebranded Herbal Essence shampoo and conditioner at any retailer. Now sold by Procter & Gamble rather than Clairol, the shampoo's modern packaging is much more streamlined.
A finishing spray like Sebastian Shpritz Forte was a requirement for big '80s hair
In order to create the '80s hairstyles that celebs are still rocking today, ample hairspray and holding products are needed. Thanks to finishing sprays like the Sebastian Shpritz Forte, people were able to create the best gravity-defying looks. Throughout the mid to late '80s, many utilized Sebastian Shpritz Forte to lift at the root and hold their carefully-crafted locks in place. Though this particular spray is difficult to find today, you can check out our tips to get damage-free '80s hairstyles yourself.
Many are still hunting down products that smell like Revlon Flex Shampoo
We all know that certain scents can evoke memories of a specific time or place. Revlon's now-discontinued Flex Shampoo is one such smell from the 1980s. Former fans of the balsam-scented shampoo have flocked to threads on platforms like Reddit and Basenotes to discuss the product and its unique fragrance. While you can scan eBay for vintage bottles of Flex Shampoo, some sellers on Etsy claim to have recreated the scent profile in solid shampoo and conditioner bars, as well as fragrance sprays.
Enhance shampoo soothed fragile, overworked hair
Given how many 1980s hair trends involved copious amounts of teasing, blow drying, perming, and hair-spraying, its no surprise that one of the decade's biggest products sought to soothe damaged hair. Enhance shampoo was marketed to people with "overworked hair," as their advertisements called it, moisturizing and repairing fragile locks and heat-damaged tresses. Though Enhance's presence in the market was short-lived in the '80s, it is still one of the decade's most recognizable cult-classic products.
Body on Tap shampoo was infused with real beer
From the late 1970s to the mid-1980s, you could purchase one of the most unique hair products to hit the market: beer-enriched shampoo. With commercials featuring actor Kim Basinger, Body on Tap shampoo was a cult-classic hair product made famous for being formulated with real beer. It may be difficult to find today — some sellers on websites like eBay have the product listed for around $250 — a stark difference from its original cost of $1.99.