I am no stranger to the allure of the flea market. Its siren call is what gets me out of bed before noon on a Saturday morning, fueled by strong coffee and a fancy pastry. The average vintage discovery may consist of a new addition to the wardrobe or a much needed piece of furniture. Yet sometimes it is the most inessential objects that possess the most priceless stories, exciting the sleuth-like nature within us history junkies.
While at a pop-up flea market in downtown Brooklyn, a box under a table caught my eye. Within it were two flat circular nets, about a foot in diameter, each with a cardboard insert with “Boudoir Bonnet” printed in decorative script. I knew exactly what they were — dainty net-like caps that a woman might stretch over her head, covering her hot curlers while she gave her hair time to set. I thought of my mother’s stories of rolling her hair around orange cans, training herself to sleep sitting up. “That’s just what you did back then,” she always said with a shrug. Proof of my mother’s bonnet days can be seen in the header image above (she’s on the left).
With the memory of my mother’s story in my mind, I paid my two dollars and left the flea market. Later, upon closer examination, I saw that the cardboard insert bore the name “Harry Glemby Inc. N.Y.C.” A quick Internet search revealed nothing, making the case even more curious. I began to research Harry Glemby old school style — no Google, just me, the library, and microfiche. Within a few days, I found Glemby’s name all over the newspapers of the first half of the 20th century. And that’s when things got juicy.
The earliest appearance of Harry Glemby’s name in print was in 1918. A small ad in the classifieds section of The New York Times requests an experienced governess for his two children. By this point, Glemby was already a very wealthy man — he had made a small fortune in the antique business, and had recently set out to make his name synonymous with women’s haircare.
Through the years that followed World War I, the most common hairstyles for women required the daily use of hairnets. Much like King Gillette who famously made an empire after realizing that men needed razors for shaving every day, Glemby saw dollar signs in women’s hair habits. By 1919, his company was distributing hairnets from their offices in New York City’s Flatiron district, and within four years, he struck a deal with Lorraine, the most popular hairnet brand of the time. From that point on, Glemby’s name was printed on every envelope that contained a Lorraine hairnet.
In 1923, an advertisement shows just why Lorraine-Glemby hairnets were so popular — at only 10 cents each, the hairnets were competitively priced. Women were accustomed to paying up to a few dollars for hairnets, so Lorraine quickly became the brand of choice, particularly as the Depression took hold of the country. Yet how was Glemby able to reduce the price of hairnets so much while still turning a profit? Nearly all hairnets before Glemby’s time were handmade in Europe in limited quantities, due to inadequate manufacturing facilities. They were then shipped to America where they were packaged and distributed. While such a business tactic is no surprise in a modern day world, for Glemby’s time, it was revolutionary. In fact, Glemby Inc. was one of the first American company on record to outsource its manufacturing process to China.
Throughout the 1930s, Harry and his socialite wife, Clara, attracted the seediest of vandals in a string of misfortune that kept the local newspapers working overtime. Robbers, payroll theft, and missing pearl earrings — some even thought the Glembys were cursed. However, it was a headline on June 22, 1932 that trumped them all: “Thugs Bind 3 in Home, Steal $349,000 Gems.” Dressed as deliverymen, the thieves rang the door bell of Glemby’s Upper East Side home, and proceeded to knock out the butler and tie up all the occupants. The safe was raided and the robbers escaped just before the police arrived. Throughout the rest of the decade, the Glembys’ personal lives kept New Yorkers more riveted than the moving pictures.
Yet by the 1940s, business was better than ever. Updos were back in style, pushing out the long, loose hairstyles made popular by actress Veronica Lake in the 1930s. With women taking up previously male-driven work in factories, hairnets were required for safety precautions. Glemby enjoyed a prosperous decade, and by the 1950s, he owned beauty salons in almost every major department store in New York City.
