1980s hair nostalgia

[renia22]

So I was on EBay, checking out what kinds of vintage hair products are out there, and I stumbled across Revlon HDR (hair's daily requirements) shampoo and it was such a blast from the past! I forgot all about that one until I saw it. I think it was around in the mid 1980s.


http://youtu.be/HMf8LtQGVmE

Clairol Essences shampoos were nice, too, and I also forgot all about those until I saw them on EBay. I liked the cocomilk one, and the also had aloe, chamomile, ginseng and I forget what else.



Does anyone remember these, or have any ones you liked?

[xoChesleyy]

It's crazy seeing how commercials have changed from that to what they are today.

[DragonLady]

I miss Flex shampoo. :( The smell alone kept me using it for years, but I also liked the way my hair responded to it -especially the green "extra body" version . I know it's still available, but to buy it online costs $20.00 or more per bottle now plus shipping. :( Maybe someone has a super sekrit source they'd like to share with me?

[Scarlet_Heart]

Recently, I saw Salon Selectives shampoo and conditioner at Big Lots and almost screamed. It's not as good as it used to be though. They sold the brand to some other company (Unilever maybe?). It's just not the same.

I also used to love Rave hair spray. I think they might still make it, but I liked the non-aerosol which I don't think you can get anymore. And Dep hair gel.

[renia22]

It's crazy seeing how commercials have changed from that to what they are today.

They sure have! Here's an interesting article from the beauty brains on Finesse's marketing. I remember when the conditioner was first introduced, it seemed so science-y and futuristic:

http://thebeautybrains.com/2014/04/19/how-does-finesse-give-different-levels-of-conditioning/



I miss Flex shampoo. :( The smell alone kept me using it for years, but I also liked the way my hair responded to it -especially the green "extra body" version . I know it's still available, but to buy it online costs $20.00 or more per bottle now plus shipping. :( Maybe someone has a super sekrit source they'd like to share with me?

I loved Flex too! My parents still have half a bottle of conditioner under one of their bathroom sinks, I asked my mother never to get rid of it. I like to go there and smell it :). The frequent use one was my favorite. My friend who lives out in CA says you can still find it at discount stores, but I have not seen it around where I live since 2007 or so.

[Allie_snowflake]

I bought Salon Selectives about 6 months ago and it's definitely not the same. I'd like to try Finesse again!

[renia22]

Recently, I saw Salon Selectives shampoo and conditioner at Big Lots and almost screamed. It's not as good as it used to be though. They sold the brand to some other company (Unilever maybe?). It's just not the same.

I also used to love Rave hair spray. I think they might still make it, but I liked the non-aerosol which I don't think you can get anymore. And Dep hair gel.

Same here with the Salon Selectives! It's totally different and watered down, as is the Tame and Breck that they occasionally have at The Dollar Tree. I also remember Dep gel and Rave hair spray, girls used that when I was in High School. That and Suave or Focus 21. You can still get Focus 21 online. I have the shampoo, conditioner and moisturizing mist. Smells like the ocean in a beachy, seaweed type of way. I love it :)

[renia22]

I bought Salon Selectives about 6 months ago and it's definitely not the same. I'd like to try Finesse again!

Finesse is still great, I buy it all the time! I'm sure they tweaked it over the years, but it works well and smells the same.

[DragonLady]

My friend who lives out in CA says you can still find it at discount stores

That may be worth driving to California for!

[DragonLady]

My friend who lives out in CA says you can still find it at discount stores

That may be worth driving to California for!

[renia22]

That may be worth driving to California for!

Now that would be fun :), and I'd have to hit discount stores along the way to see what other vintage products are still out there!

[Larki]

Is this what you guys mean by Flex shampoo? http://www.amazon.com/Flex-Shampoo-Extra-Body-Ounces/dp/B0000530MH

[ErinLeigh]

Look at the girl piling her hair on her head to shampoo!
I used Breck as a child and Finesse, Salon Selectives and Pantene as a teen. Oh and the original 3 minute miracle before they changed the formula and Herbal Essence. Sigh. good memories.
It all seemed so simple then. I had no idea what a silicone or a sulfate was. I just sniffed the bottle and begged mom to buy.

[Wildcat Diva]

This is probably late 70's but I remember my mother using an electric comb by Gilette called a Purr to detangle my hair. It was navy and white. Anyone else remember that thing?

