Charles Nessler is usually credited with inventing the permanent wave in the early 1900s. And he made a huge fortune from it, while also bolstering a huge beauty industry.

Research:
Bedi, Joyce. “GERMANY | Charles (Karl) Nessler.” Lemelson Center for the Study of Invention and Innovation. Smithsonian National Museum of American History. June 3, 2021. https://invention.si.edu/node/29205/p/732-germany-charles-karl-nessler
Hellman, Geoffrey T. “Profiles: Hair Scientist.” The New Yorker. April 29, 1933. https://archives.newyorker.com/newyorker/1933-04-29/flipbook/020/
Larkin, Theresa. “From straight to curly, thick to thin: Here's how hormones and chemotherapy can change your hair.” MedicalExpress. Jan. 14, 2024. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2024-01-straight-curly-thick-thin-hormones.html
“115 Years of Long-Lasting Curls: The History and Rebirth of the Perm.” Estetica Magazine. Feb. 8, 2022. https://www.esteticamagazine.com/2022/02/08/111-years-of-long-lasting-curls-the-history-and-rebirth-of-the-perm/
Marsden, Rhodri. “Rhodri Marsden's Interesting Objects: The Nessler Permanent Wave Machine.” The Independent. Oct. 9, 2015. https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/fashion/features/rhodri-marsden-s-interesting-objects-the-nessler-permanent-wave-machine-a6674081.html
“Modern Living: The Great Wave.” Time. Feb. 5, 1951. https://time.com/archive/6825188/modern-living-the-great-wave/
Morton, Ella. “The Alarming Aesthetics of Jazz Age Perm Machines.” Atlas Obscura. Aug. 2, 2016. https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/the-alarming-aesthetics-of-jazz-age-perm-machines
Nessler, Charles. “The Story of Hair.” New York. Bonni and Liveright. 1928.
Nessler, Charles. “A New or Improved Method of and Means for the Manufacture of Artificial Eyebrows, Eyelashes and the like.” UK Patent Office. Accessed via Google: https://patents.google.com/patent/GB190218723A/en
“Nessler, Invented Permanent Wave.” New York Times. January 24, 1951. https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1951/01/24/88426426.pdf?pdf_redirect=true&ip=0
“A Revolutionst Dies.” Life Magazine. Feb. 5, 1951. Accessed online: https://books.google.com/books?id=50sEAAAAMBAJ&q=nestler#v=onepage&q=nessler&f=false
Sheen, Maureen. “Story of Us, 1910-1920: Do the Wave.” American Salon. Jan. 20, 2016. https://www.americansalon.com/products/story-us-1910-1920-do-wave

