Why Documentation Matters

The history of the permanent wave has often been told in simplified form. Dates are repeated. Names are cited. Milestones are condensed.

This page presents the primary documentation underlying the technological development described on this site.

The focus lies on patents and archival records — not interpretation.

1902–1903: Early Technical Foundations

The earliest known patent filings associated with this development date to 1902.

These documents relate to artificial eyebrows and eyelashes and demonstrate early technical engagement with hair as material. International filings in the United Kingdom and France confirm cross-border protection at an early stage.

Although not yet related to permanent waving, these patents form the documented technical beginning of the broader development.
 

1909: Priority Filings for Permanent Waving

Patent priority dates from 1909 represent the first documented protection of a structured method for waving natural hair.

Key filings include:

• United Kingdom process patents

• Subsequent United States apparatus patents

• Additional European protections

The consistent appearance of 1909 as a priority date across multiple jurisdictions confirms the technical breakthrough phase.
 

1912: London Incorporation Records

Archival company documentation records the incorporation of:

Nestle and Company Ltd.
Company Number: 126166
Incorporated: 1912
Dissolved: prior to 1916
Reference: BT 31/14039/126166

Held at: The National Archives, Kew (Board of Trade: Companies Registration Office Files)

These records document the transition from individual innovation to registered commercial structure.
 

1910–1925: International Patent Expansion

Between 1910 and the mid-1920s, additional patents were filed in:

• United Kingdom

• United States

• France

• Austria

• Switzerland

• Germany

These filings covered both process refinements and mechanical apparatus improvements, indicating sustained development rather than isolated invention.
 

1926–1950: Industrialisation under Nestle Lemur Company

Later patent filings under the Nestle Lemur Company reflect a clear industrial phase.

Documented developments include:

• Electrically heated hair waving systems

• Protective safety components

• Standardised production of waving pads

• Integrated electrical circuits

• Electrically powered heating elements

This phase marks the shift from mechanical experimentation to electrically integrated industrial production.
 

Archival Access and Verification

All referenced patents are publicly accessible through international patent databases.

Company records are held by the UK National Archives and may require in-person consultation or formal reproduction requests.

The documentation presented here is based on verified filings and archival references available at the time of publication. Research is ongoing.