Marcelling

Marcelling is a hair styling technique in which hot curling tongs are used to induce a curl into the hair.^[1][2] Its appearance was similar to that of a finger wave but it is created using a different method.

François Marcel marcelling his wife's hair, 1922

Marcelled hair was a popular style for women's hair in the 1920s,^[2] often in conjunction with a bob cut.^[2] For those women who had longer hair, it was common to tie the hair at the nape of the neck and pin it above the ear with a stylish hair pin or flower. One famous wearer was Josephine Baker.^[3]

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).^[3][4][5] The inventor and stylist emigrated to the United States and changed his name to François Marcel Woelfflé, sometimes reported as François Marcel.^[6][2] 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,^[7] and the second, entitled "Hair-Waving Iron", for an electric version, under the name François Marcel, was published in 1918.^[6] His obituary appeared under the name Francois Marcel Grateau in 1936.^[2]

In popular culture

• In the 1914 song "By the Beautiful Sea", the female protagonist is said to have a job marcelling hair.^[8]

• The song "Keep Young and Beautiful", popular in 1934, references the hairstyle.^[9]

• The doo-wop group the Marcels were named after the hairstyle.^[10][11]

• British comedian Kenny Everett portrayed an over the top French stereotype by the name of Marcel Wave in his TV series.

• In the film Some Like It Hot, actor Tony Curtis stood up his girl who complains she just had her hair marcelled.

See also

• Permanent wave
• List of hairstyles

References

Citations

1. Staples, Dorothy (2010). Time revisited : a memoir. S.l: Iuniverse Inc. p. 18. ISBN 978-1-4502-2902-9.
2. "The Marcel Wave". 1920-30.com. Retrieved 29 August 2012.
3. Sherrow 2006, p. 257
4. Vetica, Robert (2009). Good to Great Hair: Celebrity Hairstyling Techniques Made Simple. Beverly, Mass: Fair Winds Press. p. 77. ISBN 978-1-59233-357-8.
5. "Marcel". Oxford University Press. Archived from the original on 5 September 2013. Retrieved 19 August 2012.
6. US patent 1277739
7. US patent 806386
8. "By the Beautiful Sea, Lyrics".
9. Sherrow 2006, p. 258
10. Morrow, Cousin Brucie; Maloof, Rich (2007). Doo Wop: The Music, the Times, the Era. New York: Sterling Pub. p. 152. ISBN 978-1-4027-4276-7.
11. Goldberg, Marv (2009). "The Marcels". Retrieved 19 August 2012.

Works cited

• Sherrow, Victoria (2006). Encyclopedia of Hair: A Cultural History. Westport, Conn: Greenwood Press. ISBN 0-313-33145-6.

External links

• Media related to Marceled hair at Wikimedia Commons
• The dictionary definition of marcelling at Wiktionary