Marcelling

Marcelling is a hair styling technique in which hot curling tongs are used to induce a curl into the hair.¹² Its appearance was similar to that of a finger wave but it is created using a different method.

Marcelled hair was a popular style for women's hair in the 1920s,² often in conjunction with a bob cut.² For those women who had longer hair, it was common to tie the hair at the nape of the neck and pin it above the ear with a stylish hair pin or flower. One famous wearer was Josephine Baker.³

Accounts vary about the invention of the style, but Marcel Grateau (October 18, 1852 – May 31, 1936) is widely credited with inventing the hair styling technique in the 1870s (differing accounts report 1872 or 1875).³⁴⁵ The inventor and stylist emigrated to the United States and changed his name to François Marcel Woelfflé, sometimes reported as François Marcel.⁶² He was granted U.S. patents for implements for performing the technique; the first, U.S. patent 806386, entitled "Curling-Iron", was published in 1905,⁷ and the second, entitled "Hair-Waving Iron", for an electric version, under the name François Marcel, was published in 1918.⁶ His obituary appeared under the name Francois Marcel Grateau in 1936.²

• In the 1914 song "By the Beautiful Sea", the female protagonist is said to have a job marcelling hair.⁸

• The song "Keep Young and Beautiful", popular in 1934, references the hairstyle.⁹

• The doo-wop group the Marcels were named after the hairstyle.¹⁰¹¹

• British comedian Kenny Everett portrayed an over-the-top French stereotype by the name of Marcel Wave in his TV series.

• In the film Some Like It Hot, actor Tony Curtis stood up his girl who complains she just had her hair marcelled.