Charles Nessler is usually credited with inventing the permanent wave in the early 1900s. And he made a huge fortune from it, while also bolstering a huge beauty industry.
Research:
<ul>
<li>Bedi, Joyce. “GERMANY | Charles (Karl) Nessler.” Lemelson Center for the Study of Invention and Innovation. Smithsonian National Museum of American History. June 3, 2021. https://invention.si.edu/node/29205/p/732-germany-charles-karl-nessler</li>
<li>Hellman, Geoffrey T. “Profiles: Hair Scientist.” The New Yorker. April 29, 1933. https://archives.newyorker.com/newyorker/1933-04-29/flipbook/020/</li>
<li>Larkin, Theresa. “From straight to curly, thick to thin: Here's how hormones and chemotherapy can change your hair.” MedicalExpress. Jan. 14, 2024. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2024-01-straight-curly-thick-thin-hormones.html</li>
<li>“115 Years of Long-Lasting Curls: The History and Rebirth of the Perm.” Estetica Magazine. Feb. 8, 2022. https://www.esteticamagazine.com/2022/02/08/111-years-of-long-lasting-curls-the-history-and-rebirth-of-the-perm/</li>
<li>Marsden, Rhodri. “Rhodri Marsden's Interesting Objects: The Nessler Permanent Wave Machine.” The Independent. Oct. 9, 2015. https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/fashion/features/rhodri-marsden-s-interesting-objects-the-nessler-permanent-wave-machine-a6674081.html</li>
<li>“Modern Living: The Great Wave.” Time. Feb. 5, 1951. https://time.com/archive/6825188/modern-living-the-great-wave/</li>
<li>Morton, Ella. “The Alarming Aesthetics of Jazz Age Perm Machines.” Atlas Obscura. Aug. 2, 2016. https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/the-alarming-aesthetics-of-jazz-age-perm-machines</li>
<li>Nessler, Charles. “The Story of Hair.” New York. Bonni and Liveright. 1928.</li>
<li>Nessler, Charles. “A New or Improved Method of and Means for the Manufacture of Artificial Eyebrows, Eyelashes and the like.” UK Patent Office. Accessed via Google: https://patents.google.com/patent/GB190218723A/en</li>
<li>“Nessler, Invented Permanent Wave.” New York Times. January 24, 1951. https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1951/01/24/88426426.pdf?pdf_redirect=true&amp;ip=0</li>
<li>“A Revolutionst Dies.” Life Magazine. Feb. 5, 1951. Accessed online: https://books.google.com/books?id=50sEAAAAMBAJ&amp;q=nestler#v=onepage&amp;q=nessler&amp;f=false</li>
<li>Sheen, Maureen. “Story of Us, 1910-1920: Do the Wave.” American Salon. Jan. 20, 2016. https://www.americansalon.com/products/story-us-1910-1920-do-wave</li>
</ul>

Join Holly and Tracy as they bring you the greatest and strangest Stuff You Missed In History Class in this podcast by iHeartRadio.

Stuff You Missed in History Class

Charles Nessler’s Permanent Waves

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/7882a1fd-b17d-49c3-bf5b-b1c80159261a/transcript

This 2021 episode covers a period of time when the milk supply in New York was anything but appetizing and wholesome – it was often deadly. But efforts to address the problem were blocked by corrupt officials.

This 2021 episode covers a period of time when the milk supply in New York was anything but appetizing and wholesome &ndash; it was often deadly. But efforts to address the problem were blocked by corrupt officials.

SYMHC Classics: Swill Milk

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/4016d6e6-4a83-48e9-9d7f-b4b1015cc0b8/transcript

Tracy shares a story of looking for an article in the wrong historical journal. Holly reads a section of the U.S. flag code, and waxes rhapsodic about toys.

Tracy shares a story of looking for an article in the wrong historical journal. Holly reads a section of the U.S. flag code, and waxes rhapsodic about toys.

Behind the Scenes Minis: Mary, Beulah, Baby Alive

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/2189beac-5612-4af1-9eea-b4b1015c8da5/transcript

Beulah was such a prolific inventor in the early 20th century that the press nicknamed her Lady Edison. She was an outlier as an unmarried woman who got her foot in the door as an inventor by pounding the pavement in 1920s New York. 

