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Summer Langford
Mrs. Dunbar
Senior Project Paper
04/01/14
Cosmetology
Cosmetology is a career that is not only full of fulfillment, but it is also rich in history.
The way hair styles have changed and evolved throughout America is something that represents
how our society has changed. The skills and abilities of cosmetologists and inventors have made
this representation possible. Through the years American women's appearance have changed
dramatically due to social and political issues that, in turn, made women change and rebel. The
profession and technology of cosmetology made it possible for women to fully alter their
appearance in just a few hours. As the profession evolved the more popular dying and styling
hair became. Today cosmetology is a very successful multi-billion dollar industry, and the future
of this profession is looking very bright.
Womens appearances changed dramatically during the 1920s. This change was due to a
mixture of things, but most of all it was that women now felt liberated. Before 1920, women
were seen only as housewives. It wasnt common for a woman to get into college or even
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complete their education. When the 19
th
Amendment was passed they were given the right to
vote, thus the flapper was born. Flappers were women that rebelled against the traditional
stereotype of the American housewife. Women started cutting their hair into short bobs; their
husbands didnt take this lightly. They started smoking cigarettes and getting educations. Women
were not afraid to be themselves and do what they wanted. It was now in to be independent
and stylish. Between 1920 and 1930 womens appearance changed completely. (Women in the
Twenties in North Carolina, 1). Their hemlines crept up their legs, they wore shoulder pads to
draw sex appeal, and it now became acceptable to wear makeup, cut your hair, and change your
hairstyle. This was the beginning of the cosmetology era.
In 1929 the stock market crashed and the economy was presumably nonexistent. It was
now popular to wear ones hair more natural and long, most likely due to a lower standard of
living. Women started using peroxide to become what one would call a Platinum Blonde, they
would soak their hair in it and sit out in the sun. This would lighten their hair dramatically if
repeated (20
th
Century Hairstyles, 1). In the 1950s a popular hairstyle was called The
Bouffant, this hairstyle is one that is dramatically teased to make the hair stand higher on your
head. This time period was one of prosperity, being right after World War II and The Great
Depression. The hairstyles reflected this by becoming bolder. The pixie cut (extremely short
hand flat) and the bouffant hair styles could be described as happy hair styles. Women and
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men also kept themselves looking more groomed than the decade before. Women visited salons
more often, so their appearance changed more often. Cosmetology was on the rise.
By the 1960s the Vietnam War was in full effect, and something called the hippie was
created. Many men and women were against the war and nuclear weaponry (20
th
Century
Hairstyles, 1). Their slogans were things like peace and love and right on. They stood firmly
against the morals and values that the generation before them presented, and this was due to the
fact that the lifestyle led by their parents could have been described as very cookie cutter.
They began wearing their hair in long braids, pig tails, and afros. Men started growing their hair
out, and this was something that had never been popular before. Womens clothes were made up
mostly of long colorful, flowing dresses. The men usually wore wide legged pants and t-shirts.
Their look became so popular that even people that did not share the same beliefs were
participating (20
th
Century Hairstyles). Due to their extremely rebellious outlook, hippies often
did illegal drugs. They were also known to be very involved in the rock music scene. Hippies
were rebellious young men and women, they strived for change for their generation and they got
it. The people that were not involved in the hippie movement seemed gravitate more towards
big hairstyles, one of these being the Beehive. The Beehive was a hairstyle that was,
again, teased upward to become very high on the top of the head (25 Hairstyles of the Last 100
Years, 1). Things did not change much during the 70s, most people were still sporting long hair
during this time. One iconic hairstyle of the 70s was the feathered flip, this was coined by the
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actress Farrah Fawcett. This hairstyle was teased back to make it look like the wind was blowing
ones hair (25 Hairstyles of the Last 100 Years, 1). The Rastafarian scene was becoming trendier
and dreadlocks were popularized. Dreadlocks are long knotted clumps of hair, this look was very
stereotyped during this time, and people often believed that when one wore dreadlocks, their hair
was not clean (20
th
Century Hair, 1). The Rastafarian influence can most likely be tied back to
the hippies because of their drug use and their peaceful outlook on life.
