Uploaded April 2021 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago
In this video, I take a look at the history of hair dryers, from the first hair dryer in the late 1800s to today, with a special look at the multifunctional Lady Sunbeam Deluxe Controlled Heat Hair Dryer, a bonnet dryer and nail polish dryer that promised to give women more leisure time.
Sources:
“The Hair Dryer, Freedom’s Appliance,” Maria Teresa Hart, The Atlantic, Aug 1, 2017
theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2017/08/hair-dryer-history/535566
“Who Made That Hair Dryer?” Jessica Gross, The New York Times Magazine, Jul 19, 2013
nytimes.com/2013/07/21/magazine/who-made-that-hair-dryer.html
The Housewares Story: A History of the American Housewares Industry, Earl Lifshey, 1973
(via the Internet Archive, archive.org/details/housewaresstory0000unse/page/356/mode/2up)
“Hair Dryer for Home Use,” News-Journal, Jul 17, 1921
(via newspapers.com)
“The Beauty Parlor of Bygone Days,” The Evening Sun, Feb 14, 1946
(via newspapers.com)
“Controlled-Heat Hair Dryer Offers New Leisure Time,” The Town Talk, Nov 6, 1956
(via newspapers.com)
“Hair Dryers In Home Use Vary Widely,” The New York Times, Jul 3, 1961
nytimes.com/1961/07/03/archives/hair-dryers-in-home-use-vary-widely.html
“That Hair Dryer Could Be Dangerous,” Jo Thomas, Special to The New York Times, Jan 16, 1978
nytimes.com/1978/01/16/archives/that-hair-dryer-could-be-dangerous-children-electrocuted.html
“The Ubiquitous Hair Dryer Everybody's Got One,” Wendy Schuman, The New York Times, Jul 16, 1978
nytimes.com/1978/07/16/archives/the-ubiquitous-hair-dryereverybodys-got-one.html
“Record Level Of Asbestos In Hair Dryer,” The New York Times, Sep 22, 1979
nytimes.com/1979/09/22/archives/record-level-of-asbestos-in-hair-dryer-emissions-of-asbestos-fibers.html
“Consumer’s World: Making a Safer Blow-Dryer: Progress, but at a Snail’s Pace,” Michael Decourcy Hinds, The New York Times, Aug 27, 1988
nytimes.com/1988/08/27/style/consumer-s-world-making-a-safer-blow-dryer-progress-but-at-a-snail-s-pace.html
“Hazardous Hair Dryers,” Don Oldenburg, The Washington Post, May 14, 1997
washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/1997/05/14/hazardous-hair-dryers/a39f951f-bb5e-4da5-b142-8ff2be90b9c8
“Dyson Wants to Create a Hair Dryer Revolution,” Elizabeth Paton, The New York Times, Apr 27, 2016
nytimes.com/2016/04/28/fashion/dyson-hair-dryer.html
In this video, I take a look at the history of hair dryers, from the first hair dryer in the late 1800s to today, with a special look at the multifunctional Lady Sunbeam Deluxe Controlled Heat Hair Dryer, a bonnet dryer and nail polish dryer that promised to give women more leisure time.
Sources:
“The Hair Dryer, Freedom’s Appliance,” Maria Teresa Hart, The Atlantic, Aug 1, 2017
theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2017/08/hair-dryer-history/535566
“Who Made That Hair Dryer?” Jessica Gross, The New York Times Magazine, Jul 19, 2013
nytimes.com/2013/07/21/magazine/who-made-that-hair-dryer.html
The Housewares Story: A History of the American Housewares Industry, Earl Lifshey, 1973
(via the Internet Archive, archive.org/details/housewaresstory0000unse/page/356/mode/2up)
“Hair Dryer for Home Use,” News-Journal, Jul 17, 1921
(via newspapers.com)
“The Beauty Parlor of Bygone Days,” The Evening Sun, Feb 14, 1946
(via newspapers.com)
“Controlled-Heat Hair Dryer Offers New Leisure Time,” The Town Talk, Nov 6, 1956
(via newspapers.com)
“Hair Dryers In Home Use Vary Widely,” The New York Times, Jul 3, 1961
nytimes.com/1961/07/03/archives/hair-dryers-in-home-use-vary-widely.html
“That Hair Dryer Could Be Dangerous,” Jo Thomas, Special to The New York Times, Jan 16, 1978
nytimes.com/1978/01/16/archives/that-hair-dryer-could-be-dangerous-children-electrocuted.html
“The Ubiquitous Hair Dryer Everybody's Got One,” Wendy Schuman, The New York Times, Jul 16, 1978
nytimes.com/1978/07/16/archives/the-ubiquitous-hair-dryereverybodys-got-one.html
“Record Level Of Asbestos In Hair Dryer,” The New York Times, Sep 22, 1979
nytimes.com/1979/09/22/archives/record-level-of-asbestos-in-hair-dryer-emissions-of-asbestos-fibers.html
“Consumer’s World: Making a Safer Blow-Dryer: Progress, but at a Snail’s Pace,” Michael Decourcy Hinds, The New York Times, Aug 27, 1988
nytimes.com/1988/08/27/style/consumer-s-world-making-a-safer-blow-dryer-progress-but-at-a-snail-s-pace.html
“Hazardous Hair Dryers,” Don Oldenburg, The Washington Post, May 14, 1997
washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/1997/05/14/hazardous-hair-dryers/a39f951f-bb5e-4da5-b142-8ff2be90b9c8
“Dyson Wants to Create a Hair Dryer Revolution,” Elizabeth Paton, The New York Times, Apr 27, 2016
nytimes.com/2016/04/28/fashion/dyson-hair-dryer.html
