If any of you have read either my Clear Creek Bride Series or The Snows of Clear Creek, then you know that my character Gilbert Snow is an inventor. He’s known for inventing Snow Flakes. An all purpose soap flake that can be used for laundry, dishes, and as his sale slogan goes, even to bathe your children with! Mr. Snow is known as the Soap King of the Eastern Seaboard, and has been working on his next big invention. Scented shampoo. These stories take place between 1889 and 1892. I wonder how much history of shampoo Mr. Snow dug up before beginning his new invention.
I’m sure he would have discovered that back in mediaeval times, folks presumed baths to be an unhealthy practice and rarely preferred it. However, they used a mixture of burnt barley bread, salt, and bear fat to help their hair grow, and elm bark, willow root, red root, and goat milk tea to wash their hair.
I’m sure he discovered that the 18th Century saw the rise of wigs, and how people used lye soaps or water to grease their hair so the wigs could fit. And sure he knows that the Victorians popularized the use of eggs. They’d split an egg over their heads, then massage it until it turned into a gooey mess, then rinse it with water. It was also during this era that Doctors began to encourage people about the importance of soaps and shampoos.
While bars of “soap shampoo” were available for purchase during the 1800s, at-home, daily shampoos were still pretty far off. 
Practitioners were the place to go to get clean. Otherwise known as the hairdresser and the bathhouse. With the professionals in charge of your hair, it was not a daily practice. Besides, bar shampoo left one’s hair and scalp dry and lacking shine.
So, other methods of hair-cleaning were used. Victorian women washed their hair brushes daily, and the infamous brushing your hair “100 strokes” was done to spread conditioning oils from roots to tips and to remove older or excess oil and dirt. Of course, this was more time-consuming than modern washing, and thus one of the reasons “good hair” created class distinction. After all, women of the upper classes could afford all the various rats, rolls, and other fake additions to bulk out their real hair. In addition, women hardly wore their hair lose unless it was in the process of being put up or taken down. That and if they were having a picture taken of it! And at night, most women braided their hair for bed.
Then glory of glories, in 1898, powdered shampoo was invented in Germany by Hans Schwarzkopf and made available for sale in drugstores. Less harsh, easier to use, and readily available, this product began the movement of washing one’s hair regularly at home.
Still, in a pinch, if one didn’t have bar shampoo, people used whisky mixed with castor oil to cleanse their hair. To style their hair, some women used heated pencils as curlers. Now there’s a hair hack that used things you could find around the house—very resourceful!
In 1908, a New York Times article aimed toward women said that washing one’s hair as often as every 2 weeks was acceptable. Meanwhile, men going to the barber shop transitioned from tonics to shampoos to remove build-up from heavy styling products like Bryll Cream. It was around this time that dandruff shampoo was invented by F. W. Finch. Then along came conditions, which originated as “brilliantine,” and created by Frenchman Edouard Pinaud, and introduced at the World Fair to soften.
So we can safely say that Mr. Snow is ahead of his time when he invents his own shampoo and begins to test it on his own family with great results! What are some of the old shampoos you remember that they don’t make any more? For me it’s Long and Silky. I had very long hair from grade school and on into college. I could sit on it! Everyone used to tell me I should be in a Long and Silky commercial, and yes, I did use those products for a time! I’m giving away one free e-book from my Snow of Clear Creek series. The latest book of which will release later this week!
57 thoughts on “Shampooing Your Hair and a Give Away!”
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Minipoo comes to mind. White Rain, I think my mother used it sometimes. Is Breck still made?
I remember White Rain and Breck, but haven’t heard of minipoo. I’m not sure if they still make Breck products or not.
Kit,
Minipoo was a dry shampoo and iirc we would use it on our bangs so we wouldn’t have to really wash our hair. It came in a little cardboard carton and we’d shake some on.
I don’t know if they still make these but I remember Prell, Breck and Finesse.
Ah, yes, Prell! And I forgot about Finesse. Someone else brought up Breck. I remember my mother used to like Prell.
we used Herbal Essence when I was in high school in the 70’s! But Kroger’s Egg shampoo is what we used on the horses to bathe them! I also remember using white vinegar in a half gallon of water as my conditioner! My hair is now almost long enough to sit on and I cut off 24 inches in March of 2021 when it was past my knees!
One of my mom’s brothers worked where they bottled Herbal Essence and at one point he brought home a case of it that was mislabeled. (One of the labels was upside down). I guess my grandma didn’t like it because she gave the whole box to us.
I still use Herbal Essence. Usually when I travel as it’s one of the shampoos and conditioners that come in travel size.
Wow Teresa! I had no idea your hair was that long! And I still use Herbal Essence!
@Teresa Yes! I forgot about egg shampoos. Amazing about cutting off 24” and still having long hair! 🙂
I used White Rain. I remember when it was cheaper to get it at Walmart instead of the Dollar Tree. That was many years ago.
You’re the second person to bring up White Rain. I remember using that way back when.
can’t think of any
I think the weirdest one I remember is Farrah Fawcett shampoo. It came in a purple bottle!
Prell comes to mind for me. We use to use it when I was growing up. I can’t imagine going two weeks without washing someone’s hair.
My mom liked Prell. Then she’d put Dippity Do in her hair for styling!
Dipping Do??!!!
