Greaser (subculture)

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. The term greaser reappeared in the 1970s during a revival of 1950s popular culture (e.g. American Graffiti, Happy Days).