There are so many contradictory stories as to when, where and how the hair straightener was invented, some suggest it was as recently as the 1960's when women used a conventional iron to flatten their hair and others propose that it was as far back as 1872 when a Parisian named Marcel Grateau - who is better known for inventing the permanent wave, curling iron and later the Gillette safety razor - created a tong-like device that could double up as a straightener.
This said, one of the first recognised implements used to straighten the hair was called the 'Straightening Comb', promoted by Madam C.J Walker an American hair-care manufacturer in the early 1900's, which looked like a pair of pliers with steel teeth. The implement would be heated on a stove and then pulled through the hair until the heat dispersed; the process would be repeated until all the hair was straightened. From the outset the straightening comb was used by African-Americans, but as time passed its results were sought after by others and new methods and materials were sought after.
Aluminium and steel were used on early straighteners before the invention of the electric hair straightener or hair irons that we all know and love today.
The accolade of creating the first electric iron has been claimed by BaByliss, another globally recognised electrical hair care manufacturer, but the first electrical straightener is shrouded in more mystery. However, it can be assumed that with similar technology the straightener would have been created at a similar time. Initial electric straighteners used simple technology and contained a filament that would heat up surrounding metal plates. These would then be pulled through sections of hair, the problem with these irons were that they didn't achieve enough heat to give a lasting style which leads us to 2001...
Perhaps the most prolific brand of straighteners are the ghd ceramic hair straighteners, launched in 2001 initially in the UK, by the Yorkshire based, British-owned company. It is claimed that Martin Penny, founder of ghd, was shown some styling irons that he had been sent by a South Korean inventor and suggested he buy the rights. Since then ghd typically turnover more than £115m, and have released a range of high-profile limited edition straighteners, namely their annual Pink Limited Edition straighteners which promote Breast Cancer Awareness Month. The rest, as they say, is history...or is it?
In a bizarre twist, most hair straighteners are now multi-tasking hair electricals that enable not simply straightening, but curling, creating waves, flicks and crimps too! With fashion changing all the time it's important that electrical manufacturers stay ahead of the game, which means constantly working to utilise new, inventive techniques, shapes and materials are always entering the market all trying to better ceramic straighteners. So what are the buzz words on the lips of all fashionistas in 2009? Tourmaline and Ionic! And of course to get your gorgeous straightened look you'll need hair irons that heat up in next to no time!
Maz Lopez is a Product Marketing Executive at Gorgeous Shop, an approved online retailer offering a great range of gorgeousshop.co.uk/ghd GHD Hair Straighteners.
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