Marjorie Joyner, an African American inventor and businesswoman, was granted U.S. Patent No. 1,693,515 for her invention of the permanent wave machine, a device designed to curl or straighten hair for both Black and white clients. Joyner was a key figure in the beauty industry and worked for the Madame C.J. Walker Manufacturing Company, where she served as national supervisor for over 200 beauty schools. She assigned her patent rights to the company, as was customary at the time.
Her invention revolutionized hair care and laid the foundation for later advancements in hair styling technology.
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