Hairspray became widespread in the 1950s, but versions have existed since the 1920s – and its development to the product we know, love and inhale today relied on the technologies used for creating both carbonated canned drinks in the 1900s and insecticide in World War II. The packaging might not have changed much since then, but formulas are a world away from the sticky styles that coated salon walls and floors and guaranteed that hair wouldn’t move between weekly hair appointments. During the dizzying heights of 1960s styles, hairspray was the best-selling beauty product in America; ahead of lipstick for the first time. The 70s saw a slump in sales as people opted for more natural styles, but with the 80s big hair was back, and hairspray has remained a best-seller ever since. These days, sprays are softer and, crucially, less damaging to the environment than their CFC-packed predecessors.