Hair care has evolved dramatically over the years, and many of the products our parents once relied on would never pass today’s beauty standards. From chemical-laden shampoos to hairsprays that could double as glue, these products may have been effective, but they weren’t exactly gentle. With today’s focus on clean ingredients, scalp health, and sustainability, it’s no surprise that many of these formulas have been discontinued or reformulated. Some contained harsh detergents that stripped hair of moisture, while others had synthetic fragrances or chemicals now considered harmful. While they might bring back a wave of nostalgia, most modern consumers wouldn’t dare use them today. Here are 12 hair products from the past that we’re happy to leave behind.
1. Aqua Net Hairspray – The Ultimate “Helmet Hair”
If you lived through the ’80s, you knew that no hairstyle was complete without a heavy dose of Aqua Net. This hairspray was the go-to product for big, teased hair, offering an ironclad hold that could withstand wind, humidity, and even an earthquake. The problem? That legendary staying power came from a cocktail of harsh chemicals, including vinyl chloride, a propellant later linked to serious health concerns. The aerosol formula also contributed to ozone depletion, making it one of the beauty industry’s biggest environmental offenders.
As noted by Chemical Processing, the use of CFCs in hairsprays like Aqua Net had significant environmental impacts. Although Aqua Net is still around today, its reputation as the “helmet in a can” makes it less appealing to modern consumers. People now prefer hairsprays that provide flexible hold without making hair stiff and sticky. Advances in hairstyling technology have given us lightweight formulas that keep styles in place without the crunchy, cement-like feel. Plus, with so many brands offering eco-friendly packaging and better ingredients, Aqua Net feels like a relic from a different era. While it may have been essential for sky-high ’80s bangs, most people wouldn’t dare use it now.
2. Gee, Your Hair Smells Terrific – At What Cost?
This shampoo had one of the most iconic names in beauty history, and for good reason—it left hair smelling amazing for days. With a mix of chamomile, honeysuckle, and musk, Gee, Your Hair Smells Terrific was a fragrance powerhouse. But while the scent was legendary, the formula wasn’t exactly gentle. Packed with synthetic fragrances and sulfates, it could be incredibly harsh on sensitive scalps. As consumers became more aware of ingredient safety, this perfume-heavy shampoo fell out of favor. As mentioned in MeTV, its scent was truly unforgettable, but its harsh ingredients have made it less desirable today. While the brand still has a cult following, it’s no longer widely available in the U.S. Modern shoppers now look for shampoos that use natural fragrances and sulfate-free formulas to prevent irritation.
The demand for clean beauty has made artificially scented products less desirable, especially as more people experience sensitivities to synthetic additives. While the nostalgia factor is strong, today’s consumers prefer shampoos that prioritize hair health over long-lasting fragrance. It might have made your hair smell great but at the cost of dryness and potential scalp irritation.
3. Dippity-Do Gel
In the 1960s and ’70s, if you wanted perfectly set curls or helmet-head-worthy waves, Dippity-Do was your best friend. This bright pink goo came in a jar and was used to prep hair for rollers, pin curls, or overnight sets. It was so sticky and thick that hair stayed stiff for hours, if not days. The downside? It was packed with synthetic dyes, questionable preservatives, and mystery ingredients that didn’t exactly scream “clean beauty.” Many users also recall the crunchy, sticky residue that made brushing out curls an absolute nightmare. Not to mention, the heavy use of plastic jars and their artificially fruity, chemical-laden scent wouldn’t fly with today’s more eco-conscious and ingredient-savvy consumers.
As noted on TikTok, Dippity-Do was introduced in 1965 and initially marketed towards women as a setting lotion for rollers. While it may have been effective for styling, its harsh ingredients and environmental impact are less appealing today. Modern hair products focus on using natural ingredients and eco-friendly packaging, making Dippity-Do seem like a relic of the past. Despite its popularity in the past, it’s clear that consumer preferences have shifted towards more sustainable and safer hair care options.
