Brylcreem (pronounced
brill-cream) is a men's hair
grooming
Personal grooming is the art of cleaning, grooming, and maintaining parts of the body. In animals, it is a species-typical behavior that is controlled by neural circuits in the brain.- In humans :...
product created in 1928 by County Chemicals at the Chemico Works in Bradford Street,
BirminghamBirmingham is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands county of England. Birmingham is the second-most populous British city, with a population of 1,006,500 ....
,
EnglandEngland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west and the North Sea to the east, with the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. County Chemicals is also noted for Chemico abrasive kitchen cleaner.
Brylcreem's purpose is to keep
combA comb or hair polarizer is a toothed device used in hair care for straightening and cleaning hair or other fibers. Combs are among the oldest tools found by archaeologists, having been discovered in very refined forms from settlements dating back to 5000 years ago in Persia.-Description:Combs can...
ed hair in place while giving it a shine or gloss. It is an
emulsionAn emulsion is a mixture of two or more immiscible liquids. Emulsions are part of a more general class of two-phase systems of matter called colloids...
of
waterWater is an ubiquitous chemical substance that is composed of hydrogen and oxygen and is essential for all known forms of life.In typical usage, water refers only to its liquid form or state, but the substance also has a solid state, ice, and a gaseous state, water vapor or steam. Water covers 71%...
and
mineral oilMineral oil or liquid petroleum is a by-product in the distillation of petroleum to produce gasoline and other petroleum based products from crude oil. It is a transparent, colorless oil composed mainly of alkanes and cyclic paraffins, related to petroleum jelly . It has a density of around 0.8...
stabilised with
beeswaxBeeswax is a natural wax produced in the bee hive of honey bees of the genus Apis. Worker bees have eight wax-producing mirror glands on the inner sides of the sternites on abdominal segments 4 to 7...
. Other ingredients are fragrance,
calcium hydroxideCalcium hydroxide, traditionally called slaked lime, hydrated lime, slack lime, or pickling lime, is a chemical compound with the chemical formula Ca2. It is a colourless crystal or white powder, and is obtained when calcium oxide is mixed, or "slaked" with water...
,
BHTButylated hydroxytoluene , also known as butylhydroxytoluene, is a lipophilic organic compound that is primarily used as an antioxidant food additive as well as in cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, jet fuels, rubber, petroleum products, electrical transformer oil, and embalming fluid.-Production:BHT is...
, dimethyl oxazolidine,
magnesium sulfateMagnesium sulfate is a chemical compound containing magnesium and sulfur, with the formula MgSO4. In its hydrated form the pH is 6.0 . It is often encountered as the heptahydrate, MgSO4·7H2O, commonly called Epsom salt. Anhydrous magnesium sulfate is used as a...
, and
stearic acidStearic acid or 18:0 is a saturated fatty acid. It is a waxy solid, and its chemical formula is C
18H
36O
2, or CH
316COOH. Its name comes from the Greek word stéar , which means tallow...
.
Brylcreem is sold in a tube in the US, and tube and pot in Europe and Canada. The formulations are slightly different. It is marketed in the US by
Combe IncorporatedCombe Incorporated, based in White Plains, New York, is a privately owned personal-care company founded in 1949 by Ivan Combe. It is best known for its Odor Eaters line of foot-care products...
; in Europe, by the Sara Lee Corporation.
The shiny "wet" look it gave hair was
de rigueurDe rigueur is a French expression that literally means "of rigor" or "of strictness". In English language usage, it means "necessary according to etiquette, common sense, protocol or fashion."...
for men for many years. Other substances, including
macassar oilMacassar oil is a compounded oil used primarily by men in Victorian and Edwardian times as a hair oil.Macassar oil is often made with coconut oil or palm oil combined with ylang-ylang oil and other fragrant oils.Macassar oil was so named because it was reputed to have been manufactured from...
and
petroleum jellyPetroleum jelly, petrolatum or soft paraffin, CAS number 8009-03-8, is a semi-solid mixture of hydrocarbons , originally promoted as a topical ointment for its healing properties...
, had been in use for this purpose earlier and made popular by such figures as
Rudolph ValentinoRudolph Valentino was an Italian actor, sex symbol, and early pop icon. Known as the "Latin Lover", he was one of the most popular stars of the 1920s, and one of the most recognized stars from the silent film era. He is best known for his work in The Sheik and The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse...
