History of GE Hair Dryers

GE hair dryers came into being in 1961, promising to "pamper your hair with professional type care," according to the google.com "history of GE hair dryers." That was the year that GE's introduction of a powerful, compact motor and rechargeable battery led to the development of a number of handheld appliances, including hair dryers.

History of GE Hair Dryers

In the "Pink"

GE's popular "pink" bonnet model, which looked something like a shower cap attached to a hose, was popular in the late 1950s. It allowed warm air to circulate through the cap, and women were able to curl and dry their hair at home.

Features

The GE bonnet-style hair dryers of the 1950s were popular because they left the users' hands free to apply makeup or attend to other beauty needs while their hair dried. There was ample time for the user to get things done: Compared with modern hair dryers, which use 1,200-to-1,500 watts of power to dry hair quickly, the pink model used only 300-to-400 watts, so the process took a considerable amount of time.

Improvements

In 1963, GE introduced a new dryer with a travel and storage case, and a "reach-in" top, which allowed heat to be regulated more easily and also enabled the user to check on the drying progress. GE advertised that it was twice as fast as earlier models, with three heat selections, plus cool. This model featured a large bouffant-style bonnet to fit over extra- large rollers.

More Changes

Over the next several decades, GE continued to make improvements to their hair dryers; however, they continued to be built essentially the same as they were in the 1950s. Most of the changes were made to the exterior appearance of the dryers, making them smaller, quieter, faster, more lightweight and easy to handle.

Vintage Dryers

Many of the GE hair dryers of the past, especially the pink model, are in demand by collectors of vintage hair-care products, especially for those who still remember pink fingernails, poodle skirts and the bouffant hairstyles of the 1950s.

References

• Google
• GE Consumer & Industrial Press Room

Resources

• General Electric