Research:
Bengtson, Harlan H. “Beulah Louise Henry.” EBSCO. 2021. https://www.ebsco.com/research-starters/history/beulah-louise-henry
“Beulah Louise Henry.” National Inventors Hall of Fame. https://www.invent.org/inductees/beulah-louise-henry
Dick, Gerry. “Beulah henry Sits in Chiffon Laboratory Inventing Almost Everything But Excuses.” The Rockford Argus. April 8. 1937. https://www.newspapers.com/image/531344097/?match=1&terms=%22Beulah%20Henry%22&search-id=22e1b59c-1edb-4d9c-895d-9454b6343852&search-rank=7
Hart, Alicia. “Meet Beulah henry, the Inventor.” The Salisbury Post. Sept. 1, 1955. https://www.newspapers.com/image/1026874682/?match=1&terms=%22Beulah%20Henry%22&search-id=be53d62d-90f0-4084-8868-9b0e0a4dbb37&search-rank=3
Henry, B.L. “DOUBLE CHAIN STITCH SEWING MACHINE.” April 21, 1936. https://ppubs.uspto.gov/api/pdf/downloadPdf/US-2037901-A?source=USPAT&requestToken=eyJzdWIiOiI4NTA2NjMxNi1kZTRmLTRlNzQtOGJhYS1kYTRjMzhhMGZkNmYiLCJ2ZXIiOiJjY2M5MGE0NS02ZGRhLTQ5YTAtOTQzZS1lOTIyMzBhMjI0MjEiLCJleHAiOjB9
Henry, B.L. “DUPLICATING ATTACHMENT FOR TYPEWRITERS.” Aug. 30, 1932. https://patentimages.storage.googleapis.com/e7/a5/7d/a7e3bbcd163f09/US1874749.pdf
Henry, B.L. “Hand Bag.” U.S. Patent Office. May 27, 1913. https://patentimages.storage.googleapis.com/0a/6d/16/4d8139d4025580/US1063031.pdf
Henry, B.L. “Ice Cream Freezer.” U.S. Patent Office. Sept. 3, 1912. https://patentimages.storage.googleapis.com/dc/d8/5c/1c61ca65b0339b/US1037762.pdf
Henry, B.L. “Indicator Top.” U.S. Patent Office. March 2, 1926. https://ppubs.uspto.gov/api/pdf/downloadPdf/US-1575264-A?source=USPAT&requestToken=eyJzdWIiOiIxMzU2NTdlNi03OWNkLTQyZGUtYTgwNi0yYzRhYmM3OGU5OGIiLCJ2ZXIiOiI2MzIxNTg0Yy1iOTZjLTRhYmItOTZhNC04OGUxNTI3ODY3NjUiLCJleHAiOjB9
Henry, B.L. “Parasol.” U.S. Patent Office. Nov. 18, 1913. https://patentimages.storage.googleapis.com/6e/fe/25/726c19533c2b0f/US1079240.pdf
Henry, B.L. “Parasol.” U.S. Patent Office. May 6, 1924. https://patentimages.storage.googleapis.com/5c/ad/88/868b750b1d9c44/US1492725.pdf
Henry, B.L. “Radio Doll.” U.S. Patent Office. Dec. 8, 1925. https://ppubs.uspto.gov/api/pdf/downloadPdf/US-1565145-A?source=USPAT&requestToken=eyJzdWIiOiJhMTUwM2E5YS04MzYzLTRmYTgtYjRmOS1lZDU5OGIyMDllNGEiLCJ2ZXIiOiI2MjZkN2M5OS05OGVkLTQzY2EtOGE2YS02NTU2ZWIzYzY0MzgiLCJleHAiOjB9
Henry, B.L. “SEAM AND METHOD OF FORMING SEAMS.” U.S. Patent Office. Feb 4. 1941. https://ppubs.uspto.gov/api/pdf/downloadPdf/US-2230896-A?source=USPAT&requestToken=eyJzdWIiOiI4NTA2NjMxNi1kZTRmLTRlNzQtOGJhYS1kYTRjMzhhMGZkNmYiLCJ2ZXIiOiJjY2M5MGE0NS02ZGRhLTQ5YTAtOTQzZS1lOTIyMzBhMjI0MjEiLCJleHAiOjB9
Henry, B.L. “Simulated Dispensing Device.” U.S. Patent Office. Dec. 11, 1951. https://patentimages.storage.googleapis.com/6d/80/75/d6a9df36c75df0/US2577849.pdf
Henry, B.L. “Water Sport Apparatus.” U.S. Patent Office. August 16, 1927. https://ppubs.uspto.gov/api/pdf/downloadPdf/US-1639607-A?source=USPAT&requestToken=eyJzdWIiOiIxMzU2NTdlNi03OWNkLTQyZGUtYTgwNi0yYzRhYmM3OGU5OGIiLCJ2ZXIiOiI2MzIxNTg0Yy1iOTZjLTRhYmItOTZhNC04OGUxNTI3ODY3NjUiLCJleHAiOjB9
Jones, Stacy. “A Single Unit Serves for Mailing and Also Returning.” New York Times. Jan. 27, 1962. https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1962/01/27/90129637.pdf?pdf_redirect=true&ip=0
LaRiccia, Dante. “Electricity Consumption: Culture, Gender and Power.” Energy History Online. Yale University. https://energyhistory.yale.edu/electricity-consumption-culture-gender-and-power/
Mydans, Seth. “Overlooked No More: Beulah Henry, Inventor With an Endless Imagination.” New York Times. March 14, 2025. https://www.nytimes.com/2025/03/14/obituaries/beulah-henry-overlooked.html
“Synesthesia.” Cleveland Clinic. May 3, 2023. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/symptoms/24995-synesthesia
“"There's a better way of doing that." USPTO. https://www.uspto.gov/learning-and-resources/journeys-innovation/historical-stories/theres-better-way-doing

