In the 1950s—there was an influx of products in the market related to fashion and beauty. Hairsprays were no exception.
Hairsprays were meticulously crafted with ingredients like liquid plastic and vinyl that were vital for binding together hair to keep them in form and shape. The product was available in the market in the late 1950s and early 1960s and captured the attention among consumers—especially women.
Aerosol hair spray was an edgy product that used to enhance the firmness of hair. Mind you—aerosol sprays were used to kill insects during the second World War (1939—1945). Due to its promising effectiveness, the beauty industry harvested the inspiration in order to make enticing hair-care products. Helene Curtis Spray Net was a successful hair-care product in the industry and loved by women of all ages.
Bad for the industry—hair spray received negative criticism by environmentalists and scientists—citing that aerosol chemical substances were harmful to the environment and health of users. In addition to this—hair spray was only a practical product when you are dealing with long and big hair such as beehives and bouffants but since all of these hairstyles lost power among women and therefore hairspray dominance in the market faded.
Hairspray sparked the interest again among members of punk rock music in the 1980s. The 21st century has seen hairspray become a part of the beauty routine for women. So you can't say that hairspray has completely lost its market value.
REFERENCES:
Hoobler, Dorothy, and Thomas Hoobler. Vanity Rules: A History of American Fashion and Beauty. Brookfield, CT: Twenty-First Century Books, 2000.
Turudich, Daniela. 1950s Hair: Hairstyles from the Atomic Age of Cool. Long Beach, CA: Streamline Press, 2003.