I got a perm.
No, this isn’t a republished article from August 1995. It’s 2018 and I willingly walked into a salon and let my stylist put rollers and perm solution in my hair. On purpose.
Here’s what happened.
Like a lot of straight-haired ladies I’ve always fawned over big, curly hair. I had a good friend in high school with the most beautiful bouncy curls and I adored them.
I was too afraid to get a perm after all the horrible spiral perms I got as a kid. But then one day I saw that Julianne Hough got a perm and that’s all it took for me to hop in that chair.
The look I was going for was loose waves. Although I love super curly hair, my hair isn’t very long at the moment and I didn’t think it would look good. I really wanted some beachy-type waves that looked natural.
So we used large 1″ rollers.
Let me tell you something… in that picture above my head HURT. Do you know how heavy those rollers are?? I had no idea!
When it was all done and I left the salon I was disapointed. We had put some curl cream on it and the result was crispy curls. NOT the result I wanted.
It took me a few days to figure out how to style my hair the way I liked and once I did I fell in love with the perm.
Here’s how I style it:
- After I wash it I use a small amount of Smooth Criminal blow out cream (too much makes it really greasy)
- Then I let it air dry until it is almost entirely dry but has a little dampness left (like 95% dry)
- I blow dry it at that point on low just to break the curls up. If I break them up with a brush it goes crazy.
- When it’s dry I use a tiny amount of Frizz-Ease Secret Weapon touch up cream.
- DONE!
That’s why I love this so much. It’s SO easy.
When I want to dress it up a bit and look a little more styled than beachy, I just add like 4-6 big curls with a 2″ iron.
Easy peasy!
If you’re thinking about getting a perm my advice is to go for it. The thing about hair, is that you can always fix it. If you feel like having straight hair again, just grab a straight iron. My guess is that you’ll love the easy and convenience of this fun loose waves!
And friends, you are going to want to go take a peak at this: 9 of my favorite CHEAP makeup that works like magic. Yes, I said magic and I meant it. Incredible $5 foundation, anyone??
Liz is a just a mom trying to keep it real about how little she sleeps, how often she gets puked on and how much she loves them. You can find her here every day writing about real-mom moments.
Aaaahh! It looks so good! My coworker’s daughter just got a perm as well and I it turned out similar to yours. If my hair was healthier, I would jump on it as well. Maybe in the future!
How long does the perm last? And once you straighten it, will it go pack to wavy after a wash?
I’ve had perms before, and it just depends on your hair really. Most perms last fo several weeks, it’s probably about 2 months until it starts going flat enough that you wanna redo it. And yes, if you straighten your hair it will go back to curly after a wash, however it might not have quite the same volume that it would have had prior to straightening. But really it depends on the hair.
Well as a retired hairdresser I have to say many times I gave only a top perm after the 1st initial perm. Two months if you have short hair… usually between 3 and six months depending on the hair. I highly recommend to use a good leave in conditioner on the hair that isn’t being permed. Save money, time, and damage on your hair.😉
Well as a retired hairdresser I have to say many times I gave only a top perm after the 1st initial perm. Two months if you have short hair… usually between 3 and six months depending on the hair. I highly recommend to use a good leave in conditioner on the hair that isn’t being permed. Save money, time, and damage on your hair.😉
Perm is short for permanent, it will stay until it grows out. If you straighten it will come wavy again once washed. If you get it permed and do not like it, wash your hair, the perm will not hold right away. That is why they tell you not to wash your hair for the first 24 to 48 hours. If you get tired of a perm, say three months in, or do not care for the grow out, you can perm it out. Put a perm in your hair only where the permed hair is, no need to put it in the new growth. During the process t me comb it straight and then rinse etc. Afterwards trim your ends so everything looks proper healthy. You will technically still have permed hair but only you will know and as it grows out you can trim off the perm bit by bit.
Perm stands for permanent. However, the hair growing out from your scalp is whatever your hair is naturally. Ok?
Because you’ve permanently altered the hair, yes it will return to it’s permed state after straightening and then getting wet/washing.
