From BuzzFeed · · 2m
Weird Beauty Trends From The '60s To '80s
Older adults share bizarre beauty routines from the '60s to '80s that would confuse modern kids.
In brief
Older adults share bizarre beauty routines from the '60s to '80s that would confuse modern kids. Older adults recall unusual beauty practices from the '60s to '80s that would be confusing today. Originally reported by BuzzFeed.
Hydrogen Peroxide Highlights
A senior shared they used hydrogen peroxide to create highlights in their hair for a year, still visible in their senior class picture.
“I remember my mom telling me to create highlights in my hair using hydrogen peroxide. So I highlighted my hair with it for about a year. Worked like a charm. I even have highlighted hair in my senior (Class of '76) picture!”
Mercurochrome for Hair
In the '80s, people mixed mercurochrome with baby oil and applied sun in to hair, then lay on aluminum foil reflectors for hours.
“In the '80s, we used to add Mercurochrome (red liquid used to sanitize cuts and other boo-boos) to our baby oil AND put the Sun In on our hair, and then lay out on the aluminum foil reflectors for HOURS.”
Aqua Net Hairspray
Aqua Net hairspray was used so heavily it contributed to ozone layer depletion, according to older adults.
“Aqua Net hairspray. It was probably a big contributor to the depletion of the ozone layer.”
Bleaching Facial Hair
People bleached facial hair to counteract the belief that shaving made hair grow back thicker, resulting in noticeable darker skin tones.
“Bleaching facial hair. There was this weird idea that shaving or waxing would make hair grow back thicker, so bleaching was the way to go.”
Toothbrush Hair Teasing
In the '80s, people teased hair with a toothbrush to create texture and volume.
“We'd tease our hair with a toothbrush in the '80s.”
Newborn Hair Perms
Grandmothers tried to perm newborns' hair in the '60s, causing confusion and frustration for families.
“My grandmother and great-grandmother tried to perm my mother's hair as a newborn in 1960. It was ridiculous, but it was the '60s.”
Iodine Tanning
People mixed iodine with baby oil to get a darker tan, leading to skin cancer risks.
“We mixed iodine with baby oil to get a darker tan. It's no wonder that I’ve had multiple skin cancers removed.”
Split Curls
Split curls involved using pink foam curlers twice a week to style hair, causing sleep disruptions.
“My mom used to do split curls on the sides of my face, and I would have to sleep upright in those pink foam curlers twice a week.”
Skincare Products
In the past, skincare products like Noxzema and Sea Breeze were used, while older women used Oil of Olay.
“Skincare wasn't a thing like it is now. Younger generations were stripping their skin with products like Noxzema and Sea Breeze, while older women used Oil of Olay.”
Rollers and Dippity-Do
Rollers and Dippity-Do were used to create the Jackie Kennedy 'flip' hairstyle, requiring nightly styling.
“Rollers and Dippity-Do: This was popular when I was a little kid in the late '60s/early '70s. If you wanted to have the Jackie Kennedy 'flip' at the ends of your hair (and volume at the roots), you'd roll sections of your hair using pink plastic cushioned rollers, coating each hair section with a gel called Dippity-Do that held the shape in place once you brushed it out.”
Nair for Shaving
People used Nair for shaving legs, but sometimes caused burns and blisters due to improper application.
“We used Nair for shaving legs because I was told that once you shave, it will come back thicker (I think my mom just wasn't ready for me to shave yet). So, I once used Nair on the area between my eyebrows and, in a hurry, just wiped it off with a tissue. I ended up with very burned and blistered skin.”
Shredding Jeans
People shredded jeans with razor blades to look 'hair metal' or aesthetic, wearing Lycra with them.
“We'd buy brand-new jeans at the mall, then go home and shred them with a razor blade to look 'hair metal' or, rather, aesthetic, as the kids say today.”
Pencils in Hair
People stuck pencils in their hair and used jam to hold them in place.
“I stuck pencils in my hair, then used jam to hold them in place.”
Horse Shampoo for Hair
In the '70s, girls used horse shampoo to make hair look lush and soft like horses' manes.
“My dad told me stories about his sisters and other girls in the '70s using horse shampoo to try to get their hair looking all lush and soft like horses' manes!”
The one thing
Older adults recall unusual beauty practices from the '60s to '80s that would be confusing today.
