Hair straighteners are a relatively new invention, but they have been around for quite some time. Ever thought, who is the genius behind this mind-blowing invention?
Many people believe that the first hair straightener was invented by King Louis XIV of France in the 17th century. However, some people believe that the first hair straightener was actually invented by an Egyptian woman named Hana Shouaib in the 12th century.
While it’s difficult to determine who was the first person to invent this device, it is generally accepted that a Chinese woman named Chi Cheng invented the first hair straightener back in the 1400s.
Regardless of who invented hair straighteners, it is clear that hair straighteners are now a popular form of beauty treatment.
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The History of Hair Straighteners
So the story of this invention starts back in the 14th century and has continued since then. In the early 17th century, women in the Netherlands wore their hair in a style called krullen. Krullen was created when women twisted their hair up into a bun with some oil or fat and allowed it to dry. The result was a sleek, shiny coil of hair that could be pulled straight down from the head without any difficulty.
Let’s dig deep and find the answer to your question “who invented hair straighteners”.
Duke of Württemberg (1769)
The first known patent for a hair straightener was granted to a German woman by the Duke of Württemberg in 1769. The patent described a hair straightener with two metal plates that heated up and used steam to curl hair.
During the 1800s, many women began using heated curling irons to style their hair. Wealthy women often had their hair styled by professional hairdressers, while working women usually used hot irons at home.
Caroline Herschel (1817)
The first commercially available flat iron was invented by American woman Caroline Herschel in 1817. She patented the flat iron and called it the “Heatless Curler”. Herschel’s flat iron was made from steel and featured a curved barrel design that helped to create waves in your hair.
In 1885, German woman Lillian Wald patented the first model.
Ada Harris (1893)
It was also believed that a Scottish heiress, Lady Jennifer Bell Schofield, invented the very first hair straightener in 1893. She invented a machine because she “wanted something different”, the internet says. But the actual history seems otherwise.
Lady Jennifer Schofield was actually Ada Harris, a long-forgotten black school teacher from Indianapolis who wanted a solution for her curly hair. She filed a patent for her invention of a hair straightener.
She described her machine as “heated like a curling iron” as two flat faces held together by a hinge “when they press the hair will make it straight.” her patent application says. Her invention was a bit unique because the straightener consisted of a toothed comb to partition the hair during straightening.
How Hair Straighteners Work
Most hair straighteners work by using heat to break down the bonds between hair strands. This makes it easier for the hair strands to move and allows them to be styled more easily. Most hair straighteners also use a flat iron or other types of heating tool to help create these breaks in the bonds between hair strands.
How to Use a Hair Straightener
Have you got your answer to “who invented hair straighteners” up till now? let’s come to its use then.
To use a hair straightener, you will need to wash your hair, apply heat protectant, let it dry completely, and then place it into the hair straightener. You should then turn on the hair straightener and let it heat up. Once it is hot, you can start styling your hair. You can either use the straightener on its own or use it.
Don’t forget to check our comprehensive guide for hair volumizing with a straightener
Tip: Straighteners can be used in damp as well as dry hair. But wet hair is more prone to damage. That’s why it is recommended to always dry your hair before straightening.
Types of Hair Straighteners
There are many types of hair straighteners on the market, each with its own benefits and drawbacks. Here is a breakdown of the most popular types of hair straighteners:
1. Conventional hair straighteners:
These straighteners use rotating plates to move the hair around inside the barrel, and they work by heating up the hair until it becomes hot enough to start melting the proteins in the hair. This process can damage your hair if you use a high heat setting, so be sure to keep an eye on the temperature!
2. Ceramic flat irons:
Ceramic flat irons heat up very slowly, which makes them perfect for thick or coarse hair. They also have a long life span, meaning you can get years of use out of them before you need to replace them.
Drawback? They tend to be a bit more expensive than other types of straighteners.
3. Flat iron irons:
Flat iron irons are similar to ceramic flat irons in that they heat up slowly and have a long life span. However, they also have a few other features that make them worth considering. For example, they typically have wider plates than other types of irons, making it easier to get the process done in less time.
Pros and Cons of Hair Straighteners
Hair straighteners have been around for a while now, and there are a lot of pros and cons to them. Here are some of the pros and cons of hair straighteners:
Pros: They can be really helpful in keeping your hair straight and smooth.
Cons: They can be a bit tricky to use, and they can also be quite hot.
Conclusion
Hair straighteners have been around for centuries, but who invented hair straighteners in actuality? While the answer to this question is a little murky, it is likely that the first hair straightener was invented by an individual named James Mitchell in 1795. Interestingly enough, Mitchell’s invention did not go well and he quickly discontinued production of his device. It was not until 1828 that another hairdresser named John Calvin patented and developed a more efficient hair straightening machine. hai
Regardless of the inventors, we must accept that this invention is a cherry on top for ladies slaying their beauty and we thank a bunch for this, genius minds!
