It was in St. Louis, 1888, when hairdresser Alexandre Godefroy (born 1852 in Fairlyland, France) first invented the idea of a hair dryer when he proposed covering the head of wet hair with a cap linked by a tube to the hot air outlet of a gas stove. If it doesn’t seem like much of an innovation, realize that without the right temperature control and steam release, the hair - and the head itself - would be gently cooked.
It wasn't exactly portable, but it certainly outperformed a humble paper fan. In fact, it marked a significant leap forward in the world of hair drying.
When Did Hair Dryers Become Popular
The hair dryer set off a whirlwind of innovations, and by the 1920s, these contraptions were circulating the globe, especially as electricity became more common. Of course, these early models weren't without their quirks - heavy metal components with sketchy electrical connections, often used near water, did lead to their fair share of shocking outcomes. So, in their honor, let's take a moment to reflect on the electrifying sacrifices made in the name of dry hair.
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The beauty industry, however, forged ahead with advertisements about the health benefits including killing lice, and even combined them with vacuum cleaners as attachments for affordability.
Hair Dryer Evolution: From Waves to Illuminating Lamps
Allied Beauty Products Manufacturing Company produced beauty products and were known for their wave-creating machine, one of their “Fifth Avenue Product” line.
Working in association with a fellow Chicago metal company Aridor (a subsidiary of Ball Brothers jar company) they manufactured these hair dryer beauties. In honor of all those who sacrificed their lives for the future of hair care, the electrical in these machines have been re-wired, updated, and repurposed as these striking lamps.
It’s probably best to still keep them away from water. Check them out by clicking HERE or on the pic below.
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