Who Invented the Electric Hairdryer?

Alexandre Godefoy invented the electric hair dryer in the 1890, according to Kathy Kirkland, author of "The Big Blow-Dryer Boom." He made it out of a vacuum cleaner, which had gained wide acceptance among housewives.

What Godefoy Did

Godefoy made the hair dryer by switching the hose on a vacuum cleaner from the intake to the exhaust so that warm air blew out of it, according to AmusingFacts.com. Although women enthusiastically used vacuum cleaners for housecleaning, they didn't quite accept Godefoy's modified model to use on their hair. It was bulky and clumsy.

1920s

Not until the 1920s did a smaller, handheld model appear on the market. According to Kathy Kirkland, the new model appeared in Germany. Although it had a smaller motor, it had a housing of aluminum or steel and was still bulky and noisy.

Handheld Hair Dryer

Plastic replaced metal in the housing in the 1950s, making hair dryers lighter. Putting the motor inside the fan lowered the noise level. Since then, the trend toward lighter, smaller and quieter models has continued, according to Kirkland.

References

• Kathy Kirkland: The Big Blow-Dryer Boom
• iPromote Media Inc: Housework Could Be Hair-Raising