4. Lemon Up Shampoo – Acid Wash for Your Hair
With the bold claim of containing “the juice of one whole lemon,” Lemon Up Shampoo was a must-have for anyone wanting squeaky clean hair. While it certainly removed buildup, the high acidity of lemon extract could throw off the scalp’s pH balance. This often led to dryness, irritation, and even increased oil production as the scalp tried to compensate. People loved the fresh, citrusy scent, but over time, many realized that their hair was becoming more brittle. As discussed on Healthline, using lemons in hair care can have both benefits and risks, particularly due to their acidity.
Today’s shampoos focus on maintaining the scalp’s natural balance rather than stripping it completely clean. Most modern formulas avoid extreme pH levels, ensuring that hair stays hydrated and healthy. While citrus-based shampoos still exist, they now use gentler blends with added moisturizers to prevent drying. Lemon Up might have been a fun throwback, but few people today would willingly risk damaging their hair for the sake of a fresh scent. A little lemon might be good in a drink—but not in your shampoo.
5. Frost & Tip Home Highlighting Kit
This at-home hair-lightening kit was a staple of the ’80s and ’90s, allowing women to give themselves chunky blonde highlights without a trip to the salon. The process involved putting on a tight plastic cap, using a tiny hook to yank strands of hair through tiny holes, and then applying a potent bleach-based formula. The result? Often patchy, brassy streaks that didn’t always go as planned. But what makes this product controversial today is its harsh chemical composition, which could fry hair, irritate the scalp, and fill homes with a nose-burning peroxide smell. Environmentalists would also scoff at the disposable plastic caps and excessive packaging, making this kit a relic of DIY beauty gone wrong.
6. Drene Shampoo – The Harsh Reality of Early Detergents
Back in the 1930s, Drene was revolutionary as the first shampoo to use synthetic detergents instead of traditional soap. While this new formula created a richer lather and improved cleansing, it also had a major downside—it was incredibly harsh. Early detergents stripped hair of its natural oils, leaving it dry and brittle. People didn’t realize at the time that constant use of such strong cleansers could lead to long-term scalp issues, including irritation and excessive dryness. According to historical beauty trends, early shampoos like Drene paved the way for modern, gentler formulas.
As hair care science evolved, brands started developing gentler shampoos that balanced cleansing with hydration. Today’s products include conditioning agents, botanical extracts, and moisture-locking ingredients to prevent hair from feeling stripped. If Drene were still around, it would be no match for modern sulfate-free formulas designed to cleanse without damaging hair. Consumers today expect shampoos that nourish rather than deplete, making Drene a product better left in history. What once seemed innovative is now outdated compared to today’s kinder, more effective formulas.
7. Wella Balsam Hair Conditioner – Too Much of a Good Thing
Back in the ’70s and ’80s, Wella Balsam was the go-to conditioner for silky, manageable hair. Its thick, rich formula deeply coated every strand, promising intense hydration and shine. However, it was packed with artificial fragrances and preservatives, some of which are now known to trigger allergies and scalp sensitivities. While it did a great job of smoothing hair, it often left behind heavy buildup that made strands feel greasy rather than nourished.
As hair care evolved, people started demanding products that hydrate without weighing hair down. Modern conditioners are designed to penetrate the hair shaft rather than just sit on top, providing moisture without residue. Today’s consumers also prefer lightweight, silicone-free formulas that don’t require constant clarifying shampoos to remove buildup. While Wella Balsam had its moment, it simply wouldn’t stand up to today’s cleaner, more balanced conditioning treatments. What once felt like a luxury now feels outdated.
8. Revlon Flex Shampoo – Smells Great, Strips Hair
Revlon Flex Shampoo was famous for its incredible scent—a musky vanilla aroma that lingered in hair long after washing. But behind that iconic fragrance was a formula packed with sulfates and harsh detergents. These ingredients gave the shampoo a rich lather but also stripped hair of its natural oils. Over time, frequent use led to dryness, irritation, and even color fading for those with dyed hair.