.
Brylcreem's use declined during the 1960s as hair fashions changed to favor the "dry look". However, it has seen a comeback since the late 1990s. It is remarketed in Europe under a Ministry of Hair banner alongside companion gel and wax products in squeeze bottles, rarely sold directly alongside the traditional Brylcreem. In the US, the traditional Original Brylcreem has undergone a resurgence as a new generation discovers it. This appears to be a response to market pressures and a trend to get away from the "helmet hair" that is common with
gelsHair gel is a hairstyling product that is used to stiffen hair into a particular hairstyle. The results it produces are usually similar to but stronger than those of hair spray and weaker than those of hair glue or hair wax.-Types:...
, with a new generation of men, including many in a number of subcultures, returning to using
pomadePomade is a greasy or waxy substance that is used to style hair. Pomade makes hair look slick and shiny. Unlike hair spray and hair gel, pomade does not dry and often takes several washes to remove...
s and creams. Most hair care manufacturers now offer similar petrolatum, wax, or oil-based hair products that give hair a sleek and pliable look while maintaining control for styles such as DA, "bed-head" and "Princeton".
Jingle
It was first advertised on TV by the
jingleA jingle is a memorable slogan, set to an engaging melody, mainly broadcast on radio and sometimes on television commercials.- History :The jingle had no definitive debut: its infiltration of the radio was more of an evolutionary process than a sudden innovation...
"Brylcreem — A Little Dab'll Do Ya!".
Lyrics for the Brylcreem jingle:
- Bryl-creem, a little dab'll do ya,
- Use more, only if you dare,
- But watch out,
- The gals will all pursue ya,--
- They'll love to put their fingers through your hair.
- Bryl-creem, a little dab'll do ya,
- Bryl-creem, you'll look so debonair.
- Bryl-creem, the gals will all pursue ya,
- They'll love to RUN their fingers through your hair.
-
- Note-When the dry look became popular, the last line was changed to, "They'll love the natural look it gives your hair."
It has been claimed that
Fred FlintstoneFrederick Joseph "Fred" Flintstone is a fictional character who originated in the animated sitcom The Flintstones on ABC. He is the husband of Wilma Flintstone and father of Pebbles Flintstone...
's famous "Yabba Dabba Doo" was derived from this motto when
Alan ReedAlan Reed was an American actor and voice artist, best known as the original voice of Fred Flintstone on The Flintstones and various spin-off series...
, the actor who voiced the character, didn't like the simple "Yahoo" in the script.
Subsequent television advertisements used the mottoes "Grooms without gumming" and later, in the 1970s in the UK, "A little dab of Brylcreem on your hair gives you the Brylcreem bounce".
Cultural references
Its popularity with
Royal Air ForceThe Royal Air Force is the United Kingdom's air force, the oldest independent air force in the world. Formed on 1 April 1918, the RAF has taken a significant role in British military history ever since, playing a large part in World War II and in more recent conflicts.The RAF operates almost 1,109...
pilots in
World War IIWorld War II, or the Second World War , was a global military conflict which involved a majority of the world's nations, including all great powers, organized into two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
led to their nickname,
The Brylcreem BoysThe Brylcreem Boys is a 1997 film directed and co-written by Terence Ryan about the extraordinary neutrality arrangements pertaining to Ireland during World War II, by the Éamon de Valera government...
. This is the title of a 1998 film about downed pilots interned in the
Republic of IrelandIreland is a country in north-western Europe. The modern sovereign state occupies about five-sixths of the island of Ireland, which was partitioned on 3 May 1921. It is a parliamentary democracy and a republic...
. Ironically,
Tony GibsonHamilton Bertie Gibson, known as Tony was a psychologist, anarchist, and Brylcreem model.In 1939, while working as a life model for art students, he was selected to model for Brylcreem advertisements...
, the model shown in RAF uniform to advertise Brylcreem during
World War IIWorld War II, or the Second World War , was a global military conflict which involved a majority of the world's nations, including all great powers, organized into two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, was an
anarchistAnarchism is a political philosophy encompassing theories and attitudes which consider the state, as compulsory government, to be unnecessary, harmful, and/or undesirable, and favors the absence of the state ....
and
conscientious objectorA conscientious objector is an individual who, on religious, moral or ethical grounds, refuses to participate as a combatant in war or, in some cases, to take any role that would support a combatant organization armed forces. In the first case, conscientious objectors may be willing to accept...