ETA:
http://imageshack.us/a/img835/1224/tjdk.png

[DragonLady]

Is this what you guys mean by Flex shampoo? http://www.amazon.com/Flex-Shampoo-Extra-Body-Ounces/dp/B0000530MH

Yep. It used to be about $2.00 per bottle here in AZ, even just five years ago. I have no idea why they stopped selling it here, but I can't find it anywhere.

If I could find it at a reasonable price, I'd probably buy cases of it just to make sure I never run out again.

[jacqueline101]

I loved the almond scented Vidal Sassoon that was in the gold yellow bottles.

[renia22]

LOL, that detangler looks downright scary! I didn't have one of those, but I do recall torturing my hair with these:

http://i225.photobucket.com/albums/dd39/elikitty/image_zps182a013b.jpg (http://s225.photobucket.com/user/elikitty/media/image_zps182a013b.jpg.html)

DragonLady- so tragic about Flex being discontinued. Anything left out there now is old stock, unless Revlon brings it back. That really was a good one! Suave and Alberto Vo5 had good balsam ones too, but those are long gone. Whatever they did to the current Vo5, I don't like it. I used to be able to use it, but now it makes my hair coated and gross. Bleh

ErinLeigh-I totally know what you mean about not knowing what a silicone or sulfate was back then! Things were so much simpler.

I wonder what was in Ivory shampoo and conditioner? Probably crap. It dried my hair out like crazy. But I loved the scent! Check out this dudes creepy voice & how she piles the hair:


http://youtu.be/ZCWtZ5zuWME

[Tall Blond(ish)]

Wow, total flashback to the scent of Flex! I had a lot of fun with hair in the eighties, but also remember bad home perms that left 1/4 of my hair broken at the root, cuts that would probably be described as mullets, forehead burns, and enough Aquanet to drown an elephant.

I remember that HDR ad, but this will always be the definitive 80's shampoo ad:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hz8ul-gmLyA

[Tall Blond(ish)]

Wow, total flashback to the scent of Flex! I had a lot of fun with hair in the eighties, but also remember bad home perms that left 1/4 of my hair broken at the root, cuts that would probably be described as mullets, forehead burns, and enough Aquanet to drown an elephant.

I remember that HDR ad, but this will always be the definitive 80's shampoo ad:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hz8ul-gmLyA

[DragonFlyPie]

I used to love the Faberge Organics Wheat Germ Oil & Honey. It was something my dad ALWAYS bought, so i used it as a small kid. I thought it smelled so good!

Other "vintage" shampoo & conditioner I remember using... (was born in '76)
Aquamarine, Flex, V05, Sunsilk, St. Ives Swiss Formula (loved these!), Salon Selectives, Finesse, Aussie, Pantene, there are lots more but i can't find them now.
I used to have one "holy grail" conditioner that just made my hair amazing (early 90's.) It was in a thin rectangular bottle, but of course cannot find a single image of anything remotely resembling it online. So, guess i will never know what it was.

[Selkie-]

I used to love timotei products - especially the gorgeous commercials with the blonde-haired woman - what amazing hair! Timotei is sadly no longer available here.

http://i273.photobucket.com/albums/jj211/Rachellejoychadwick/article-0-0B81430F000005DC-355_468x633_zps8d115358.jpg (http://s273.photobucket.com/user/Rachellejoychadwick/media/article-0-0B81430F000005DC-355_468x633_zps8d115358.jpg.html)

[Flor]

The still sell the Revlon Flex line here in Portugal. Is it actually any good or do you guys miss it just for nostalgic reasons? :)

http://www.jumbo.pt/Frontoffice/ContentPages/CatalogSearch.aspx?Q=flex%20champo

[Marika]

The still sell the Revlon Flex line here in Portugal. Is it actually any good or do you guys miss it just for nostalgic reasons? :)

http://www.jumbo.pt/Frontoffice/ContentPages/CatalogSearch.aspx?Q=flex%20champo

I'd like to know too because I'm pretty sure I saw that white-green Flex bottle in a local store! :p

[renia22]

Wow, total flashback to the scent of Flex! I had a lot of fun with hair in the eighties, but also remember bad home perms that left 1/4 of my hair broken at the root, cuts that would probably be described as mullets, forehead burns, and enough Aquanet to drown an elephant.

I remember that HDR ad, but this will always be the definitive 80's shampoo ad:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hz8ul-gmLyA

That was a great commercial! Pantene is one I would buy once I got to High School. If they had kept the scent, I would still use Pantene.


