Permed Hair?

May 9, 2005 1:38 PM

I apologize for the frivolous nature of this question, but...do people still get their hair permed?

I'm seriously thinking of perming my hair. I had many a wet noodle perm back in grade school and I definitely don't want to go that route again.

I don't know anyone who has a perm. It seems that nobody does it anymore. Why? Have perms changed since the 80s?

I am crazy for considering this? I just want some soft waves, not anything too tight. My hair is in good condition and has the right texture. So aside from pouring a heap of chemicals on my head, what should I look out for? If anyone has tips or observations, please help me.

posted by crapulent to Clothing, Beauty, & Fashion (17 answers total)

sure they do--mostly soft, wavy ones tho, and they don't call it perms...i'd find someone locally (shopping, on the street, etc) who has what you want and ask her what salon she goes to. (most good places will be able to, tho)
posted by amberglow at 2:05 PM on May 9, 2005

Sure, people still perm their hair, it's just that the style of perm has changed. I think big body wave stuff is in.

My suggestion: go to a nice salon that regularly does perms and tell them what you're looking for. And, I'd (obviously) avoid salons that have primarily little-old-lady clientele.
posted by Specklet at 2:06 PM on May 9, 2005

Response by poster: Help me. What do they call them?
posted by crapulent at 2:18 PM on May 9, 2005

I think you're looking for a wave.
posted by Specklet at 2:48 PM on May 9, 2005

This may be too general to help, but, building on the above, I've also heard the newer style just directly referred to as "soft perms."
posted by Mrmuhnrmuh at 2:53 PM on May 9, 2005

I asked my hairdresser this question recently, and she said that if someone walked in and asked her for a perm, she would turn them away.

"I refuse to damage my clients' hair," she explained. "I simply wouldn't do it." Zoinks!

So, in at least some salons the answer is no!
posted by arielmeadow at 4:11 PM on May 9, 2005

Arielmeadow, does that mean your hairdresser's salon doesn't offering coloring either?
posted by luneray at 4:20 PM on May 9, 2005

And what about hairdrying? Does she eschew the follicular dangers of hot air?
posted by Specklet at 4:24 PM on May 9, 2005

find some one who can do a rod to roller transfer perm,
that is, process the hair on a rod that is small enough to change the structure of your hair, then transfer,unwrap the rod and roll up on a roller that is the size of the curl that you desire, and neutralize the perm. this curl will not fall out and lasts until you cut it off. acid waves work best and are easier on the hair.sometimes I ask my client to wear the curlers home overnight! oxygen in the air neutralizes the perm and you can skip the last chemical process neutralizer.
posted by hortense at 6:49 PM on May 9, 2005

btw there are quite a lot of hair creams today that will do the job (and can be washed out) without ruining your hair. They seem a lot cheaper and safer (for your hair. for u too) than a perm and I'd think that they're worth a try.
posted by mirileh at 1:57 AM on May 10, 2005

had many a wet noodle perm back in grade school

you had your hair permed in grade school? Or was this just a jokey way to not be old enough to have been old enough to have a perm in the 80s? no offense intended, i'm just confused :)
posted by mdn at 6:15 AM on May 10, 2005

FYI to mdn: Girls got their hair permed in grade school in the 80s. For real. Some girls' mothers took them to their salon, others were subjected to the dreaded home perm.
posted by desuetude at 6:42 AM on May 10, 2005

Response by poster: Oh yeah. Third grade, honey. And fourth and fifth.
posted by crapulent at 7:17 AM on May 10, 2005

For what it's worth, I bought my wife a cut, perm, and manicure for Christmas. (Are you listening guys? This stuff WORKS!) She loved it. I dropped her off in the morning and picked her up just after lunch. She still loves how her hair is. So, some gals are still getting perms. The real question is are any guys still getting perms?
posted by kc0dxh at 8:12 AM on May 10, 2005

I had a grade school perm in the 80s. A couple of them. Yes indeedy.
posted by jennyb at 9:08 AM on May 10, 2005

holy shit.
I was in grade school in the 80s, too, by the way. Did you get colorings too? I remember it being kind of a big deal to me when I was, whatever, 14 or 15, and I died my hair red for the first time. but I can't imagine having done that in 3rd grade!
anyway. wild.
posted by mdn at 10:30 AM on May 10, 2005

Response by poster: No, thank god no colorings. Although I do seem to recall one streaky summer after a bad Sun In incident. For some reason my father always dated hairdressers and I was the guinea piglet. I, too, died my hair red when I was 14-15. That phase lasted a loooong time. Too much Tori Amos.
posted by crapulent at 11:32 AM on May 10, 2005