Brylcreem is a British brand of hair styling products for men. The first Brylcreem product was a hair cream created in 1928 by County Chemicals at the Chemico Works in Bradford Street, Birmingham, England. The cream is an emulsion of water and mineral oil stabilised with beeswax.
It was first advertised on television with the jingle "Brylcreem—A Little Dab'll Do Ya! Brylcreem—You'll look so debonair. Brylcreem—The gals'll all pursue ya; they'll love to run their fingers through your hair!" Another version was "Brylcreem—a little dab will do ya! Use more only if you dare; but watch out! The gals will all pursue ya! They'll love to run their fingers through your hair!" The jingle was created by Hanley M. Norins of the Young & Rubicam advertising agency. The Brylcreem television advertisement included a cartoon animation of a man with initially shaggy hair who happily has a little dab applied, and, miraculously, the hair combs and smooths itself. When the dry look became popular, partly inspired by the unoiled moptops of the Beatles, the last line was changed from "They'll love to run their fingers through your hair", to "They'll love the natural look it gives your hair". Subsequent television advertisements used the mottoes "Grooms without gumming" and later, in the 1970s in the United Kingdom and Canada, "A little dab of Brylcreem on your hair gives you the Brylcreem bounce".
Fazal Mahmood was the first Pakistani cricketer to model for Brylcreem. It was the first time a commercial brand had hired a Pakistani cricketer as a model.
The Rutles' All You Need Is Cash, a Beatlesmockumentary, mentions that one of its characters shortened his hair "to save on Brylcreem."
In One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, while a nurse is applying conductant during electroshock therapy, McMurphy quips: "A little dab'll do ya."
In Seinfeld, Season 5, Episode 11, George Costanza explains how he still has Brylcreem, despite the fact that he is bald.
In Young Sheldon, Season 1, Episode 20, Sheldon Cooper is shown to use Brylcreem.
In Louie, Season 3, Episode 11, David Lynch's character explains to Louis CK that he needs some Brylcreem along with a new suit to look the part of a late-show host.
In Law & Order, Season 13, Episode 20, Lennie Briscoe remarked, "A little jab'll do ya," a play on the well known tagline with reference to a death facilitated by the drug midazolam.
In The Sopranos, Junior Soprano remarks to Richie Aprile "The Federal Marshals are so far up my ass I can taste Brylcreem."
In King & Maxwell, Season 1, Episode 3, Sean King says about FBI offices "It smells like Brylcreem."
American Dad!, Season 1, Episode 9, "A Smith in the Hand", has the title character searching for ointment and in desperation crying 'A little dab'll do ya!'
In Mad Men, Season 1, Episode 7, Roger Sterling orders more drinks before a meeting with the Nixon campaign declaring "Well, what the hell? It's the GOP. They'll never smell it over the stench of the Brylcreem."
In Call the Midwife, Series 3: Ep. 1 "Christmas Special", Dr. Turner's son, Timothy, asks for a jar of Brylcreem while imprisoned in an iron lung upon a polio diagnosis." It was also mentioned in Episode 7 of Season 5 of Call the Midwife when Tom left some of the wall after kissing Barbara.
In The Blacklist, Season 1, Episode 22, Reddington refers to the use of Brylcreem while being held captive.
In Billions, Season 2, Episode 11, Referring to poison used to sabotage a company, "It's like Brylcreem then. Little Dab'll Do Ya?".
In the Netflix mystery film , the line "A Little Dab'll Do Ya!" provides a crucial clue.
During the Second World War, members of the RAF became known as "Brylcreem boys". Initially intended as an insult by other branches of the forces due to the RAF's perceived safe and comfortable job back in Britain, one that afforded them the luxury of personal grooming, the term became one of endearment after their success during the Battle of Britain.
In the song Pencil-Thin Mustache by Jimmy Buffett, the last line in the song includes the product's catchphrase: "Brylcreem - A Little Dab'll Do Ya!"