During the 1980s the hairstyles did not represent much, because it was an era of
experimentation. Hairstyles are now often described as embarrassing from this decade. First
there was the frizzed perm; big hair was great hair. This frizzed perm was usually accompanied
by short bangs and half up-dos. Next there was the asymmetrical hairstyle, this hairstyle was
usually longer on one side and markedly shorter on the other. Side ponytails and scrunchies (very
large, colorful elastic hair ties) were also all the rage at this time. Men wore what was called
The Rodent or Rat Tail, the majority of their hair would be short and at the bottom of their
head would be a thin, longer strand of hair. Another hairstyle that was popular among men was
the Mullet- the hair would be shorter in the front, teased, and then straight and longer in the back
(Funky 80s Hairstyles, 1). The 90s was a decade of colorful highlights, crazy cuts, and stringy
strands. Individuality was starting to become more emphasized. This is why there were not many
uniformed trends for this decade. Today hairstyles represent all cultures, values, and characters.
Kelly Osborne and Lauren Conrad are probably the most iconic people in the beauty business
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right now because of their unique styles. [Madeline Hirsh], a professional hairstylist says. It is
more about being yourself than anything, this is even seen on hair product commercials that
accentuate individuality and the natural you. Almost anything is allowed, from retro hairstyles
to modern edgy looks (20
th
Century Hairstyles, 1). There are many ways in which hair connects
to what has gone on in the government, politics, and society itself. Although it is hard to
imagine, the changes in our lives all connect back to how we present ourselves.
The advancement of cosmetic technology is something that is ever changing. As far back
as 3400 B.C. people have had the urge to change their hair color, cover up grey hair, and change
the texture of their hair. The most influential aspect of cosmetology is unarguably the use of hair
dye. Although cosmetology did not explode until the late 1920s, there has always been a desire
to change ones hair color. It started with the use of Henna, a dark powder derived from plants.
Egyptians used Henna as makeup, and to cover up grey hairs. Ancient Saxons used vibrant
colors extracted from plants to intimidate their opponents on the battle field. Most of these
ancient methods only coated the hair with color, they did not actually dye it (History and Future
of Hair dye, 1). This was done all for the sake of becoming ones self image of beautiful. Due to
the discovery of a chemical compound called para-phenylenediamine (PPD), and the revelation
that hydrogen peroxide could be used as lightener, the first synthetic hair dye was invented in
1907 by chemist Eugene Schueller. Schueller called his genius invention Aureole, later known
as LOreal (History and Future of Hair Dye, 1). In the 1930s women were beginning to dye their
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hair more often. By this time, women were able to dye their hair red, brown, black, and blonde.
Because the hair dye was not as advanced as it is today, this led women to leave the salon with
violent headaches, swollen eyelids, and blisters on their foreheads due to the unrefined chemicals
(History of Hair Color, 1). In 1968 hair color was refined by chemist Lawrence Gelb, who
created the first permanent hair dye. His invention actually penetrated the hair shaft, unlike
Scheullers invention that only coated the hair. His company was called Clairol. Gelbs
innovation did not stop there, in 1950 he invented the first one step hair dye system that allowed
people to dye their hair at home (History and Future of Hair Dye, 1). This became a huge hit and
still is today. By 1968 it was no longer required to put ones hair color on their passports due to
the fact that people were dying their hair so often (History of Hair Color, 1). Today, there is still
a huge demand for great hair dye. Since 1968 there have been countless numbers of hair color
companies developed and there are now hundreds of choices to choose from.
