From Drab To Fab: Here’s How Hair Color Revolutionized Men’s Grooming
Salt and pepper hair can be an attractive indication of aging gracefully. However, not many would like to let nature take its course just yet. In order to preserve a youthful appearance, many turn to hair dyes to travel back in time to look like their younger selves. Aside from hiding grays, hair color for men gradually became a sign of vanity, style and status across centuries. Let’s take a trip through history and learn about the origins of hair coloring.
A Brief History Of Hair Coloring Across Global Regions
Rulers of Ancient Egypt prided themselves on their beauty and appearance. Undoubtedly, hair color for men played a major role in their grooming with henna being their main go-to either to enhance their natural hair color or hide peeking grays. Rameses II who was regarded to be one of the greatest rulers of the 19th dynasty during the 13th century was also chronicled to have used henna to enhance the natural red color of his hair.
Ancient Greece also had their own history with hair color where fair, blonde hair was of utmost preference. They used multiple methods to make their hair lighter like using a pomade made of bright yellow petals and pollen. In some instances, the Greeks would even rinse their hair in potassium solution to lighten the hair. Some of them would even use a special ointment and sit in the sun to bleach their hair golden.
The concept of hair dyeing also touched home base with ancient tomes like the Navanitaka, written by a Buddhist monk where multiple recipes were etched to achieve hair dyes of rich black and indigo hues. These involved ingredients like sesame oil, black iron, liquorice, bhringaraj, blue lily, and black plum (or jamun), just to name a few.
Needless to say, these historical influences paved the way for several hair color trends for men that reigned supreme through decades and eras. Here’s a breakdown of the history.
1900s
The first synthetic hair color called Aureole was spawned at the hands of Eugène Schueller who would go on to be the founder of Loreal.
1920s
This was the era when permanent hair coloring was introduced into the grooming market. The majority of the hair dye market was targeted towards women who wanted to cover their grays to maintain a younger facade. Men, however, preferred to enhance their natural black hair by making it look sleek with hair gels and pomades. However, some men would keep their hair coloring activities hush-hush as it was considered to be taboo.
1930s – 50s
With the hair color market picking up pace, this decade brought forth a refreshing change in hair color trends. It was during this time period that encouraged people to embrace icy and platinum blonde shades which was sensationalized by yesteryear Hollywood actress, Jean Harlow. Thus began the demand for almost-white blonde shades in the West. Continuing on with the blonde obsession, it was in the year 1950 that a single-step hair color was formulated that helped people color their hair at home to achieve desired shades of blonde. It should also be noted that coloring the hair at home was still a discreet grooming routine. Thus, the convenience made the box dye a hit.
1970s
If you thought that balayage and highlights emerged in the 90s and early 2010s, here’s a surprising fact – the French technique, balayage originated in Paris during the 70s. The agenda of this relaxed, freestyle technique was to lend the lock a subtle and natural ‘sunkissed look’ that was also considered to be relatively low maintenance. Subdued highlights were also another technique that debuted around the same time period to match dark hair colors.
1980s
The 80s, according to major consensus, is heralded to be the most iconic era that saw the rise of psychedelic fashion, grunge looks and punk rock hairstyles. The era wasn’t just painted red but was drenched in neon brightness of yellow, blue and purple. Co-existing with this vibrance supreme were also laid-back avenues of burgundy, brunette and blondes that were given extra oomph with big perms, side ponies and crimped strands.
1990s–2000s
Yet another era that witnessed wild hair trends was from the 1990s to the early 2000s. We saw the emergence of audacious chunky highlights, frosted tips and emo hairstyles, all of which were uber-popularized by musical talents of the Hollywood Industry. Hairstylists defied the norm with chunky or ribbon highlights where jet black hair was streaked with vibrant shades of blonde or vice versa. Streaks of neon shades were also preferred either in wispy strands or as a whole army of streaks. Young men didn’t hold back their hair color experiments either. From wavy hair texturized with caramel strands and short, spiky tips frosted with platinum blondes, men’s hair color was highly favored!
2010s – Present
Thanks to the mighty rise of social media the world of fashion and beauty started embracing an infinite variety of hair color trends on both men and women. The early 2010s saw ombré hair colors and balayage make a comeback. Such was the influence of the former hair coloring technique that the era made way for sombré which was a softer take on the hair coloring method. While this was the go-to for those who liked to keep it simple, others chose to add pastel shades to the daily rotation of their hair coloring routine. Cut to present times where a wide spectrum of hair color trends coexist allowing men to try a variety of hair color for men to flaunt a trendy and stylish mop of hair.
