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Tag: 1960’s

‘All The Ways We Blow Dry Our Hair’-Vintage History of the Hair Dryer

Last week a dear friend of mine passed down a Vintage Lady Schick Hair Dryer that was her grandmothers. It’s in mint condition and will take my 8-10 hours of setting time for my hair to way less (not tested it yet but I’m hoping an hour tops!).

vintage lady schick hair dryer

While I held this wonderful gem in my hands, I got to thinking that I actually had no idea about the history of hair dryers (not even one tiny fact). So for today’s post we will be having a brief history lesson (to fix my lack of knowledge) and then a roundup of vintage ads and images. Enjoy!

Vintage Image of a Vintage Hair Salon 1950s.
Source: Huffington Post

Disclosure: Some of the links on my blog from Etsy are Affiliate Links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase. 

The Hair Dryer-Vintage History, Images & Advertisements

Brief History of the Hair Dryer:

1890’s the hairdryer is invented by Alexandre Goldefroy, and consisted of a bonnet that attached to the chimney pipe of a gas stove. It was however big and bulky and not at all portable. PRIOR to this, woman were using vacuum cleaners to dry their hair, so this really was an improvement (I think).

1890s photo of an early hair dryer
Source: racingnelliebly.com
vintage hair dryer ad from the 1890s.
Source: racingnelliebly.com

1911-Armenian American inventor Gabriel Kazanjian was the first to patent a blow dryer in the United States (Source).

1915 (around)– Handheld dryers begin to appear on the market and became small enough to hold in your hand (thanks to companies like U.S. Racine Universal Motor Company and the Hamilton Beach Co).

1920s hand held hair dryer
1920s-1925 Hair Dryer Source: Phrontis – Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0,

Downfalls of the 1920’s Hair Dryers:

They were often heavy, weighing in at approximately 2 pounds (0.9 kg), and were difficult to use. They also had many instances of overheating and electrocution. Hair dryers were only capable of using 100 watts, which increased the amount of time needed to dry hair (the average dryer today can use up to 2000 watts of heat) (Source).

The 1950’s gave birth to the bonnet hair dryer, a small portable dryer connected by a tube to a plastic bonnet, as well as the rigid hood dryer, most frequently seen in today’s salons (Source).

1950s hair bonnet hair dryer advertisement - 1950s Vintage Ad
Late 1940s vintage image of a hair salon featuring large hair dryers and women drying their hair.

Since the 1920s, development of the hair dryer has mainly focused on improving the wattage and superficial exterior and material changes. In fact, the mechanism of the dryer has not had any significant changes since its inception. One of the more important changes for the hair dryer was the idea to make it out of plastic, so that it is more lightweight. This really caught on in the 1960s with the introduction of better electrical motors and the improvement of plastics.

1960s plastic hair dryer

In the 1970s, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission set up guidelines that hair dryers had to meet to be considered safe to manufacture. Since 1991 the CPSC has mandated that all dryers must use a ground fault circuit interrupter so that it cannot electrocute a person if it gets wet. By 2000, deaths by blowdryers had dropped to fewer than four people a year, a stark difference to the hundreds of cases of electrocution accidents during the mid-20th century. (Source).

Vintage Ads & Vintage Images

1938 American Hairdresser Magazine Ad.

1938 vintage advertisement for hood hair dryers
Source: Wearing History

Even men got under the hood.

vintage hair salon with woman and men - getty images
Source: Huffington Post

1960s Ronson Hood N’ Comb Hair Dryer ad.

Vintage Hair Dryer1960s vintage ad.
Source: The Little Red Squirrel

When one needs to get out of the house quickly, you take matters into your own hands.

Vintage Photos of Hair Dryers
Source: Vintage Everyday

1960s General Electric Medallion Hair Dryer.

Vintage 1960s Hair Dryer Ad - 1960s General Electric Medallion Hair Dryer.
Source: Etsy

1950s “Turbinator” Hair Dyer ad.

1950s vintage hair dryer advertisement -1950s "Turbinator" Hair Dyer ad.
Source: Pinterest

My hair would never look like this, if it was dried in the “Fresh Desert Air”.

vintage hair dryer advertisement- 1960s/ 1970s

1951 Sears Spring / Summer Catalog page featuring an ad for a Beauty Shop right in your own home! Complete 7-piece set that includes a ‘Heavy-duty Dryer’.

1951 Sears Spring / Summer Catalog page featuring an ad for a Beauty Shop right in your own home!  Complete 7-piece set that includes a 'Heavy-duty Dryer'.

Source: Christmas.musetechnical.com

1920s photo of a woman getting her hair dried with a very fancy hair dryer.

1920s woman having hair dried vintage image

I would be scared if this was what was drying my hair. 1930s vintage image.

1930s vintage hair dryer image
Source: Vintage Everyday

Germany,1977 ad. I can’t stop laughing.

vintage hair dryer german advertisement from the 1970s
Source: oobject.com

Question time: Do you own a vintage hair dryer that works? If you don’t currently own one, would you? Share your thoughts in the comments below.\

FURTHER READING:

Liz

Dig That Dish-The Coolest Vintage Recipe Book Around

I wanted to share with you my latest vintage find, which just happens to be perfect for anyone hosting a 1950’s, 1960’s and even a 1970’s party…..

Dig That Dish-Teen-Age Party Menus & Recipes For All Occasions by Ruth Chier Rosen

Dig that dish Vintage Cookbook 1960's
Dig that dish Vintage Cookbook 1960's

BTW..I have my own Mini Guide To Holding The Ultimate 1950’s Themed Partythat will point you in the right direction for the best 1950s themed party around!