In October of 1952, Harry Glemby made the headlines once more, but this time he wasn’t the victim. Glemby pled guilty to a charge of paying $13,000 to a hair exporter in China, an offense at a time when the United States had a ban on trade with Communist countries. Though trade with China was not yet illegal when Glemby placed the order, his shipment was received after the anti-trade law went into effect on December 17, 1950. In retrospect, it was Glemby’s first public admittance to outsourcing, a quiet explanation of how he was able to sell hairnets at such a low price for several years.
Always resilient, the Glemby empire rolled on. Post World War II fashion saw the disappearance of the hairnet, causing Glemby to reinvent the company’s offering. No longer in the hairnet business, Glemby began producing boudoir bonnets. Decorative and frilly, bonnets epitomized post-war, girly fashion, encouraging women to look prim and proper even in the privacy of their own bedrooms. Glemby continued to ride the wave of hair trends until he passed away in 1965. By the 1970s, most traces of Harry Glemby’s company had vanished — stick straight hair was en vogue, with women trading their hot rollers for irons.
Hairnets and boudoir bonnets have long since faded from popular use. No long part of women’s daily habits, updos are reserved for special occasions. Yet if Harry Glemby were still around, there’s no doubt he would be as popular as Pantene and as well known as John Frieda. As important as Glemby’s story is to the history of American business, it might’ve remained hidden if not for a fortuitous trip to a flea market and a powerful cup of coffee.
Chappell Ellison is a designer, writer and design writer. She currently lives in Brooklyn, New York where she serves as a contributor for The Etsy Blog and design columnist for GOOD.
137 comments
Sign in to add your ownJusadreamin says:
WOW interesting THANKS
311 days ago
rejive says:
It takes a foxy lady to pull off a hairnet
311 days ago
VintageEyeFashion says:
What a fabulous tale of fame, beauty & scandal!
311 days ago
RomanceCatsAndWhimsy says:
Loved the story - how fascinating! A good read. :)
311 days ago
LittleRedCottage says:
Absolutely fascinating.......and brought back memories of my mother's hair devices!
311 days ago
redhardwick says:
Great article! The things we do (& use) for beauty! :)
311 days ago
GardenApothecary says:
I still vividly remember my grandma's "hair cap". She wore it each night and well into the next morning, usually while cooking breakfast. I would always try to fit my mop of hair under it when she took it off, but it never worked.
311 days ago
accentonvintage says:
Great article! Never knew the history of hairnets! Thanks for the research!
311 days ago
scarletbegonia11 says:
cute story, one of my vintage slips has a Lorraine tag... I wonder if its the same company?
311 days ago
myvintagecrush says:
So great! Thanks for this!
311 days ago
seclusioncove says:
Thanks for an interesting read.... and thanks for doing the research!
311 days ago
WhisperingOak says:
Wow, this is so interesting
311 days ago
paramountvintage says:
i love the vintage ads. hand illustrated...so cool!
311 days ago
lisahenrysdatter says:
Great history. I fondly remember buying hairnets for my Nana for Christmas as a little girl, 25¢. And then, later, frantically looking for hairnets in the local drugstores at recital time for my young daughter, a dancer.
311 days ago
MootiDesigns says:
Looks like fancy hairnets back then. Great article. Thanks for sharing.
311 days ago
MegansMenagerie says:
Great article!!!
311 days ago
dahlilafound says:
Great article! I have many memories of my mother & grandmother in hair nets to tuck under their chignons, upsweep their curls from the shower, & still the curlers as they went to bed. Can you imagine? The video was great too. In the 70s I ran a printing press & there was always danger of my long hair getting caught in the rollers. One wrong move & your hair was gone for good. I love the darling caps the women wore in the video. Serious safety from all those engine belts & stylish too. :-) thank you for sharing, dahlila xo
311 days ago
MadisonStreetBeauty says:
great article
311 days ago
LMMLISA says:
Love the story! it made me smile the whole time reading it. My grandmom still sleeps with her hair net on every night...! As much of a pain as it seems to have had to do this, part of me thinks it seems fun as well. It seems like such a project, people took such care of themselves. Now most of us, me especially!, just throw our hair up in a pony tail. great story... would love to hear more about vintage finds.
