<P> Accounts vary about the invention of the style . Some reports ascribe the invention of the technique to Marcel Grateau ( 1852 -- 1936 ) , who invented it in 1872 ( others say 1875 ) . François Marcel Woelfflé , who later changed his name to François Marcel , was granted U.S. patents for implements for performing the technique : the first , U.S. patent 806386 , entitled `` Curling - Iron '' , was published in 1905 , and the second , entitled `` Hair - Waving Iron '' , for an electric version , under the name François Marcel , was published in 1918 . There is also a 1936 obituary for Francois Marcel Grateau , with dates matching those of the first - named Marcel Grateau . Given the dates , and the coincidence of names , it is quite possible that they were all the same man . </P>
<P> Accounts vary about the invention of the style . Some reports ascribe the invention of the technique to Marcel Grateau ( 1852 -- 1936 ) , who invented it in 1872 ( others say 1875 ) . François Marcel Woelfflé , who later changed his name to François Marcel , was granted U.S. patents for implements for performing the technique : the first , U.S. patent 806386 , entitled `` Curling - Iron '' , was published in 1905 , and the second , entitled `` Hair - Waving Iron '' , for an electric version , under the name François Marcel , was published in 1918 . There is also a 1936 obituary for Francois Marcel Grateau , with dates matching those of the first - named Marcel Grateau . Given the dates , and the coincidence of names , it is quite possible that they were all the same man . </P>
who invented the first curling iron in 1872
who invented the first curling iron in 1872
Marcel Grateau
Marcel Grateau