A piece of wood and three pins have changed a hairdresser's life.
Single mum Rachel Dickens, 31, was continually asked by clients how they could perfect a zig-zag parting just like she did so she went into her dad's shed in Clare Road, Braintree, and created a comb that would do it.
It took from February, 2003 to last month to get the patent on her comb published. She has now signed a deal with an un-named American company for exclusive rights to the comb and royalties on each sale.
Miss Dickens, of Coronation Way, Cressing, said she poured all her cash into the project.
"There have been hard times but this just changes everything it's fantastic. It will make a huge difference to my lifestyle," she said.
Miss Dickens previously ran her own salon, Strictly Cutting, in Church Lane, Bocking.
She was a finalist for the Women in Business Awards last year and has now been made British Female Inventor of 2005.
Published Wednesday, February 23, 2005
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