Curling Irons, How Old Are They?

I remember my mother and aunts using these things.  The bristly stuff in the center helped hold the hair so it would dry into curls.  My cousins preferred something newer and chose electric curlers but the younger ones discovered curling irons and went with them because they thought they were so much easier.

I always thought they'd been invented in the 1950's or 60's but my guess was wrong.  The first patent granted to anyone for the curling iron appeared in 1866 but people had been curling their hair for eons using heated iron tongs.

These tongs were U shaped at the top with a handle going straight down.  People would place these tongs in the fire until they were hot, they wrapped their hair around it and produced curls but due to the lack of control, they might burn the scalp or singe the hair.  At one point, blacksmiths made curling irons for those in town who wanted to curl their hair because they had the skills and equipment.

Over time, people fidgeted with the curling iron until it resembles more of what we are used to.  Marcel Grateau is given credit for creating the first modern curling iron in 1890.  A few years later, two other frenchmen improved on Marcel's iron so it would now create perfect Marcel waves using curling irons.  In 1906, a German hairdresser in London used a borax paste on the hair before using curling irons to create permanent waves after 12 hours but this was really heading into permanent waves rather than the use of curling irons at home.

At this time, the wealthy often had their maids fix their hair at home.  The maids used the early curling irons to create hair styles after learning to use the irons on their own hair.  If you looked back at women's magazines of the day, you'll see advertisements for the latest curling irons.  If you've ever watched Downton Abbey, there are scenes showing a maid fixing the lady of the houses hair.  It is accurate.

It wasn't until the late 1950's that another two Frenchmen made improvements to the curling iron and released it to the public. The big difference with this version is that it was electric can portable.  Women could buy it at the drugstore and use it at home.  Then a woman, Theora Stephens, changed it so it resembled what we use today and released her version in 1980.  She added a temperature control so people had more control and she added a spring to allow it to pop open.

Originally, this version was only available to hair care professionals but eventually she released a model to the public due to demand.  Her curling iron allowed more control and made it easier to use than previous ones so women preferred her's to any commercially available.  This is the one we are most accustomed to.  Now one can get a curling iron to create various types of curls, diameters, and its all done at home.

Let me know what you think, I'd love to hear.  Have a great day.