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Ayer's Hair Vigor

American History Museum

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  • Ayer's Hair Invigorator and Ayer's Hair Vigor, front
  • Ayer's Hair Vigor

    Object Details

    maker

    Dr. J. C. Ayer and Company

    Description

    Made by J. C. Ayer and Company, Practical and Analytical Chemists, Lowell, Mass., in the 1860s, Ayer’s Hair Vigor "Restores grey hair to its natural vitality and color," but "does not color the hair." Advertisements pronounced that it was "free from uncleanly dangerous or injurious substances" and that it would cure dandruff and stop falling hair. Patented in 1868, this was the only Ayer product to have a patent, although the company sold a variety of health-related products popularly known as "patent medicines."
    Along with these other medicines, Ayer’s Hair Vigor was advertised in Ayer’s American Almanac, which was first published in the mid-19th century and continued into the 1920s. The almanac featured astronomical, astrological, and weather information for the year, as well as medical advice promoting the company’s products.
    The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are:
    For Restoring the Natural Vitality and Color of the Hair

    Location

    Currently not on view

    Credit Line

    Gift of Gary P. and Sandra Baden

    date made

    ca 1867

    associated date

    1867

    ID Number

    1979.0798.234

    accession number

    1979.0798

    catalog number

    1979.0798.234

    Object Name

    hair tonic
    hair care product

    Other Terms

    Patent Medicines; Drugs; Liquid

    Physical Description

    glass (container material)
    paper (container material)

    Measurements

    overall: 7 1/2 in x 3 1/4 in x 1 1/2 in; 19.05 cm x 8.255 cm x 3.81 cm

    place made

    United States: Massachusetts, Lowell

    See more items in

    Medicine and Science: Medicine
    Health & Medicine
    Beauty and Hygiene Products: Hair Care and Enhancement
    Beauty and Health
    Hair Care Products

    Data Source

    National Museum of American History

    web subject

    Hair Care Products

    Metadata Usage

    CC0

    Link to Original Record

    https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ng49ca746a5-67f1-704b-e053-15f76fa0b4fa

    Record ID

    nmah_715094

    Discover More

    Health and Hygiene objects from the collection

    Hair Care

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