2) The History of Hair Perming

Hello everyone!

Today's post will be the second in the Hair Perming Series! As you might be able to tell by the title. our post today will be about the history of hair perming. Now you might be saying; well, how far back can permanently waving your hair go? I mean, it's not like it's written in the Bible or something...

Well, you have reason; there is no evidence ladies curling their hair permanently in the Bible... but it can be said that the process of curling hair has been recorded since the times of the Early Egyptian cultures--- 2000 BC and before! There is evidence that Egyptian women would wrap their hair in wooden sticks, cover it in mud and then stayed out in the sun for the mixture to "bake". It is possible that the soil had an alkaline property, which would resemble an alkaline perm. This procedure would have resulted in a rudimentary cohesive set. Throughout Greek and Roman cultures, curly hair was a staple in their fashion, although no perm-like procedures were recorded. As time went on, hairpieces and wigs were commonly used to create elaborate styles and these looks would have been achieved by wrapping the hair onto rods and boiling it in water. After this time period, came the Middle Age (approx. 400 AD to the 15th Century), there seems to be no major evidence of artificial curls. However, as the Renaissance and Baroque period (1610-1715) approached, curls were back in fashion. Hot irons were used generally throughout this period to achieve their curled look. By the beginning of 20th century, a procedure for permanently curling hair was introduced using borax paste, an alkaline substance. This was applied from root to tip and then wrapped on rods and secured with a string. Heat was applied using specially designed irons and that is how the curls were achieved. This method remained in place until well after the Second World War; electricity then came into play to make the method were efficient. In 1905, a German hairdresser named Karl Nessler invented the first method alternative method for curling hair, by creating a mixture of cow urine and water. The first public demonstration of this method took place on October 8 1905, but he had been working on the procedure since 1896. The first alkaline perm was introduced in 1934 by Schwarzkopf Professional, called Alkalacit. This was a hot perm and it didn't exactly give the best result... more of a frizzy texture, rather than luxurious curls.

(http://trenzasmilady.galeon.com/aficiones2096315.html)

The modern 'cold perm' was introduced around 1946, after the Second World War. This was a thioglycolate-based product, which is still used to this day and was/is much kinder to the hair. 

(http://www.theshearshacksalon.com/blog/13883711)

The first straightening product was introduced in 1952 by Schwarzkopf Professional, called Glatt.

(http://forums.thefashionspot.com/f112/1950s-1960s-hairstyles-long-hair-74990.html)

Finally, in the 1950s, acid perms were introduced and became what we know to be as "the classic perm". This kind of perm was designed to be closer to the hair and scalp's natural pH levels and were therefore kinder to the hair; almost as if it never happened. 

(http://janebovary.hubpages.com/hub/Home-Perms)

As time goes on, the perm is becoming even more healthy and kinder to the hair than ever before, but it is still a chemical reaction, and therefore, still damaging to the hair. 

The history of the perm is a lot more interesting than you might have thought, huh?

Until next time,

Emma