Why/when did the practice of girls ironing their hair, end?

In the mid-to-late 1960s and early 70s, girls with very long hair (like Peggy Lipton of “THE MOD SQUAD”) would actually iron their hair, for some reason. I don’t think women do that today (no one I know, does).

So, was that just some kind of “fad,” or was there a reason/purpose for it? Was hair damaged by it?

August 22, 2008, 3:27 PM EDT