There is no such thing as a body wave. The bigger/fatter the perm rod, the looser the curl or wave.
I am a Licensed hairdresser.
I have always had straight hair very fine with no medulla, which is the metal of the hair shaft, therefore it’s straight and very difficult to perm. Perms last a short time and I’m and then I’m back to straight hair unless my perm otherwise I have listless straight hair that will not hold a curl but with a good perm for Fine straight hair for three months and I have a beautiful head of hair that will do anything I want it to do
Your hair looks fab! When you mention the word ‘perm’ you do automatically think of the spiral perm everyone had at school. I couldn’t have one as my hair was so long, thick and heavy. My hair is very long still but I’m thinking of getting it cut to sit on my shoulders and a perm might add that oomph I need to change the look, thanks for the inspiration!
I don’t know who told you that long, thick hair couldn’t be spiral permed!
That’s a falicy/false information.
Long, thick hair is perfect for true spiral perms. Why, because the curl is not wrapped to add volume, just add curl. Obviously, curls add volume within them selves but a spiral is beautiful. I think the person who told u this just didn’t want to tackle your mane. True spirals are alot ton of work, especially on thick hair but so gorgeous when done. Also length has nothing to do with perming either.
If hair is too long and thick, it will still chemically be permed but the weight of the hair will pull it straight. I am a licensed stylist with straight, thick, long hair. I have had many perms and the only way I can get it to be curly is if I use the curly girl method of plopping it with curl creams, etc. When my hair is wet it looks fabulous. As soon as it dries, its straight again. I am 66 yrs old and have had perms my entire life.
Pics of the perm before you styled it would’ve been nice.
Did you ask for a specific type of perm? Looks great!
Take in a picture of the permed hair like you want yours to be when its wet. All hair acts different. If your picture if of thick hair and yours is thin or baby fine , please take that into consideration !! (Retired hairdresser)
Love it , I been wanting to this for years . I have blonde thin hair I could Carla and I’ll stay like that for an hour and that’s you see two cans of hairspray and I’m not kidding I’m sick of it and I would love to do this just to have soft curls for snow so that I do curl it’ll stay in my hair thanks for sharing have a blessed full day
But there are absolutely NO curls??
I would say it is more of a body perm. It gives the hair body and ma bit of wave and if you curl it the curls stay.
No such thing ad a body perm/wave.
The bigger the perm rod the bigger and looser the curl/ wave.
I love large rollers body waves. There awesome whatever you do to the hair the perm allows the style to last longer… .also popular is to perm just the parts that need a little body .mine is the top crown so I often have only that permed. It’s cheaper and less time since your only doing partial perming..
What kind of perm was it? Have you colored your hair?
I’m disappointed I didn’t get to see the curls you ended up with. Darn it.. 🙁
As a hairstylist retired now your hairdresser did not use cream to protect your skin didn’t use cotton to protect your skin from what I see in the picture you posted . You Must use some kind of cream all around the forehead behind the ears and neck .. obviously your hairdresser doesn’t know this or was too lazy to do this.. I suggest you use first aid cream on your neck and maybe have the doctor give you some kind of cream to help you.. it will go away eventually but it’s like a burn you may have scarring like a burn.. you may also be allergic to the perm lotion you should have been tested before you got it especially if you never had a perm before..
Unless I’m missing something in the photos or comments section, I see nothing resembling any burns around her hairline or even photos of the neckline area. As a hairstylist myself, the 1st photo looks to me to have been taken BEFORE the perm solution was apllied, so it’s entirely possible that her stylist did apply a cream and use cotton around her hairline, after this photo was taken of her in the rollers. There aren’t pictures posted of every single step during the perms process, but that’s no reason to insinuate that her stylist is lazy or that she needs to see a doctor for burns. Like I said, if I missed a post about her discussing burns from the perm then your comment is understandable, but I’m not seeing anything about that or her stating a need for medical attention. I think too often we jump to conclusions without having all the facts. Btw, I think your hair looks fantastic and you are just adorable, and with that face, could probably pull off just about any hairstyle. Looking FABULOUS!!!!
