Odell's (O'Dells?) Hair Trainer

Brian Olewnick · June-19th-2006, 10:39 AM

A summer intern began this morning in my office, took the cubicle in front of me. He has annoying looking, stiff hair. This caused me to think of Odell's Hair Trainer, a concoction that, when I was a tot, was applied to my hair pre-church, enabling it to acquire a friability roughly equivalent to uncooked pasta. Googled and was surprised, given boomer's appetite for all things nostalgic, to see the merest handful of hits. Came in a tall bottle with, iirc, a red label and a smiling, razor-haired kid.

I think the name lacked an apostrophe; could be wrong.

Curious how prevalent this potion was. All I know is that it instilled in me a lifelong aversion to gelled or otherwise stiffened hair, not just on myself but on anyone. Yucch.

Enforcer · June-19th-2006, 10:42 AM

I'm not sure I want to take hairstyle advice from a guy who eats bugs and won't listen to music that doesn't incorporate sine waves. Just sayin'.

Doc Martin · June-19th-2006, 10:51 AM

I'm a Dapper Dan man myself.

Enforcer · June-19th-2006, 10:53 AM

Dapper Dan! My ex told me that she couldn't help thinking of me when the Clooney character in that movie woke up and immediately started worrying about his hair.

In defense of myself, I'd like to say that I am NOTHING like that.

Doc Martin · June-19th-2006, 10:57 AM

Brian Olewnick · June-19th-2006, 11:03 AM

Excellent, Doc. I couldn't locate an image, However, that appears to be a later-model bottle than the one I used. Mine was more a wine bottle shape with a long neck and lacked the convenient side-grips.

"For unruly hair". Yes.

Jimmy Cantiello · June-19th-2006, 11:11 AM

I remember O'Dell's as well as something similar to this.

As a kid, the front of my crewcut was so stiff it could have been classified as a dangerous weapon................

Chris D · June-19th-2006, 11:13 AM

Doc Martin · June-19th-2006, 11:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jimmy Cantiello

I remember O'Dell's as well as something similar to this.

As a kid, the front of my crewcut was so stiff it could have been classified as a dangerous weapon................

We called that Butch Stick

Rob C · June-19th-2006, 11:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Doc Martin

I'm a Dapper Dan man myself.

Right after we'd seen O Brother, I was getting ready for work one morning and said to my wife*, "I'm a Dapper Dan man."

Without hesitation, she replied, "You're a Fop man."

*My ex-wife, that is.

Doc Martin · June-19th-2006, 11:42 AM

Jimmy Cantiello · June-19th-2006, 12:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Doc Martin

We called that Butch Stick

Yes, yes, exactly. The style of haircut was also called a "butch". My brothers and I went to Joe the barber. A haircut cost a dollar and he gave each of us a Bazooka bubblegum when we were finished. My father would always say, "Tell Joe to give you a butch, high and tight on the sides"..................

Brian Olewnick · June-19th-2006, 12:49 PM

If I'm not mistaken, all barbers back then were required to be named Joe. Mine was too. I think his last name was Manzanello or Marcinelli or something and he was quite the political gadfly around town, routinely running for mayor and garnering a dozen or so votes (probably one from my Dad). Sometime later he was arrested for some shady dealings with the local Mafia...

I was thinking that his barber shop might have been the source of the Odell's but, reconsidering, I'm guessing my Dad had a stock of the stuff dating from the 40s.

Jimmy Cantiello · June-19th-2006, 01:18 PM

Our Joe the barber's last name was Keller. I think he had been in the Veteran's hospital with my father. As far as I know he was never arrested..............