.
In 1961 Brylcreem sponsored a television special on
ABCThe American Broadcasting Company is an American television network. Created in 1943 from the former NBC Blue radio network, ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group. It first broadcast on television in 1948...
television starring singer
Connie FrancisConcetta Rosa Maria Franconero , known professionally as Connie Francis, is an American pop singer best known for several international hit songs including "Who's Sorry Now?," "Lipstick on Your Collar," "Where the Boys Are", and "Stupid Cupid." She topped the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart on...
titled
Kicking Sound Around. During the special Connie sang and acted alongside
Tab HunterTab Hunter is an American actor, singer, former teen idol and author who has starred in over forty major motion pictures.-Background:...
,
Eddie Foy, Jr.Eddie Foy Jr. was an American character actor.Born Edwin Fitzgerald Jr. in New Rochelle, New York, the son of vaudevillian Eddie Foy and his third wife, Madeline Morando, he was one of the "Seven Little Foys" immortalized in the 1955 film of the same name...
and
Art CarneyArthur William Matthew “Art” Carney was an American actor in film, stage, television and radio. Carney portrayed the upstairs neighbor and sewer worker Ed Norton, opposite Jackie Gleason's Ralph Kramden in the situation comedy The Honeymooners.-Personal life:Carney, youngest of six sons , was...
while providing jingle commercials for Brylcreem between acts.
A notable user of the product was co-founder of
Pink FloydPink Floyd were an English rock band who, in the late 1960s, earned recognition for their psychedelic and space rock music, and in the 1970s, as they evolved, for their progressive rock music. Pink Floyd's work is marked by philosophical lyrics, sonic experimentation, innovative album cover art,...
,
Syd BarrettSyd Barrett , born Roger Keith Barrett, was an English singer, songwriter, guitarist and artist. He is most remembered as a founding member of psychedelic rock band Pink Floyd, providing major musical and stylistic direction in their early work, although he left the group in 1968 amidst...
. It is reported that Barrett piled so much Brylcreem on that he resembled "a guttered candle" as the hot stage lights were beating down on him, melting the cream. At a show in 1967 he reportedly crushed a tube of Brylcreem over his head.
The jingle is sung by
Jimmy BuffettJames William "Jimmy" Buffett is a singer, songwriter, author, businessman, and recently a movie producer best known for his "island escapism" lifestyle and music including hits such as "Margaritaville" , and "Come Monday". He has a devoted base of fans known as "Parrotheads"...
near the end of the song "
Pencil Thin Mustache"Pencil Thin Mustache," originally released as "Pencil Thin Moustache," is a song written and performed by American popular music singer-songwriter Jimmy Buffett. It was released as a single on Dunhill D-15011 in August 1974.It was first released on his 1974 album Living & Dying in ¾ Time...
" from the 1974 album
Living & Dying in 3/4 TimeLiving & Dying in ¾ Time is the fourth album by American popular music singer-songwriter Jimmy Buffett and the second major label album in Buffett's Don Gant-produced "Key West phase." It was initially released in February 1974 as Dunhill DS-50132 and later rereleased on Dunhill's successor labels...
.
In the 1975 film
One Flew Over the Cuckoo's NestOne Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest is a 1975 American drama film directed by Miloš Forman. The film is an adaptation of the 1962 novel One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest by Ken Kesey...
, Randall P. McMurphy (played by
Jack NicholsonJohn Joseph "Jack" Nicholson is an American actor, film director and producer. He is renowned for his often dark-themed portrayals of neurotic characters....
) says "a little dab'll do ya," as the nurse applies conductant to his temples prior to his receiving electroshock therapy.
It is referenced by the
Southern GothicSouthern Gothic is a subgenre of the gothic novel, unique to American literature.Like its parent genre, it relies on supernatural, ironic, or unusual events to guide the plot...
rock band
Th' Legendary Shack ShakersTh' Legendary Shack Shakers are an American psychobilly band. They are inspired by punk, rockabilly, Texas polka, Delta blues, and other traditional Southern music genres, formed in Paducah, Kentucky in the mid 1990's...
in their song
Piss and Vinegar.