311 days ago
hollyhockdaze says:
Now that is a fine story..loved it!
311 days ago
vKnit says:
Loved reading this!
311 days ago
Tiffabulous says:
I really like that picture of those girls. They are lovely, even wearing hairnets.
311 days ago
vitamini says:
Such an interesting story! I remember attempting to sleep with curlers in as a kid a couple of times. It always ended with me waking up and pulling the things out or them falling out on their own. Guess I needed a net to keep everything in check! Who would have guessed the family of the hair net fortune would have attracted so many thiefs?!
311 days ago
vintagethisretrothat says:
I have a picture of my grandmother in her rollers and hair cap. I still remember her setting rollers in her hair
311 days ago
oldtimethreads says:
Interesting story!
311 days ago
overthemeadow says:
What a fabulous article. Great research !!! LOVE love love the photo of the 3 gals with the frilly boudoir bonnets. How adorable is that !!! I have 4 sisters and I would give anything to have a photo like that of us !!! Excellent article.
311 days ago
TheScarfTree says:
Fantastic story! I love to learn about something that I have never heard about before! Great that you found those hair nets and were determined to find out the history! I can see why you do this! (Where did the "shower cap" come from - very similar?)! Thanks again!
311 days ago
AcrosstheSeaShop says:
Very interesting! Thanks for your detective work!
311 days ago
LittleWrenPottery says:
Fascinating article, I've never worn a hair net but I certainly won't look at them the same again. Just goes to show the twists and turns life takes us on.
311 days ago
TownCountryJewelry says:
Great article! I'm so glad she researched all of that and shared it with everyone. What a story.....and the fabulous homes on East 67th Street. I do remember that Lady Shick Consolette hairdryer and seeing women trying to put heads full of large rollers under them. They would be great to have today if they had 1700 watts of power as do our hand held hairdryers.
311 days ago
MollCutpurse says:
This is exactly what I tell my students - history can be both fascinating and fun! Thanks for the great article.
311 days ago
BijouxOdalisque says:
I love this! I have been scouring YouTube lately for WWI hairstyles to try and getting to read about the essential "frilly bonnet" is fabulous. I just love photo of your young mother - she looks so much like you! Thanks very much for this!
311 days ago
pinkflapper says:
Love all this New York / Hair-net history! And love that it was inspired by your flea market find!
311 days ago
SheppardHillDesigns says:
Great story and visuals. Love that the little girl on the left is your mom, Chappell. Priceless!
311 days ago
junquegypsy says:
I love the journey of researching vintage purchases. So interesting!
311 days ago
ohbabydotcom says:
Wow! Thanks so much for this one. Really brought back some days gone by. Had to have a hairnet to cover up those ugly rollers on our heads. Funny.
311 days ago
blessedvintage says:
Love this story!
311 days ago
blueflowervintage says:
I just loved reading this! Thank you!
311 days ago
DessertWine says:
History of hairnets - amazing!! Even today's production lines for the highest tech products require them! Love this!
311 days ago
shannondzikas says:
Before Etsy gave me my little business I did hair so I found this to be especially fascinating! Isn't researching your vintage finds half the fun-or am I just a geek? Love the sweet photo of your mom in her curlers.
311 days ago
BucksCountyDesigns says:
I remember the orange juice cans (and even coffee cans if your hair was long enough) back in the 60s. And then along came 'Curl Free' - ugh, I remember the smell! Funny memories - GREAT story! Thanks!
311 days ago
PyxusPassionProject says:
What a discovery!! Thanks so much for sharing the story behind the find.. so interesting!
311 days ago
passingtimeandchimes says:
I just love this treasury and the article. I have spend many Saturday mornings under a hair dryer set up on an ironing board. Thank goodness for blow dryers and curling irons!
311 days ago
labellefairy says:
I love my collection of boudoir caps!
311 days ago
KettleConfections says:
This is always so fascinating.. to see how people did things in the past!
