“Found in Grandma’s drawer… but what are they?” 🎀 At first glance, these twisted plastic pieces looked like random junk—until the truth came out. See the photo and full story in the article below 👇
While cleaning out some of my grandmother’s old belongings, I stumbled upon a collection of strange, twisted plastic pieces—over thirty of them, all with odd shapes and curves. At first, I had no idea what they were. I even asked around until my mom finally cleared up the mystery. They were actually part of an old beauty routine most women of her time swore by.
These mysterious tools were vintage hair curlers—once a must-have item for women who dreamed of soft curls or bold waves. Back in the day, these simple objects transformed straight, lifeless strands into elegant, voluminous styles.
In the early 1900s, curlers were basic tubes made from metal or early plastics. Not much to look at, but they kicked off a revolution in hairstyling. By the 1950s and ’60s, curlers had become much more sophisticated. They came in flexible shapes and various sizes to suit every hair type and style.
What I found in that drawer turned out to be part of that era—curlers designed for home use. They let women experiment with different hairstyles without needing a trip to the salon.
Then came the 1980s and 1990s—the golden years for perms and curls. Hairstyles were all about volume, and these curlers played a starring role. The process was time-consuming: wash, curl, apply solution, and neutralize—but the payoff was worth it. Depending on the size of the curler, women could get anything from tight spirals to loose, flowing waves.
At some point, salon perms became so accessible that even at-home kits were all the rage. Women could give themselves a full makeover right in their own bathrooms, armed with nothing more than these quirky curlers and a little determination.
Today, trends have shifted and permanent curls aren’t quite as common. But these vintage tools haven’t completely vanished. Stylists still use them to recreate classic looks, paying tribute to the glamour of decades past.
Have you ever seen curlers like these before? Let us know in the comments if your mother or grandmother used them too!
