Wednesday, February 25, 2009

Did you ever wonder how they got those tight ringlets back in the "olden days"...

This is my antique curling iron...

It was heated over a candle. You can see the black marks on the wood handle near the metal. It folds up too...  How handy is that?

It's pretty skinny, you can see the ringlets would be tight.


Now you know.

17 comments:

Susie Mitchell said...

Angie, When I was a little girl, in the 50s, after my hair was shampooed...while it was wet...my Mother would "lay" my hair in ringlets...just wrapping it, curl at a time around her finger. What Mama didn't realize...I was the only little girl in school with ringlets! I walked there every day...and by the time the bell rang, my ringlets were gone!
I enjoy your blog.
Blessings, Susie

Coloradolady said...

My hair does not want to curl with a high dollar chi, can you imagine trying to curl straight hair with candle heat...gosh. Loved this post...really neat to see how it used to be done!

Sherri said...

Ok that is SO totally cool! I must ask my mother if she has ever seen one! She is 73 and has been a beautician for all her adult life.

Reading Rosie said...

Very Unique! Hold tight to that treasure.

Unknown said...

I have 2 of these, but the handles don't fold up, that's cool!
I posted 5 different giveaways yesterday. You only have until Friday midnight to enter, so be sure to look when you're there.

Bea said...

I always burn myself using my electric curling iron. Do you know what damage I would cause with one that had to be heated over a candle? Ha! Thanks for sharing this, Angie.

Anonymous said...

That's a really cool curling iron.
My mother used to curl my hair (or try to) with the bobby pins. How I hated those things..:)

JEWELGIRL said...

A candle to heat it up? Wow that's
an amazing VT to show us! Neat post!

Amy said...

wow that's so awesome, it's almost like it's out of Little Women :-)

Rechelle ~Walnuthaven Cottage~ said...

I all ready have curly hair, so that wouldnt have been needed by me, which is a very good thing, because when I use my flat iron to straighten my hair, I usually end up burning myself somewhere. I know I could cause a lot of damage with something like that! lol!
I just wanted to add I really like your vignette in your banner. It's "eye candy" to me.
enjoy your day!

Anonymous said...

What a fab vintage thingie..i love it :)

Susan said...

When Rechelle mentioned damage that could do I thought of the movie Little Women when Jo burnt Meg's hair off with the iron. What we women will go through, eh?!

ClassyChassy said...

I've seen those before, but never realized the trouble they were to use! Kinda looks like a medieval torture devise! Thanks for sharing!

Jan Ely said...

SO kewl! "Beauty is Pain: Pain is Beauty" -- still rings true!

Miri said...

What a wonderful "beauty product" and it could fit in your suitcase with its foldable handles! Thanks for sharing...this put a very big grin on my face!

Janet, said...

that is so neat. I've never seen one before. When I was little they used to curl their hair with bobby pins

Roslyn said...

My Mum used to tie my hair up in rags to get ringlets, I'm glad I was never on the receiving end of this curling iron it looks like an instrument of torture,LOL.
Roslyn