Throughout history, women and men have used hair to assert sexual identity, age, status, and more. Devices have been created to give hair the ways and means to get noticed, be more beautiful? to give it more style!

Going way back in time, it was wigs, and, for men, perruques. Hair was high-maintenance, with servants required to create and maintain these elaborate coiffures.

Liberation?
In the twentieth century, hair styling reached the middle classes, with the opening of beauty salons and inventions of startling new mechanical and electrical devices like the permanent waving machines. Women sat under massive metal hoods, ears stuffed with cotton to protect them from the dryer's intense heat. Hairstyles had become a top priority and hair salons were actually an early step towards women's lib - the first out-of-the-house social centers where women could gather and talk.

Cutting hair short was a natural progression, and short skirts soon followed- hair leading fashion in this case. Both were amazing social upheavals at the time. Hard to imagine today.

Then came another revolution. In the early 60s women began to free their hair from elaborate, often damaging, professional rituals and began to style their own hair. Any time. Any way. Right at home.

Temporary Styles!
Inspired by such true innovators as Paul Mitchell in "mod" England, movement, shine and health became the by-words of styling. Hair had to dance, to ski, to run... and slip right back into place. First the perfect cut, then blow dryer and styler to create and shape the carefree style.

In the 70s, Conair took the professional 'pistol grip' dryer from salon to the public. Now, hair could be polished to a shine, with a brush in one hand and a dryer in the other. Natural windblown looks, slick shiny do's, voluminous texture. And all temporary.

Big new word in style: Temporary. Semi permanents. Temporary color. Temporary look. Straight for a day. Waved for a night. Style that could be changed at whim. Fast new looks, multiple dimensions - a style for every mood, any occasion.

Professional tools have proliferated as customers have become more adept at creating a wide variety of hairstyles themselves, at home, with curling irons, stylers, straighteners, Mavala Beauty Products - selection of Mavala cosmetics, skin and hair care products, fragrances, and accessories. Also offers beauty tips and tricks.

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