191. DUSTY FLEMING for SUNSILK SHAMPOO, 1984

DUSTY FLEMING in a SUNSILK SHAMPOO with Conditioner Print Ad. 1984.

Dusty Fleming, 1970

In the mid 1980s,the name “Dusty Fleming” became a byword in the advertising circle, as this cool, hip-looking dude began appearing in SUNSILK SHAMPOO TV commercials, billed as a “Top International Film Hair Stylist”.  

Previous to this, nobody has heard of his name, much less seen his face, so it was an amusing sight to TV viewers to see  comb-wielding  Fleming  running after movie stars caught in hair-raising shooting situations, ready to untangle their hair problems.

SUNSILK was created way back in 1954, but it was inly in 1968 that it was introduced in the Philippines by Elida. En route to becoming the no. 1 hair care brand in the Philippines, a  2-in-1 shampoo with conditioner was launched in 1982. 

It took two years for  SUNSILK SHAMPOO plus Conditioner to be introduced in the Philippines, in an imported campaign that would lift the product to new heights. And the central character of the campaign was Dusty Fleming, a rock star look-alike who came into the consciousness of Filipinos as a hair expert  who promised a revolutionary brand that  “cleans and conditions…beautifully!”

At that time, Fleming was already a renowned hairstylist to the stars he regularly patronized his Beverly Hills salon on Cannon drive, His list of star clients included Janis Joplin, Diana Ross, Raquel Welch, James Woods, Jessica Lange, Ringo Starr, Jeff Bridges, Natalie Wood,  Sylvester Stallone, Jon Voight,  Nick Nolte Patty Hearst, and even Patty Hearst. As a Beverly Hills’ hairdressing royalty, he was the perfect choice to endorse SUNSILK SHAMPOO 2-in-1.

The U.S.-produced commercials were aired internationally, including the Philippines. Local print ads showed Fleming with American models, but with local bottles featured.  There were two SUNSILK variants available—for fine and limp hair, and for dry and coarse hair

WATCH SUNSILK'S "Dusty Fleming-Copter" TVC Here:

WATCH SUNSILK'S "Dusty Fleming-Truck Stunt" TVC Here:

Fleming started the “hair expert” campaign that would be reincarnated in 1992, this time starring hairstylist  Oribe, and 2010, with “Co-Creations” campaign, featuring 7 of the best hair care experts of the world. SUNSILK continues to be a flagship brand for Unilever Philippines (former PRC), and is actively advertised, As for  Fleming, he still styles hair at the renown Joseph Martin Salon in Beverly Hills, today. 

 

DUSTY FLEMING, today. www.josephmartin.com 

SOURCES:

Dusty Fleming today: https://josephmartin.com/styling-team/

Dusty Fleming in 1970 photo: https://www.instagram.com/p/BD_V8QXsK5b/?hl=en

youtube videos of Sunsilk's Dusty Fleming Commercials: 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZjAC0Bzk900, uploaded by Mark H., 10 May 2010
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Ivx-Uk9wFQ, uploaded by Mark H, 10 May 2010