My hairdresser always puts a cream around my face and uses cotton wool to protectvme. I’m in and out in about 1 & 1/2 hours and my hair isn’t thick, but apparently takes to a perm really well. But she gets a perm solution to suit my hair. I only have it on for about 15 mins and then she rinses it off and applies the neutraliser. And like I sai , I’ve been having these done for over 35 years, longer actually, cause I went really short when the kids were little for about 5 years and I was having it permed for about 6 years before that. I’m in Australia
Excellent response!
I agree I see no burns. Let’s give folks the benefit of the doubt!
I agree….lol
You are an ugly monster hater get a life!!!! Ewww
Your hair looks great. Maybe read up a bit on how to care for curly hair as it reacts so different then straight hair. Keep the brushes far away! And that crispy effect you got with the curl cream is called a cast and you just need to scrunch it out to have nice soft curls 😊
That’s exactly what I was going to suggest myself lol.
Beautiful 😍
Thanks so much for this info!! I’ve been asking my hair dresser / best friend if there’s a perm I can get to give me beach waves…… and she always says no 🙁 your hair looks great!!
If your stylist friend is saying no, ask why. She certainly has your best interest at heart.
Find a hair stylist that does perms frequently Probably an older stylist as many younger ones haven’t done many. Also a perm needs to be one created for your hair type (colored or bleached) and of a good quality. I have fine hair and at age 78 have been getting permanents for many years and they are much improved from the old days. Sometimes I get curl only in the top crown and back to give lift and then I can easily style sides. Don’t be shy to try one !
What is best perm to use’s. l always do my own perm always use large rollers not perm ones and l am in my 80s but l away get good cut
How thick is your hair? I have very thick hair and been wanting to do a body wave perm but wondering if it would just make my hair look huge.
Oh my gosh, I could have written this, except for the part where I’ve figured out how to style it! I just got a perm and also am disappointed, but I’m going to try your tips. Hopefully I can achieve those beachy waves I was desiring too!
Oh my goodness thank you for this! I got a perm last night and have been depressed ever since, convinced I wasted my money because it looks like the perm I got in 7th grade. This is SO reassuring!!!
Did if ever relax with her suggested styling? I just permed mine with the same size rods…it’s definitely 7th grade bad. Tell me there is hope!!!
Forget the hair, your a beautiful women, period!
I just got a perm yesterday and it took over 4 hours different solutions and I didn’t get what I wanted☹️ Now like you said trying to figure how I am going to style it. My hair is super straight that the solution did not work.
Wish I had read this a few months ago. One Saturday morning as I put my hair up in its usual pony tail, I had a thought to just cut it off. So, after telling my husband I wanted a change, I went Pixie. It really does look decent on me and I have gotten tons of compliments. I too have board straight hair. Some waves, and if I made the time, I would have kept my hair. At least I think I would have. At least until the first hot flash…. You look amazing!
Did you feel like your hair was damaged in any way? My husband is hesitant to let me get a perm because he LOVES my hair.
Let you???
i’m with you janelle ! does your husband need your say so to get his hair cut???
If you go to a good hair stylist that knows how to give a perm you should have no damage. I have lightened hair with high lights and low lights and have no damage.
Your hair looks great. I have that lipstick and wanted to know how do you keep it on? I have the gloss and the matte to go over it but doesn’t help. Any ideas?
I don’t think any lipstick will stay on over gloss. Put Matt on first and a tiny bit of gloss over it !
What colour have you dyed your hair in tje 2nd photo please? The colour and perm look awesome!Alex
I just love it.. i really want to get one myself i just want it to be a little curlier.
Please do not do a perm at home. They are tricky. Especially if you have color treated hair, yymust KNOW what you’re doing. This is not a do it yourself project. Trust me! If you do at home and ruin your hair, it’s MONTHS before you can get your hair back to normal. The “permed hair” must be cut off. It is not fixable. Don’t take that chance. See a professional
Agreed, don’t do them at home, you’ll just end up with a frizzy mess and lots of breakage.