When I was a kid, I remember commercials and print ads for shampoos like Breck and Breck girls, Prell, Herbal Essence (green bottle-only), Gee Your Hair Smells Terrific, Agree, Body on Tap (beer in it?), Faberge Oganics (I told two friends, and they told two friends, etc… Heather Locklear), J&J Baby Shampoo, Revlon Flex, Wella Balsam, and Short & Sassy (Dorothy Hamill).
As a teen, Finesse, Pantene, Tressame, Aussie, Paul Mitchell, and some other former salon brands came on the market for home use.
Oh wow, Denise, I forgot all about Gee Your Hair Smells Terrific! I remember using that one, baby shampoo, and Faberge Organics.
I don’t remember what we used to wash our hair, but I do remember instead of conditioner we used a hair rinse. It didn’t add more oil to your hair – just helped to comb through your hair.
I remember in the 70’s, my big sister would make batches of chamomile tea for hair rinse. We kept it in the fridge so when it came time to pour it over your head, brrrrrrrr!
I use and still use today VO5 Shampoo without conditioner. I just love it
Oh, that’s another one my mother loved, Crystal!
Herbal Essence and Prell come to mind. I enjoyed this Post Kit! And I am enjoying the Snows series!
I’m glad you enjoy the Snows. I’ve decided I want to live in their house, LOL!
Halsa, I remember the commercial, “Halsa Hair, uncover your highlights”.
Halsa, now that’s one I barely remember, Naomi, but it does ring a bell!
I really enjoyed reading this. I remember White Rain.
Yeah, lots of people are remembering White Rain, Barbara. That and Prell.
White rain or Prell
LOL! Those two are the one being mentioned the most!
Prell and White Rain were mentioned, but those 2 are what we used when I was younger.
We are all so dating ourselves, Ami! I’m surprised no one’s mentioned Head and Shoulders yet. That’s been around forever.
I can remember White Rain but do not think we used it. Prell, which was green, was in our house. Some of my brothers just used the bar of soap for their bath.
Judy, I still remember the night I was at a football game back in high school. I was in the band, and the boy sitting next to me smelled good, so I asked him what he was wearing. He said, “nothing.” So I took a whiff, and told him, “you’re wearing something.” His eyes got wide and he said, “oh, it’s my hair. “Really?” I replied. “What shampoo is that?” I noticed how shiny and silky his hair looked. I was also thinking, whatever it is, I should ask my mom to buy some! And what was it? Dawn dishwashing liquid. He said they were out of shampoo.
I don’t remember from way back then but once I find one I like I usually stay with it and nice I. didn’t have as much hair I went to a two-in-one. I just don’t like when all of a sudden they decide to discontinue it without warning.and then you have to start all over again.
Oh, I hate it when that happens, Joannie!
I remember using a variety as a kid. Now it seems like I just find a shampoo I can tolerate the scent of and it is discontinued. I can usually go a couple of days before I feel like I need to wash it. The longer it is, the longer you can wait.
Someone else was saying the same thing about shampoos getting discontinued after you decide you like them!
The ones we used as kids are still around… I remember White Rain… actually saw it in Dollar Tree stores recently.
“Yes! That’s where I’ve seen it. I knew I’d seen White Rain somewhere recently.
I thought White Rain was a dead brand. Nice to know it exists. I remember my mother using it.
Hi, this is so very interesting, thank you for sharing . I used to use Gee Your Hair Smells Terrific and I loved it. About 5 years ago my daughter ordered me some from Amazon, it does have a different name, but I love the smell of it. It cost her a pretty penny , but she got it for my birthday cause she knows I used to love it.
Remember using it, Alicia, but I have no idea anymore what it ever smelled like.
Herbal Essence green bottle smelled so good. And Cream Rinse.
Now Herbal Essence has all kinds of shampoo and conditioner, Dolores. I still use it!
I remember Faberge Organics Shampoo & Gee Your Hair Smells Terrific Shampoo.
Yep, both have been mentioned, Jodi. I knew a gal once who just had to have Farrah Fawcett’s Shampoo. But only because she loved the color purple, and it came in a purple bottle!
I honestly dont really remember many of the shampoos mom bought. I do remember Prell. Mom bought in bulk because of two girls and three boys than her and dad. I sat on my braid. It wasnt until I was seven months pregnant with our first that I cut it up to my shoulders. I could not take the hair pulling one way and the baby pulling the other. LOL
Oh goodness, Lori, no! I cut mine up to my shoulders in college, but the hair pulling from a baby would be too much! I’d have cut it for you!
Kit,
Today the NY Times has an article about how often we should shampoo our hair ! (Conclusion is that it differs by person and hair type 🙂 )
I remember Gee Your Hair Smells Terrific. The Vermont Country Store carries older varieties from time to time. I recall a big jar of lemon scented semisolid shampoo and my mom would line us all up and get to work. She also believed that you needed to ‘close the pores’ with a freezing cold rinse. When she got older that made her laugh but she was doing what she thought was right at the time haha…
Oh brrr, Rachel! But then, I used to put cold chamomile in my hair to make it shine followed by a warm rinse.
I honestly don’t remember any.
Don’t feel bad, Kerah, I only remembered the one.
We used whatever brand was least expensive. I can remember using White Rain at Grandma’s house. We used Johnson’s baby shampoo for the kids, No More Tears!
Body on Tap and Pert are a couple that come to mind.
A day late, but I did want to tell you how interesting your post was. We always used Prell shampoo. The bottle is different, but that shampoo is still around.