The Things We Did for Fashion: the Permanent Wave Machine

Join us for a brand new series, "The Things We Did for Fashion!" In this series, we will take a look at lengths people would go to just for the sake of fashion. Risking a burnt scalp? Anything for the cost of the perfect little waves. We'll do this by taking a look at actual artifacts in our collection, and telling their stories as well. For this episode, we're tackling the history of the permanent wave machine, a device that on first glance, looks like it might be for shock therapy more than wavy hair. This particular one sat in downtown St. Cloud for many years, until the style fell out of fashion.
Music: www.hooksounds.com

[@alinel6753]

Great video but want to clarify-the styling of the hair shown in the beginning is created with wet setting (rolling hair in rollers or pin curling while hair is wet) the hair which doesn’t necessarily require use of the perm machine. The perm machine provided a base of curls/waves for the style to allow the style to last longer between washes without re-rolling the hair every night. Great content, would love to see this kind of machine in person!

[@lizziebordello]

This was a great one! We love the Classic Cocktails series, and are super excited to see what you have in store for this new one!

[@KYTgirl]

Actually a black woman named Marjorie Stewart Joyner created and patented the Permanent Waving machine. But it was both popular amongst black and white ppl. 😊

[@bridgettstephens5582]

My great grandmother spoke of getting her perms in this 1920's by this contraption. She was very matter of fact; you did what you had to do for the sake of beauty.