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For other uses of the term, see Greaser

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Greasers are a predominantly youth-based subculture that originated in the 1950s among young eastern United States white street gangs, and then became popular among other types of people.

Their name came from their greased back hairstyle, which involved combing back hair using hair wax, gel or pomade. The greaser style was imitated by many youths not associated with gangs, as an expression of rebellion. In the 1950s, these youths were known as hoods.^[1] The term greaser reappeared in the 1970s during a revival of 1950s popular culture (e.g. American Graffiti, Grease, Happy Days).

Common items in a greaser's wardrobe included Sir Guy shirts, white or black T-shirts (often with the sleeves rolled up); white wife beater undershirts (as outerwear); Daddy-O-style shirts; black, blue or khaki work jackets, Levi denim jackets; leather motorcycle jackets; blue or black Levi's 501 or 505 jeans (with the cuffs turned up about four inches); Dickies work trousers. These were referred to as baggie grays or baggie greens as everyone who hung out on the same corner would having matching pants. As this became fashion, clothing makers responded with outrageous colors like fluorescent green. Motorcycle boots or steel-toed engineer boots; brothel creeper shoes; Converse Chuck Taylor All-Stars basketball shoes; bandannas and chain wallets. Tattoos were also very common in both genders, particularly for teenage males who wanted to portray a "tough guy look" in a way to be feared and respected. Tattooing for greasers became more popular towards the late 50's (57 and up) as tattoos became less exclusive at the time; and appealed more to hoodlums and punks rather than the selected few that tattoos had been originally associated with.

Common hairstyles included the pompadour, the "Duck's Ass" and the more combed-back Folsom style. These hairstyles were held in place with generous amounts of hair wax (pomade). Popular brands included Royal Crown, Black & White and Murray's.

1959 Cadillac Eldorado, a Greaser favorite

The term greaser reappeared during in the 1970s in the United States, during a revival of 1950s youth culture. One of the first manifestations of this revival was a 1971 American 7 Up television commercial that featured a 1950s greaser saying "Hey remember me? I'm a teenager."

Movies featuring greasers included The Lords of Flatbush (1974), Grease (1978) and its sequel, (Grease 2), Eddie and the Cruisers (1983), Cry-Baby (1990), and The Outsiders (1983), a more accurate and tragic portrayal. Greasers also appeared in the Happy Days television series (1974-1984).

Andrew Dice Clay dresses and acts like a greaser during his comedy act.

In 2007, World Wrestling Entertainment introduced a tag team on their SmackDown! brand featuring "greasers" Deuce 'N Domino along with their poodle skirt wearing, roller skating, gum popping valet Cherry.

The greaser subculture was largely an American youth phenomenon, but had similar counterparts in other countries. The 1950s and 1960s British equivalent to the greaser was the rocker, who evolved from the Teddy Boys and Ton-Up Boys. In the United Kingdom, the term greaser only came into use in the 1970s, when Hells Angels and hippie bikers became prevalent. Members of rival subcultures in the UK, such as skinheads, sometimes referred to greasers simply as grease.

• Australia and New Zealand - Bodgie (female equivalent was Widgie)
• Scandinavia - Raggare
• South Africa - Ducktails
• France - Blousons Noirs (black jackets}
• The Netherlands - Nozems or the Amsterdam variant Dijkers
• Ireland - Nadsacks from the Gaelic Gnad, meaning grease or oil
• Germany, Austria and Switzerland) - Halbstarke or Rocker
• Rhode Island - Mondos

1. ^ Marcus, Daniel. Happy Days and Wonder Years: The Fifties and the Sixties in Contemporary Cultural Politics. New Brunswick: Rutgers University Press, 2004. p. 12.

• Almighty 12th Street Players
• Almighty Gaylords
• Bosozoku
• Brylcreem
• Hoodlum
• Hot Rod
• Leather jacket
• List of greaser movies
• Mods and Rockers
• Motorcycle gang
• Outlaw motorcycle club
• The Outsiders
• Pomade
• Psychobilly
• Punkabilly
• Rock and roll
• Rockabilly
• Rocker jacket
• Rocker (subculture)
• Scooterboy

• Chicago Greasers
• Stone Greasers