By Maureen O'Donnell

Fred Piattoni operated seven Powder Puff hair salons, headed a top cosmetologists' association and helped draw as many as 80,000 people to Chicago for the nation's second-largest beauty show.

During his career, he witnessed explosive growth in the beauty business, thanks to postwar prosperity, product innovations and women entering the workforce. Salons expanded to focus on nails and skin care, and nail technicians and estheticians became licensed professionals in Illinois.

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Source: http://chicago.suntimes.com/