I loved the almond scented Vidal Sassoon that was in the gold yellow bottles.

That one smelled absolutely amazing! When they reintroduced it, I was so excited, but it was a huge let down that they didn't keep the original scent. That was the best part. I actually wrote to the company about it.

[renia22]

I used to love the Faberge Organics Wheat Germ Oil & Honey. It was something my dad ALWAYS bought, so i used it as a small kid. I thought it smelled so good!

Other "vintage" shampoo & conditioner I remember using... (was born in '76)
Aquamarine, Flex, V05, Sunsilk, St. Ives Swiss Formula (loved these!), Salon Selectives, Finesse, Aussie, Pantene, there are lots more but i can't find them now.
I used to have one "holy grail" conditioner that just made my hair amazing (early 90's.) It was in a thin rectangular bottle, but of course cannot find a single image of anything remotely resembling it online. So, guess i will never know what it was.

I remember every single one of those! Faberge Wheat Germ Oil & Honey was fantastic, I used that one on & off until it was discontinued sometime in the 90s. Have you tried Earthly Delight Shampoo (the brown one)? It's sulfate free so I don't like it, but it smells a little like the Faberge shampoo did. I also bought some Revlon Aquamarine lotion from Walgreens.com for $1 recently. I wish they still made the shampoo & conditioner!

Do you recall the name of the conditioner you liked in the brown bottle? The one I remember that had a thin brown rectangular bottle was Dimension, but I was only able to find a picture of the shampoo. Loved this stuff! It was around mid-80s but I don't recall exactly when they discontinued it:


http://i225.photobucket.com/albums/dd39/elikitty/image_zpsef554b0d.jpg (http://s225.photobucket.com/user/elikitty/media/image_zpsef554b0d.jpg.html)

[renia22]

The still sell the Revlon Flex line here in Portugal. Is it actually any good or do you guys miss it just for nostalgic reasons? :)

http://www.jumbo.pt/Frontoffice/ContentPages/CatalogSearch.aspx?Q=flex%20champo

Oh, how interesting! It looks like it's still owned by Revlon, so I wonder if they kept the same scent and formulas? I like it for nostalgic reasons, but it also worked very well on my fine hair. Lots of people like the new and improved ingredients and formulas of today, but I actually preferred the ones that were simpler and didn't have all of these conditioning agents and extra ingredients. The shampoo definitely had sulfates; not sure what was in the conditioner. It made my hair really clean and shiny but it still had body. The scent is a cult favorite, very woodsy/warm/ balsam. Although when I found some and was using it around 2007, my husband said he hated the scent, so not everyone was as crazy about it as some of us are.



I used to love timotei products - especially the gorgeous commercials with the blonde-haired woman - what amazing hair! Timotei is sadly no longer available here.

http://i273.photobucket.com/albums/jj211/Rachellejoychadwick/article-0-0B81430F000005DC-355_468x633_zps8d115358.jpg (http://s273.photobucket.com/user/Rachellejoychadwick/media/article-0-0B81430F000005DC-355_468x633_zps8d115358.jpg.html)

We never had Tomtei in the US, but I see it now in European grocery stores and have tried it. The 80s commercials on YouTube are great!

[Andeee]

They sure have! Here's an interesting article from the beauty brains on Finesse's marketing. I remember when the conditioner was first introduced, it seemed so science-y and futuristic:

http://thebeautybrains.com/2014/04/19/how-does-finesse-give-different-levels-of-conditioning/



.
If you watch the above link it will keep showing more and more 70s and 80s hair product commercials! Farrah Fawcett shampoo--I don't even think I remember that one! It's like going back in time.

edited to add--just realized there are 3 pages on this thread with loads more links to ancient commercials!

[jacqueline101]

That was a great commercial! Pantene is one I would buy once I got to High School. If they had kept the scent, I would still use Pantene.



That one smelled absolutely amazing! When they reintroduced it, I was so excited, but it was a huge let down that they didn't keep the original scent. That was the best part. I actually wrote to the company about it.

I know I loved that scent. What did Vidal Sassoon say their reason was for changing the scent?

[renia22]

I know I loved that scent. What did Vidal Sassoon say their reason was for changing the scent?

They didn't give me a reason, they only said they were sorry I was disappointed in the new product, and that they would pass along my comment :/ . The 80s version really did smell amazing!!

