Did The Hair Spray Craze Deplete The Ozone Layer?

I was a teenager in the 1980s, and I don’t think I knew anyone at that time that did not use hair spray. The hair styles back then were big, though I think I would have used it anyway thanks to the unruly state of my hair. However, it was something popular to use then because it held like glue, and the styles of the time demanded something to hold hair into place. Thinking back, it is funny to remember some of these styles and the lengths people would go to see how high or how big they could get their hair to go. Even the men were guilty to some degree, but it was largely a female thing.

“We heard a lot about the ozone layer back then, and how aerosol hair spray cans were depleting it…”Hair spray has come a long way since then, though the basic formula of some of them seem to be the same. The container and the way they are applied is what has changed. We heard a lot about the ozone layer back then, and how aerosol hair spray cans were depleting it. We didn’t know what that meant, but it did not sound good. Many switched to pump spray, but it might have been too late by then. However, had this not happened, things would be way worse.

I was talking with a few friends from Australia and they tell me that the ozone over Australia has a huge hole in it, and it is partly due to the hair spray craze of the 80s. They don’t really dare to be outside much without sun screen and a hat. Though this is true in the United States, those who life in Australia take this much more seriously than we do. They do not tan as much as we do because the sun is so brutal there. Sunburns are common and very dangerous. One of the first things anyone who lives there will tell you when you want to visit is to bring your sun cream with you.

I’m sure hair spray is not all to blame. There are other things that were made in aerosol cans. Though most of them have been eliminated and replaced with something else, the odd one shows up now and again. This is just proof that little things can make all of the difference, and that we should be careful of how we treat our planet. We only have one earth and we have to take care of it, even if it means a little more work when we put on our hair spray.

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