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There has always been that unreachable ideal of beauty that women have to live up to. Be it an impossibly thin waist, unrealistically white teeth, or perfectly red lips, women are always faced with a barrage of images. But the Breck girl seemed to be just like the average women – albeit with perfectly lovely hair.

 

John H. Breck formulated a ph-balanced hair soap in 1930. Breck was concerned about his own hair loss, so his shampoo was far more gentle than the traditional harsh soap and lye that had been previously used. The formula was marketed to the average guy and girl, and was quickly a success.

 

In 1936, John’s son Edward decided to feature girls’ portraits on the advertisements for the shampoo, and hired a commercial artist, Charles Sheldon, to create pictures of beautiful, rosy-cheeked girls with gorgeous hair. Breck hysteria was born.

 

Breck Shampoo was a best-seller for decades, from its inception all the way until the 1950’s. Breck girls became American icons, bright-faced and beautiful, and a wholesome alternative to pinups like Betty Grable.

 

Roma Whitney was the first Breck girl, and only fourteen when she launched the shampoo. Her glowing, blonde hair complemented her angelic face, and in 1951, the Breck company registered her image as their own trademark.

 

Ralph William Williams was artist Sheldon’s successor, and he perfected the wholesome look in the ‘50’s. Breck girls were pinups that sold family values and chastity, representing the idealized women. Actual women using Breck shampoo felt that this was the image they were achieving.

 

By the end of the ‘70’s, Breck rebranded, and the Breck girl was no more. She was an American icon for over 40 years, and many famous names graced that shampoo bottle - Brooke Shields, Cheryl Tiegs, Cybill Shepherd, Jaclyn Smith, Christie Brinkley and Kim Bassinger.