To those of you who have had perms and are unhappy with them being too curly, deep conditioning treatments should help that. You can also ask your stylist for suggestions if you don’t know how to treat it. Perms REQUIRE professional products. Go back to your salon and ask which products are right for your hair type.
HI liz
You are a very pretty mom and gorgeous. Love the salon pic with the rollers and this lovely cute face expression. Beautiful.
And yes the result is fine, fine waves with a natural flowing.
Great deal with your stylist. And yes perms need some time to relax into the right shape.
Frank 🙂
where did you get the perm?
Hi Liz just wanted to say you looks beautiful, it’s a more modern approach to the good old perm!😍
For years I’ve been wanting to try a perm (I have hair as strait as straw..), and every salon I have gone in to over the years has talked me out of it 🤷🏻♀️ Saying “it’s not going to give you the curls you’re wanting. With that said, I’m SO happy I ran across your blog via Pinterest when I decided to look up perms again. You had great results and I’m excited to try what you’ve done and use the products you’ve recommended. As a mommy of 4 I’m always on the go and I think this will give me that little bit of extra va-voom I’ve been wanting. I’ll let you know how it turns out!! 🤞🏻
I get a perm every 12 weeks and my hair is no where near as long as yours, it is quite short. The reason I do this is because my hair is like baby hair. No volume, dead straight ( and I mean absolutely no movement at all) and silky smooth. I’ve been having them done for the last 35 years and they give me bounce, and a really soft curl, and make me look a lot younger. I couldn’t manage my hair without one.
They’re not old fashioned, just rare – they’re body waves and more people should try them, it could change their lives.
My routine is: cut and colour every 12 weeks and 6 weeks later I have a perm and a cut. So basically I go to the hairdresser every 6 weeks, one time it’s a colour (streaks) and a cut, next 6 weeks, it’s a perm and cut. Easy. The perm has grown out in 12 weeks because my hair is short, and the top goes flat, you might get a bit longer if your hair is long. I love it and when I first have it done, it’s so easy to care for, because it’s so full of bounce. It gets harder as it starts to grow out. If you have hair like mine, I’d definitely recommend it. It doesn’t ruin your hair and I don’t do special treatments or anything. I just leave it a week after the perm before washing it, as recommended so as to not add any more chemicals to the hair. You can wet it and put hair conditioner through it if you wish to though. I don’t, I just wet it a bit and blow dry the the fringe, or bangs as you call them in the States.
I love you!!
Looking good girl
I have been perming my hair off and on my whole life! But after 40 my hair didn’t look good straight because of thinning so I decided to get my hair super healthy and perm it. I don’t do body waves, I do spiral perms! I love it and everyone thinks my hair is naturally curly. I use a Demi permanent hair dye and I perm every 4 months. No heat or harsh chemicals and I use a co-wash!
Hi I really want to perm my hair too. Thank you for sharing your experience! I have really straight virgin hair. I told myself that i would color my hair until I started getting gray hair… Im 37 and i don’t have a lot of time in the morning to be playing with my hair. That’s why i wanted to get a perm…
Beautiful love it thank you !!!!
I just got a perm a few weeks ago, and you are correct, it hurts…like crazy. I felt like jumping out of the chair and running out of the salon screaming. Not sure if it’s the weight of the rollers or that my hair was being pulled by the rollers, but I felt like each individual hair was being pulled out. My scalp hurt after for a while too. My result is about the same as the hair I already have. I have somewhat wavy hair and I was looking for more consistent waves but now I wish that I had gone for curly with smaller rollers…oh well, lesson learned.
Your results look so good!
If you have really short hair who’s picture is that. I too have really short hair and want a loose curl perm
I’m about to get a perm for my dead straight hair. I literally had the same experiences as you in the 80’s and feel quite anxious about it. I feel a little better now after reading your blog. Wish me luck
Day 2 of my perm and I think I should have left it straight. 🤦. But I’ll give it some time and learn to work with it.
