subject: Caring For Elvis Presley's Hair [print this page] Always the superstar, Elvis Presley captivated audiences; he was the musical icon performing before their eyes, sending bolts of electricity, reaching into and touching every soul. Elvis' classic looks and image are universally and instantly recognizable. His lustrous jet-black hair combed into its famed pompadour, his wet falling curls complete with sideburns; all reflect a full, healthy head of thick hair. The perfect image Elvis presented to his audiences was exactly what the millions of Elvis fans came to expect of their idol. Yet many people don't realize that an image of perfection is simply that: an image, an illusion. Though Elvis was blessed with an exceptional, full head of hair, it lacked strength and
required constant attention.
To please his ever-growing multitude of adoring fans, Elvis consistently worked harder and harder, exhausting himself and draining his energy, all at the expense of his health. Along with an array of prescribed medications, a steady diet of junk food and a lack of regular physical exercise, his body bore the full brunt of his exertions. Elvis lived to please his fans. If he had looked after himself with as much care as he lavished on his fans, he might very well still be with us today.
From the very beginning I explained my philosophy to Elvis: the concept of bringing internal health and vitality to the external beauty of the hair. Elvis responded emphatically, "Larry, you're in charge of my hair, do whatever you think is necessary, only one thing...just make sure I keep it."
Being responsible for the health and style of Elvis' hair, and the image that was to be seen on film, personal appearances, album covers and photos, was something I didn't take lightly. He was the most visible star in the world, and his hair was a hallmark. With all that in mind, I created and used only the most beneficial, superior shampoos, conditioners, hair sprays
and thickening agents to meet Elvis' specific hair needs. Because I dyed his hair black, I had to take extra precautions to ensure that it always looked great - and that he kept it! I probably looked like a mad scientist, or at the very least an alchemist, pouring and mixing various bottles of organic ingredients in Elvis' bathroom, creating special compounds...potions that worked wonders.
I remember one afternoon at Graceland, Elvis was watching me pouring some aloe vera gel and squeezing the oil from a vitamin E capsule into one of my homemade shampoo mixtures. I caught a curious expression on his face, and then Elvis smiled impishly, "Larry, I don't know exactly what you're mixing there, but, if you're goin' to put that stuff on my hair
it better not do anything weird." Of course he was kidding, as he already knew that my eccentric homemade brews always did the trick