For most women, styling tools are something involved in their daily routine. Some of the
most common are flat irons, curling irons, and hair dryers. In 1873 the first curling iron was
invented by Marcel Grateau, he was one of the most influential people in the cosmetology
business during this time. He was inventing different styling tools and hairstyles well into the
1930s including the flat iron (History of Hairstyles and Hairstylists, 1). Karl Nessler and Grateau
later got together to invent the permanent wave, more commonly known as perm. They
combined a chemical process with the heating process which made hair become permanently
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curly or straight. This process could take up to 12 hours and cost hundreds of dollars (Big Hair
Moments, 1). The curling iron and the perm allowed women to go from having lifeless strands
of hair to having big bouncy curls in no time. Although the invention of the hand held hair dryer
was a dream come true for women in the 1920s, it was not the easiest thing to use. The first hair
dryers weighed over 2 lbs., they were made of steel and metal, and would now be considered
extremely dangerous. Because the first hair dryers could only carry 100 watts of heat, it took a
very long time to dry hair. The hair dryer has changed dramatically since the 1920s. They are
now equipped with sensors that do not allow the hair dryer to overheat. They have become
lighter, easier to use, and safer than ever (20
th
Century Hairstyles, 1). Now, there are many
different tools and products that help change the shape and texture of ones hair.
Cosmetology has undoubtedly evolved as technology and the economy have grown. The
global industry of beauty alone is worth about 85 billion dollars, and this number is growing at a
rate of 7 percent (Pots of Promise, 1). The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics claims that
cosmetology is one of few recession proof jobs. Statistics show that even in a tough economy,
Americans alone spend around 3.2 billion dollars on their hair annually (Future of Cosmetology,
1). Because being a salon owner allows people to become their own bosses, make their own
hours, and express their creativity, there is fierce competition for clientele. Every year it is
reported that there are over 600,000 new independent beauty businesses launched (Jerre, 1). The
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics also says that the demand for more cosmetologists is expected to
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grow 20 percent in the next ten years, due to the social demand of maintaining a trendy
appearance (Future of Cosmetology, 1). This is great news for new students entering
cosmetology school. It is projected that the students getting certified in color specializing, nail
care, and make-up will have the most success in this competitive business (The Future of
Cosmetology, 1). When becoming a cosmetologist one must consider the skills and abilities
needed. Cosmetology is a job that requires artistry, practical knowledge and a combination of
communication and phycology skills, more commonly known as people skills (Reese, 1). When
communicating with a client a cosmetologist must be able to listen to every detail that the client
is requesting, if the client is not satisfied with the end result they must be able to come up with a
solution; this is why creativity is also a big part of becoming a cosmetologist. One must be able
to come up with hairstyles that complement the clients skin tone, facial structure and their
overall appearance. Someone who is pursuing cosmetology as a career must have good time
management skills because one is required to make their own hours. One must be able to work
according to the salon owners needs as well. Most salon owners require their employees to rent
their hair styling stations, this is called booth rent. The salon owner requires this because it
helps cover expenses that the salon owners are responsible to pay such as utilities, paying the
building rent, and getting the necessary supplies to keep the salon up and running (Jerre, 1). It is
a lot of work being a cosmetologist, but it is also very fulfilling. This career not only allows one
to do what they love but it is also helping people feel better about their appearance.
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The rich history that cosmetology holds is an important aspect of our history as in the
U.S. The political and social changes that have taken place over the years, have shaped our outer
appearance. The technological advancement of cosmetology has allowed this to happen. It also
allowed for the profession to become one of the largest growing industries in the world. There
are many positives when considering cosmetology as a career. It is a great way to express ones
creativity, help people, and start a promising career. If it wasnt for people like Marcel Grateau
and Lawrence Gelb the profession of cosmetology may have never developed and there would be
little to no options for expressing ones self through hair styling. Through the years American
women's appearance has changed dramatically due to social and political issues that, in turn,
made women change and rebel. The profession and technology of cosmetology made it possible
for women to fully alter their appearance in just a few hours. As the profession evolved the more
popular dying and styling hair became. Today cosmetology is a very successful multimillion
dollar industry, and the future of this profession is looking very bright.