The Straighten "Hot" Comb...a little history for you.

Remember the "blow out" hair style!  It was something almost everybody tried!  Well, here is a little history about the hot comb - the tool that made it all happen.  The hot comb was an invention developed in France as a way for women with ultra curly hair to achieve a super-straight look traditionally modeled by historical Egyptian women.  However, it was Annie Malone who first patented this tool, while her protege / former worker, Madam CJ Walker who discovered this tool, widened the teeth and was the first to improve the invention in the US in 1900.

After slavery the hot comb was a very controversial invention because many debated on whether it was beneficial or hurtful to the black community. There were some African Americans who believed that the hot comb damaged the African-American community because it made the community submissive to the "white ideal image" of beauty and disregarded African-American culture. Others believed that efforts like hair straightening would boost their social and economic status. This dilemma continued and progressed throughout the 20th century.

Today, hot combs are still used by many African-American beauticians and families as an alternative to chemical hair straightening. Many African American and women of other races, still utilize hot combs because this form of straightening is temporary and less damaging to the hair if done properly

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