Definition
A hair styling tool with two heated metal plates featuring a ridged or wavy pattern that creates small, uniform crimps or waves in the hair. Popular from the 1980s through the early 2000s, crimping irons were used to add volume and texture to hairstyles.
Example Usage
She used a crimping iron to give her hair that signature '80s texture before the school dance.
Origin
Hair crimping tools gained mainstream popularity during the 1980s as part of the bigger-is-better aesthetic of the decade, and saw a resurgence in the early 2000s.
Fun Fact
Crimped hair experienced a major comeback in the 2010s as part of nostalgic fashion trends, though modern crimping irons are often gentler on hair than vintage versions.
Related Terms
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