How and Why it Was Used

As mentioned in our product description, we assumed correctly that our artefact was missing a few pieces, specifically the clips to hold the rollers in one’s hair. We were however wrong in assuming that there was some sort of glove or applicator meant to protect one’s hands from burning during the application process; there was not. After further research, we found that even decades later, this and similar products still do not have any sort of safe applicator or glove, but hairsetters typically did have a cooling liquid interior that kept toe rollers at an optimal temperature (Time Magazine, 1968). 

We decided to do a broader search into how people, specifically women, used this and similar products. Youtube videos gave a nice insight into how these products work in a more realistic way. Every video showed roughly the same process: Let the rollers heat up, put them in your hair, let them sit while you go about your day, take them out and style the curls (Berenzon 2023). These videos, whether they were using regular plastic rollers or heated rollers similar to that of the Ten-Ten hair setter, all used relatively the same process (Travis 2012).

Similar Hair Styling Tools

It is curious to see how our artefact, which is from the 1960s, was remade in the 1990s with almost no upgrades or notable changes (Consumer Distributing 1993-94, 225). Even in the present day, the concept of this hair styling tool has not changed. Take the “Conair CHV26RHRNC Tourmaline Ceramic Ionic Instant Heat Hair Setter with Heated Clips” for example. This product found on amazon is extremely similar to the Samson Dominion Ten-Ten Hairsetter. Apart from the fact that the Conair model has more rollers and a built-in clip holder in the case, it is relatively the same as the Samson Dominion Ten-Ten Hairsetter. Almost 60 years later and those minor details are all that has changed. Today we have products like hair curlers and straighteners that can replicate this look with arguably more control, but even those hair styling tools have not evolved greatly since their original release.

The curling iron is a great example of another hair styling tool that has not evolved all that much since its original release. The two images down below show one of the first hair curlers (pre electricity) alongside a more recent hair curler (post electricity). As seen in these images, the general shape and intended use of both of these models are extremely similar. Even after the invention of electricity, the basic shape and process of the curling iron has stayed the same! The user is meant to squeeze the handle, put a section of their hair in between the rods, release the handle so the hair is tight in between, wrap around (curling motion), and release. This example just goes to show that a lot of hair styling tools have not greatly evolved since their original release/creation.