THINGS WOMEN INVENT - FINAL PART

Final part continued from ... HERE

#21 Ruth Wakefield: Toll House Chocolate Cookies 

While making a batch of cookies that required melted chocolate for her guest, she found she'd run out of baker's chocolate. She conveniently substituted the recipe with a crushed Nestles chocolate bar, the pieces of chocolate held their shape and became an accidental hit! 

 

#22 Barbara Askins: New Film Development 

 

NASA chemist Barbara Askins' invention of film development involved the use of radioactive materials to enhance negatives. It could also be used to enhance images even after the pictures were developed! 

#23 Theora Stephens: Curling Hair Iron 

The African-American hair dresser and technician, Theora Stephens patented the curling iron in 1980. You may be wondering why this date is so late, considering the hair styling tool has been used since early Greek civilization?

Many prominent individual’s who made their contributions in inventing beatification tools for different purposes have been involved with the evolving curling iron. Before electricity it needed to be heated in a fire and that posed a real challenge to control. By patenting it Stephen is credited for bestowing a special status to the historical curling iron.

#24 Marjorie Joyner: Permanent Hair-Wave Machine. 

Joyner invented the device that allowed a hairdo to stay set for days. She also created a cap that made it safer and more comfortable to use. As the granddaughter of slaves, Joyner became the first African-American graduate of a Chicago beauty school, she later opened her own salon in 1916. 

 

#25 Sara Blakely: Spanx Undergarment 

The American Dream still exists with today's youngest self-made female billionaire. She's the inventor who helps women slim down with the popular elastic underpants, Spanx. Featured on the cover, and interviewed by Forbes' 2012 annual billionaire issue, Blakely joins the elite group of "self-made" mega-rich women, that includes Oprah Winfrey and Meg Whiteman.

When creating Spanx, Blakey took $5,000 in savings and built it into a $500 million dollar-a-company! She has no outside investors and owns 100% of her company. Additionally she's never spent a penny on advertising! Spanx was developed to be similar to a firm fitting pantyhose without the feet, it's light, smooth and yet like a controlling "second skin". Revolutionary!