The Tampon

The idea of using papyrus, lint, grass, sea sponge and other materials as an internal device for the menstruating woman was noted by the ancient Egyptians and Greeks, Hippocrates wrote about its use, he described how the Greeks used small lengths of wood and material somewhat like lint as an internal plug.

Many ideas and takes on the earlier findings of the menstrual plug were used by women over the years, and in the 20Th century styles of plugs with string were on public sale. The more modern style plug as we see advertised today was invented by Dr Earle Haas of America in 1929, he put forward his idea for patenting in 1931 and he then used a play on the words, pack and the French word for towel, Tampon, to get his trade name Tampax, this product was ready for the public market in 1936.

Dental Floss

Using pieces of bark, blades of grass and small twigs was how man has removed the remains of his meal from the gaps in his teeth, an American dentist named Levi Parmly noted patients were hurting their gums and looked to a different method of getting them to remove debris in a much gentler manner, he took to using the silk thread used for surgical techniques, it was called floss, the material taken from around a silkworms’ cocoon, this method worked but the thread was prone to breaking. Modern versions are used daily and come in a variety of stronger materials.

Toilet Paper

Neanderthal man would have used his hands, water and grass at first, later the ancient Chinese Emperors were treated to the luxury of using paper for the daily cleansing of their rear end, far nicer than using grass, leaves and any other item you could lay your hands on at the time. The idea caught on and people used a variety of paper materials that could be disposed of hygienically. In 1857 an American Joseph Gayetty marketed a toilet tissue packaged for the smallest room. In 1890 a paper company, The Scott Paper Company produced the first rolled up toilet paper and the idea is still with us in many colour shades and depths of softness today.

The Condom

The first recorded item later known as a condom was invented by Gabriel Fallopius in the 1500’s. He studied the reproductive system but as it was the role of a woman to not get pregnant, Fallopius’s condom was used for protection against disease, mainly the dreaded syphilis; his design fitted the tip of the penis. He went on to design a condom to fit the circumcised penis, in order to make it more attractive it was held on by a pink ribbon. Condoms were later redeveloped as a method of birth control and they now come in various materials, colours and flavours.

The Disposable Nappy/Diaper

Having already designed and produced a baby pant out of her old shower curtain, that became a popular garment in the baby departments, Marion Donovan went one step further and designed a disposable nappy/diaper. She was determined to keep pushing her idea but despite having a finished product no one would take it on. It was later marketed out as the brand Pampers®.

False Eye Lashes

In 1916 American film director, David Wark Griffith experimented with photographic equipment and when he wanted more from a facial shot of his leading ladies he needed a way of highlighting their eyes, he thought of an idea, a wigmaker who was known for using human hair was found, and after it was explained what Griffith wanted, the false eye lash was produced by hair being threaded and woven onto very fine, lightweight material and the end result was then stuck onto the edge of the natural lashes. They were a huge hit with the ladies and are still popular today.