ABOUT:

Dig that Dish’ by Ruth Chier Rosen is a book on ‘Teen-Age Party Menus & Recipes For All Occasions (See perfect for your next themed party!). The version I have is copyrighted 1960 but it was gifted to a Mrs Sapoco at Christmas time in 1978 (was Mrs Sapoco a Teenage bride?).

1960s Vintage Cookbook: Dig that dish Vintage Cookbook 1960's

While doing research on this book I found out that Ruth is a very popular cookbook writer and has written around 40 books over her career (Her first book was published in 1950 and the last in 1971).  She even has a website called ‘Food of the Fifites‘ where you can learn about all that she has done, read about her life on her blog and even purchase many of her books.

1960s Vintage Cookbook: Dig that dish Vintage Cookbook 1960's Ruth Chier Rosen

Speaking of cookbooks, here are some of her cleverly named ones.

“Have Cookbook Will Marry”: 104 confidence-building recipes for the budding home chef, both brides and grooms – Published 1956.

Vintage Cookbook: "Have cookbook will marry" by Ruth Chier Rosen published in 1956.
Source: Food of the Fifties.

From Nets to You”: A Log of Fish Recipes – Published 1953.

1950s Vintage Cookbook: "From Nets To You" a collection of fish recipes by Ruth Cheir Rosen. Published in 1953
Source: Food of the Fifties

“Freeze ‘N Easy” A chest of treasured recipes and ideas for the freezer -Published 1960.

1960s vintage cookbook: "Freeze 'N Easy" A chest of treasured recipes and ideas for the freezer -Published 1960 by Ruth Cheir Rosen
Source: Food of the Fifties

Cyrano de Casserole”: A Nosegay of Casserole Recipes – Published 1955.

1950s vintage cookbook: "Cyrano de Casserole": A Nosegay of Casserole Recipes - Published 1955 by Ruth Cheir Rosen
Source: Food of the Fifties

“A Tomato Well Dressed”: 110 inventive salad and dressing recipes to tickle your palette and cinch your waistline – Published 1953.

1950s Vintage Cookbook: "A Tomato Well Dressed": 110 inventive salad and dressing recipes to tickle your palette and cinch your waistline - Published 1953.
Source: Food of the Fifties

“Masquerade the left over cook book”: 132 re-purposing recipes that help you create new meals from yesterday’s left-overs – Published 1962.

1960s Vintage Cookbook: "Masquerade the left over cook book": 132 re-purposing recipes that help you create new meals from yesterday's left-overs - Published 1962 by Ruth Cheir Rosen.
Source: Food of the Fifties

And my personal favorite…

Pop, Monsieur”: Cooking with Champagne – Published 1956 (I really need to find this one for my collection).

1950s Vintage Cookbook: "Pop", Monsieur": Cooking with Champagne - Published 1956 by Ruth Cheir Rosen.
Source: Food of the Fifties

Now lets head back to my book…..

A successful party takes ideas, organization, and your shoulder to the wheel.


When it is successful there is nothing like the satisfaction of knowing you put it across. The easiest way to do it is to set a theme, decide on the kind of food your crowd likes and provide enough space and opportunity for activity to keep the party moving.


The following party ideas can be used in combination with your own ideas and we hope they will spark some new ideas of your own. The food is all easy to prepare and you can do it yourself as part of the fun of having a party.

Here is a sampling of what you will find inside…..

The Vintage Party Themes:

1960s Vintage Cookbook / Vintage Recipes: Dig that Dish Vintage Cookbook -Teenage party menus and recipes for all occasions.

SPRING:

  • Graduation Buffet
  • Pre-Prom Dinner
  • April Fool’s Gathering
  • A Progressive Party

SUMMER:

  • Hobo Hay Ride
  • Summer Theatre Party
  • Splash Party
  • 4th of July Barbecue

FALL:

  • Record Party
  • Halloween Square Dance
  • Post Football Game Supper
  • Sweet 16 Party

WINTER:

  • Ice Skating Party
  • New Years Eve Party
  • Christmas Party
  • Valentine Party

Each theme is broken down with party ideas, overview of recipes and then detailed instructions on how to make each of them. Here are a couple of examples.

April Fool Party Ideas:

Vintage Themed Party Idea: April Fools Party from "Dig that Dish" a Vintage Cookbook from the 1960's. Party info includes Invites ideas, decorations, music and activities.

April Fool Evening Party for 20 Menu:

Vintage Themed Party Food Ideas for an April Fools Party from "Dig that Dish" a Vintage Cookbook from the 1960's.

Record Party Ideas:

Vintage Themed Party Idea: Record Party from "Dig that Dish" a Vintage Cookbook from the 1960's. Party info includes Invites ideas, decorations, music and activities.

Here is the menu for a Record Party for 10. Sounds pretty good!

Vintage Themed Party Food ideas for  Record Party from "Dig that Dish" a Vintage Cookbook from the 1960's.

Easiest recipe in the whole book….Punch for 20.

Vintage Themed Party Punch idea for a  Record Party from "Dig that Dish" a Vintage Cookbook from the 1960's.

Pretty cool right?!

Before I end there was one other goodie in the box. A letter written in July 19th, 1977 from ‘Mommie’ to ‘Lenny (?) & Precy’ from Brilon in Germany. It seems that the mother is traveling visiting friends (I think) and is gone long enough that someone is sending her money and she is buying gifts to send home.

I love when I find items like this in my vintage finds, it just brings another time to life.

vintage handwritten letter

Question Time: Have you heard of Ruth or her cookbooks? Maybe you own one or a few. If so please share with everyone what you have in your collection.

FURTHER READING:

Liz