Yea, mine doesn’t look anything like that, unfortunately. Mine is much tighter, and I can’t straighten it, even with a hot brush.
I checked out this post because I was hoping to see what your hair looks like after your perm, unstyled. I am considering getting this exact perm and would like to see how your curls look.
Doesn’t look like a perm to me, but looks very nice. Guess it was due to what you did after the fact.
That’s kind of dumb. Why would you perm it and not allow your curls to fall naturally. Why would you blow them out and practically straighten your hair. I would have requested a base for volume with layers.
Otherwise your hair does look super cute but perms are pricey and time consuming.
I just had one $100.00 no curl till I curl it then by early afternoon no curl. My hair has No curl.I have the spiral but it didn’t work someone said I should have another perm over it and I’m not afraid but I do want some curls
That is supposed to be a perm??? does´nt look like any curls at all. Stupid Post1
Your hair looks wonderful and great work by your hairdresser. I too was unsure at first but found a wonderful stylist who gave me the perm I have been wanting all my life. After the doing the perm she blow dried my hair and showed me the style. It was not quite what I imagined and I think she felt the same. She then said let’s set it in rollers and I’m sure it will look a lot better. Well after 20 minutes of rolling, 40 minutes under the dryer, some deft brush work and hair spray my hair was now the perfect style that I had always imagined. At home my wife loved the style and I got several compliments from others. 4 days later when I finally washed it for the first time it reverted to the frizzy mess I first saw in the salon. I went back to the salon and was told the only way to bring it under control was to set it in curlers again. I left the salon an hour later with perfect hair and feeling so much more confident. I then began my weekly shampoo and set visits. Perms are the key to great hairstyles but sets are the hard graft to beautiful hair.
Where to buy those curlers?
Can bleached hair be permed ?
I have a short pick shaggy haircut but I need to have it cut again. My hair is very thick but I need some bounce to it even if it is wearing it curly and wearing it curly. I am also wanting to higher and lowlight it. I at one time woren my hair short shaggy and curly. It was so easy to take care of run my fingers through it and go. I would love to have it like a again. Please stop me some and advice do I come show my.stylist. I have a round chubby face and I wear glasses. I dye my hair blonde. I’m excited to back to a short curly shaggy style. I have a pixie cut right now that had grown out and I wear glasses. I’m wanting to do something with my hair soon. I will get waiting to hear from you. If possible text me what ideas you have. If not you can email me but maybe by the time I get an appointment the information and pictures will be gone whereas texting they won’t. I’ll be waiting to hear from you soon so I can do something with this horrible looking mess of hair and make it beautiful again.
Very loose curls. Do they stay long?
Hi:) May I ask how you chose a stylist? May I ask how that went? I am finding a lot of the American wave or Ola Plex certified perm stylus don’t want to do it because they said “perm doesn’t last that long”, and I’m like that’s OK I really want to go forward with it anyway… Did your stylist kind of regional you’re right about how the perm wasn’t going to last as long with larger rollers?
My hair is very similar to yours, very! Straight, shoulder length. Do you think you could share with me a little more about how you talked to your stylist about what you wanted?
Next time you want a perm
With those fabulous beachy waves- ask your stylist to roll the rods sideways vertically instead of horizontal- it gives the look of spirals— more natural looking curls and you will love it.
Keep in mind that it usually takes two weeks for a perm to truly relax into it true natural state.
I have been doing for years on my hair- once a year- it helps if you don’t color your hair so that you don’t get that dried out feeling.
People actually think my hair is naturally curly – they can’t tell this is a perm.
I love that I have “organized curls” and don’t have to fight the wave in my hair anymore!
So we need a pic. To he e lady on here has long hair and you no said your hair wasnt long???
Looks so good I want a perm now. Lol
I had a lot of home perms growing up and Argh but I decided last year to go get a perm locally. It ended up frizzed and terrible. I have a couple questions for you. What city do you live in? How much was your perm? Did you ask for something specific?
I would love a reply.
Turned out great