Modern consumers now look for shampoos that cleanse without being overly aggressive, favoring sulfate-free and pH-balanced formulas. While the nostalgia factor for Flex is strong, few people would willingly go back to a shampoo that left their hair feeling dry and overworked. Thankfully, today’s products allow us to enjoy luxurious scents without sacrificing hair health. If Flex ever made a comeback, it would need a serious ingredient overhaul to keep up with modern standards.
9. Breck Shampoo – Beauty in a Bottle, But at What Cost?
Thanks to its famous “Breck Girls” ad campaign, Breck Shampoo was a household name for decades. Women associated it with glamour, health, and the kind of hair that shined like silk. However, the formula itself contained ammonium lauryl sulfate—a harsh detergent known for causing dryness and scalp irritation. While it worked for some, others found that it left their hair feeling stiff and prone to breakage.
The beauty industry has since moved away from overly harsh shampoos, instead focusing on formulas that balance cleanliness with hydration. Today’s consumers prefer gentle, plant-based surfactants that clean without stripping hair of essential moisture. While Breck Shampoo may have been the gold standard back in the day, it wouldn’t hold up against the advanced formulations of today. We still love a good shampoo that makes us feel glamorous—but not at the expense of healthy hair.
10. Jhirmack Silver Brightening Shampoo – Purple Shampoo with a Punch
Thankfully, modern purple shampoos have evolved to be much gentler while still delivering powerful toning benefits. Brands now use formulas enriched with nourishing ingredients like hyaluronic acid, coconut oil, and violet pigments that balance out brassiness without over-drying. If Jhirmack were still around in its original form, it would have a tough time competing with today’s more hydrating alternatives. The goal is bright, healthy silver—not dry, purple-tinted locks.
Gray and silver hair requires special care to prevent yellowing, and Jhirmack Silver Brightening Shampoo was one of the first products designed for that purpose. While it effectively toned down brassiness, its strong dyes and chemicals often left hair feeling dry and brittle. Many users found that with repeated use, their silver strands took on an unnatural purple or bluish tint.
11. Dep Hair Gel
Ah, Dep Gel—the ’90s weapon of choice for spiky bangs, slicked-back ponytails, and crunchy curls. Available in various hold levels (often identified by numbers on the bottle), this thick, sticky gel locks hair in place like glue. The problem? Alcohol was one of the main ingredients, which sucked moisture from hair, leading to breakage, flaking, and an unintentional dandruff effect when it dried. It also left hair rock-hard and impossible to restyle without a full wash. Plus, with the rise of sulfate-free, alcohol-free, and natural styling products today, Dep Gel’s harsh formulation and plastic-heavy packaging would raise eyebrows among modern beauty enthusiasts.
12. Pert Plus 2-in-1 Shampoo & Conditioner
In the ’80s and ’90s, Pert Plus was a household name, promising the convenience of shampoo and conditioner in one bottle. The idea was revolutionary at the time—who wouldn’t want to save a step in the shower? But while Pert Plus made hair feel soft at first, its high-sulfate formula aggressively stripped hair of natural oils, leading to dryness and long-term damage. To compensate, it loaded hair with silicones, which coated strands to give the illusion of smoothness but led to major buildup over time. Many people found that after weeks of use, their hair felt waxy, weighed down, and impossible to style. Today, in the era of sulfate-free, clean beauty, and ingredient transparency, Pert Plus would be the antithesis of modern hair care standards.
These hair products were once staples in every household, but beauty science has come a long way. Harsh detergents, artificial fragrances, and outdated formulas have been replaced with products that prioritize hydration, scalp health, and clean ingredients. While we can appreciate the nostalgia behind these old-school favorites, they simply wouldn’t stand a chance in today’s market. If there’s one thing we’ve learned, it’s that hair care should never come at the cost of hair health. And honestly? We’re glad we don’t have to use them anymore.