Beulah was such a prolific inventor in the early 20th century that the press nicknamed her Lady Edison. She was an outlier as an unmarried woman who got her foot in the door as an inventor by pounding the pavement in 1920s New York.&nbsp;
Research:
<ul>
<li>Bengtson, Harlan H. &ldquo;Beulah Louise Henry.&rdquo; EBSCO. 2021. https://www.ebsco.com/research-starters/history/beulah-louise-henry</li>
<li>&ldquo;Beulah Louise Henry.&rdquo; National Inventors Hall of Fame. https://www.invent.org/inductees/beulah-louise-henry</li>
<li>Dick, Gerry. &ldquo;Beulah henry Sits in Chiffon Laboratory Inventing Almost Everything But Excuses.&rdquo; The Rockford Argus. April 8. 1937. https://www.newspapers.com/image/531344097/?match=1&amp;terms=%22Beulah%20Henry%22&amp;search-id=22e1b59c-1edb-4d9c-895d-9454b6343852&amp;search-rank=7</li>
<li>Hart, Alicia. &ldquo;Meet Beulah henry, the Inventor.&rdquo; The Salisbury Post. Sept. 1, 1955. https://www.newspapers.com/image/1026874682/?match=1&amp;terms=%22Beulah%20Henry%22&amp;search-id=be53d62d-90f0-4084-8868-9b0e0a4dbb37&amp;search-rank=3</li>
<li>Henry, B.L. &ldquo;DOUBLE CHAIN STITCH SEWING MACHINE.&rdquo; April 21, 1936. https://ppubs.uspto.gov/api/pdf/downloadPdf/US-2037901-A?source=USPAT&amp;requestToken=eyJzdWIiOiI4NTA2NjMxNi1kZTRmLTRlNzQtOGJhYS1kYTRjMzhhMGZkNmYiLCJ2ZXIiOiJjY2M5MGE0NS02ZGRhLTQ5YTAtOTQzZS1lOTIyMzBhMjI0MjEiLCJleHAiOjB9</li>
<li>Henry, B.L. &ldquo;DUPLICATING ATTACHMENT FOR TYPEWRITERS.&rdquo; Aug. 30, 1932. https://patentimages.storage.googleapis.com/e7/a5/7d/a7e3bbcd163f09/US1874749.pdf</li>
<li>Henry, B.L. &ldquo;Hand Bag.&rdquo; U.S. Patent Office. May 27, 1913. https://patentimages.storage.googleapis.com/0a/6d/16/4d8139d4025580/US1063031.pdf</li>
<li>Henry, B.L. &ldquo;Ice Cream Freezer.&rdquo; U.S. Patent Office. Sept. 3, 1912. https://patentimages.storage.googleapis.com/dc/d8/5c/1c61ca65b0339b/US1037762.pdf</li>
<li>Henry, B.L. &ldquo;Indicator Top.&rdquo; U.S. Patent Office. March 2, 1926. https://ppubs.uspto.gov/api/pdf/downloadPdf/US-1575264-A?source=USPAT&amp;requestToken=eyJzdWIiOiIxMzU2NTdlNi03OWNkLTQyZGUtYTgwNi0yYzRhYmM3OGU5OGIiLCJ2ZXIiOiI2MzIxNTg0Yy1iOTZjLTRhYmItOTZhNC04OGUxNTI3ODY3NjUiLCJleHAiOjB9</li>
<li>Henry, B.L. &ldquo;Parasol.&rdquo; U.S. Patent Office. Nov. 18, 1913. https://patentimages.storage.googleapis.com/6e/fe/25/726c19533c2b0f/US1079240.pdf</li>
<li>Henry, B.L. &ldquo;Parasol.&rdquo; U.S. Patent Office. May 6, 1924. https://patentimages.storage.googleapis.com/5c/ad/88/868b750b1d9c44/US1492725.pdf</li>
