A Graceland Insider Finally Discussed The Strange Truth Behind Elvis’ Hair

Elvis Presley was someone who took great pride in his appearance and had a clear vision of his now-iconic looks from very early on in his career. But perhaps not everything was as it appeared. Because an Elvis insider who spent years in Graceland recently spilled the tea on exactly what it took to create The King’s hairstyle. And some of the singer’s methods were pretty unconventional, to say the least.

A style icon

Elvis Presley. The name conjures up iconic images of one of pop culture’s most recognizable 20th century figures. Just a silhouette of his tippy-toes dance move or iconic hair is instantly identifiable as Elvis. Even for those who were born long after The King’s reign ended, it’s likely they’ll be familiar with his looks. After all, their impact is still felt in men’s fashion today.

Early impact

Of course, it’s unlikely that you’ll see anyone outside of the Elvis impersonator circuit sporting a bejeweled jumpsuit from The King’s Vegas days. Still, his impact on style was huge and is still emulated by celebrities and fashion designers today. And it’s been that way for a long time. As soon as he first shook a leg on The Dorsey Brothers Stage Show in the mid-1950s, the nation was gripped by Elvis fever.

An unforgettable night

One viewer’s account recalled the night of that Dorsey Brothers Stage Show in vivid detail. According to David Troedson on the fan website Elvis Australia, “It was raining and the then-unknown Elvis Presley did not draw a large studio audience.” Troedson hadn’t been in attendance that night, so it wasn’t a first-hand story. But he did speak to someone who’d been present and shared their experiences.

Elvis fever

Troedson continued, “One serviceman stationed in New Jersey in attendance that evening said, ‘I often went on Saturday nights to The Dorsey Brothers [Stage] Show and I was there when Elvis Presley made his national television debut on that show. I had never heard of him and was startled when he appeared on stage and hundreds of girls began screaming.’” It was an early sign of the hysteria that was to come.