311 days ago
girliepains says:
wonderful
311 days ago
dimenstitch says:
i wish my mom still had her ancient 60s hair dryer. it was a bonnet attached to a tube attached to a hairdryer that sat flat on a surface. It was pink. You turned it on and the hot air came through the hose tube and dried your hair in the bonnet on your head. we had to get rid of it finally when the plastic on the bonnet started to tear. but you could read a book or whatever and not have to be moving the dryer all over your head. and you could make your hair really straight and flat in it if that's what you wanted.
311 days ago
TheAdornedArticle says:
I think we should bring back the boudoir bonnets!~Hotcha!
311 days ago
ChanceryLane says:
Really good read, great research!
311 days ago
OsoVictoria says:
Thanks for doing the research! Great information about hairnets and Glemby.
311 days ago
gathersalot says:
Interesting! Thanks :)
311 days ago
Ebrown2503 says:
Wow! As a librarian I can totally relate--$2.00 in hairnets leading to hours of research and a wonderful article. Long live the hairnets, I say!
311 days ago
PinkCobweb says:
My hubby and I have a deal.He keeps the man boobs under wraps and I won't wear the hair bonnet. Loved the story!
311 days ago
sewbettyanddot says:
Cool! I sold bobby pins and a hairnet to the daughter of the man whose company manufactured them--her name was on one of the products! It was soooo cool! Transactions like THAT are what make Etsy so very very fun.
311 days ago
Iammie says:
Love this story. :)
311 days ago
Eccolo says:
Thanks for going beyond google-- what an interesting story. Thanks for sharing!
311 days ago
kellyemeraldhart says:
I loved reading this! Thankyou for sharing his story. It seriously made my night
311 days ago
CrownWillow says:
I had no idea. Thanks for going to all the trouble of finding that information. I love vintage and it's great to have stories behind the product.
311 days ago
whimsicalpaperdot says:
Great story !!!
311 days ago
stelie says:
I Remember Glemby Salons and Shampoo From the Late 1980's
311 days ago
earthakitsch says:
Wow! Fascinating! And I love that photograph with your Mom. : )
311 days ago
gunnh says:
You did a great job with this article!! You have excellent research skills and a charming way with words. I can almost taste that pastry! :) Keep up the great work!!
311 days ago
LavenderField says:
I enjoyed this article. Thanks for sharing this interesting story!
311 days ago
Trenza says:
Very cool article!
311 days ago
blupony808 says:
And this is why I LOVE ETSY!!! if etsy was a dewd I'd marry it! Love the historical bits of awesome...
311 days ago
shadowguild says:
Love this story! Great research! Also loved your Mom's Trixie Belden book ;)
311 days ago
spanishangels says:
This is a great article! I remember my nan wearing a 'posh' hairnet which had tiny glass beads all over it, I loved it - very glam. And I'm sure I remember Glemby hair products here in England too, maybe shampoo??? And not very expensive either.
311 days ago
nvthis says:
Enjoyed reading your article. I'm not that old, but I do remember wearing a hairnet! Only because since the age of 4, I wanted to be a hairdresser. I use to go with my Mom to her hairdresser every week. He was the best in the area. ( to me, the world! ) Every holiday, I wanted a fancy "up-do". So, I had to wrap my hair at night with toilet paper and put on a hairnet, so that my hair would look like it did the day it was done. Most of the time, it worked, but others, I must have been sleepy and tossed and turned and my hair looked it. There was a certain way to sleep for sure! Since those times, I did go to beauty school and became a hairdresser. For the past 34 years now I've been doing hair and seeing the styles change. Will the hairnet return? lol... not sure, but funny what women did just to look good! My old hairdresser use to tell me as he teased my hair at the age of 9, "Beauty must suffer!"...
310 days ago
weaverwood says:
great article
310 days ago
NatalieDrest says:
Lovely article, thanks for sharing!
310 days ago
vintagenowandthen says:
thanks for sharing all the history behind your vintage finds in this fascinating article! that's part of the allure of vintage for those with curious minds ~ to discover some piece of history behind the find!
