Sticking with knitting

Back in the 60s hair care "products" were in their infancy.  There were only two hair styling options:

Gentlemen kept their hair under control with liberal amounts of Brylcreem; stylish and functional a little dab could give you the "Brylcreem Bounce" and also double as a handy lubricant for bicycle wheel hubs.

Ladies used "Belair Lacquer"; this was liquid shellac that was applied by a pump arrangement and set rock hard, anyone familiar with handling fibreglass resin and matting will know the texture and smell.

Using Belair (just how Hollywood is that name?) enabled women to create the most astonishing, firm holding, water resistant 'hives ever. With the added advantage that your hair could now double as a helmet, should any bicycling or horse riding situation arise.  I can't imagine why it fell out of favour.  Probably the pungent fragrance of ammonia or the tendancy to spontaneously combust had something to do with it.

Unfortunately, in the time-stressed world of knitting photography, there was no chance for a lady's Belair to set properly.  Since Belair was essentially an epoxy glue this could lead to models getting closer than anticipated.  Photographers would often have to work around the fact that models were attached by the hair.

The "Protective Helmet" properties of lacquer are demonstrated here.  In the bottom right hand corner of the pattern the printer has thoughtfully added a diagram of a beehive, just in case we weren't aware of what we were looking at.  Not sure he should have his nose quite so close to the source of that bad smell though...too late, he's stuck.

Lacquer could also be used as cellulose dope in the construction of balsa wood airplanes. (Look it up).  Wendy is ready with her flying helmet on.  Wind up the elastic band...3,2,1 and, oh no its stuck.

Because of its highly flammable and adhesive nature, if using laquer to glue together model airplanes, make sure you have a grown up around to help...

...Or else!