I found a few more obscure ones that I remember, the Clairol Sunshine Harvest & Earth Born were from the 70s. I vaguely recall having the strawberry sunshine harvest one, because I remember thinking the lid was cool. Queen Helene had some interesting products, too. I remember the placenta shampoo:

http://i225.photobucket.com/albums/dd39/elikitty/image_zps604b98a0.jpg (http://s225.photobucket.com/user/elikitty/media/image_zps604b98a0.jpg.html)

http://i225.photobucket.com/albums/dd39/elikitty/image_zpse8002d62.jpg (http://s225.photobucket.com/user/elikitty/media/image_zpse8002d62.jpg.html)

http://i225.photobucket.com/albums/dd39/elikitty/image_zps07582515.jpg (http://s225.photobucket.com/user/elikitty/media/image_zps07582515.jpg.html)

[Scarlet_Heart]

Suave used to make a strawberry shampoo that I loved. And then they changed the scent. :( Does anyone remember that? The bottle was clear and the shampoo was translucent and kind of a pinky red in color? The smell was amazing.

[renia22]

Suave used to make a strawberry shampoo that I loved. And then they changed the scent. :( Does anyone remember that? The bottle was clear and the shampoo was translucent and kind of a pinky red in color? The smell was amazing.

Was it this? This is the one I liked too:

http://i225.photobucket.com/albums/dd39/elikitty/image_zps0352b592.jpg (http://s225.photobucket.com/user/elikitty/media/image_zps0352b592.jpg.html)

[Katrine]

Fun to reminisce - I got a kick out of the link to the shampoo ads from the 70's. I actually remembered some of the jingles! I used to use Finesse and Vidal Sassoon and sometimes Flex. I finally got a chance to try Faberge Organics - I loved their commercials but it didn't work for my hair. :( Once I discovered St. Ives I used that brand exclusively I think. I loved their moisturizers too.

[Scarlet_Heart]

Renia, yes. Looking at the bottle though, I think that's after they changed the smell. I couldn't find a picture of the old bottle.

[jacqueline101]

I remember every single one of those! Faberge Wheat Germ Oil & Honey was fantastic, I used that one on & off until it was discontinued sometime in the 90s. Have you tried Earthly Delight Shampoo (the brown one)? It's sulfate free so I don't like it, but it smells a little like the Faberge shampoo did. I also bought some Revlon Aquamarine lotion from Walgreens.com for $1 recently. I wish they still made the shampoo & conditioner!

Do you recall the name of the conditioner you liked in the brown bottle? The one I remember that had a thin brown rectangular bottle was Dimension, but I was only able to find a picture of the shampoo. Loved this stuff! It was around mid-80s but I don't recall exactly when they discontinued it:


http://i225.photobucket.com/albums/dd39/elikitty/image_zpsef554b0d.jpg (http://s225.photobucket.com/user/elikitty/media/image_zpsef554b0d.jpg.html)

I love aquamarine lotion. I can't find it in my area.

[Kelli Kat]

Back in the late 70's, early 80's these were my favorites.

http://i882.photobucket.com/albums/ac28/mynails/00b69c9e72ac34a8a32732cee3afb672_zpsf3d4c229.jpg (http://s882.photobucket.com/user/mynails/media/00b69c9e72ac34a8a32732cee3afb672_zpsf3d4c229.jpg.h tml)

[molljo]

You can still get Gee, Your Hair Smells Terrific here (http://www.vermontcountrystore.com/store/jump/productDetail/Health_&_Beauty/Hair_&_Nail_Care/Hair_Care/Gee,_Your_Hair_Smells_Terrific/54234), but only without one of the original ingredients- deer musk

[renia22]

Scarlet_Heart- I remember using the Suave strawberry as a kid in the late 70s, early 80s, but I can't find an older picture either. It was much better back then, I agree!

jacqueline101- do you ever shop online? I haven't seen Revlon aquamarine in an actual store, but walgreens.com has it right now for $1, and drugstore.com for $2.99

Katrine-that stinks about Faberge Organics not working out for you. They probably changed the formula a few times as well. The last packaging I recall it being in looking like this (1990s I believe):

http://i225.photobucket.com/albums/dd39/elikitty/image_zps226e26d2.jpg (http://s225.photobucket.com/user/elikitty/media/image_zps226e26d2.jpg.html)

Kelli Kat-I loved both of those, especially Body on Tap!

