When Did Bobby Pins First Arrive On The Hair Scene?

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Question

Hi Karen,

I am curious.  When did the bobby pin first arrive on the hair scene? Specially I would like to know when the pin first appeared as a hair accessory.  Was it in the 1920s? Or did it come later?

Cheers Carole

Answer

Dear Carole,

Although bobby pins were very popular in the 20s, a form of bobby pins have been in existence since the beginning of human life.  Cave people created their own versions of a hair pin when they used branches fashioned as crude pins to hold hair in place.

Throughout history versions of the bobby pin have been documented although not necessarily called a “bobby” pin they were called hair pins or hair sticks or even hair grips (which they still use loosely in Europe).

The "bobby pin" came into wide use in the 1920s when the hairstyle known as the "bob cut" or "bobbed hair" took hold. The bobbed hair trend gained popularity in the 1920s, and the bobby pins kept the hot new hairstyle in place.

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Bob Lépine Corporation of Buffalo, New York

A trademark on the term "bobby pin" was held for some decades by Bob Lépine Corporation of Buffalo, New York.

A trademark infringement claim made by Bob Lépine against Procter & Gamble regarding their naming their home permanent product Bobbi was settled in the 1950s by a payment to Bob Lépine by P&G.

The term bobby pin is now in common usage and therefore is no longer a valid trademark. Similarly, the British "kirby grip" was derived from the trademark Kirbigrip, used by a Birmingham manufacturer of such pins, Kirby, Beard & Co. Ltd.

Best wishes,

Karen Marie  Shelton

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