Marcelling is a hair styling technique in which hot curling tongs are used to induce a curl into the hair.
Marcelled hair was a popular style for women's hair in the 1920s,
History
Accounts vary about the invention of the style, but
Marcel Grateau (October 18, 1852 – May 31, 1936) is widely credited with inventing the hair styling technique in the 1870s (differing accounts report 1872 or 1875).
The inventor and stylist emigrated to the United States and changed his name to
François Marcel Woelfflé, sometimes reported as
François Marcel.
He was granted U.S. patents for implements for performing the technique; the first, U.S. patent 806386, entitled "Curling-Iron", was published in 1905,
and the second, entitled "Hair-Waving Iron", for an electric version, under the name François Marcel, was published in 1918.
His obituary appeared under the name Francois Marcel Grateau in 1936.
In popular culture
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In the 1914 song "By the Beautiful Sea", the female protagonist is said to have a job marcelling hair.
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The song "Keep Young and Beautiful", popular in 1934, references the hairstyle.
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British comedian Kenny Everett portrayed an over the top French stereotype by the name of Marcel Wave in his TV series.
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In the film Some Like It Hot, actor Tony Curtis stood up his girl who complains she just had her hair marcelled.
See also
- Citations
- Works cited
External links
