Several little antique objects were discovered by my sister today at our house, but she has no idea what they were used for. Are they unlike anything you’ve ever seen?
Small cylindrical instruments called perm rods, perm rollers, or curling rods are used to create permanent waves or curls in hair. As a mirror of shifting beauty standards and technological capabilities, these heirloom pieces have been crucial in the development of modern hairstyles.
An Overview of the Background and Early Developments of Perm Rods
When “perms” (permanent waves) were all the rage in the early 1900s, perm rods were a relatively new hair treatment. A device that could keep the hair in place throughout the chemical perming process was required in order to get the desired results of curly or waved hair. The first perm rods were cylindrical in form, plain, and manufactured from metal or plastic.
Progress in Architecture
Improvements to perm rods were noticeable by the middle of the twentieth century. There was a dramatic increase in the demand for perms in the 1950s and 1960s, which prompted new developments in rod design. A wide range of rod sizes and materials, including as plastic and rubber, were produced by manufacturers to cater to diverse hair types and curl patterns. With the advent of plastic-coated, bendable rods, perming became more easier and faster.
Influence on Culture
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