The Sticky Secret: 7 Shocking Facts About The 'Hair Gel' In There's Something About Mary, 27 Years Later

Few movie moments have the power to make an entire audience gasp, cringe, and then burst into uncontrollable laughter like the infamous "hair gel" scene from the 1998 classic, There's Something About Mary. Even over two decades later, the image of Cameron Diaz’s character, Mary Jensen, innocently styling her iconic blonde hair with a questionable substance remains one of the most recognizable and boundary-pushing gags in cinematic history. As of December 2025, the film's legacy endures, often resurfacing in discussions about the golden age of gross-out comedy and the careers of its major stars, Ben Stiller and Cameron Diaz, who continue to make headlines with new projects.

This deep dive explores the sticky, hilarious, and often controversial truth behind the scene that defined a generation of comedy. From the real-life incident that inspired the Farrelly Brothers to the exact substance used on set, we're breaking down the shocking facts you never knew about the world's most infamous "hair gel."

The Stars of the Sticky Situation: Ben Stiller and Cameron Diaz (2025 Profile)

The success of There's Something About Mary rests entirely on the shoulders of its two leads, who played the outrageous premise with sincere, charming commitment. Their careers exploded after the film's 1998 release, and both remain highly relevant in 2025.

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Ben Stiller: Actor, Director, and Comedy Icon

• Full Name: Benjamin Edward Meara Stiller
• Born: November 30, 1965 (Age 60 in 2025)
• Birthplace: New York City, New York
• Parents: Comedy legends Jerry Stiller and Anne Meara
• Role in Film: Ted Stroehmann, the hopelessly romantic and accident-prone protagonist.
• Key Films: Zoolander, Meet the Parents franchise, Tropic Thunder (Director/Actor), *The Royal Tenenbaums*, Night at the Museum.
• Recent/Upcoming Projects (2024–2025): Stiller continues his successful run as a director and producer with acclaimed shows like Severance. He is also rumored to be involved in a potential fourth installment of the Meet the Parents series, keeping his 90s comedy roots alive. His 2024 film *Dear Santa* was a notable project.

Cameron Diaz: Actress, Entrepreneur, and Comeback Star

• Full Name: Cameron Michelle Diaz
• Born: August 30, 1972 (Age 53 in 2025)
• Birthplace: San Diego, California
• Role in Film: Mary Jensen, the titular, beautiful, and oblivious object of affection.
• Key Films: The Mask, Charlie's Angels, Vanilla Sky, Gangs of New York.
• Career Hiatus: Diaz stepped away from acting in 2014 to focus on her family and entrepreneurial ventures, including her organic wine brand, Avaline.
• Recent/Upcoming Projects (2025): After a decade-long break, Diaz is officially making her acting comeback. Her highly anticipated Netflix action-comedy, Back in Action, co-starring Jamie Foxx, is slated for release in early 2025, marking a major return to the spotlight.

7 Shocking Behind-the-Scenes Secrets of the Infamous Scene

The scene itself is simple: Ted Stroehmann (Ben Stiller) has a frantic private moment before his date with Mary. When Mary arrives, she mistakes the resulting substance on his ear for a new, super-strong hair gel and applies it liberally to her hair, creating a stiff, gravity-defying curl. The simplicity of the setup is what made the punchline so devastatingly effective and a staple of 90s comedy.

1. Cameron Diaz Fought the Gag "Ferociously"

It’s hard to imagine the scene without Mary’s innocent, beaming smile, but Cameron Diaz was initially strongly against the idea. According to the Farrelly Brothers, she argued "ferociously" against the gag, believing it was too vulgar and would ruin the film's otherwise sweet tone. Her eventual commitment to the bit—playing it completely straight and oblivious—is what ultimately made the scene a comedic masterpiece, proving the Farrelly Brothers’ vision for "gross-out comedy with a heart."

2. The Scene Was Inspired by a Real-Life Story

Like many of the outrageous moments in their films, the Farrelly Brothers, Peter and Bobby, confirmed that the "hair gel" concept was inspired by a real-life incident. While they have never revealed the exact details of the story—likely to protect the innocent (or guilty) party—Bobby Farrelly stated that many elements in the film, including the zipper incident and the hair gel, came from stories shared in their lives. This grounding in reality, however absurd, is a hallmark of their signature style, also seen in films like Dumb and Dumber and Kingpin.

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3. Ben Stiller Argued Against Its Credibility

While Diaz worried about the vulgarity, Ben Stiller had a different concern: realism. Stiller reportedly argued with the directors about the logistics, questioning the credibility of the substance being so perfectly placed on his ear and the subsequent stiffness of Mary’s hair. The Farrelly Brothers simply told him not to worry about it, prioritizing the comedic payoff over a realistic scenario. Stiller's character, Ted, is often the straight man to the surrounding chaos, and his internal debate about the scene's physics adds a layer of meta-humor for fans.

4. An Alternate Version Was Filmed Without the Gag

Due to the cast's initial reservations and the studio’s nervousness about the scene’s extremity, the Farrelly Brothers shot an alternative version of the date scenes where Mary's hair was styled normally, without the infamous curl. However, during test screenings, the audience’s reaction to the "hair gel" version was overwhelmingly positive—the laughter was so hearty and immediate that the studio knew they had to keep the controversial gag. The audience's approval secured the scene's place in the final cut and cemented the film's status as a pioneering gross-out comedy.

5. The Real Substance is a Closely Guarded Hollywood Secret

The question of "What was the hair gel really made of?" is a common one, but the exact substance used by the prop department remains an industry secret. It is highly unlikely to have been real hair gel, as it needed to mimic the specific viscosity, texture, and stiffening properties of semen. In Hollywood, prop masters often use a variety of non-toxic, food-grade substances for bodily fluids. For a similar consistency, common substitutes for semen in movies often include a mixture of methylcellulose (a thickening agent), cornstarch, or a high-viscosity styling product mixed with a small amount of white lubricant or lotion.

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6. The Scene Inspired a Real-Life Promotional Hair Gel

To capitalize on the film's massive buzz and the scene's notoriety, the studio actually produced and distributed promotional samples of a real-life product branded as "Something About Mary Hair Gel." These small swag bottles were given out at advanced screenings and movie theaters. The irony was not lost on the public: a movie famous for a semen-as-hair-gel gag was now selling actual hair gel. Some fans even reported that the promotional product "worked really well," completely unaware of the dark humor behind the marketing.

7. The Film Celebrated Its 25th Anniversary in 2023

The film was released in July 1998, meaning it celebrated its 25th anniversary in 2023. This milestone brought a fresh wave of retrospectives and interviews with the cast and crew, confirming the enduring legacy of the gross-out genre it helped popularize. The film, which grossed over $369 million worldwide, is consistently ranked among the best romantic comedies and continues to influence modern comedy writers and directors today.

The Legacy of the Gross-Out Comedy Pioneer

There's Something About Mary was a pivotal moment in 90s cinema, successfully blending a genuinely sweet, sincere love story with shocking, over-the-top gross-out gags. The "hair gel" scene, along with other memorable moments like the zipper injury and the dog in a full-body cast, proved that audiences were ready for a new, riskier brand of comedy. The film’s success paved the way for a generation of R-rated comedies, including *American Pie* and *The 40-Year-Old Virgin*, proving that a great premise and committed performances can elevate even the most sensitive or crude humor.

The iconic image of Cameron Diaz with her ridiculously stiff, pointed curl remains a cultural touchstone. It’s a hilarious, unforgettable testament to the genius of the Farrelly Brothers and the bravery of the actors who were willing to commit to the bit, no matter how sticky the situation.