People have been dying their hair for 3000 years, but the first commercial hair dye company wasn't started until 1909 in France. The "French Harmless Hair Dye Company" later changed their name to "L'Oreal". The products were not widely used, and by 1950, only 7% of American women dyed their hair. A Clairol champaign during the 1960's raised this figure almost overnight. Showing pictures of women with children and running the line "does she or doesn't she", hair dye was suddenly acceptable. By the end of the decade, 70% of American women were using hair dye - it's up to 75% today.