02/07/2026
Today we spotlight…Lyda D. Newman (fl. 1892–1925) was a hairdresser and inventor who was also an activist for women's suffrage. She held a patent for a novel hairbrush.
In the 1890s, Newman invented a hairbrush which contained evenly spaced rows of bristles with open slots to clear debris away from the hair and into a recessed compartment in the back. The brush had a button which allowed the bristle holder to be removed from the back for cleaning.
The U.S. patent 614,335 was filed on July 11, 1898, and granted on November 14, 1898. The hairbrush she invented was described in her patent as "simple and durable in construction" and being "very effective when in use". Modern hairbrushes still use Newman's design, with the only changes being aesthetic. Newman's invention changed the hair-care industry, due to the fact that her design made hairbrushes less expensive, easier to manufacture, and effective to use on textured hair.
Newman was an organizer for women's suffrage in the early 20th century. As a suffragist, she canvassed New York City neighborhoods, hosted street meetings to educate passing people, and opened the Negro Suffrage Headquarters in Manhattan.