For Pantene fans, here's an interesting video on it's history. I do remember when it first came to department store in the mid 80s, and to regular stores soon after that, in those same cylinder shaped bottles. It smelled really good, too. That's one thing I recall, is these products all had their own unique, distinct scent :


http://youtu.be/y85M5TX-Ko0

[renia22]

I'm actually wondering if the Suave strawberry came in a bottle that was this shape:


http://youtu.be/8bwd-s0rXEs

[renia22]

I also recall doing this in the 80s. Dear lord, wtf were we thinking?:


http://youtu.be/_nVbDBzlsi4

[Larki]

I'm actually wondering if the Suave strawberry came in a bottle that was this shape:


http://youtu.be/8bwd-s0rXEs

That looks like dish soap. :p

[me_random]

I used to love timotei products - especially the gorgeous commercials with the blonde-haired woman - what amazing hair! Timotei is sadly no longer available here.

http://i273.photobucket.com/albums/jj211/Rachellejoychadwick/article-0-0B81430F000005DC-355_468x633_zps8d115358.jpg (http://s273.photobucket.com/user/Rachellejoychadwick/media/article-0-0B81430F000005DC-355_468x633_zps8d115358.jpg.html)


:D


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GU_iNPZL1_4

[renia22]

That looks like dish soap. :p

Haha yes, like Palmolive :)

We had Suave in the house all the time in the 80s when the packaging changed, too. I remember this commercial with Kim Alexis, and having this very formula. I liked it:


http://youtu.be/C3S8lt8aNu8

[jacqueline101]

Scarlet_Heart- I remember using the Suave strawberry as a kid in the late 70s, early 80s, but I can't find an older picture either. It was much better back then, I agree!

jacqueline101- do you ever shop online? I haven't seen Revlon aquamarine in an actual store, but walgreens.com has it right now for $1, and drugstore.com for $2.99

Katrine-that stinks about Faberge Organics not working out for you. They probably changed the formula a few times as well. The last packaging I recall it being in looking like this (1990s I believe):

http://i225.photobucket.com/albums/dd39/elikitty/image_zps226e26d2.jpg (http://s225.photobucket.com/user/elikitty/media/image_zps226e26d2.jpg.html)

Kelli Kat-I loved both of those, especially Body on Tap!

For Pantene fans, here's an interesting video on it's history. I do remember when it first came to department store in the mid 80s, and to regular stores soon after that, in those same cylinder shaped bottles. It smelled really good, too. That's one thing I recall, is these products all had their own unique, distinct scent :


http://youtu.be/y85M5TX-Ko0


Im going to try walgreens I have a discount card. I loved that lotion a lot.

[renia22]

Im going to try walgreens I have a discount card. I loved that lotion a lot.

Me too! Walgreens.com has free shipping in the US with $25, so I ordered toothpaste and fluoride rinse and a few other things to get to $25, including 3 aquamarine lotions. You can't beat $1 a bottle!

So being on my 80s kick, I checked out Rite Aide today to see what they have, and I found both Skin Musk and Primo ("If you liked Giorgio, you'll love Primo.."). My sister and I had both in High School. The kid had to get the skin musk from behind the case, and he asked me, and pointed, 3 times, to *make sure* that's what I wanted. I was, like, "Yes, I really want the Skin Musk" lol. When I came to the register with that and the Primo, he was polite enough not to judge me out loud. http://i477.photobucket.com/albums/rr138/Iapetus144/NotImpressedPlz.png (http://media.photobucket.com/user/Iapetus144/media/NotImpressedPlz.png.html)

Check it out:

http://i225.photobucket.com/albums/dd39/elikitty/image_zps101484b4.jpg (http://s225.photobucket.com/user/elikitty/media/image_zps101484b4.jpg.html)

It will be part of my 80s collection. I love this retro stuff so much, I also started a board on Pinterest to organize some of my favorites.

[nicolezoie]

They had Timotei in the US - at least where I grew up in San Jose, CA, they did. I recall it vividly when I was 13, when I was seriously starting to grow out my hair. I remember being spectacularly depressed, watching TV and seeing this product advertised, and my mother actually allowing me to purchase it for my hair. It smelled wonderful and worked great on my swimmers hair, but I don't recall if I was able to keep using it past that bottle. I used to switch shampoos/conditioners after each bottle.