A number of British Cabinet Ministers in the Conservative governments of the 1980s wore Brylcreem, long after it had ceased to be widely worn among the general male population. Two examples were
Cecil ParkinsonCecil Edward Parkinson, Baron Parkinson, PC , is a British Conservative politician and former Cabinet Minister.-Early life:...
and Kenneth Baker - who was satirised as a slimy snail by the programme "Spitting Image". Both men ceased to use the product after leaving office.
In 1995, a
BelgianThe Kingdom of Belgium is a country in northwest Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts its headquarters, as well as those of other major international organizations, including NATO...
film producerA film producer or movie producer is someone who creates the scenes and conditions for making movies. The producer initiates, co-ordinates, supervises and controls matters such as fund-raising, hiring key personnel and arranging for distributors...
made a film,
Brylcream Boulevard, misspelling Brylcreem.
In an episode of
SeinfeldSeinfeld is an American television sitcom that originally aired on NBC from July 5, 1989, to May 14, 1998, lasting nine seasons, and is now in syndication. The eponymous series was created by Larry David and Jerry Seinfeld, with the latter starring as a fictionalized version of himself...
The Conversion,
GeorgeGeorge Louis Costanza is a fictional character in the American television sitcom Seinfeld , played by Jason Alexander. He has variously been described as a "Short, stocky, slow-witted, bald man". He is friends with Jerry Seinfeld, Cosmo Kramer, and Elaine Benes. George appears in every episode...
mentions that he still has Brylcreem in his medicine cabinet.
In Episode 33 of
The SopranosThe Sopranos is an American television drama series created and produced by David Chase. It premiered on the premium cable network HBO in the United States on January 10, 1999 and ended its original run of six seasons and 86 episodes on June 10, 2007. The show has also been broadcast on A&E in...
(originally aired April 8, 2001),
Uncle JuniorCorrado John Soprano, Jr., played by Dominic Chianese, is a fictional character on the HBO TV series The Sopranos. Usually referred to as "Uncle Junior" or "Uncle June", he is the mentor and surrogate father for mob boss Tony Soprano. A younger Corrado sometimes appears in flashbacks and is played...
says, "I've got the Feds so far up my ass I can taste Brylcreem."
In Episode 1 of Season 3 of
ScrubsScrubs is an American comedy-drama created in 2001 by Bill Lawrence and produced currently by ABC Studios. The show follows the lives of several employees of Sacred Heart, a teaching hospital. It features fast-paced dialogue, slapstick, and surreal vignettes presented mostly as the daydreams of the...
(originally aired October 2, 2003),
Dr. CoxPercival Ulysses "Perry" Cox, M.D. , is a fictional character played by John C. McGinley on the American television comedy-drama Scrubs.-Character profile:...
says, "Kelso is so far up my ass that I can taste Brylcreem in the back of my throat."
In Episode 7 of Season 1 of
Mad MenMad Men is an American period drama television series created and produced by Matthew Weiner. The show is broadcast on the American cable network AMC and is produced by Lionsgate Television. It premiered on July 19, 2007 and completed its second season on October 26, 2008...
after eating oysters,
Roger SterlingRoger Sterling Jr., played by John Slattery, is a fictional character on the AMC TV series Mad Men. He works for Sterling Cooper advertising agency. Sterling is a Navy veteran of World War II, having served in the Pacific Theater. His father, Roger Sterling Sr., was one of the founders of Sterling...
says, "What the hell. It's the GOP; they'll never smell it over the stench of brylcreem."
In an episode of
Top GearTop Gear is a BBC television series about motor vehicles, primarily cars. It began in 1977 as a conventional motoring magazine show. Over time, and especially since a relaunch in 2002, it has developed a quirky, humorous style. The show is currently presented by Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond...
,
Richard HammondRichard Mark Hammond is a British TV presenter, most noted for co-hosting car programme Top Gear alongside Jeremy Clarkson and James May, as well as presenting Brainiac: Science Abuse on Sky1, Should I Worry About...? on BBC One and Total Wipeout, also on BBC One and Richard Hammond's Blast Lab on...
talks about the
Morgan Aero 8The Morgan Aero 8 is a sports car designed and built by Morgan Motor Company at its factory in Malvern Link, England ....
, saying that it was designed with '40 style in mind and that he should have been filmed "(...) in black and white, with Brylcreem in my hair."
External links