310 days ago
AzaferraJewelry says:
This article was so interesting! I remember hairnets and I thought they were horrible! And they had swimcaps also back then that were very decorated, with ruffles and all that, because after all, that's what feminine is! Glad those stupid,sexist rules have changed. But it was interesting to see also how the war had an influence on fashion.I read once that clothing manufacturers were not allowed to use silk during one of those wars because it was needed for parachutes. And they were limited to 2 or 3 yards of wool for each suit, which lead to the patchwork type of styling of the 40. I mean where there were different types of fabric in one garment, like the yoke of a jacket might be black and the rest of it some other color. The history of clothing is very interesting. I'm so glad you did this article, it gave me some laughs!
310 days ago
AzaferraJewelry says:
And I was always fascinated by the 40's hairstyles. Now I see they came about out of necessity.
310 days ago
knitfitt says:
Wonderful article. I have a couple of vintage hairnets as examples of hand woven netting. Imagine making them by hand from human hair!
310 days ago
estatejewelryshop says:
Loved that history....remember much of the hair net era personally:)
310 days ago
greatestfriend says:
as a fellow vintage & history junkie, i'm ecstatic at this piece! the research is the certainly the biggest reward - i love it! It's so interesting to relate occurrences, trends, movements to what's happening today, (ie trade and where we are at with local manufacturing) we too right now are producing "hairnets" of the future!
310 days ago
mermaidsista says:
What a great article! I slept in those Goody pink sponge curlers and tie-back hair nets when I was in my teens (80s). I wonder about the descendents of Glemby? Are they around? Are they also in the hair business? It would be very interesting to know. :)
310 days ago
ohriginals says:
Lovely trip in time. t h a n k s !
310 days ago
fadedroseantiques says:
My sister, first cousin and I had a great laugh and trip down Memory Lane after reading this great post. Thank you for the research and picture. That was us 50 years ago.
310 days ago
BMJM74 says:
This was an awsome article! I'm a hairdresser and I love flea markets as well!
310 days ago
stepbackink says:
Great article. Not a bad idea to charge companies a min of 13,000 for outsourcing to china or elsewhere (drop in a bucket).
310 days ago
1WillowStreet says:
What a great article! I'll be 65 in a few weeks and I remember wearing one of those bonnets to keep my rollers in place while I slept. Thanks for the memories!
310 days ago
MudsEvolutionPottery says:
This was very interesting. When covering my rollers, I certainly never thought of someone actually becoming so successful off these and envy the vision that some people can have. Appreciate all your time in the research and sharing not to mention your talent in telling the story. Thanks for the trip down Memory Lane.
310 days ago
IrmasElegantBoutique says:
Thanks for this article. I know how much fun flea markets can be. I remember the gadgets of those times through my mother and others. Thanks
310 days ago
Parachute425 says:
What a great read with my morning coffee. Thanks. Definitely a few nets around my house growing up and I could probably still find one or two in my mom's dresser today. And the Woolworth ad brought a smile too - my first job.
310 days ago
RedorGrayArt says:
oh the memories of bonnet dryers .. hair nets .. such a fun slice of Americana. it was a very well told story of days gone by ..thanks so much
310 days ago
hollaluna says:
Wow! I really enjoyed your article and can hardlly wait to share with my mom and her sisters!!! Thank you!!
310 days ago
TheLittleRagamuffin says:
Every Christmas and Easter eve my mom would tie my hair in rags...literally strips of fabric from leftover projects she was working on. What a terrible night's sleep, but I suppose as a child I wouldn't have been sleeping those nights anyway. Thanks for sharing this incredible story!
310 days ago
allthebestvintage says:
Loved this article! Thanks!
310 days ago
angelmadeecospa says:
I loved reading this. Thanks for the reminder to keep digging if you can't "google" it....
310 days ago
shrinemaiden says:
Hey, in the 60's, I wore my ruffled pale blue boudoir cap over my headfull of 4" diameter plastic rollers (that I somehow slept on!)
310 days ago
pollyfoofoo says:
i really enjoyed this article. thank you so much.
