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LEAKED 1985 Hair Dye Commercials: So HOT They Were Banned As Porn!

Mar 08, 2026 • minute read

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Remember when television commercials were actually... well, commercial? Those halcyon days when a simple product pitch wouldn't raise eyebrows or trigger social media outrage? The 1985 hair dye commercials that were banned as porn represent a fascinating chapter in advertising history where the line between selling shampoo and soft-core content became disturbingly blurred. What made these commercials so controversial that they were pulled from airwaves, and why do they still capture our imagination decades later?

The Living Archive of Television Advertising

The world of vintage commercials serves as a fascinating time capsule, capturing societal norms, technological limitations, and marketing strategies of bygone eras. Our extensive archive contains thousands and thousands of more commercials that document the evolution of television advertising from its inception to the present day. These commercials aren't just advertisements—they're cultural artifacts that tell us who we were, what we valued, and how far we've come.

The collection includes everything from the earliest black-and-white spots to the high-definition extravaganzas of today. Each commercial represents a moment frozen in time, preserving the fashion, language, and sensibilities of its era. For researchers, historians, and nostalgia enthusiasts alike, these archives provide invaluable insights into the changing landscape of consumer culture and media.

February 17, 1985: A Day of Controversial Broadcasts

On February 17, 1985, NBC aired a particularly controversial lineup that included the documentary "Hitler's SS: Portrait in Evil" followed by the news program "3 Nightside." During this broadcast, several hair dye commercials pushed boundaries that would ultimately lead to their ban. The juxtaposition of serious historical content with increasingly provocative advertising created a perfect storm of controversy.

These commercials featured models in various states of undress, suggestive camera angles, and scenarios that many viewers found inappropriate for the time slot. The advertising executives behind these campaigns were clearly trying to capture attention in an increasingly competitive marketplace, but they may have miscalculated just how far they could push the envelope before crossing into territory that networks would deem unacceptable.

When Sexy Goes Too Far: The '80s and '90s Shockers

The 1980s and 1990s were a golden age for controversial advertising, with many campaigns pushing the boundaries of what was considered acceptable. Some classic ads from this era shocked, offended, and simply wouldn't pass today's advertising standards. The hair dye commercials of 1985 were just one example in a long line of provocative campaigns that tested the limits of broadcast decency.

These commercials often featured racy, insensitive, or just plain offensive content that was deemed unfit to air in American markets. Advertising agencies were experimenting with increasingly bold approaches to capture viewer attention in an era before streaming services and digital platforms fragmented audiences. The strategy was simple: generate controversy, get people talking, and hopefully drive sales through the resulting publicity.

The Social Media Backlash That Never Was

One of the most fascinating aspects of these banned commercials is that they predated the social media era by nearly two decades. Not only would these vintage sexist ads not sell well today, but they'd also cause a huge social media backlash that could potentially destroy a brand overnight. In 1985, controversy might generate a few angry letters to the network or local stations, but today the same content

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1985 - Nice'n Easy Hair Dye - That's My Style | Easy hairstyles, Dyed