"Problem Hair No More: Brooke Shields Promotes Wella Balsam Shampoo in 1980s Ad"

In the 1980s, actresses like Brooke Shields helped sell beauty and haircare products through glamorous television commercials. One such ad featured the young star promoting Wella Balsam Shampoo. In the vintage 1982 clip shared by Les Femmes Vintage NYC on TikTok, Shields pitches the shampoo's exclusive oil-free formula and its power to care for "problem hair."

Tackling 1980s Hair Woes

During this era, hair care routines were not what they are today. Products focused more on styling than condition, and environmental stresses like chlorine, sun and chemicals took their toll. As Shields notes in the ad, many women struggled with dry, split-ended or flyaway hair. Wella Balsam positioned itself as the solution, with Shields as the beautiful spokesmodel relaying its benefits.

An Exclusive Oil-Free Formula

The commercial emphasizes that Wella Balsam's formula is oil-free, an important selling point at a time when oils were seen as weighing hair down. Instead, it touted nourishing ingredients to moisturize without residue. Shields vouches that of all the shampoos she has tried, only Wella Balsam truly cares for problem strands.

A Timeless Throwback Ad

Though shampoo formulas and cultural standards of beauty have evolved significantly since the 1980s, this vintage Wella Balsam commercial remains an iconic throwback. Brooke Shields was one of the decade's biggest stars, and her elegant pitch helped turn "problem hair" into beautiful, healthy-looking locks for a generation of women. Nearly 40 years later, the ad lives on through platforms like TikTok, preserving a moment of nostalgic hair and beauty history.

FAQs

What problems was Wella Balsam designed to treat?

The commercial mentioned it helped with split ends, flyaways, and dryness - all common hair complaints in the 1980s due to styling practices and products available at the time.

Why did they use Brooke Shields to promote the product?

Shields was one of the biggest actresses and models of the 1980s. Using a famous young star like her gave the shampoo credibility and glamour to appeal to women.

What makes this ad memorable nearly 40 years later?

It featured a major celebrity of the era, Brooke Shields, and captured the nostalgic fashions, beauty standards, and lifestyle of the 1980s in a fun, retro way. This gives it lasting appeal even after so many years.

Did oil-free formulas continue to be popular after the 1980s?

Oil-free formulations remained in demand as consumers sought lightweight hair products. Today there is a renewed focus on natural oils and moisturizing ingredients as well.

What other vintage hair or beauty ads are equally memorable?

Some other iconic commercials from this era included Vidal Sassoon and Pantene shampoo ads, as well as vintage makeup campaigns featuring supermodels like Cindy Crawford.