310 days ago
CassiasGarden says:
"rejive says: It takes a foxy lady to pull off a hairnet".. hehe....yep. Never been able to pull off a get up like that! ;) So that got me to thinkin.......if our economy really takes a dive. what kind of war soap, can I make? but definitely will NOT be outsourcing to China on that one!
310 days ago
blueskyclouds says:
Wow! What a story....kudos to you for doing such research. Etsy sure can be educational! Anyway, thank goodness hair isn't so much work today...oh wait a minute...it is....just in different ways! Great work on the article!
310 days ago
esther2u2 says:
Wow! I love it! What a great story. I would love to find some of those ruffle caps. I just love that picture :)
310 days ago
HeirloomOrphanage says:
Thank you for yet another fabulously well written/researched article!
310 days ago
gemagenta says:
LOVE the article, very interesting, and inspiring! Now I want a stylish safety hairdo instead of a pony tail when making jewelry :D
310 days ago
auntemilie says:
Thank you for a very interesting piece of Americana history.
310 days ago
StepInTime says:
That was FUN! Thanks to your persistence!
310 days ago
GrandOldTimes says:
I enjoyed this piece of Americana and read it with much interest. Excellent photos too.
310 days ago
BGBJewelry says:
I love this, great to read. Brings back so many memories when I was a kid staying the night at my grandma's house. I remember the suit case that was the helmet blow dryer, too funny!
310 days ago
treasurebooth says:
What a neat story! Thanks for sharing. I'm the same with stuff, it's so fun to dig in and fill in the blanks :)
310 days ago
NakedRatDestash says:
great story. really enjoyed this!
310 days ago
amg721 says:
Well, now I know I'm old! I learned to sleep in those 2 inch rollers tied in a hairnet, under a bonnet, while in high school, washing my hair every other day. Women who went to the hair dresser every week wrapped their hair in tissue /toilet paper and covered that with a net to hold the set at least through Sunday morning church. Their hair only got shampooed at the hairdresser! times have changed!
310 days ago
StitchingInCircles says:
fantastic work in the archives! I am a little confused by one of the captions in the blog post -- there is a color image of 2 hairnets and it says it is an ad from a 1923 NY Times -- surely that is wrong?
310 days ago
LindenAvenueDesigns says:
Wonderful, wonderful article! I remember sleeping in big rollers and having such thick hair sometimes my hair was still wet the next morning. Then, finally I got one of the hairdryers that looked like a really big hair net with the vacuum tube like connector to the base. Finally, my hair would be dry! And last was the curlers that you steamed up and put on your dry hair. What a walk through hair memory!
310 days ago
pedestrian says:
Tales of beauty and intrigue. I will never look at hairnets the same way.
310 days ago
readytopretend says:
Great artical. Refreshingly well researched and well presented. I feel that these kind of details in every day life are too little, really noticed. For me , in the 1960's, as a Minister's daughter, curly hair, done with foam and plastic rollers and a hair net like your mother's was " de reguer" each Saterday night. How I envied my sisters natural Shirley Temple ringlets. I wonder who has those jewels now. Thanks
310 days ago
GrammaLynns says:
Oh, wow, does this take me back... as a teenager in the 60s I remember well putting "brush rollers" in my hair every night and somehow sleeping on them! One minor correction... hot curlers didn't come along until the late 60s, early 70s..... But I'm tremendously impressed with your research! Thanks for the memories!
310 days ago
HouseHoldWords says:
fun, unique and interesting article. :D My daughter actually just started using a shower cap (LOL)
310 days ago
TheMillineryShop says:
I remember those horrid pink plastic curlers that had a snap on cover to hold them on. The things that women have done in the name of beauty! At least this one is laughable.
310 days ago
FAMILYFIRST74 says:
Great article. Awesome pic of the three girls.
310 days ago
mosaicmonkey says:
great story!!!
310 days ago
trudyjames says:
Really enjoyed your article. Who would have thought hair nets and boudoir caps could be part of such an intriguing story. Thanks for sharing your research.
