Trystan Casey
The history of the electric hair straightener is a little murky. While there were earlier hair straightening tools, they were not electronic. The first patent for a straightening iron was filed on November 3, 1893, by Ada Harris, a school teacher from Indianapolis. Her device was described as heated like a curling iron with two flat faces held together by a hinge. However, some sources claim that the first electric hair straightener was invented by BaByliss, a globally recognized electrical hair treatment manufacturer. Others point to the work of Isaac K. Shero, who introduced metal plates in 1909, and Lady Jennifer Bell Schofield, who developed a similar device in 1912.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name of the Inventor | Ada Harris |
| Year of Invention | 1893 |
| Date of Patent Filing | November 3, 1893 |
| Location | Indianapolis, Indiana, USA |
| Description of the Invention | "A device heated like a curling iron with two flat faces held together by a hinge that when they press the hair will make it straight. The only difference is that Harris’s invention also includes a toothed or comb portion to separate the hair while straightening." |
| Image of the Invention | Resembles kitchen tongs with two handles that hinge in the center |
| Other Names Credited for the Invention | Marcel Grateau, Erica Feldman, Isaac K. Shero, Lady Jennifer Bell Schofield, Sarah Breedlove Walker (Madame C.J. Walker) |
| Year of Invention by Other Names | 1872, 1909, 1912 |
| Notes | The first electrical hair straightener is shrouded in mystery, but it is assumed that it was created around the same time as similar inventions. |
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What You'll Learn
The forgotten inventor: Ada Harris
Ada Harris, a school teacher from Indianapolis, is the forgotten inventor of the first hair straightener. On November 3, 1893, Harris filed the first patent for a hair straightening iron. In her patent application, she wrote:
> "Be it known that I, Ada Harris, of Indianapolis, county of Marion, and State of Indiana, have invented a certain new and useful Hair- Straightener."
Harris' invention, the grandmother of the modern hair straightener, was heated like a curling iron with two flat faces held together by a hinge. When pressed together, the two faces would straighten hair. Harris' invention also included a toothed or comb portion to separate the hair while straightening. A drawing of her invention in her patent submission looks similar to kitchen tongs, with two handles that hinge in the center, allowing the user to easily clamp the irons together.
Despite this, Ada Harris is often forgotten in history, and four other people are credited with inventing the hair straightener. The first, Marcel Grateau, invented the curling iron in 1872. Erica Feldman, a woman, is credited with using the curling iron to straighten her hair. Isaac K. Shero pressed two clothing irons together. Finally, Lady Jennifer Bell Schofield, a Scottish heiress, invented a flat iron in 1912. However, none of these people actually invented the hair straightener. The only "inventor" who seems to have invented anything is Ada Harris, whose 1893 patent describes the earliest version of the modern hair straightener.
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The wrongfully credited: Erica Feldman
Erica Feldman is often credited as the second inventor of the hair straightener. However, Feldman simply used the curling iron invented by Marcel Grateau to straighten her hair. Grateau, a Parisian salon owner, invented the curling iron in 1872. He used heated iron rods to straighten hair, but the tool was designed to be used with hairstyling creams. Feldman's method of using heated irons to shape hair was, therefore, not an invention at all.
Feldman is one of four people credited with inventing the hair straightener, none of whom actually did. The first person, as mentioned, was Grateau, who invented the curling iron. The third, Isaac K. Shero, introduced metal plates in 1909, which were two clothing irons pressed together. The fourth and final person is Scottish heiress Lady Jennifer Bell Schofield, who developed the first hair straightener in 1912. Schofield's invention is said to be the model of flat iron that most closely represents the ones sold today.
The actual inventor of the hair straightener was a woman named Ada Harris, a school teacher from Indianapolis. Harris filed the first patent for a hair straightening iron on November 3rd, 1893. Her invention was described as a device "heated like a curling iron" with two flat faces held together by a hinge that would straighten hair. Harris's invention also included a toothed comb to separate the hair while straightening.
The history of the hair straightener is often credited to men, forgetting that the actual inventor was a woman. Madame C.J. Walker, the first African-American female self-made millionaire in America, also created a hair care line to help hair straightening using hot combs. Walker's invention was inspired by old-fashioned curling irons.
While the first electrical hair straightener is shrouded in mystery, it is assumed that it was created by BaByliss, a globally recognized electrical hair treatment manufacturer. Preliminary electric straighteners used simple technology and contained a filament that heated up surrounding metallic plates. These early models, however, did not achieve enough heat to give a lasting style. It wasn't until 2001 that ghd ceramic hair straighteners were launched, becoming one of the most prolific brands of straighteners.
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The curling iron inventor: Marcel Grateau
The French hairdresser Marcel Grateau, nicknamed 'Le Roi' (the King) by his clients and colleagues, invented the curling iron in 1872. Grateau was born on October 18, 1852, and started out with a small salon in Montemarte, France, in the 1870s, where he offered free hairdressing services to refine his process and gain experience. Grateau's mother had beautiful natural wavy hair, and he wanted to invent a tool that could imitate her hair waves. He experimented with regular irons, giving them different thicknesses to achieve different types of curls. Grateau initially kept his technique a secret, only revealing it 15 years later, in 1897, when he decided to retire.
