Curling iron
The curling iron more rarely, Lockeisen or curling hair iron called, is an electrical device to be placed in the locks of hair .
Origin and development
The beginnings of the curling iron can be traced back to Roman antiquity . Long metal rods, so-called calamistra ( Latin plural reeds ), which were heated in a clay pot in the oven, were used. One of the most famous curls was the mother of the Roman emperor Caligula , Agrippina the elder . With the fall of the Roman Empire, knowledge of the hairdressing method was also lost for the time being.
The curling iron as it is used today was designed by the Parisian inventor and hairdresser Marcel Grateu . He had customers in his salon who expressed the desire to undulate their hair . At that time he developed a polished metal rod, which he heated in an open fire and around which he then wound his hair in a spiral shape. Due to the intense heat at certain points, the hair pulled together and curled. The downside was that the heat could not be controlled, which could result in burns of the hair or the scalp . The device was initially used in hairdressing salons and was not intended for domestic use. Curling irons later found their way into private households. Nonetheless, the curling iron remained an exclusive item for the upper class until the 1960s and was a status symbol .
Today, curling irons can be found in almost all countries and social classes worldwide and are available in a large selection. They all differ in terms of heat output, size, shape and operating concept. In the meantime, the devices can not only wind curls, but are multifunctional: there are also hot devices for straightening, for light flashing, zigzag waves and slightly curved hair.
The need
Large curls have long been considered a status symbol and an expression of beauty. With the help of a curling iron, heat can be used to loosen chemical compounds in the hair and reshape them. According to a dermatologist from Kiel, hair development is genetically determined. The shape of the hair depends on the cross-section of the hair root. The hair of Europeans has an oval cross-section, the hair of Asians has a round and colored people have an asymmetrical cross-section. This is why people of color often have curled or curled hair. In addition, curls can also appear from birth. The reason for this is a poorly researched genetic defect. With the help of a curling iron it is possible for people with straightened hair to bring curls into their hair in various shapes. A curling iron is therefore an ideal styling tool and is used both commercially in many hairdressing facilities and privately.
Types of curling irons
Curling iron with clamp
A curling iron with a clamp is equipped with a clip at the end of the curling iron. This clip, also known as a clamp, holds the hair on the curling iron so that it cannot slip down. Basically, this is an advantage when styling, as you don't have to hold the hair yourself. Ideally, the clamp should extend to the tip of the curling iron so that individual strands of hair cannot slip off. In the event of incorrect use, for example by pulling the curling iron off the hair at an angle, kinks can arise in the hair structure and damage it. In addition, a clamp offers little control over the hair as the clamp holds it in place and presses it onto the curling iron. So you can't control how much the hair is pressed onto the stick.
Curling iron without a clamp
A curling iron without a clamp defines the curling iron as most people know it. This is not equipped with a clamp and also offers more control over the hair, as you let the hair slide itself over the curling iron. In this case you can vary the pressure and length independently. The hair can therefore not lie too long on the curling iron. Curling irons can reach a temperature of up to 230 ° C. Burns can occur quickly if the procedure is not controlled.
Conical curling iron
A conical curling iron differs from a cylindrical curling iron in the shape of the curling iron head. A cylindrical curling iron has the same diameter distributed over the entire rod. Contrary to this shape, a conical curling iron was designed so that the curling iron head and the curling iron tip have a different diameter. Accordingly, the diameter becomes smaller towards the tip and enables flexible styling with a single curling iron. This simplifies handling and allows curls of different sizes.
Automatic curler
An automatic curler is equipped with a motor. This automatically turns the hair in both directions and curls it. Most devices have multiple temperature settings. Accordingly, with the additional possibility of changing the time, the result can be varied and different stylings can be created. The curler grabs the hair, curls it fully automatically and releases it. A curling iron is therefore very convenient and easier to use than an ordinary curling iron.
literature
- Jonathan Edmonson, Alison Keith: Roman Dress and the Fabrics of Roman Culture , University Of Toronto Press , 2008.
- Gertrude Kuse-Hahn: With scissors, comb and curling iron. Stories of a modern hairdressing team , Fischer und Fischer Verlag, 2003.
- Dieter Lück, Hanna Lipp-Thoben: Hairdressing specialist , Springer Fachmedien , 1995, pp. 123, 152, 355, 357, 395.