310 days ago
thevintagecrafter says:
Thanks so much for sharing that! I recall those public service shorts, they were played at the movie houses between feature films. My mother was a war worker and wore a special hat. My son and I have recently been sharing books and articles about the period 1919 thru 1946, I'm sending this to him, he'll really enjoy the films as well as the history of Mr. G.
310 days ago
mhlinen says:
If my poor mom was around she would tell you how many times I ruined her favorite black "nets" by playing with them and my dolls! She would coif her hair in a huge bun and cover the top with a matching net... I miss her...
310 days ago
TheNightjar says:
The Glemby Empire Soap opera-who knew? Fun, fun fun....
309 days ago
BunniesandAvacado says:
I love interesting stuff about hair. Really cool.
309 days ago
AmberGypsySky says:
I enjoyed this very much so :) thanks! love the video too
309 days ago
BanglewoodSupplies says:
This was fascinating! Thanks!
308 days ago
GenniandGina says:
This is a great article. I'd just like to add that African American women still use rollers in their hair and with or without rollers, covering our hair every night is a must! It keeps the moisture in and our hairstyles - which usually last several days if not a week or more - tidy. Silk caps, hair nets, head scarves and pantyhose, among other things, are still used to cover our heads at night. If you look in the "ethnic" haircare section at any major store (e.g. Target, Walmart, grocery stores) you'll find hair nets, bobby pins, roller clips... it's all still there!
308 days ago
aschiffm says:
haha! interesting and inspiring!!! oh and yes, coffee is great.
308 days ago
Lolliebags says:
What a fun read! I love how you uncovered an exciting story, just like a mystery novel. I adore thrift shopping and neat vintage items that are no longer in use, its like a little slice of history.
308 days ago
jcwnorfolk says:
I have 5 older sisters and have seen it all, from the rollers and hairnets to the hard plastic hood dryer to the softer bonnet dryer to the first " blow dryers" like the one pictured above that were so heavy, and if you weren't careful it would suck your hair into the back! Then it went on to ironing our hair on the ironing board!(the 60's) lol! I did become a hairdressar and started out with roller sets and we still had to learn finger waves in school! Haha! I still need to buy my daughter hairnets for her horse riding competitions so her hair looks neat under the helmet. They are easily found in riding apparel shops and are incredibly light! Great article and thanks for the trip down memory lane!
308 days ago
jcwnorfolk says:
PS i remember those Cherry Ames nurse books the middle girl is reading lol!
308 days ago
vintageangel25 says:
Great story!!! Enjoyed reading it!!! :)
308 days ago
Dglee says:
Greetings; I love The Modern Head Covers~~I do remember The Hairnets! My Mother wore one all of the time when we lived in Hawaii because it helped hold her up ! The Humidity was pretty thick! D'glee
308 days ago
StrayNabeeVintage says:
"to face the world with both eyes in the clear" oh boy what a selling point. I tell ya, I had to wear a hair net for a food service job, I certainly wish it was as stylish as one of these! Thanks for the post (even if it did give me fry line flash backs)
308 days ago
Avaricia says:
thanks, i just bought old stock "puckered Bandeau" shown in the Kleinert's ad. I had no idea my little headband had such a sorted past.
308 days ago
tessfelix says:
Very interesting. Thank you.
307 days ago
amysoldschool says:
I love the sleuthing you did! It is so interesting to see a bit of history of an item that used to be an everyday item! Thanks!
307 days ago
CheekyVintageCloset says:
This is so much fun! great info:)
307 days ago
ClayLickCreekPottery says:
Great history lesson!
306 days ago
orleansapothecary says:
so charming! i wonder what beauty item we all use now will no longer exist in 40 years?
303 days ago
proteales says:
Wowee! What a history! I hope when I get old, I'm one of those old ladies who has to put a plastic bag over my head to go outside in the rain.
301 days ago
Loves2Junk says:
These were called "Curler Caps" not hair nets. They kept you curlers in check while you painfully tried to sleep while curling your hair.
297 days ago
kathystuffnmore says:
Who would have known? Great story.
221 days ago