employee of Madame Walker’s empire, Majorie Joyner, invented a
permanent wave machine. This device, patented in 1928, curled or
"permed" women’s hair for a relatively lengthy period of time.
The wave machine was popular among women white and black
allowing for longer-lasting wavy hair styles. Marjorie Joyner
went on to become a prominent figure in Walker’s industry,
though Majorie Joyner never profited directly from her
invention, for it was the assigned property of the Walker
Company. Marjorie Joyner was born in 1896 in the rural Blue
Ridge Mountains of Virginia and moved to Chicago to study
cosmetology. Madam Walker was a Chicago business women who had
come to fame as the beauty product supplier to hollywood star
Josephine Baker. Marjorie Stewart Joyner invented her wave
machine as a solution to the hair problems of African American
women, however, she never profited form her invention. Madame
Walker owned the rights. Marjorie Joyner became thee Director of
Madame Walker's beauty schools. Together with Mary