The hairstyle Grateau created with his curling iron was known as the 'Marcel Wave' or 'Marcelling'. It was popular among women in the 1920s, often in conjunction with a bob cut. Grateau's curling iron was heated like a curling tong over a rectangular-shaped gas burner and was heavy, making it difficult to maintain the correct temperature. Grateau patented his invention in 1882, and it remained in use for decades with few variations and improvements. Grateau also patented his own hairstyling glitter water, among many other inventions, and amassed a large fortune.
In 1893, Ada Harris filed the first patent for a hair straightening iron. Harris's invention was "heated like a curling iron" with two flat faces held together by a hinge that "when they press the hair will make it straight." However, some sources claim that Grateau invented the first hair straightener, as the curling iron could also be used to straighten hair.
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The two-iron inventor: Isaac K. Shero
The history of hair straightening tools dates back to the early 1900s, with various individuals contributing to their invention and development. One notable figure in this story is Isaac K. Shero, often mentioned as one of the pioneers of hair straightening technology. While the first electric hair straightener remains shrouded in mystery, Isaac K. Shero's innovation played a significant role in the evolution of hair straightening tools.
Isaac K. Shero is credited with introducing metal plates designed for hair straightening in 1909. His invention consisted of two clothing irons pressed together to straighten hair. This design was a significant departure from earlier hair straightening methods, which often involved heated rods or irons applied directly to the head, causing damage to hair follicles and sometimes resulting in burns. Shero's invention aimed to minimise hair damage by providing a smooth surface to glide over the hair.
While Shero's idea may seem simple, it marked a crucial step towards the modern flat iron. By using two heated plates, Shero's design resembled the basic functioning principle of contemporary hair straighteners. This approach allowed for hair straightening without the need for additional hairstyling products, making the process more accessible and user-friendly.
Shero's invention, however, was not without its limitations. Like other early hair straightening tools, Shero's metal plates likely struggled to reach and maintain sufficient temperatures to create lasting results. It was not until later advancements in technology that hair straighteners could consistently achieve the desired heat levels for effective and long-lasting styling.
Despite these limitations, Isaac K. Shero's contribution to the evolution of hair straighteners is undeniable. His idea of using two heated plates set a precedent for the design of subsequent hair straightening tools. Shero's invention serves as a testament to human ingenuity and our ongoing pursuit of innovative solutions to everyday challenges.
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The Scottish heiress: Lady Jennifer Bell Schofield
The history of hair straightening tools dates back to the early 1900s, with various individuals contributing to their invention and development over time. One notable figure in this story is Lady Jennifer Bell Schofield, a Scottish heiress who played a role in the evolution of hair straighteners.
Lady Jennifer Bell Schofield is often credited as the creator of the first hair straightener. According to some sources, she invented the flat iron in 1912, a time when big curls were fashionable. Schofield's motivation was her desire to try something different, and she became intrigued by the idea of straightening her hair.
However, it is essential to acknowledge that the development of hair straighteners involved multiple innovators, and the path towards the modern flat iron was paved by several inventions. For instance, in 1872, Marcel Grateau, a Parisian salon owner, invented the first straightening comb, using heated iron rods to style hair. This invention, however, tended to damage hair follicles due to the direct application of heat.
Another individual linked to the history of hair straighteners is Erica Feldman, who, in 1872, used heated curling irons applied directly to the head to shape hair. Isaac K. Shero also contributed to the evolution of hair straighteners by introducing metal plates in 1909, which were designed to glide smoothly over the hair, reducing hair damage. Shero's invention consisted of two clothing irons pressed together.
The first patent for a hair straightening iron was filed on November 3, 1893, by Ada Harris, a schoolteacher from Indianapolis. Harris's invention, described as "heated like a curling iron," featured two flat faces held together by a hinge, straightening hair when clamped together. This design also included a toothed comb to separate the hair during the straightening process.
While the contributions of these individuals are significant, the evolution of hair straighteners continued with advancements in technology. BaByliss, a globally recognized electrical hair treatment manufacturer, claimed to have produced the first electrical straightener, although the specifics remain shrouded in mystery. Subsequently, ghd, founded by Martin Penny, introduced ceramic hair straighteners in 2001, which became a prolific brand in the market.
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Frequently asked questions
It is unclear who invented the first electric hair straightener. However, BaByliss, a globally recognised electrical hair treatment manufacturer, claims to have done so. The first electric straightener is shrouded in mystery, but it is assumed that with similar technology, the straightener would have been created at a similar time.
There are four people credited with inventing the hair straightener. The first, Marcel Grateau, invented the curling iron in 1872. The second, Erica Feldman, used the curling iron to straighten her hair. The third, Isaac K. Shero, pressed two clothing irons together. The fourth, Lady Jennifer Bell Schofield, was a Scottish heiress who invented the flat iron in 1912.
Ada Harris, a school teacher from Indianapolis, filed the first patent for a hair straightening iron on November 3rd, 1893.
The first hair straightener was "heated like a curling iron" with two flat faces held together by a hinge. It also included a toothed comb to separate the hair while straightening. The patent submission drawing of the straightener resembled kitchen tongs.
