1952 Miss Clairol Hair Color Bath Ad

1952 Miss Clairol Hair Color Bath Ad

This ad is for a Hair coloring product in 1952.
The intended audience for this ad would be Caucasian women around the ages of 35 and above. It is specifically intended for women whom are experiencing graying in their hair because it mentions that it can cover that problem. Also, due to the women in the ad wearing pearls, it seems as though the ad is intended for more of the upper middle class women, who can afford to dress themselves up.
The elements that make this an effective form of persuasion are the uses of different hair colors that the product could be used for. 
This message utilizes popular culture because of the pearls and hair styles the women in the ad are wearing. They look like they belong in Hollywood and are actresses. The women are in full hair and makeup and are posing as if they are models.


This company is selling a hair coloring bath for women which is hair dye in a variety of colors as shown in the picture. The time period for this ad, based on the fonts used and picture quality as well as the look of the women featured, would date to the 1950s. This is because the women are looking at their best, with their hair and makeup done and wearing nice jewelry. Women in the 1950s were expected to always look at their best no matter what the day called for.



The advertising method using in this ad is photojournalism considering that the photo is the main focus of the ad. The photograph of the women and the attention grabbing layout are proof that this is a use of photojournalism. This item would be important for women who are trying to look their best and hide their age of this time. It was very important for women to always look exemplary and their hair needed to be perfectly colored just as when they were younger.

The stereotype shown here is the perfect white housewife of the 1950s. Each of these women portray the idea that women should always look their best and possibly that they needed to get rid of their gray hair in order to look their best. The ad shows the type of looks that were expected of women in that time period; hair and makeup done with nice jewelry on. Although women now a days do not focus as much on their appearance, there was a standard for women in the 1950s to live up to and a way that they always needed to present themselves.