The product offered more than clean hair. The draw was its scent — often described as slightly spicy, slightly floral and nothing like what other shampoos smelled like at the time. It was soft but noticeable, and the ads made sure you knew it would stick around long after your hair dried. For many, that fragrance became the whole reason to buy it.
Haircare advertising in the 1970s and early ’80s tended to focus on softness, shine and manageability. This one added something else: attention. The idea wasn’t just that your hair would look good, but that it would make an impression. Later versions of the shampoo were tweaked to suit different hair types, but the formula’s signature scent never changed.
The brand lasted well into the 1980s before fading out of U.S. stores. It never reached the legacy status of some competitors, but it didn’t disappear entirely. For years, Gee, Your Hair Smells Terrific remained in production in the Philippines, where it found a second life with new fans who liked it for the same reasons people did the first time — the scent, the name and the way it stood out.
“Gee, Your Hair Smells Terrific” shampoo commercial from 1976
Below, we’ve pulled together original ads from the 1970s and 80s that show how the shampoo was pitched to consumers: gentle, fragrant and always ready for compliments.
While Gee, Your Hair Smells Terrific was one of the most popular and most memorable shampoos of the 70s and 80s, there were a lot of other great brands, too. Want some examples? Look back at these terrific shampoos of the 70s as well as shampoos & conditioners from the ’80s and popular 90s shampoos!
Fragrance shampoo & fragrance conditioner. They’re terrific!
It’s “Gee, Your Hair Smells Terrific.” The shampoo that not only gets your hair clean, but leaves it with a little surprise.
A soft, young, breezy-fresh fragrance. Like meadows of wildflowers in spring. Gentle.
“Gee, Your Hair Smells Terrific” shampoo. And same-fragrance rich-rich conditioner. You’ll see they do nice things for your hair. And for you!
“Shh… this is a library!”
Gee shampoo is extra rich, extra thick — so it leaves your hair shiny clean and fresh.
“I’m still waiting for you to push me.”
“Gee” shampoo is extra rich, extra thick — so it leaves your hair shiny clean and fresh. “Gee” conditioner is specially enriched to keep your hair beautifully manageable.
They both leave your hair smelling terrific. Slightly spicy. Slightly flowery. And ready for compliments.
Soft, young, breezy-fresh. Like meadows of wildflowers in spring.
Lots of shampoos can get your hair clean. But “Gee, Your Hair Smells Terrific” does more. It leaves your hair smelling really terrific. Soft, young, breezy-fresh. Like meadows of wildflowers in spring.
Gentle Gee, Your Hair Smells Terrific shampoo. And same-fragrance, rich-rich conditioner. You’ll see. They’ll do nice things for your hair. And for you!
MORE: Do you remember bright green Prell shampoo?
Now there’s a “Gee” for me (1979)
Introducing the Gee for fine, limp, frizzy and otherwise uncooperative hair
It’s brand-new Extra Body Formula “Gee,” now in shampoo and conditioner. Both have real protein and serious conditioners, to add fullness and bounce- both leave hair silky-smooth, easier-to-comb.
Extra Body Shampoo is 99% oil-free, to clean thoroughly, gently. Extra Body Conditioner helps give hair extra manageability and shine, even if you blow dry. Last but not least, they do what no other shampoo and conditioner can — they leave your hair with that original Gee fragrance. Like meadows of wildflowers in spring.
Try Extra Body “Gee” Shampoo and Conditioner. Or the original formulas — Oily and Normal/Dry Shampoos and Conditioner. They’re terrific!
Gee, Your Hair Smells Terrific fragrance shampoo & conditioner (1978)
Jackpot!
Gee, Your Hair Smells Terrific! Like no other fragrance around. Slightly flowery. Slightly spicy. Deliciously nice to be near.
It look terrific, too. Clean. Soft. Full of bounce and sunshine. New “Gee, Your Hair Smells Terrific.” Fragrance shampoo that’s gentle as a whisper. And same-fragrance rich-rich conditioner. Try them both.
Shampoo and conditioner with fragrance that goes to your head. And to his!
What’s missing in this picture? (1978)
Gee conditioner. It’s terrific, too!
MORE: Pantene haircare: ‘Don’t hate me because I’m beautiful’ (1987)
MORE: 80s shampoos & conditioners: Do you remember these 80 popular brands?
“Betcha he will!” Gee TV commercial (1979)
9 Responses
I used GHYST in the 70s and have been obsessed with finding a fragrance that smells like it. The closest I have found is Paris Hilton’s Just Me. Someone said Lancome’s Miracle smells like the shampoo online. I have tried both, and Just Me smells most like it, because Miracle is “more refined”. Paris Hilton also has a fragrance that has that Gee vibe, only more “tropical” and it is Heiress. I own and love both, because I love GHYST so much! Someone online that had used the original shampoo back in the day, and she said R & Company makes a leave-in conditioner that greatly reminded her of Gee. I have not tried it but intend to.
I would love to buy a few bottles of Gee your Hair Smells terrific
Hello how do I buy gee your hair smells terrific I used to wear it in the 70s and I loved it I want to buy more please let me know if y’all have any for sale thank you
Be happy you cannot, as my hair was falling out in clumps within 30 days Yes the smell very intoxicating but the product not good for your hair.
I used this when it first came out and yes the smell is intoxicating and fragrant but within 30 days my hair was falling out in clumps. I stopped using it and do not recommend it.
I would ever be so happy if I could get a couple of bottles each of the iconic gee your hair smells terrific shampoo and conditioner
Where can we find this shampoo now??
where can this be purchased. States amazon but not finding
Vermont Country Store They have a website.