I only have 20 minutes until I have to meet up wth a friend for breakfast who is currently at their hairdresser getting some amazing outlandish new look. So what better smurf to discuss today than Hairdresser Smurf first released by Bully in 1979.
What makes Hairdresser stand out in the crowd, is it’s large red comb in his right hand (which is more than half the size of the smurf) and his silver scissors held high in his left hand, while wearing his customary white trousers and hat.
When Schleich started producing Hairdresser in 1980 it started to include a black dot on the join of the scissors. Because Schleich could not remove the Bully markings until 1984 it is possible to find Bully marked smurfs with this black paint dot.
When Hairdresser was first produced out of Hong Kong, they encounted a greater challenge with the mould and hence the comb’s teeth are in a zigzag pattern. It is possible that they connected the comb in two pieces. This was later changed to appear more like the German mould where the comb has a slight curve to it and the mould is less thick.
The Hong Kong made Hairdresser was sold by BP New Zealand and also the USA by Wallace Berrie between 1981 to 1984. I am not sure if it was ever sold by BP Australia as I have never seen in any old brochures or posters. But there is a good chance it was!
Schleich sold Hairdresser right up until 1991, though I don’t was ever sold with a CE marking. More likely a CE sticker was used or a hand etched marking was added to the mould. It is also appears there were very little changes were made over the 12 years Schleich sold this smurf.
Due to the popularity and the demand for smurfs in the early 1980’s many fakes were also produced. I have a fake from Spain that has a ‘Made in Spain’ added to the bottom of the feet. There is also a Spanish fake that has black scissors!
At breakfast after my friend showed off his new hairstyle and tried to tell me how gorgeous he now looks, I decided to show him Hairdresser smurf. My friend doesn’t collect anything and is always amazed how I can bring smurfs into any conversation. At least talking about smurfs is far more cheerful than what is currently showing on the daily news.
Keep on Smurfin
Kath B
Hello Kath — another fantastic smurf article from you! I have two questions about the black dot you mentioned. Does this mean that all Schleich produced smurfs have one on the scissors? Also, can you please comment some more about the “zig zag” pattern on the comb — does that mean the teeth are slanted instead of straight? Since I’m still new to smurf collecting, I am trying to visualize what you wrote about it, so I can recognize it if I ever come across one. Thanks!
Hi Jenna
Thanks for your positive feedback, it is always pleasing to hear someone is enjoying the posts. In regards to the two questions you asked, the black dot added to the scissors by Schleich can only be found on the ones made out of Europe. The Hong Kong made Hairdressers do not have this black dot on the scissors. The early made Hong Kong Hairdresser looks like the comb halves did not match completely and therefore it looks like the hairdresser holds a very thick comb. So like you said the teeth on the comb can look a bit slanted.
I hope this helps Jenna, feel free to ask any more questions
Keep on Smurfin
Kath