<li>Henry, B.L. &ldquo;Radio Doll.&rdquo; U.S. Patent Office. Dec. 8, 1925. https://ppubs.uspto.gov/api/pdf/downloadPdf/US-1565145-A?source=USPAT&amp;requestToken=eyJzdWIiOiJhMTUwM2E5YS04MzYzLTRmYTgtYjRmOS1lZDU5OGIyMDllNGEiLCJ2ZXIiOiI2MjZkN2M5OS05OGVkLTQzY2EtOGE2YS02NTU2ZWIzYzY0MzgiLCJleHAiOjB9</li>
<li>Henry, B.L. &ldquo;SEAM AND METHOD OF FORMING SEAMS.&rdquo; U.S. Patent Office. Feb 4. 1941. https://ppubs.uspto.gov/api/pdf/downloadPdf/US-2230896-A?source=USPAT&amp;requestToken=eyJzdWIiOiI4NTA2NjMxNi1kZTRmLTRlNzQtOGJhYS1kYTRjMzhhMGZkNmYiLCJ2ZXIiOiJjY2M5MGE0NS02ZGRhLTQ5YTAtOTQzZS1lOTIyMzBhMjI0MjEiLCJleHAiOjB9</li>
<li>Henry, B.L. &ldquo;Simulated Dispensing Device.&rdquo; U.S. Patent Office. Dec. 11, 1951. https://patentimages.storage.googleapis.com/6d/80/75/d6a9df36c75df0/US2577849.pdf</li>
<li>Henry, B.L. &ldquo;Water Sport Apparatus.&rdquo; U.S. Patent Office. August 16, 1927. https://ppubs.uspto.gov/api/pdf/downloadPdf/US-1639607-A?source=USPAT&amp;requestToken=eyJzdWIiOiIxMzU2NTdlNi03OWNkLTQyZGUtYTgwNi0yYzRhYmM3OGU5OGIiLCJ2ZXIiOiI2MzIxNTg0Yy1iOTZjLTRhYmItOTZhNC04OGUxNTI3ODY3NjUiLCJleHAiOjB9</li>
<li>Jones, Stacy. &ldquo;A Single Unit Serves for Mailing and Also Returning.&rdquo; New York Times. Jan. 27, 1962. https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1962/01/27/90129637.pdf?pdf_redirect=true&amp;ip=0</li>
<li>LaRiccia, Dante. &ldquo;Electricity Consumption: Culture, Gender and Power.&rdquo; Energy History Online. Yale University. https://energyhistory.yale.edu/electricity-consumption-culture-gender-and-power/</li>
<li>Mydans, Seth. &ldquo;Overlooked No More: Beulah Henry, Inventor With an Endless Imagination.&rdquo; New York Times. March 14, 2025. https://www.nytimes.com/2025/03/14/obituaries/beulah-henry-overlooked.html</li>
<li>&ldquo;Synesthesia.&rdquo; Cleveland Clinic. May 3, 2023. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/symptoms/24995-synesthesia</li>
<li>&ldquo;"There's a better way of doing that." USPTO. https://www.uspto.gov/learning-and-resources/journeys-innovation/historical-stories/theres-better-way-doing</li>
</ul>

Beulah was such a prolific inventor in the early 20th century that the press nicknamed her Lady Edison. She was an outlier as an unmarried woman who got her foot in the door as an inventor by pounding the pavement in 1920s New York. 

Beulah Louise Henry

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/672c2068-677e-4442-b1d6-b4b0013873f7/transcript

Charles Nessler’s Permanent Waves

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