ELECTRIC MINI PERM, 1930's

Electric Hair curling system with heated rods holding curling tongs.

Bruce Hammond Collection

Your comments:

• I own the same machine as I have a great interest in the history of hairdressing. The original owner bought it in the 1940's and used it in her salon then it was shipped to Quebec and stayed there until recently when it was returned to the UK to her great niece. It has all the original metal perm rods and even the shipping crate. The rods were heated to a high temperature via electric supply (it still has the Bakelite plug) which, in turn, heated the clamps. Chemical was applied to the hair then curled round a metal rod and clamped into place....the weight must have been unbelievable and potentially caused traction and hair loss at the root. The metal would also have been very hot so possibly burn the scalp.
  .......... Pauline Harris, Macclesfield, Cheshire, 9th of July 2014
  
  

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