Christina Jenkins

Christina Jenkins, an African-American scientist, is considered to be the pioneer of cosmetology. Jenkins created an invention which presented a new way for women of color to utilize false hair for styles. She obtained a patent and shared her invention with the world. Jenkins was acknowledged for the influence and popularity of her invention. She passed in 2003 at the age of 83.

Biography

Christina Mae Jenkins was born December 25, 1920, in Louisiana. In 1943, she graduated with a degree in science at Leland College and married her husband, pianist, Herman Jenkins.{{Cite web |title=Remembering Christina Jenkins, the woman who invented the weave |url=https://www.stylist.co.uk/visible-women/christina-jenkins-weave-inventor-facts-biography-accomplishments-black-history/214371 |access-date=2025-03-03 |website=www.stylist.co.uk}} More details about her early life are unknown, but for her time where women, especially women of color, were not encouraged to acquire high levels of education, she was considered a trailblazer.

In 1969, Jenkins began working for a wig manufacturer.{{Cite web |title=Christina Jenkins {{!}} IBS New York |url=https://www.ibsnewyork.com/ibsnewyorkcom/christina-jenkins |access-date=2025-03-14 |website=www.ibsnewyork.com |language=en}} There, she started to develop a technique to make the company's wigs more secure for wear. This practice evolved into examining different ways to sew hair into women's natural hair. At first, Jenkins used pins and grips which she soon found to be bulky and unnatural looking. From this, her idea for hair extensions was born.

With her new technique, false hair, known as extensions, would be woven into women's natural hair to create a longer, fuller and even somewhat natural look. The hair would be woven into braids and cornrows. In 1951, Jenkins patented her creation, the HairWeeve. She became the first African American woman to own a patent. Despite the success of the patent passing, Jenkins found difficulties enforcing it. Many salons utilized the technique without proper permissions and licensing.{{Cite web |date=2024-03-14 |title=Everyday is Black History - Christina Jenkins: The Inventor of the |url=https://crownmewigcollection.com/blogs/news/everyday-is-black-history-christina-jenkins-the-inventor-of-the-hair-weeve |access-date=2025-04-06 |website=Crown Me Wig Collection |language=en}} The patent failed to offer Jenkins proper protection against piracy and was overturned in 1965 due to legal disputes. Even after the patent issues, Jenkins started her own training academy around different parts of the country to teach her technique. In Cleveland, she opened Christina’s HairWeeve Penthouse Salon in 1952 until 1993.{{Cite web |date=2024-05-01 |title=How Christina Jenkins' Impact Influences The Hair Industry |url=https://girlsunited.essence.com/feedback/news/her-story-rewind-christina-jenkins/ |access-date=2025-03-14 |website=Girls United |language=en-US}} In addition to owning the salon, Jenkins also taught her techniques in Europe at hair shows.{{Cite web |last=bawtonyapendleton |date=2016-09-05 |title=Little Known Black History Fact: Christina M. Jenkins |url=https://blackamericaweb.com/2016/09/05/little-known-black-history-fact-christina-m-jenkins/#:~:text=Jenkins%20owned%20and%20operated%20her,Shelia%20Jenkins-Cochran |access-date=2025-04-06 |website=Black America Web |language=en-US}}

In 2003, Ohio Congresswoman Stephanie Tubbs Jones commended Jenkins for her HairWeeve invention and called it a "revolutionary contribution" shortly before Jenkins' passing. Jenkins died in 2003 at the age of 83. Over the course of the years, Jenkins' invention has evolved into braids, wigs, weaves, sew-ins, and clip-ins which have become very popular among the black community. The market for hair extensions was labeled to be valued at 3.35 billion dollars USD annually in 2023.{{Cite web |title=Hair Extension Market Size, Growth, and Forecast Report 2031 |url=https://www.marketsandata.com/industry-reports/hair-extensions-market |access-date=2025-04-07 |website=Markets and Data |language=en}} She is labeled as the pioneer of cosmetology due to the popularity of her invention.{{Cite web |title=A Legacy of Beauty: Tracing the History and Evolution of Hair Extensions |url=https://foxylocks.com/the-history-of-hair-extensions/#:~:text=Christina's%20new%20technique%20involved%20a,that%20would%20previously%20be%20unattainable. |access-date=2025-03-31 |website=foxylocks.com}}

References

Category:1920 births

Category:2003 deaths

Category:Leland College alumni

Category:20th-century American women inventors

Category:20th-century American inventors

Category:African-American inventors

Category:Inventors from Louisiana

Category:American cosmetics businesspeople

Category:American hairdressers

Category:20th-century African-American businesspeople

Category:20th-century American businesswomen

Category:20th-century African-American women

Category:African-American women in business